Looking for the best Sunset Beach tent camping? Find the best tent camping sites near Sunset Beach. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
We are the only adventure outfitter that has an outpost on the Waccamaw River that features 1 acre of fun yard games, tree swings, hammocks, large fire pit, clean bathroom, boat dock & ramp, river side picnic tables and access to a 48 acre private island in the middle of the river to explore and camp overnight!
We offer a variety of activities and adventures, including: Escape River Island, kayak and river boat tours to our private island, custom overnight river camping trips, birthday & group events.
$40 - $65 / night
Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area (FFAFRA) is Federal land owned and managed by the United States Air Force, the Army National Guard, and MOTSU (Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point). FFAFRA's primary purpose is to offer recreational activities and lodging as well as training events for DOD eligible groups. There are cottages and lodge rooms along with RV and tent sites for rent by authorized persons with proper DOD identification. There are also meeting rooms, a Military Museum, and facilities available for special events, team building, and official exercises. Come and see why “Ft. Fisher is One of the Military’s Best Kept Secrets.”
Residents and visitors have long enjoyed the beach area now known as Freeman Park. In fact, the area has become one of Carolina Beach's major attractions as it is one of the only beaches in NC that you can drive your 4X4 vehicle on.
Whether coming to the area to swim, camp, fish, or go boating, crabbing or casting for minnows, people love Freeman Park. Visitors are drawn to the beautiful beach with its variety of wildlife, dunes and majestic sea grasses indigenous to the region.
Overnight camping is only allowed in designated, reserved camp sites Labor Day through the Thursday before Memorial Day each year. Reservations are on a first come/first service basis. During this period, there is a $50.00 per night fee for a campsite permit.
NO OVERNIGHT CAMPING is allowed the Friday before Memorial day through the Sunday before Labor Day.
Visitors and campers driving 4-wheel drive vehicles must have a valid Freeman Park access pass at all times to enter the park (can be purchased online or in person at entrance to park). Camping permits can only be purchased on-line.
$20 - $90 / night
$45 / night
Guide
Our family has tent camped here twice and recently reserved a camp cabin for a week this summer. This is a quiet and spacious campground mere miles from Carolina Beach at a price that's hard to beat. We tent camp here around $30 a night for a tent site. Each site is very large and spacious. It could could comfortably fit 2 tents and a car.
This Campground offers bathhouses, picnic tables, and fire rings. Dogs allowed, but not in the cabins. Plenty of walking trails.
Campground is flat and shaded, although there are some primative group sites away from the main campground but they don't have as much shade. Grocery store is maybe 6 miles away.
Scout
This is a relaxing, natural campground. Many bird songs at sunrise and Whip poor will calls at sunset every night. We have dogs and there are nice places to walk along the pond, and grass areas all around the campground. The dog park is nice for some off leash time. The facilities are great with a store, laundry, and clean restrooms and showers. A very nice pool is available, but with Sunset beach, and Ocean Isle beach just minutes away we have gone there daily. I am fascinated by Bird Island that is a nature preserve and reachable from Sunset beach, this is a day trip we are looking forward to taking the dogs on. Calabash is another town we have visited and it is a gem. We didn’t expect to want anything but seafood but the Peruvian restaurants’ line out the door was intriguing and we ended up there for a late lunch and loved it. My partner is an avid fisherman and had a great day fishing on a Hurricane charter out of Calabash.
Legend
Wishing Well campground is located off Sunset Beach in NC. It is a smaller campground, and much of the shared ground is a storage facility for boats and RV's that are not in use. There are about 10 or 15 RV sites in the loop and the bathhouse is at the back of the loop. Behind the bathhouse are about 10 tent sites, with electricity at most. It was nice that the picnic tables were covered in the back of the property - yet the approach from the road, and the initial entraceway would turn some people away from this campground.
The people (and owners) were very friendly and I did like the privacy that this campground held. It was close enough to easily drive to the beach, without being in the middle of craziness.
The bathhouse - very clean - but dated. The showers were small - changing areas were provided, which was nice. This is a nice campground - and very affordable!
Ranger
Little to no amenities. Expensive and setup to accommodate RV camping. If your looking for a beach camping experience, travel further north to either Carolina Beach or Jockeys Ridge. These both offer a better tent camping experience with the beach close by. Don't get me wrong, Oak Island is GORGEOUS! Just not when trying to tent camp.
