Charles J.
Scout
ScoutVirginia Beach KOA
Awesome place
Very clean. Very quite. Will be back more.
Tent Camping near Sunbury, NC
4 campgrounds with availability next weekend
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Tent campers near Sunbury, North Carolina have several options within Merchants Millpond State Park, where various tent-specific camping areas are available. The park offers backpack campgrounds, canoe-in sites, and group walk-in tent sites, all located approximately 30 miles northwest of Sunbury. Additional tent camping can be found at False Cape State Park across the state line in Virginia, which provides primitive tent camping in a more remote beach setting.
Most tent sites at Merchants Millpond require some effort to access, with canoe-in sites necessitating paddling across the millpond waters. The canoe-in campsites feature basic amenities including fire pits, grills, and picnic tables, though water sources are limited. Sites are set on natural terrain with minimal development, maintaining the primitive feel. While fires are permitted at designated fire rings, campers should be aware of the swampy environment and presence of wildlife including alligators. One camper noted, "The sites are well maintained and not right on top of each other," though reaching them can be challenging without clear navigation.
The tent camping experience varies significantly between Merchants Millpond's wooded swamp setting and False Cape's coastal environment. At Merchants Millpond, tent campers enjoy a cypress swamp ecosystem with abundant wildlife viewing opportunities including turtles, frogs, and various birds. The Bennett's Creek area provides more secluded tent campsites approximately 4.5 miles by paddle from the main area. For those seeking coastal camping, False Cape State Park offers beach access with both bay side and ocean side camping, though reaching these sites requires a 5-6 mile hike or bike ride. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, "The park is a serene oasis away from traffic, no RVs, not a lot of people. A great place to get away from it all!" Campers should prepare for insects, especially during warmer months, and bring adequate water supplies for both locations. Overall, tent campgrounds near Sunbury reward those willing to travel by paddle or foot with genuine solitude and direct access to undeveloped natural landscapes.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Sunbury (6)
1. Merchants Millpond Canoe-In Campground — Merchants Millpond State Park
"We did the canoe-in camping and brought out Hobie kayaks (beware if you bring them our mirage drive seemed to find every downed tree or cypress knob under the water 😜) Buoys marked the different routes"
"We were looking for a reasonably quick (one overnight) camping trip that was different, but within a 2ish hour drive."
Check Availabilityfrom $17 - $57 / night
2. Bennetts Creek Canoe In Campground — Merchants Millpond State Park
"The campsights are pretty close together so don't expect privacy on a busy weekend. The scenery is TOP KNOTCH!"
"My group and I stayed at the Benett’s creek high ground primitive camp sites 1-3. It was a 4.5 mile paddle to the site, then roughly 1.5 down to the dock with a staged vehicle."
Check Availabilityfrom $17 / night
3. Merchants Millpond State Park Backpack Campground
"Around 7pm because we had a late start. Unfortunately we didn't stay because our site was hike in and I thought I did drive in. So we ended up getting a hotel instead."
Check Availabilityfrom $17 / night
4. Merchants Millpond Group Walk-In Sites — Merchants Millpond State Park
Check Availabilityfrom $72 / night
5. False Cape State Park Campground
"We hiked in on the East Dike trail through Back Bay, about 5.4 miles, with everything for the weekend on our backs."
"False Cape is a primitive campground that can only be accessed by walking or biking through the Back Bay Wildlife Refuge along the southern coast of Virginia."
21 Sites AvailableAvailable next weekend
from $21 / night
6. Big Woods WMA
Drive Time
- 1 hr 28 min from Greenville, NC
- 1 hr 35 min from Rocky Mount, NC
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Sunbury, NC
9 Photos of 6 Sunbury Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Sunbury, NC
438 Reviews of 6 Sunbury Campgrounds
- K
Kim R.
TravelerChippokes State Park Campground
Tranquil peaceful
A beautiful campground. Nice wooded sites with decent space between sites. Bathroom and laundry were clean. Showers were just ok. Nice trails and the walk along the James
river was nice. Will definitely stay again.
