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Best Tent Camping near Swansboro, NC

230 Reviews

Coastal tent camping options near Swansboro, North Carolina include several distinctive beach and waterfront locations. Hammocks Beach State Park offers tent-only campsites on Bear Island, accessible by ferry or kayak from the mainland. The island features primitive tent camping with sites nestled behind dunes and along the shoreline. Haywood Landing Recreation Site provides free tent camping with basic amenities for those seeking a more rustic experience. Military personnel and their families can access Onslow Beach Campsites in nearby Sneads Ferry, which offers tent sites with beach access. Phoenix Farms Vineyard, a former tobacco farm, now provides walk-in tent sites in a more inland setting.

Tent campers at Bear Island should prepare for logistics unique to island camping. The state ferry runs only during daylight hours (approximately 9am-6pm), requiring overnight campers to remain on the island until morning service resumes. Campers must backpack all supplies at least one mile from the ferry landing to their campsite. Sites lack natural shade, and no campfires are permitted anywhere on the island. Potable water and bathhouses with showers are available, but campers must pack out all trash as no collection points exist on the island. Cell service varies from none to 5G, depending on location and weather conditions.

During summer months, tent campers often face challenging heat at exposed beach sites. According to reviews, the center section at Onslow Beach has "no tree coverage, making it really hot with no breeze" during peak season. Campers recommend bringing tarps or light sunshades for relief. Bear Island tent sites offer more seclusion but require careful planning. One visitor noted, "Sites are widely spread out, so you could end up a mile from water and bathhouse." The paddle-in tent sites on the far side of Bear Island provide the most privacy, with one camper describing their location as "in the woods with a nice shady clearing and its own very private little beach." Wildlife encounters are common, with snakes frequently observed along beach areas and mosquitoes prevalent during evening hours.

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Best Tent Sites Near Swansboro, North Carolina (7)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Swansboro, NC

5 Photos of 7 Swansboro Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Swansboro, NC

230 Reviews of 7 Swansboro Campgrounds

  • Kelsey K.
    Mar. 19, 2023

    Oyster Point Campground

    Not very private

    I chose this site in hopes of being in a private wooded area. Very dissapointed. Original pics and videos i saw were showing lots of coverage. But now everything is so open, you can see every persons camp site. Theres no real privacy. They are also sticklers about dogs on leashes. Even though mine was trained and playing with us in our area. We were still forced to leash him. There are toilets at each end, but it's a pit. No flushing. No sink. No showers. There are fire pits with grates and also a picnic table. There is also a lot of rocks around the tent pad area and picnic table.

    There's a wooded trail that leads up to the main gravel road you come in on. Very narrow. Also water but only half the campsites are looking onto it. I believe it's only odd numbered spots. Overall it was an okay time for the price. Wouldn't come here again.

    Couldn't even attempt fishing because the wind was bad. There was only a small area to even try, but there was an oyster contamination sign. Dirty Foam all around the edge of the water.

  • Martha S.
    Dec. 24, 2020

    Cedar Point Campground

    Amazing Little Campground

    We camped here in October 2020 and stayed in site 17. It is a great site with lots of room between you and the next camper.

    The bath facility is in a very nice building, is heated and has individual locking shower rooms so you have total privacy and security. The roads are paved and the paved pads accommodate up to a 70 ft camper/vehicle. Each site has a smooth, flat, gravel area equipped with 2 lantern poles, one large picnic table, and a fire ring with swing away cooking grate. Beyond the gravel areas are flat level areas of grass. The campsites are shaded by large, tall pines and other assorted trees.

    The bath facility was very clean and well kept. The host was very friendly and helpful. The grounds throughout the park are extremely well kept.

    Upon arrival, you check in with the host, drive to water fill area and fill up your fresh water tank. There are additional water fill faucets throughout the park. Your site is equipped for both 30 or 50 amp campers.

    We really like this little campground and plan to come back again soon.

  • Steve V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 27, 2019

    Cedar Point Campground

    Heatwave

    Cedar Point RA is a small campground along the White Oak River in the Croatan National Forest. The campground has 40 sites with electric hook up. The sites are level and have a paved parking pad that they are pretty strict on you keeping all wheels on and a gravel area with a picnic table, fire pit, and two lantern poles (that also work good for putting up a clothes line or dog zipline). The sites do not have water hook ups so make sure your RV fresh water tanks are topped off, or there are plenty of potable water points throughout the campground to fill up you jugs. The sites are large and separated by space, not trees, for privacy. The sites on the southeast side seemed to have more shade than those on the northwest side. Campground map is in my pictures. 

