Looking to go glamping near Swan Quarter and enjoy a rustic retreat into nature? Glamping is not only a fun alternative to traditional tent camping, but also allows you to pack more or less gear as you see fit. You're sure to find glamping for your North Carolina camping adventure.
Cape Point Campground sites have a shortened reservation window. Due to the ground saturation and potential for flooding we encourage you to check the sites prior to paying. Cape Point Campground is centrally located to all of the attractions on Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The campground puts you within walking distance of arguably the best fishing and surfing on the east coast.
A short walk through the dunes leads you to the beach at the infamous Cape Hatteras. Many trophy fish have been landed from the point, and it has been a surfing destination for decades. If you prefer to drive to the beach you can access one of the many off-road vehicle ramps within a short distance of the campground. Exploration of the barrier islands beyond their beaches is possible on a hike through the nearby maritime forest. The Buxton Woods Trail is a 3/4 mile loop that can be accessed just north of the campground at the Buxton Woods Picnic Area on Lighthouse Road.
The campground is nestled between rolling dunes to the south and the largest remaining tract of maritime forest on the North Carolina coast to the north. The environment is naturally suited to accommodate many bird and mammal species. A large heard of white tail deer frequent the area.
For facility specific information, please call (252) 475-9054.
The iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is located just north of Cape Point Campground on Lighthouse Road next to the Visitor Center. Standing at 198 feet, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States. It has undoubtedly saved the lives of many mariners navigating around the treacherous Diamond Shoals. The Museum of the Sea is also located near the Visitor Center within the shadow of the lighthouse. The museum's operating hours vary with the season.Buxton Beach is a family friendly swimming destination staffed with lifeguards from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It is a short walk or bike ride from the campground. Parking is available at the old lighthouse site adjacent to the current location of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
$20 / night
If you're looking for the best campground in the OBX, we've got you covered! Our charming campground is located right off the beach in the lovely village of Rodanthe, NC. This locale is a delightful blend of cedar-clad vacation rentals and wide-open beaches, making it the perfect backdrop for your getaway. Our variety of accommodations will fit every lifestyle and budget, and we offer direct Hatteras beach access with just a short jaunt to the Atlantic shoreline.
$25 - $38 / night
Guide
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!
Guide
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.
Legend
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.
LegendKOA 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.
Legend
Teeters in Ocracoke: Folks look to have permanent spots. There are fishing boats and golf carts for access to the nearby ‘city center’ of the cute town of Ocracoke. (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 R: Looks to be mostly Permanent Units Here for seasonal visitation. Usage during visit: 90% Site Privacy: None Site Spacing: Close Campground Noise: Quiet Road Noise: Very miniskirt if site is near the road . Through Traffic in campground: No Full Hookup: Yes Cell Service (AT&T): 2 to 3 bars Setting: Crowded sites. Very Clean Weather: 68 degree fall day. Bugs: No
LegendCape 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.
GuideWhere else can you watch the sunrise AND the sunset from the same campground? Wow. I give this place an 11 out of 10
GuideSuper close to a beautiful beach, there really are no bad spots, but you are very close to your neighbors and no shade. A bit pricey - we chose a pull through w electric and water, but wished we had gone with full hookup. Bathrooms are ok - I did see other people’s hair and could’ve been cleaner. Some of the doors were broken and wouldn’t lock. Great pet area and the staff is super nice.
TravelerGreat location. Friendly and helpful staff. Great people who visit and stay at the grounds. You feel as though you have never met a stranger even if they come from as far away as Quebec or Minnesota.
Scout
Just being honest- I’ve been over-landing/camping all around NC and this did not feel like nature. It feels like a parking lot with a pool. Please Understand you will be parked in between huge trailers/RVs that rent that space permanently and are slightly territorial. Considering not spending night. AND Don’t go over 7.5 mph the golf cart police will scold you. Pros- It’s clean and quiet and hookups work.
