Best Campgrounds near Swan Quarter, NC

We stopped for one night and wish it was longer. Off season and quiet, but very easy access in and out and a dune away from the Atlantic. The kids had plenty of room to ride their bikes and enjoyed the jump pillow. While too cold, the pool looks great. NC was under a burn ban, so no fire for us. But they do deliver wood and ice. Great staff of work campers were all super friendly. Easy access to outer banks points and plenty of dining options near by.

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!

Such a nice and clean campground! The sites are pretty big so you can move around easily and there are tons of trails you can check out as well and water access. Campground host was very nice too!

All the amenities at the price of privacy. Stray cats, fed by campers drove our dog crazy.

Wonderful campground! Clean, lots of amenities and super friendly staff. Great access to the beach and a great camping section across the street on the sound. Definitely recommend!

Quiet campground, great views of the ocean and Marsh. 

Close to the Morris Marina, Davis, and Ocracoke ferry. Easy access to the Outer and Core banks.

We loved our three days at Ocracoke Campground. We were worried about mosquitoes, but not an issue with the breeze.

We found Dixon Landing in their initial opening phase and it is lightly booked at this point (they even have openings for the upcoming summer holidays). This is a very secluded campground right on the wide Goose Creek/Neuse River, with access to the ocean varying from 25-50 miles. 

Every RV site is pull-through with both “waterfront” and “water view” (more of a view of the marsh along the river) sites. Site layout is long, very wide(you have to actually walk over to talk to neighbors) and mostly level side-to-side. Front-to-back was easily compensated with blocks. The road in and the sites are a combination of compacted sand and grass that drained well after a storm. Many sites have shade or afternoon shade. The electric pedestal was new and tall, making it easy to connect the surge protector, and topped with a solar light. 

Hosts Steve and Joan were themselves RV’rs and park details reflect their experience. Since they are in their opening season they currently offer basic services with electric/water, a dump site(no water) and free on-site pump-out service, picnic tables, firepits, a dog park, kayaks, and a fishing pond for kids(C&R). More services are in the planning or permitting stage. Today they offer a bathroom and just got permits for the full bathhouse. Fiber-optic cable should be run to their area this year. We were amazed at how many TV channels we picked up just on antennae. Verizon, ATT and Sprint service are known to be good. They will have an ice machine, laundry, and a pier eventually. 

Today you will go to enjoy the absolute quiet, waking up to sunrise glinting off the wide river in every window, fishing from the banks, land and sea wildlife, gorgeous sunsets over the river, and hearing whip-or-wills serenade after sunset. 

It was about 90 minutes (including 2 ferry rides) to reach the Cape Lookout National Park and lighthouse.  The ferry dropped us off for 2 hours to walk the beach, hike and view the wild horses on Harker’s Island. Gary’s, the local seafood restaurant, was a find! So good we ate there twice. I’m already looking at the calendar to go back.

Great KOA park with one row of dunes to cross to the ocean beach that depending on your site is only about 5 min walk. The park is well kept with clean bathrooms and showers. The have laundry and a very nice camp store with groceries, camping essentials and gifts. Sites are level with full hookups including cable that worked well. Wifi is marginal but they reported they have equipment on order to improve. We had spot along the dunes with covered patio with picnic table and a fire ring (no barbeques). The beach is wonderful. Great restful destination. We will definitely return.

My first camping experience and it was absolutely amazing! the beach was super close, extremely secluded- it genuinely felt like we were the only people there. Not to long of a drive to get to more “developed” parts of OBX AND the bathrooms were clean. The only down side that trip was the TERRIBLE wind on night one but aye that’s camping for you. 10/10 will go back again and can’t WAIT to do so.

 This was the third of the four Cape Hatteras Nat’l Seashore campgrounds we stayed in. It had a similar feel to the Oregon Inlet campground. It’s also $28/night, and like the others, you must reserve the site through recreation.gov. We pulled in without a reservation, picked a spot, then pulled up the app and reserved and paid. Recreation.gov doesn’t charge a service fee, which is nice. 

We liked it here so much we added a second day. Really easy access to the beach. Campground was quiet and peaceful. We stayed here during off season in early November so I’d imagine it’s probably a completely different vibe in the summer. Watch out for spiny sand spurs(?) that stick in your dog’s paws and your socks- very painful and they’re all over the grassy areas. 

OK cell service, Verizon was a little slow but ATT was ok. Wide open sky for solar panels and starlink. Loop D does not allow generator use at any time. 

Dumpsters available, as well as plastic, glass, and aluminum recycling bins.

No wood fires allowed here.

Some sites have power and water for $35/night. There’s a dump station and water fill available. Like the other two campgrounds we stayed at, the showers are in this short door outhouse type setup, and our understanding is that the water is cold. We did not use the showers. 

We were traveling south along the Outer Banks and the ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke was very easy to ride with our 26ft class c RV, and it was free.