LegendBrunswick Beach Camping Resort is easily found - just off highway 17 in Sunset Beach NC. This campground has RV sites, tent sites and even little cabins.
As you pull off the road, it is set far from the road - which we liked! This made for quieter nights without being able to hear passing traffic on the road. You pass by the tobacco field on the right and pull into the campground. This road is very skinny and I had to pull off several times to let a car pass. As I pulled in there was a store immediately to my right where i went in to register.
I could see the swimming pool, volleyball court and horseshoes from just outside the store. As I walked around the store, i noticed the laundry room and a bathroom attached to the back.
I like some of the scenery out back - a bit of water - some trees. Yet there were many RV's and the sites were so close together. Many activities for our kids - yet not one where we would be able to spread out and let them be free without worrying we were disturbing someone.
We had great cell phone service and free wifi while here - so if that is something you are looking for - look no further! The little store sells a bit of everything you might need - and grocery stores are located within a few minutes down the road.
Legend
We had a tent site here for the weekend and were overrun with our neighbors children. No one was governing the curfews or the maximum allowed per campsite. There was literally a family of almost 50 people in two tent sites next to us. And they were there with the people on the other side of us. So we were just wedged in between them. We were woken up every morning to their children trying to unzip our tent. 
Legend
There are quite a few campgrounds in the area to choose from and this is among the best. I've camped here, swam here, explored the beach here, worked here, gotten to know many of the staff, and even hosted a triathlon here. You just can't beat Pirateland in summer or winter. If you don't want to camp in a tent, they have quite a few trailers and cabins for rent that are pretty nice. If you don't have a bike, you can even rent a golf cart and roll your way around. If you bring a kayak, there are some great salt marsh areas to check out as well.
GuideThis is a pretty big campground. RV's rule the roost here. Most of the tent sites are on the rightmost section of the park (with the exeption of the tent only site on a separate far left section of the park). There are also cabins available at this park There was a good cross section of people. Many different age groups, and walks of life. Really friendly and chill park. Some very nice decorated tents and one really cool old 'skoolie' (actually a retired Air Force transport bus) which was my favorite of the lot. The beach is only 200 meters away, and there are some nature trails and a nature center as well. The camp store stays open till 9pm and they have plenty of wood and most of the things you will need. And they dont charge you up on items either!
The campsites are clean and feature a water spigot AND a power outlet, even for the tent sites! Tent sites usually do not get power outlets. There is also wifi included, which is another plus.
Now. This is a cool place, but the sites are really close to each other. You WILL get to know your neighbors. Also, you are on the approach/departure pattern for Myrtle Beach International, so planes will be 500 feet above you. Makes for nice photography, but just an fyi.
This is a great option for staying at Myrtle Beach, and if you are with a group and/or really social, you will enjoy this park.
TravelerWent tent camping and absolutely loved the spaciousness and privacy of the sites. Has excellent proximity to the boardwalk and beach which is a plus. The bathrooms and showers are a bit outdated, but definitely well-maintained and clean. We’re going to come back to this place with the camper next.
Traveler
Plentiful bathrooms and showers. Nice tent sites. Very close to the beach. Great view of the river. Has shop, rental center, and fishing pier within walking distance of the camping area. Also has a nice pool and rec center, as well as ongoing outdoor classes (kayaking, ghost turtle hunting, etc).
LegendCarolina beach state park is one of my favorite places to go in North Carolina. Not only does it have an awesome campground, but it's right near one of the best beaches I've ever been to. The sites are nice and secluded, just how I like them. Most of the sites are tent sites, but they have a few full hookup sites for RVs and some cabins to rent too. All of the sites have picnic tables, fire rings, and drinking water.
Within the park, there are tons of hiking trails through a really beautiful area. I hear the fishing is also really good within the park, but I've never done it myself. The only downside is you can't swim within the park, because the currents can get dangerous. The beach is only like 5 minutes away though, so not really a big deal.
As for the beach, it's my favorite one to go to in the states. I like it because it's not really touristy like the outer banks or myrtle beach. Not a whole lot of people come to it, so it's always pretty secluded and clean. In July, the water temperature is perfect, the waves are nice, and it's great all around.
Awesome spot in NC.
GuideMyrtle Beach has multiple options for RV campers, this is probably one of the best. Because it's the state park and not one of the private campgrounds it's less developed. So if amenities are what you are looking for, don't choose Myrtle Beach State Park. If being immersed in nature in a peaceful setting is what you seek, this is a great choice.