    There is no office or signage for check-in, so we just drove in, found our reserved spot that had our name on the tag and set up. The Camp Host came around a little later and apparently we were supposed to know to check-in with him somehow. We stayed on site 24 on this visit. Lots of sun throughout the day until late evening, so a little miserable on this stay as the area had heat advisories every day. 

    The bathhouse could use a little TLC. The bathrooms were functional but not very clean. The showers are separate from the bathroom and half were out of order on this stay. Additionally, in typical National Forest fashion, there is no heat or air or even a fan in the bathroom or showers, so again, pretty miserable on this stay as the area had heat advisories every day. The heat in the bathrooms and showers had to be over 100 degrees. Also, typical National Forest setup, the showers are push button, with no temperature control (you get what you get) and the water only flows for about 15 seconds with each push of the button. 

    Firewood was available at the camp host. There is a full grocery store 5 minutes from the campground. The resort has many amenities like a boat ramp about a ¼ of a mile down the road and a hiking trail that loops for about 2 miles along the marshy shore line. There is a dump station and trash dumpster behind the camp hosts location. 

    We found good cell phone service with Verizon throughout the property. The campground did not have wi-fi. 

    While in the area we enjoyed the public beach on Emerald Isle, which is only 15 minutes from campground. There are lots of water sport rentals nearby and restaurants. Camp Lejeune is less than 30 minutes away and on some nights we could hear the artillery in the distance as the Marines trained. However, as a retired Army guy, the faint sound of freedom did not bother me at all. 

    The heatwave during our stay really hindered us. Not sure we’d revisit in the middle of the summer again, but during the cooler month I’m sure it would be much more comfortable.

  • Joe B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 2, 2022

    Flanners Beach Campground

    Grandson’s first camping trip

    I’ve been riding my bicycles on the the trails around Flanner’s for years. This was my first camping experience here.
    We brought our T@G Boondock XL for my wife and I, and a side tent for my grandson. Decent sized spot for our camper and 10x10 tent, and it included a fire pit (very tall sides) and a picnic table. We spent the first day setting up, preparing food and enjoying the fire. Ended the day in the tent playing guitar and singing, while my grandson played the Djembe. Day 2, was fresh ground Death Wish coffee in the Chemex and breakfast. Then we went for a 3 mile hike. Ate lunch and played ladder ball. Another 2 mile hike in the afternoon, some card games, dinner over the fire and pudgie pies. Played music around the fire until bedtime.
    Day 3 was Coffee, breakfast and tear down/pack up. The grounds were clean, saw the hosts throughout the park, and they were very friendly. Showers/bathrooms were good. Water was plenty hot in the shower. It was cold at night and in the morning, and the facilities have screens for ventilation, so it can get quite cold (or hot) in there. The beach is closed indefinitely. The trails are great.
    Great first camping experience for our grandson. I will be back. The sign at the gate says NO ALCOHOL. Not sure why this is an issue, but it’s their rule.

  • Laura F.
    Jul. 15, 2020

    Oyster Point Campground

    Clean and Small Campground

    We really enjoyed our night at Oyster Point.  The host was friendly and helped me find another campsite when my was taken by an unregistered guest.  We were able to launch kayaks almost directly from campsite #11.  Tent pads are big enough for 1 large tent or 2 small tents.  The campground is small so fairly quiet.

    **Pro's: **

    Metal Fire Ring/Grill 

    Picnic tables 

    Lots of lantern hooks

     Port a Johns were very clean

    Some cons:

    The bugs are bad in June and bug spray didn't really help.

    The sites aren't in order by number. 

    The gravel road had a lot of ruts in it so getting my trailer with kayaks in and out was a lot of trouble.