- CChristopher P.Traveler
Chippokes State Park Campground
Generous sized sites but only semi-private. Excellent facilities
- Jad M.Traveler
Cashie River Campground and Treehouse Village
Wonderful place
I am spending 10 days here they have wonderful amenities it is very clean very beautiful very quiet has a boat ramp right on the river I would recommend it to anybody
- AAlexandra S.Traveler
Outer Banks West - Currituck Sound KOA
Holy DRAMA
This is a long one! Here we go. My partner and I travel for work, we went out of our way to move to this location based on reviews saying this is a great place. We have paid in full for the whole stay which is about little over 2 months. We have been here approx 2 weeks give or take. We work night shift. No activity during the day. Simple easy. Not our first campground by any means. At first, we were excited to experience the amenities and such. Now we’re uncomfortable to try anything out. Why you ask? Situation: first day we move in, we end up next to what seems like the literal only other long term or possibly even permanent resident on the grounds. My service animal alerted me to a trigger, which she left the front door of the camper before we walked out. Recalled her to me once we saw that the perm resident (our neighbor) had what presented as an aggressive dog. (Husky maybe?). Within not EVEN 5 minutes of this event, someone was at our door- instead of asking what is going on we were immediately accused of her running around off leash I guess? We had just woken up from sleeping and it was evening time, time to go to work. Instead of arguing or even offering up ANY facts related to the situation I simply said got it thanks and the interaction ended. I’m thinking to myself well damn. Okay. A week or so maybe goes by? Leash in hand VISIBLE -at the door my dog steps out, I step out behind her- same time same situation. She walks ahead of me to where she will relieve herself, I ask for her to come back next to me, she recalls- neighbors dog loses its mind again. I look up at neighbor and say “just go ahead and call man, I get it”. She calls. This time THREE employees are driving on carts to our site, at this point we’re already leaving for work. I knew it was coming, figured they would for sure ask what’s going on this time. They don’t. The older woman accompanied by two men behind her- simply says “you have been told before you need to leash your dog”. We reply yes we understand. Nobody asks for a description of the events, what’s going on, or if this even happened. The female voice is raised and hostile presenting towards both of us. The man behind her approaches our car and peers into the vehicle I’m not sure if to intimidate or what, but that action was also very ineffective in diffusing the situation and instead very intimidating. And now making us both VERY late to work as this is an extra 15 minute drive to the hospital in which we work at. Seemingly, the word of this permanent resident is all they needed to full on accuse the two of us… of what? I am not sure. My animal has resided all over the country in countless locations, all while working and we have had no issues to date. At this point I am still remaining silent as the female worker continues to educate us on our alleged actions. My concern is that there has been ZERO questioning, only full on accusations. We’re highly uncomfortable at this point. They say “we will be speaking with the general manager tomorrow”, Which also felt threatening. I’d like to add that given the whole situation this wouldn’t matter but since this is happening: earlier that morning after work I had stopped by the front desk, to ask about a package I thought that I sent to the wrong place, but didn’t. The same female was there. I remember thinking wow she’s actually so rude. But I brushed it off. Now looking back she must have some kind of prejudice toward myself and my dog. I’ve never been threatened / accused so one-sidedly in my entire career such as what has been happening at this campground. Our resolution was to request moving sites, however nothing was asked of us WHATSOEVER. As stated we were not given any opportunity to speak on the situation. Will attempt to update review whenever we speak with management of this location. Warning is to be wary of implicit bias in staff, potential favoritism, and inconsistent / unfair conflict resolution, aggressive long term campers, and lack of communication from staff.
- JJoel D.Scout
Davis Lakes Resort
The Little Canping Gem of Suffolk
We stumbled across Davis Lakes Campground last year when we brought our camper down to visit our son and grandchildren. Originally, we planned to stay closer to Virginia Beach, but after finding Davis Lakes, we decided to give it a try. We were lucky enough to get site F28 right on the lake, and we enjoyed it so much that we came back this year—and even booked the exact same site.