There are limited tent spots, so either snag one early or skip this if you prefer tent camping.
Guide
There are only 6 tent sites at this RV friendly park. We stayed in site 4 and had a cut through to the beach. Site 2 also could access the shortcut, but other sites had a slightly farther walk. Going before the bugs come out is a must. Potable water on site and a short walk to bath houses. Beach is absolutely breathtaking and not crowded.
We also went on a night hike to the beach and saw so many stars!
No long hiking trails to speak of, but a few short walks through forest and an interpretive trail are available.
Tent sites are close together. There is little visual or auditory privacy.
Raccoons are abundant and the park has provided lockers for all food. We didn’t have any problems, but neighbors who didn’t store food properly did.
Camp site is situated on a pad that I assume is set up that way for flooding, but it made the campsite feel cramped, even though there were 2-4 feet of cleared space around the raised pad before the tree line.
Traveler
We loved it here, it was right off a main road but quiet. The deluxe tent sites were very nice with a covered sitting area and soft pads for our tent. The sites were well spaced as well. Bathrooms were very clean and a short walk and the facilities here were useful. We did a day trip to the beach which was a short ride and into downtown Wilmingon which was also a short ride. Restaurants across the street were fun with pool tables and darts. Would stay again.
GuideBest beach camping I've had! Lots of shade at the walk-in tent sites. The sites are secluded with bear/animal proof food storage at each site. Of course raccoons are about everywhere, but the nature is so friendly at this campground. A little birdy built a nest in our beach towels one night. The park rangers were helpful (for that situation) so that's cool. We camped during a tropical depression with no flooding. 8 straight hours of hard rain. Great great park.
TravelerWe love camping here, its clean, quiet except for days and weekends people coming in for birthday parties, reunions but its really not bad they don't come into the actual rv, tent, camping area..we've been there 3 times now and its our go to quick vacation spot..we did however make reservations highly recommended. Don't expect to just drive up and get a spot won't work..the sites are all relatively nice, we drive the park to see what spots are good for next time, they also show on the website. Anyway we like it there..
GuideThis campground is great if you just want close beach access. The bathrooms are not always working or clean. The cabins are cute. The RV sites do not have hook ups in the right places but they are fixing it. The tent sites are shaded. The entertainment is great but it’s invasive and loud if you don’t want to hear it you have no choice. If yo love live bands it’s a great time! Beautiful area, close to so many local attractions! Just don’t expect too much.
GuideThis campground is located between the Cape Fear River and Atlantic Ocean. Nice primitive type of feel to this place. There is tent camping, RV sites, and even about 4 cabins (with more under construction) available at this site. Electrical hookups available for most of the RV sites. There are water pumps throughout the grounds and the bathroom facilities are new and clean with private showers. There are plenty of trash/recycling containers which the staff empty a few times a day, and a dump site for RV's.
There is a supermarket just a few miles away, and a brewery right outside of the campsite.
The staff is excellent and always available, and do a great job.
GuideA refuge from the commercial feel of Myrtle Beach, but only minutes away from major attractions, shopping, and event venues. Very close to Myrtle Beach international airport- watch planes fly out over the beach! Excellent pier for fishing and crabbing (for a fee). Equestrian friendly (seasonally). Great place to bring a bike and explore. There is a park office near the entrance, store at the pier, and a campground store. If RV/ Tent camping is not your vibe, they also have cabin rentals available. Only a short walk from the campground to the Beach and pier with plenty of parking. Showers located in the parking lot right off the beach for easy clean up. ADA accessible beach accesses. Dog friendly. Watch out for Sea Turtles!
LegendI camped here several times when I was younger as a boy scout. It is situated right next to the beach. There is an indoor pool and a big splash park on the grounds. There is a big shower house, laundry facility, and an arcade club house. We were given special permission to tent camp as a boy scout troop. It is mainly for big campers, but they allow tents on site with campers. They have man made water canal that snakes through the campsite where you can rent canoes and paddle boats. The entrance to Pirate land is situated right on the myrtle strip where there are the beach stores and restaurants. Your only ten minutes from the skyward and family kingdom. Overall Pirate land is a family oriented grounds that also has an onsite grocery store for your basic foods and essentials.