    No showers

    Port a johns were noticeably tilted down hill

  • T
    Jun. 15, 2021

    Oyster Point Campground

    Best out of season

    We tent camped at this small (16 sites) campground in late May. The location is pretty and on the water. Not a swimming place, but there is a launch for canoes and kayaks. The location is a perfect staring point for hiking in Croatan National Forest. Fierce biting bugs and ticks during certain seasons, so bug spray is a must! Campsites are large and clean with some shade and old (need repair) picnic tables and fire pits. Some sites have electric hook ups. Toilet facilities are there but I do not recommend. Sites feel relatively private, but you do sometimes hear your neighbors. Most sites had RV campers when we stayed there. Also small youth groups frequent this location. Good for tent camping and not far to Carteret County beaches.

  • Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 19, 2023

    Flanners Beach Campground

    Great Private Sites

    Neuse River Flanners Beach Campground: Most sites have visual privacy (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: 4.5 Price 2023: $ $10 + $5 per night for electricity w interagency pass Usage during visit: Pretty full. Unable to obtain a reservation for an extended period.
    Site Privacy: Almost all sites has a nice degree of privacy with trailer in site.
    Site Spacing: Very good Site surface: Gravel Reservations: Yes. You better. Campground Noise: Quiet. Road Noise: None Through Traffic in campground: None Electric Hookup: Available Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes. At entrance. Potable Water Available: Scattered spigots Generators:
    Bathroom: Yes Showers: Yes Pull Throughs: Not that I saw.
    Cell Service (AT&T): 2 bars Setting: Deciduous forest. Weather: 70 degrees today. Bugs: Not noticeable. Solar: Too much tree cover Host: Yes Rig size: Some sites will fit large rigs. A careful drive in Campground will surely be required. Sites: Almost all sites are good. Some of the least private sites are: 13,20,27,29

  • M. B.
    Oct. 20, 2021

    New Bern KOA Holiday

    On inlet not ocean

    Not bad this is called a holiday one but I would say this is more like a journey one it doesn't seem very resort-like.

    Bathrooms: 5/5

    Sites: 4/5 upgrades are nice but really expensive for just a concrete pad next to someone else

    Pools: 3/5 they have one but it's pretty meh. Like a 70s motel 8 pool.

    Beach: 2/5 there is an inlet beach and a pier but it's like marshy Mudd not sandy beach

    Waterfrontness: 0/5

    Closeness to other sites: 1/5 you are up each other's buttcracks

    Dog rating: 4/5 plenty of poop bags

    Internet: 2/5 no wifi and no hookups but our AT&T router worked

    Cell service: Google fi and ATnT worked

    Water quality: 1/5 potable but tastes gross

    Extra amenities: they have a shuttle some seasons. It was not here during October so who knows. Bike rentals Kayak rental Laundry Host station

  • Martha S.
    Dec. 24, 2020

    Cedar Point Campground

    Christmas Week at Cedar Point

    We could not have Christmas with our kids, so we went camping. Where? To our new favorite campground, of course!

    Back to CP. We were in site 11 on this trip and we reserved it because it is close to the bath house.

    The campground has only had about 12-15 campers in it this week. We love the quietness and the wind in the trees. It turned off really cold....I MEAN REALLY COLD, so I have spent a LOT of time inside the camper.

    Here are some of our favorite things from this trip:

    • Clam Chowder (yes, buy the BIG ONE) from Swansboro Food & Beverage in Swansboro

    • Lazzara’s Pizza on Emerald Isle has some AMAZING thin crust pizza (save yourself and don’t settle for Michangelo’s pizza.... not even close to the deliciousness of Lazzara’s)

    I did a silent video that show several sites and how big and well kept they are. I showed the end of the nice bath house and captured a few scattered campers and a brave tent camper......brrrrrrr too cold.

Guide to Swansboro

Swansboro, North Carolina, offers a fantastic backdrop for tent camping enthusiasts, with beautiful beaches and well-reviewed campgrounds that cater to various needs.

Tips for tent camping near Swansboro

  • When visiting the Hammocks Beach State Park Campground, be prepared for a bit of a trek to your site, as access is primarily by ferry or kayak, making it a unique adventure.
  • At Onslow Beach Campsites, consider visiting during the cooler months to avoid the heat, especially if you're camping in the open areas without shade.
  • Bring lightweight gear to Hammocks Beach State Park Campground to make the hike from the ferry easier, as some sites are quite a distance from the drop-off point.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Swansboro, NC?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Swansboro, NC is Onslow Beach Campsites with a 4.4-star rating from 15 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Swansboro, NC?

TheDyrt.com has all 7 tent camping locations near Swansboro, NC, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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