Carolina Beach and surrounding areas offer several RV camping options within 15-30 minutes of Southport, North Carolina. While Southport itself has limited options, nearby communities in both North Carolina and South Carolina provide campsites with varying levels of amenities. Many campgrounds in this coastal region sit on flat terrain with sandy soil and tall pines providing shade at elevations under 50 feet.
What to do
Beach access: Holden Beach RV Campground provides regular beach transportation during busy periods. "We stayed in the new section with great, full hook up, level, gravel pads and some new grass and landscaping, large new picnic table and fire pit. And a decent amount of space from next door neighbor at an angle. And the bath house has a private toilet, sink and shower- beautifully tiled and maintained. Lovely relaxing weekend. Oh- and a free trolly takes you to the beach and some restaurants," notes one visitor.
Vineyard visits: Wine enthusiasts can find RV sites near Southport, North Carolina at CarrollWoods RV Park at Grapefull Sisters Vineyard. "I visited the winery and the two women who own it are helpful and lively. If you visit, you must get one of their wine floats," shares one camper. The campground combines wine tasting with camping amenities.
Waterfront recreation: Intracoastal Waterway views are available at several campgrounds within driving distance of Southport. "You are right on the Intercoastal waterway and can watch the boats travel up and down. They also have boats and golf carts for rent. Resort is close to Little River which has good restaurants," reports one visitor to North Myrtle Beach RV Resort.
What campers like
Clean bathhouses: Many campgrounds near Southport maintain well-kept bathroom facilities. A visitor to S & W RV Park noted, "We were looking for a last minute place, close to the coast. Found this campground by chance. Reasonably priced during peak season. We stayed 2 weeks, had a large campsite (probably hit or miss on site size), and really enjoyed our stay."
Site spacing: Campgrounds vary in how much privacy they offer between sites. "We stayed with 2 other couples when tropical storm Elsa came. They cleaned up some tree limbs and debris shortly after the winds subsided. We had a nice week," reports a camper at Barefoot RV Resort. "The sites are spacious and concrete pad for trailer, tow vehicle and picnic tables. Fire pits are nice."
Seasonal amenities: Some campgrounds offer different experiences depending on when you visit. "With being only a short walk to the beach, shops, and restaurants, this park can't be beat. No frills here. The park managers are fun and friendly, and the grounds are clean and well-kept," states one visitor to Winners RV Park in Carolina Beach.
What you should know
Rules vary by campground: Some RV sites have restrictions on fires, tents, or other camping activities. "All concrete sites with 20, 30, and 50 amp service. Gated and safe. As soon as a camper pulls out, they pressure wash every site as needed. Hand clean the power boxes and sanitize the tables," notes one camper about Barefoot RV Resort.
WiFi reliability: Internet access varies significantly between campgrounds. "T-mobile phone and hotspot work well, ATT hotspot ok," reports a visitor to CarrollWoods RV Park. Another camper noted, "I wish businesses would not promote poor quality products as 'free'. I probably could access their WiFi no more than for 3 times in all the time I was there and would last no more than 10 minutes."
Size limitations: Some campgrounds have restrictions on RV sizes or require specific hookups. In The Pines RV & Cabin Village offers a range of site options. "New Park with all the amenities you need, clean well kept facilities and grounds. Dog Park and nice mowed lanes for walks. Owner super nice and helpful," states one visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Pet considerations: Most RV sites near Southport, North Carolina accommodate pets but with varying facilities. "The dog park is small and definitely geared towards smaller dogs. It has a cute agility type course set up. Our GSD felt a little to big for the dog park, but we made it work," notes one visitor to North Myrtle Beach RV Resort.
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. "My wife and I were looking for a place to escape for a couple of days. We found this campground and decided to go. This place is wonderful," writes a visitor to Holden Beach RV Campground. "There is a playground for kids and I could see our kids riding their bikes around with no issues at all."
Swimming options: Sun Outdoors Myrtle Beach provides extensive water recreation within 60 minutes of Southport. "There are 4 pools and a water park for the kids. During the summer weekends they provide pool service for drinks which is really nice. Electric golf carts are allowed and they have rentals on site," writes one visitor.
Tips from RVers
Seasonal pricing: Rates for RV sites fluctuate based on season and location. "We were looking for a last minute place, close to the coast. Found this campground by chance. Reasonably priced during peak season," notes a visitor to S & W RV Park.
Hookup quality: Power and water connections vary between campgrounds. "Sites have full hookups, fire pits, and picnic tables. Not a new place so lots of great trees for shade and to block the sea breeze," noted a visitor about Holden Beach RV Campground.
Leveling challenges: Some sites require additional equipment for proper RV setup. "Our site was concrete but in no way level, we had to use our leveling blocks to keep our auto leveling system from lifting wheels on our class c," reports one camper about their experience at Briarcliffe RV Resort.