Campground is 1 of the 4 within the Cape Hatteras Nat’l Seashore. Cost here is only $20/night (the others are $28). No hookups available, but there is a dump station and potable water fill on your way out. Cell service is good. The walk to the beach is a bit long, maybe about 1/2 mile or so. 

We stayed here for a night in early November and the place was nearly empty. There were one or two campers per loop, so the campground was nice and open and quiet. I think that during the busy season it would be an unpleasant stay, as the sites are all right next to each other, side by side, just big grassy area. Sites are large though, which was nice. 

We didn’t use the showers but I believe they are cold showers. The set up is almost like an outdoor shower, with a short door and a pull rope for the water. Watch out for spiny sand spurs (?) that stick in your dog’s paws and your socks- very painful and they’re all over the grassy areas. 

Sites must be reserved through recreation.gov. It was easy to pull up with no reservation, pick a site, then reserve and pay online. No service fee through this site. 

No wood fires allowed here. Each site has a picnic table and grill, nothing else.

Dumpsters available, but no recycling bins. Not sure if North Carolina segregates recycling after pickup.

Jernimans- Ocracoke , NC: Looks to be a place for seasonal access to the cute town of Ocracoke.
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(71 yr olds in 17’ trailer with a desire for a campsite that has at least some visual privacy offered - after the trailer is in the spot.)

Usage during visit: Pretty empty this time of year. Site Privacy: None Site Spacing: Close Site surface: Gravel Road Noise: Some sites are adjacent to gravel parking area which separates the campground from the highway. Through Traffic in campground: None Electricity : Yes Potable Water Available: Yes Bathroom: Yes Showers: Yes Cell Service (AT&T): Good Setting: Outskirts of town. Weather: Upper 60s for highs Bugs: None this time of year Solar: Yes Rig size: Looks like a big rig would be fine, but best to double check. I saw an about 30’ rig. Sites: Nothing special about the sites except just on the edge of Ocracoke. Note pictures.

KOA Cape Hatteras Outer Banks Campground (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer with a desire for a campsite that has at least some visual privacy offered - after the trailer is in the spot.)

Weather: 60s Bugs: Gone for the winter Solar: Plenty Rig size: Big rig friendly Road Noise: For sites near the highway 12 Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: Some full hookups Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: Yes Bathroom: Yes Showers: Yes Cell Service (AT&T): 3 - 4 bars Setting: Open park area between highway and the dunes Weather: 60s during our visit Bugs: Gone for the winter Host: Yes Rig size: Big rigs Sites: Those in the back along the dunes would be nice to have. See pics.

Ocracoke - National Park campground in Ocracoke, NC: We stayed here in November a couple years ago. This time we drove through only for this review. We remembered how our previous November visit was so delightful. Crowds were absent at the campground, on the beach and in town. Lovely.
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good

(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer with a desire for a campsite that has at least some visual privacy offered - after the trailer is in the spot.)

Overall Rating: 3 Price 2023: $ 14 w interagency pass Usage during visit: Light Site Privacy: Mostly a very open park like campground surrounded by low growing shrubbery. Site Spacing: Moderate Site surface: Blacktop Reservations: Required Campground Noise: Quiet.
Road Noise: Not located near a highway.
Through Traffic in campground: No reason for a drive through. Best sites are on the outer loop, but there will be more traffic as campers come and go. Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: Yes Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Flush toilets Showers: Yes Cell Service (AT&T): Yes Setting: Very open park like bordered by sand dunes Weather: High in Themis 60s when we drove through Bugs: Not this time of year. Solar: Very good solar Host: On duty. Their sites are near the entry Rig size: Large rigs can find a spot Sites: Most sites do not offer much if any visual privacy. Among our favorites, that offer some visual privacy after the trailer is backed in the site are B1, D1, D3, D5, D23, D25, D37. Other better sites: A1,7, B3,5,12, C1,3,5,7, D7,9,13,15,17,19,27,30. Some of these sites are pictured below.