GuideWe drove up to check the park out to see if it would be worth a trip to camp. We will definitely be making a trip there. The camp ground was nice and very clean. The sights are all gravel with full hook ups. But loop around the sight is paved. There are some cabins as well with a bath house. The tent sights are completely secluded drive in with some on the water. All the roads are paved and nice. Except the road back to the tents is dirt but very well kept. If navigating the tent spot the road may be tight for larger trucks. I have a F-150 that was fine but anything larger than a half ton truck it may get tight.
Activities: There is a nature center at the entrance of the park. A ton of trails with trail heads everywhere. A swim beach (we didn’t walk to). A place to launch Kayaks as well.
Careful There is four foot tall vegetation between the sites and they are spread out. When I was there a random fire started where myself and another camper fought it for 30 mins and my wife drove around getting campers to evacuate until the fire department came. Just be mindful if your smoker and any fires you may have while camping. If you were camping there March 5th, 2023 and came back to your house unhooked from your trailer, I’m sorry but I used it to contain the fire instead of burning your 5th wheel down. I didn’t hook it up because I was dragging it through fire and didn’t know if you would want it hooked up.
GuideThough we are here late in the year, and lots of things are closed, especially area restaurants, this campground has a number of things for kids to do and the beach was great. Wifi works well and the restrooms are great.
GuideWe spent 2 separate weeks here. The 1st one was planned, the second was because we loved it so much there.
The first thing that captured my heart was the drive in!! It is AMAZING!! The bridges, beach views, sand dunes, inland water views, it is something so pretty it’s hard to describe and be able to capture all the beauty! It truly is something you have to see and experience.
The campground is cute and has a beach vibe. There is a pirate ship playground, a huge pool and hot tub, jumping pillow, basket ball court, your kids will defiantly keep busy! They have my dogs favorite dog parks of all dog parks. They love running free in the sand! The store is cute and. If and has anything and everything you would ever need for an epic beach day.
Speaking of beach…this beach is captivating. The big waves are dreamy. On sunny days you’ll watch surfers and pelicans. Windy days you’ll see kite boarders and pelicans.
We went during the winter and the sea was so amazing. Everyday was a new beach. One day there was a 3’ drop off, the next day it vanished without a trace. The sea birds are adorable. And there are always fishermen being in something exciting be it a fish, shark, or sting ray.
One down side of winter was most of the stores and attractions are closed, but the upside is a quiet campground for beachy dreams and soul filling peace.
RangerThis campground is right next to several beach access where you can drive your car onto the beach and fishing is good near the point. If you are walking it is a little far so I’d recommend bringing a vehicle to drive on the beach-or you can park in the lot with closer beach access but it does fill up quickly. Simple camping with restrooms and water. Bring a camp stove because campfires are rarely allowed and sand gets everywhere anyway. Watch out for thorns in the dunes if you have dogs! And also watch the weather because this campground is flat grass for the most part and if heavy rain it tends to flood. I’d choose a site on the perimeter if you like privacy since it’s so open. This campground is mostly rated for the location and again pretty simple otherwise!
ScoutHave been several times the last being 2 nights last weekend. I sleep in the primitive site in a hammock and there were plenty of trees to hang from. Firewood is $8.00 a bundle. Although it was a busy weekend the sites are far enough apart that noise is not an issue. The primitive sites are well maintained and the staff is great. There is a dock that you can launch a kayak from and racks to store them. Nice touch. Water is from various spigots but no electricity. There are some bathrooms
I’ll be back
GuidePerfect spot for a great trip! Enjoyed the beach and the campground! Place was rocking when we were there!
ScoutGreat place.
RangerVery small campground. We had an issue with the 50amp service. But they fixed it. The water pressure is low. Plenty of space between camp sites. Very very quiet!!!
ScoutThey have a cabin that is fully handicapped! It has a paved sidewalk to the bathrooms and they will allow you to drive your “person” down the access path to the water way!! My daughter loved it and we will be back! Even the picnic table has a cut out for a wheelchair!
Legend
Really beautiful location on river with very nice peer and green space. Extremely nice and helpful owners. Full hookups and a cement pad for picnic table. Site was fairly level. But campsites are very tight with no landscaping for aesthetics. Just a big gravel lot.
ScoutNew clean RV area in older state park. Bathrooms and showers were new and excellent for RV campers. Verizon 1-2 bars. Spanish moss in trees over the Pamlico. Can get buggy and humid when hot. Bring bug spray. Gravel RV pad.