After reading some of the other reviews, I wanted to share our experience because it was very different. Yes, there are some rules regarding dogs at the beach, but they never interfered with our stay. We enjoyed walking our dogs every morning around the campground and lakes, and it was a wonderful way to start each day.
The beach itself was clean, had plenty of nice chairs, and the AquaGlide was an absolute blast. We spent 5–6 hours a day swimming, and surprisingly, the beach never felt crowded.
One thing that really stood out was how fair the prices were. The campground store was stocked with essentials, and unlike many campgrounds, the prices were very reasonable. If you forgot a loaf of bread or wanted to grab a pool float, you didn’t feel like you were being gouged. They also have a cute snack shop, a spacious game room, and an impressive movie selection, making it a great place to spend a rainy afternoon.
The campground itself was clean and very well maintained. Although many of the sites are seasonal, they were neat, well cared for, and nothing like some seasonal campgrounds where sites become cluttered or run down. It was obvious that both the staff and the campers take pride in the campground.
The nightly rates were very reasonable, and while there is a visitor fee, we found it to be completely fair considering the amenities. We had an amazing time with our son and his family, and the campground played a big part in making those memories.
Davis Lakes isn’t a luxury resort, and that’s part of its charm. Its focus is on beautiful lakes, swimming, friendly service, and providing a relaxing camping experience. It reminded me of the kind of campgrounds I grew up enjoying—simple, welcoming, and centered around making great memories.
We’ll absolutely be back. If we lived closer, I’d seriously consider getting a seasonal site myself. In fact, my son is even talking about buying a camper just so he can keep it nearby and enjoy Davis Lakes more often. Many of the employees and seasonal campers are locals who return year after year, and I think that says everything you need to know about this place.
I K.TravelerFirst Landing State Park Campground
Very quiet all stuff are so earthy, very kind.
It was very nice visit.
- I K.Traveler
Sandy Bottom Nature Park
Nicer than expected
Park stuff are very friendly, sweet, I live the quietness of night time.
Debra W.ScoutFirst Landing State Park Campground
Great for Beachside Camping
This campground was a great location for a Virginia Beach vacation. It’s in the Chesapeake Bay so the water is calm and there is a large sandbar making for shallower waters which is great if you have littles in your trip. It was calming to stay there and spend everyday at the beach. There is hiking and biking paths as part of the park as well. I love that the shower rooms are not gendered so you don’t have a long wait to use one. I went for July 4th and was able to watch the fireworks right from the beach. So that was awesome. Overall good stay.
Guide to Sunbury
Tent camping opportunities near Sunbury, North Carolina span across two states, with options ranging from cypress swamp ecosystems to coastal beaches. The region sits at low elevation, typically below 20 feet above sea level, creating unique wetland camping environments. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F with high humidity, making spring and fall the preferred seasons for the best tent camping near Sunbury, North Carolina.
What to do
Paddling exploration: At Merchants Millpond Canoe-In Campground, paddlers navigate through a unique cypress swamp ecosystem with abundant wildlife. One camper noted, "The cypress trees, swamp flora and fauna are amazing. One of my kids caught a gar, we saw a bald eagle's nest, snakes, frogs, turtles, and lily pads everywhere."
Wildlife viewing: Merchants Millpond State Park Backpack Campground offers opportunities to observe native wetland species. Visitors should bring binoculars for bird watching, as the park hosts numerous species including herons, osprey, and migratory waterfowl.
Beach activities: The coastal setting at False Cape State Park Campground provides swimming, shelling, and wildlife viewing. A visitor reported, "We saw dolphins playing in the ocean! The beach alive with crabs! Osprey catching fish! We saw an old graveyard and church steeple at Wash Woods, that's definitely worth the hike."
Hiking trails: Multiple trails wind through False Cape State Park, ranging from 1-7 miles in length. "There's tons of hiking, interesting things to see, beautiful nature... We walked to the North Carolina border. There's a Loveworks and a buoy that marks the southernmost Virginia State Park."