Frisco: The best camp sites in all of Hatteras NSS are in this campground. It is just north of Ocracoke- Hatteras Ferry. There are some sites with views and some sites with privacy - Every site here is better than the open park like setting at the other Hatteras NSS campgrounds. . Dense oak and juniper shrubs break up the campground and give a degree of separation to sites….. Frisco closes for the season on Nov 27. Sad. Oregon Inlet and Ocracoke remain open. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer). Desire for at least moderately secluded campsites to be offered is important to me. Overall Rating: 4.5. More privacy offered here than Oregon Inlet where we also stayed. Least of campsites are better, in my opinion, than Oregon Inlet. No electricity here, though!
Beach Access: boardwalk P1 and P 29: Price 2023: $14 w interagency pass Usage during visit: Light Site Privacy: Some great sites Site Spacing: Good Site surface: Blacktop. Our site was pretty level. Reservations: Required. Campground Noise: Quiet as can be.
Road Noise: Far from a road Through Traffic in campground: No reason. The perimeter road on the right side is going to see more traffic. That’s because campers will be driving to their sites on the one way interior roads - when it’s busy. However, there are great sites on the perimeter . Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: Yes Dump Station: No. We will use the dump station at Oregon Inlet when we drive out of the Outer Banks. Potable Water Available: Yes. At restrooms. Generators: Allowed.
Bathroom: Clean. Flush Toilets. Showers: Cold water and breezy. Pull Throughs: A couple. Cell Service (AT&T): 1 to 2 bars. Setting: Dense low shrubs between sites. Weather: Sunny and cloudy days. Highs are low to upper 60s. Always some wind. Lows are in the 50s Bugs: Not this time of year Solar: Great when sunny. Host: I don’t believe there was one furing our stay - late in the season. Rig size: Large rigs okay in selected sites. Sites: P6 is cozy little sight, no view, but the picnic table is in a cozy little very shaded area. Ideal for warmer weather - tables in SHADED/PRIVATE picnic area: P8, P10, P40, to a lesser degree-D4, D5 , F1 PRIVACY: A2, A3,A4(picnic table and grill down a short hill from site.) A6 D2, P46, P48,P49,P50, P55,P56 through P62 even, P9(picnic table, a few yards from trailer site.) P17, P65, P67, P69, P71, P22, P24, B1, B5, B7, B4, B6, P26, P28, P26, P30, VIEW of distant ocean: P66, P57, P51( our delightful sight - splendid view), P61(a peak of a view- less privacy), P73(pull over site, no privacy- great view of ocean.), P67(very splendid view of dunes, not ocean)

Cape Point. - Hatteras NP: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (71 yr olds in 17’ trailer with a desire for at least moderately secluded campsites and a picnic area that is a bit tucked away. ) Overall Rating: 2.5. Too open for me. Less character than Oregon Inlet as far as I am concerned. Price 2023: $ $10 w interagency pass Usage during visit: Almost empty. Closes soon. Site Privacy: Not very good . Luke’s eight through CO2 open, not broken up. Site Spacing: Decent Site surface: Blacktop Reservations: Required Road Noise: None Through Traffic in campground: Outside loop as approach entry will have most campground traffic Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes. You will see it just before you enter cg. Potable Water Available: Yes. Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Yes Showers: Cold and open to wind. Pull Throughs: Some Cell Service (AT&T): 2 bars Setting: Open parklike. As you approach the last loop the loops are more broken up by shrubbery. Sites still are open. Weather: eyes in the 60s and lows in the 50s. Windy Bugs: none Solar: good. Rig size: can accommodate larger rigs. Sites: K26, K21 - about the best it gets here.

Hatteras Sands in Frisco, NC: The sites along the waterway would be nicest. They are very cute cabins and some with water view. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer). Desire for at least moderately secluded campsites to be offered is important to me. Overall Rating: Water sites are nice . Very close sites, Clean grounds , No privacy - 3 Usage during visit: Empty Site Privacy: None Site Spacing: Very, very close.
Site surface: Concrete Reservations: Yes Campground Noise. I can say that the area seems quiet. Road Noise: No Through Traffic in campground: No Electric Hookup: Full hock ups Potable Water Available: At site.
Bathroom: Yes Showers: Yes Pull Throughs: Yes Cell Service (AT&T): Two bars. Setting: Open with little shrubbery Weather: Highs in 60s. Lows in 50s Bugs: None Solar: Plenty Rig size: Large rig sites Sites: Get a site one along the water.

Frisco Woods Campground : Many sites in this campground will be spectacular for those who like Private campgrounds. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer w a desire for at least moderately secluded campsites and at least a picnic area that is a bit tucked away. ) Overall Rating: 4 for a private open campground. This one has some beautiful water view sites - along the Hatteras Bight, along an inlet and a pond Usage during visit: Light this time of year. Some great sites are available right now. Site Privacy: Very open. Site Spacing: Pretty good, not packed. See pics. Site surface: Grass Campground Noise: Quiet this time of year. Road Noise: There definitely could be in the sites near highway. Most sites are away from highway. Choose carefully. Through Traffic in campground: No reason for any. Electric Hookup: Yes Sewer Hookup: Maybe some sites. Potable Water Available: At sites.
Bathroom: Yes Showers: Yes Pull Throughs: Most or all are back ins. Cell Service (AT&T): 3 bars Setting: Open park like along the blight with a pond and a waterway of sorts which divides the campground. Weather: Very nice upon visit. I’d expect windy nights here Bugs: None now. Solar: Fantastic Rig size: Large rig friendly Sites: There are great sites along water way, ponds, and the blight . Get one of those.
Swimming Pool and deck.

Where else can you watch the sunrise AND the sunset from the same campground? Wow. I give this place an 11 out of 10