Camping options near Sunset Beach, North Carolina range from established campgrounds to glamping retreats within 10-30 miles of coastal attractions. The area maintains a mild coastal climate with average summer temperatures of 85°F and winter lows rarely dropping below 35°F. Several campgrounds provide direct beach access or shuttle services to nearby shorelines, with peak camping season running April through October.
What to do
Beach access routes: Carolina Beach State Park Campground offers campsites approximately 5 minutes from public beach areas. "It's not far, too far to walk 5 minutes drive to the coast line, staff is friendly facility is really clean nice camping spots for tents and drive in campers," notes El Rhino C.
Local hiking trails: Carolina Beach State Park features multiple nature paths through coastal forest. "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," reports Sam M.
Water activities: River Island Adventures provides kayaking and paddleboarding near the coast. Cherish C. reports, "They offer kayaking, paddleboarding, tubing, camping, glamping, night paddles with 6 different kinds of smores!! And the super cool Escape River Island which is 10 challenges like survivor or amazing race or escape room or something."
Wine tasting: CarrollWoods RV Park combines camping with vineyard access. Nancy C. explains, "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."
What campers like
Private setups: Campers near Sunset Beach appreciate sites with adequate spacing. At Willow Tree RV Resort, Ramona K. notes, "Large lots with nice long pull through, clean and quiet with a friendly staff."
Natural surroundings: Mature trees provide cooling shade at multiple locations. At Holden Beach RV Campground, Caleb S. shared, "We had a shaded site, which most of the sites there are shaded, it had full hook ups and a fire ring. There is a playground for kids and I could see our kids riding their bikes around with no issues at all."
Clean facilities: Bathhouse quality matters to campers in this region. At Willow Tree RV Resort, one reviewer remarked, "Bath house was 8 individual doors to full individual bathrooms of toilet sink and shower which were kept very clean."
Beach proximity: Access to shorelines ranks highly among visitor priorities. Sam M. appreciates Carolina Beach saying, "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."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: For glamping close to Sunset Beach, North Carolina, consider timing. Carolina Beach State Park offers year-round access with heated facilities in winter. Caroline G. mentions, "The bathhouse is also heated during the winter months and there are quit a few outlets available which we used to charge our phones."
Booking timelines: Popular sites fill quickly during peak seasons. At Ocean Lakes Family Campground, Thomas C. advised, "Booked for next Memorial Day before leaving."
Traffic patterns: Some locations experience congestion during busy periods. Samantha O. observed at Ocean Lakes, "Be ready to see golf carts. Everyone here drives golf carts. There is actually golf cart traffic at night because there are so many golf carts. Really! People sit in traffic and high five each other as they go by."
Noise policies: Campgrounds maintain specific quiet hours. Samantha noted, "Noise times are 7am- 11pm. The good thing about this is at 11pm everything is quiet. No one is on the roads. All golf carts go away and people settle down for the night."
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Pirateland Family Camping Resort offers multiple water features for children. Blake K. shares, "It sits right on the beach and has a nice pool and a lazy river. Some sites are kinda cramped while others are very spacious."
Transportation options: Golf cart rentals facilitate movement around larger properties. At Pirateland, Blake advises, "Rent a golf cart and ride around. Make sure to decorate it because there is a cart parade every night from 9-11."
Security measures: Property access controls vary by location. Samantha noted at Ocean Lakes, "The staff are diligent in keeping it clean here and security is always on the patrol."
Beach alternatives: Pool facilities provide alternatives when ocean conditions aren't ideal. Landon T. commented about Pirateland, "This place is awesome especially if you have kids. Bath houses are nice and clean, splash pool is top notch, putt putt, food, and the beach here is really nice."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Myrtle Beach KOA offers various site types for different needs. Cyndi B. reports, "There are also luxury rv sites that have cement pads with patios, grills and patio furniture along with full hookups."
Site selection considerations: Request specific sites based on terrain needs. Nancy C. warns about potential challenges at Myrtle Beach KOA: "We had one of the ancient spots with shared power pole that we had to use converter to use the remaining 50amp. Feel sorry if you were a class A rig and needed the 50 and only had 40 left."
Pad material options: Surface materials affect setup and maintenance. At Holden Beach RV Campground, Robert H. notes, "Sites are easy to access. 30/50 is solid, sewer easy access and water pressure is good. Didn't use cable, so can't speak to that. WiFi is also pretty solid, even at the back of campground."
Utilities reliability: Service quality varies between locations. Tucker M. shares about Willow Tree RV Resort, "Every spot is concrete, pull through, fire pit, and picnic table."