TravelerLoved this park! There are several tours that would be gegeat to go but we didn't have enough time to get to them. We stayed in the rustic tent sites which I wouldn't recommend. 1. You have a bit of a hike in. #2 Raccoon bothered us while we were eating and he wasn't a bit timid. 3. Ants got in my car with all the doors shut and windows up and made an ant pile on the racks on top of my car overnight. Way more rustic then what I was hoping for. We were much closer to the beach though than the other sites so could here the ocean from our site.
Guide
As we got closer to the KOA our expectations began to drop since we were driving through residential and commercial areas. But we were very pleasantly surprised at how quiet and relaxing the campground is! The campsites are nicely shaded, spacious and range from tent sites to deluxe pull-throughs to very nice cabins right on the water - some even have a deck that extends to the water’s edge. The staff is super friendly and helpful! You’re literally a block away from the beach and the campground runs a shuttle to the beach throughout the day, all the amenities you could need are just minutes away. An amazing place for families or if you’re looking to get away for a beach vacation.
ScoutThe camp ground was really easy to get around with kids, plenty of trails that preschool kids can enjoy as well as adults. Lots of beautiful views just a short hike away. We camped in a primitive tent site, plenty of shade with nice picnic table and fire ring with grill grate. The bathrooms were so clean, we were really impressed. The rangers are super helpful and very nice. One of our best camping trips ever. Fort Fisher Historic site and Aquarium are less than 15 minutes away. Beach accesses are less than 5 minutes away by car. I would highly recommend visiting in early Spring or late Fall. I live a short distance away and the mosquitoes are unbearable in the warmer months.
LegendI grew up in Myrtle Beach and camped here in the primitive camping on many occasions. I've done this with groups and also alone. It is absolutely spectacular. During the off-season you'll have the place to yourself. During the summer months, it's busy during the day but quiet at night.
Tips- Take a bike and go out riding late at night. The alligators will lay on the road at night and you can ride right by them. Once night falls, take your sleeping mat or cot down to the beach and sleep there. Be sure to visit the castle during the day.
I've also camped out in the normal tent sites with family. Still a pretty awesome spot to stay, but not as secluded as the primitive camping.
GuideWe stayed here for a Martial Arts training weekend on the beach. The camping area has access to the beach and is maintained by the state park rangers. The campgrounds have garbage disposal, bathrooms and showers. The facilities were nice and you could reserve spots with electricity and water. Most all of the camping spots were sand based and of different sizes and shapes as the camping is fit into a horseshoe shaped area. It was also Bike week so there was a lot of people using the campgrounds but it did not seem loud or overwhelmed. There is a camp store and everyone is very friendly. The only facility issue we ran into was a shower head that didnt have a lot of pressure but from others in our group, this seemed to be the only one. They had RVs, tent sites and cabins.
GuideThe group campground is isolated from the rest of the camping areas and is quiet at night. There are a lot of park visitors who walk through the area, but the trail through goes around he main campsites. The pit toilets are in need of some attention, but have always been well stocked. It’s about 400 yards to hike in, so we used a wagon to bring in gear. No water on site, but a really nice fire pit with grill top and 2 picnic tables. Shady tent sites available, but really hot and buggy in summer. Group camp site is about .5 mile hike from the river which is great for wading, but swimming is not allowed.
Many species of carnivorous plants grow here and abundant wildlife.
in the summer months there is a place to rent kayaks and paddle boards at the marina.
LegendBooked the spot for 4 nights in the tent, and extended for two more after rest stops in Savannah and Charleston during this fourth week in September. This park really has it all: trails, beaches, camp store, RV and tent sites, laundry, clean bathrooms, and WiFi. There's something magical about the trees that shelter the picnic areas beside the beach. You will see hares, turtles, birds, and lizards in the nature preserves, but you won't see raccoons, possums, or armadillos near the camp sites. There are just too many people and dogs for them to bear. Camped in spot #123a, pretty large and next to the bathrooms and trash/recycling bins, and a short walk to the camp store. The fire pits are shallow and don't have that ability to raise the rack to separate your food front the fire, so be watchful when cooking to prevent burning. Expect overhead air traffic related to the nearby airport and a helicopter tour company. There's a special path for bikes and carts that takes you out of the park and places you right in front of the supermarket Food Lion on Hwy 17. Cool. This is now a favorite park. It would have five stars if I couldn't hear my neighbors' low-volume conversations next door.
Discover the charm of tent camping near Sunset Beach, North Carolina, where nature meets adventure in a serene coastal setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
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