Scout
Best view of the way with the sound of the ocean right by you. Spots are very generous and ever place comes with proper space and equipment. Highly recommend and people were very generous. Just make sure to come in season!
GuideThis is an excellent campground. The sites are a bit close together for my liking, but normal for the KOA experience. Sites are clean and well designed.
The proximity to a lovely beach is a huge win. We were able to walk just about 100 yards to an empty, clean beach with great waves.
The pool and hot tub are amazing. Too bad it was so cold during our visit!
The store is clean and well stocked. Plenty of necessities and some fun frivolities as well.
Arcade is dated and many machines are broken or losing functionality.
Playground is very cool! Bounce pillow was a big hit.
Arrived for Halloween and were pleased to find some fun events happening. Unfortunately, one of those events included LOUD music and some drunken karaoke at the pool area bar. That was, happily, the only disturbance of the week.
Long story short, this place is well worth a visit if you don’t want to “rough it” at a NP campground.
GuideThe beach was absolutely amazing. By far 10/10 for camp ground beaches. However, the actual campground was not a direct reflection of our beach experience. The KOA Registration building was beautiful. However, the grounds were sub par, the restaurant was closed Monday and Tuesday, and only open for breakfast and lunch. We picked a KOA and spent 100+ a night for a resort style experience. The “store” had a ton of supplies but their refrigerators were broken and they were letting milk and other perishable items sit in a sweltering hot freezer. My first experience with that staff was watching a check in person and a customer have an argument about the check in process. The customer was told they could check in at 3 pm and then was told to wait until 5 because their room wasn’t ready. The staff offered no help only that they needed to wait. As a customer you hate to see the way you could be treated. All in all, my family and I enjoyed the beach, our space was small but still spacious enough to enjoy, and the silver lining of the restaurant being closed got us out into their small community. I wanted to rate is 3 stars but at the end of the day we really enjoyed our time.
ScoutStayed for 2 nights. Very quiet. Price for campgrounds you can’t beat.
Heads up there are a lot of mosquitoes. So make sure you pack the good stuff and not anything for light coverage.
Firewood is 5 a bundle which was easily found in shacks.
Park does close at night so no going in and out or returning too late.
ScoutI have a personal pull to Goose Creek State Park as it was once my family’s land going back generations and generations. My great-grandfather, grandfather, and father carved out the trails used for hiking today and the road to the campground its self was made by my dad and his friends. The state bought the land in the 70’s and it became our state park. It makes me proud to share a part of my family history with the rest of the world.
Even without the personal connection I feel when I visit GCSP, it’s such a beautiful place to be during anytime of the year. Hiking trails equipped with boardwalks lead through the marsh and swampy areas while sporadic signs display pictures and information about the wildlife you are likely to see. The primitive campground has more than 10 sites, with the farthest sights sitting on the edge of the Pamlico River. It truly is an awesome sight to take in at sunset and sunrise. Bath houses with showers, hot water, and toilets are available. There are two group sites and, recently added, several rv sites and about 5-6 small cabins. I have not stayed in the cabins yet. They seem to be fairly popular so reservations should be made at least a couple of weeks in advanced. There heat and AC but no bathrooms or kitchen area inside the cabin. I believe there are two sets of twin beds and a full bed but you have to bring your own linens. There is also a very nice bathhouse available for cabin renters. The only downside to the cabins and RV sites is there is no shade. The sites are toward the front of the park, and, perhaps because of the recent construction, there is are no trees, woods, or shade around. As a personal preference, I want to be IN THE WOODS when I camp so the aspect of being out in the open is not as exciting as tent camping. That being said, the cabins are adorable and have a fire ring, picnic table, and everything you need to enjoy a night of camping.
ScoutSerious water and drainage issues, sewer dump station was a joke. Do yourself a favor and stay at nps campground up the road if u don’t need full hook ups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Swan Quarter, NC?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Swan Quarter, NC is Goose Creek State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 34 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Swan Quarter, NC?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 glamping camping locations near Swan Quarter, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.