What campers like
Remote seclusion: Bennetts Creek Canoe In Campground requires significant effort to reach, located 4.5 miles by paddle from the main area. A camper shared, "My group and I stayed at the Benett's creek high ground primitive camp sites 1-3. It was a 4.5 mile paddle to the site, then roughly 1.5 down to the dock with a staged vehicle."
Private beach access: Campers at False Cape value the uncrowded shoreline. One reviewer noted, "Really there wasn't hardly anyone else out there, so it felt like we had our own private beach... Nothing better than a beach sunset. Plus there are a ton of different types of birds out there if you like wildlife."
Natural surroundings: Sandy Bottom Nature Park offers well-spaced sites with natural features. "The sites were spaced nicely apart and had nice sand tent platforms with a picnic table and a fire ring with a grate. Trash cans were very close by, which was super nice."
Kid-friendly features: Merchants Millpond's canoe campsites accommodate families well. A camper mentioned, "Our sites were not directly on the water. At first we were a little bummed the water front weren't available but it worked out for the best. Our sites were more private, a shorter walk to the pit toilet, and the trees provided a slight buffer from the tremendous sounds of the frogs at night!"
What you should know
Navigation challenges: The swamp environment at Merchants Millpond can be confusing. A camper warned, "The kayak/canoe round was not easy to navigate so bring your 3rd party map/GPS. The maps they provide are almost useless because it outlines the terrain but because it's a swamp the terrain changes with the water level."
Water conditions: The still water at Merchants Millpond Group Walk-In Sites presents specific challenges. A visitor cautioned, "This park was great but do recognize that is a true swamp. Alligators included. The water there does not move therefore is not recommended for filtering for consumption."
Motor restrictions: Boat access limitations apply at some sites. One camper shared, "If you don't plan on paddling with a kayak or maybe a canoe don't risk it. I was going to take a Jon boat with a trolling motor and there are countless limbs and the overgrowth is terrible you will not make it through."
Access requirements: Reaching False Cape requires significant effort. "The park is 5+ miles from the Little Island Park Parking lot, where you have to park if you're staying overnight. So, you have to hike, bike or boat into the primitive campground because its access is blocked by Back Bay Wildlife Refuge."
Tips for camping with families
Plan transportation carefully: For False Cape with children, consider bicycle trailers. One parent explained, "My husband and I each hooked a trailer to our bikes, and I towed the kids and he towed our gear. The kids loved riding through Back Bay, and all of us enjoyed having the beach essentially to ourselves."
Consider site location: At Sandy Bottom, the tent sites require a short hike. A reviewer noted, "The sites were located about 1/4 mile from the parking lot down a trail. They were spaced nicely apart and had nice sand tent platforms with a picnic table and a fire ring with a grate."
Prepare for insects: Bug protection is essential, particularly for children. "Bring bug spray--we went in May and the bugs were already overwhelming--including many, many ticks."
Time visits seasonally: For quality tent camping near Sunbury, avoid summer heat when possible. "We came in mid-June and the weather was gorgeous - 80s during the day and 60s at night. There were some biting flies and mosquitos but nothing a little bug spray couldn't take care of."
Tips from RVers
Tent-only areas: Most campgrounds near Sunbury prioritize tent camping, with limited RV facilities. Merchants Millpond primarily accommodates tent camping, with group sites requiring walk-in access and no electric hookups or water connections at most primitive sites.
Access limitations: RVs cannot reach False Cape State Park. As one camper noted, "The Park is a serene oasis away from traffic, no RVs, not a lot of people. A great place to get away from it all!"
Parking restrictions: Vehicle size limits apply at most area campgrounds. At Sandy Bottom Nature Park, large vehicles must use designated lots, with gear transported separately to campsites located away from parking areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Sunbury, NC?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Sunbury, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Sunbury, NC is Merchants Millpond Canoe-In Campground — Merchants Millpond State Park with a 4.0-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Sunbury, NC?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Sunbury, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Sunbury, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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