Best Campgrounds near Swan Quarter, NC

Paid for oceanfront and got site 38 which is further away from ocean than second row- only to see 2-3 front row sites set empty our entire weekend. They do not assign sites until arrival. Lost power for a few hours on entire campground first night and it was 82 degrees - no email or message as to what was happening. Then headed to the south beach entrance only to find it boarded up for repairs-I’m still chill-until I go to take a shower on Sunday morning at 0930 and I was locked out while it was being cleaned. Unpleasant and disappointing for $155+\night

General: One of four Cape Hatteras National Seashore campgrounds, in four joined loops. 

Site Quality: Sites are all level, and there is a varying amount of physical separation/privacy between sites. Each site has a paved camper pad, picnic table, and BBQ grill. 

Bath/Shower house: The bathrooms were basic but clean. The showers appeared to be beach showers. Didn’t test them, but I doubt there would be hot water as they were more outdoor showers. Although the bathrooms were in the middle of the loops, there was no designated pathway to them, so it felt like you were walking through someone’s site to get to them. 

Activities/Amenities: Beach walking! I walked two miles south from our site and could have walked much further if I wanted. Fishing and there is a fish-cleaning station. There is also a dump station and a water fill just outside of the campground. You can drive on the beach here, but that’s not our thing. There is also a nature trail but I did not explore it, favoring the beach instead.

The best sites are on the outside of the loops on the dune side, and these were mostly all occupied on a weekend in early April. The sites on the Highway 12 side have little separation between them, and I was not surprised that not many of these were occupied. See the map in my photos. 

With a lifetime senior pass, $14 was a bargain for this campground. I love the ocean, especially walking on the beach, and wish we could have stayed longer!

We stayed here six years ago and when I knew we’d be returning to the area, I tried to find it on The Dyrt but it wasn’t there (and I could not remember the name). When we were there in 2018, the campground was in transition and our stay was less than optimal, so I figured maybe it was no longer there. I was surprised when we arrived at the ferry terminal to see it was there, open, and looking quite improved. I stopped in at the office to speak to the owner/manager and she was very surprised to find it was not on the Dyrt’s map so I’m glad that now that I finally had a chance to post my review, it had been added! 

There are 60 sites, including walk-in tent sites, back-in W/E, pull-thru W/E, and FHU pull-thru sites. The prices range from $20-$75. You cannot get any closer to the Cedar Island-Ocracoke ferry terminal from this campground. There is also a motel. The bathrooms are much improved since the last time we were there and there are hot water showers. 

Activities/Amenities: Playground, dog park, horseback riding, SUP rentals, beach volleyball, community fire pit, boat ramp, dump station, post office. 

Had we known this campground was still here, we would have stayed!