Hammocks Beach State Park Campground, near Swansboro, North Carolina, is a unique spot for those who crave a little adventure and a lot of natural beauty. Accessible only by boat or a good hike, this campground offers a chance to disconnect and enjoy the serene surroundings of Bear Island.

The sites here are well-kept and provide a clean, rustic experience right by the beach. Visitors have noted the absence of trash cans, so be ready to pack out what you bring in. The bathhouse is a welcome feature, complete with hot showers, and there’s drinking water available to keep you refreshed. As one camper put it, “The site was clean, with one picnic table,” making it a simple yet pleasant place to set up camp.

For those who enjoy beachcombing, the shoreline is a treasure trove of shells and wildlife. Campers have shared that early mornings are the best time for shelling, as the beach can get busy with day visitors later in the day. If you’re planning to bring your furry friend, pets are allowed, but keep in mind that they can’t ride the ferry, so you’ll need your own boat if you want to bring them along.

With its stunning views and peaceful atmosphere, Hammocks Beach State Park Campground is perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle. Just remember to pack light and prepare for a bit of a trek to your site, as some areas are only accessible by kayak or a longer walk.

Primitive campsites are located near the beach and the inlet at Bear Island. Fourteen family campsites accommodate up to six people and two tents each. Campsites 1 to 11 are accessible via ferry, private boat or paddling only. Campsites 12 to 14 are accessible by private boat or paddling only and are not hikeable.

Sites 1 to 11 have a picnic table, while sites 12 to 14 do not. Fires are not permitted at Bear Island, but campers may bring propane or backpack camp stoves. 

Water and a bathhouse with hot showers is located at Bear Island, but is available from only mid-March through mid-November. There is no water at Bear Island when the facilities are winterized.

Hike-In Distance
Light and simple is the way to travel, as campers must carry all provisions to the campsites from the beach or ferry dock.

Hammocks Beach Bear Island Campsites — Hammocks Beach State Park

Swansboro, NC is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your North Carolina camping adventure.

Swansboro

The Best Camping Near Swansboro, North Carolina

Sand in your pants and tent, but worth it! Ferry out, and hike down the a mile or so, and sleep on the beach. A truly unique experience! 

Beach camping! 

site: private. beach. not crowded. walk-in. in dunes. 
amenities: basic.
attractions: ferry to access. water activities.
I would go camping here again.


unique

Loved camping here.  Our campsite was tucked behind the first dunes, which we thought would keep us out of the wind... until the wind changed direction.  Lots of blowing sand, a gritty dinner, but I still loved camping here.  Note that although it is dog-friendly, you can't bring dogs on the ferry.  So, only dog-friendly if you are taking your own boat out.

Fun adventure.

If you're looking for beautiful beach camping that isn't super crowded, then Bear Island is the place to be! The sites are reasonably priced and include one ferry round trip per day as part of your camping fee. The sites are well spaced and you won't feel on top of one another. It is also possible to canoe/kayak out to Bear Island from the main land if you have the time, experience and the conditions are right. Be advised, there are no campfires allowed on the island (not even below the high tide line) so plan appropriately.

The beach her is beautiful and teeming with life so be sure to spend some time walking up and down the beach as the tide is going out. There are a fair number of snakes out and about so if you've got a pooch with you, exercise caution.

There are showers and potable water on the island, however, shade is hard to come by so you might want to bring a shade tent/tarp for some reprieve.

Beach camping at it's finest

You must plan for this trip. You can ferry to sites or paddle there. Currently paddle is the only way as the ferry is down due to last years storms. Great sites on the island . Fantastic views quite the experience. 

Wow best Nc beach camping. 

Love this park. Bear Island is only accessible by boat. So you have to pay a small fee for the ferry ride that takes you to Bear Island. Or you can canoe or kayak. You have to hike with all your camping gear less than a mile to the beach. There is not much shade on the hike there but it wasn't bad on a hot summer day. 

  

The beach camping spots are right in front of the dunes. We went on Labor Day weekend and there was no one there! So peaceful and serene. Lots of shells to find! And what a beautiful beach. There are nice bathrooms, water, and a snack bar that is open during the summer (cash only). Lots of picnic tables here as well.  

  

Planning on coming back here next summer and staying longer! Such a unique camping experience!

Beautiful beach camping!

We stayed at site 14, which is on the other side of the island and is only accessible on a boat. We kayaked from the park office and boat launch. The route was difficult for me, the tide was coming in plus a strong wind, it took us about an hour to get to the island. The site itself was perfect, much better than the rest as much as we could see as we looked around. It's located in the woods with a nice shady clearing, its own very private little beach. We kayaked to the beach and walked around to see the ferry dock.

Make sure you know the tide schedule. The water levels are changing pretty dramatically during the day. 

We also experienced a  lot of mosquitoes during the night on the island, but it probably depends on the weather.

The fires are not allowed on the island, which requires some thoughts around cooking and reheating food. 

Overall I would say it was a very unique experience.

Paddle In Sites

Bear Island’s seclusion and minimalist amenities are what make this place a hidden gem. 

That being said, you do have to be comfortable being left on the island between 6pm-9am every night unless you kayak in. The ferry only runs during the day between 9ish-6pm.

Also, be prepared to backpack in all your supplies a minimum of a mile from the ferry drop to your campsite. Other campsites are a farther trek. Lightweight gear is a must. 

Bring shade with you. It’s hot between 12-3 and there’s no natural shade. We took the ferry to the mainland during this time each day to pack out trash, bring more clothes from our car and stop at the grocery store for ice. 

You also must pack out all trash. There are no trash cans on the island. The only other people on the island are interns studying the sea turtles and other campers. Day visitors come to the beach too. 

The amenities were great for what was available. Small concession stand. Restrooms, outdoor showers, pavilions and a shower for campers. 

My only suggestion would be to add an actual door to the camper only shower in the restroom with an interior lock. Having only a shower curtain to block from other people visiting the restroom does not work well. The curtain was opened multiple times while I was in the shower. 

Still, you know it’s more of a shower-at-your-own-risk deal but it would make it more comfortable and practical. Especially when having to shower your toddler who want to escape Lol

It takes planning to go with kids but it’s totally doable. We had a 2 and 9 year old and they did great.
We plan on returning next year.

Solitude and Emerald Waves

First time here, and really liked it. Access will be a challenge for some.  There is a state ferry that runs through the day 9in season), but does not allow a cart to carry stuff. It’s a long walk! We took a private ferry (Pogie’s in Swansboro 5/5 stars) so we could bring what we wanted. We took a lot! With food, coolers, camp stuff, stuff stuff, we took two trips to get everything to the campsite. A cart ($100 from Harbor Freight) was a key to getting to the site alive (we are older)! There is a paved path from the dock to the beachfront, but then deep sand bogged the cart down. Still helpful. The site was clean, with one picnic table. The bathhouse was clean and had a hot shower. Water is available. Cell service (Verizon) varied from none to 5G UW! Came and went inexplicably, but mostly there. I do not know about AC power for charging, so be prepared to have battery or solar recharge capability. There are important things to know:
- Some sites are accessible only by a kayak, etc. They do not have long walks to the site but are a very long walk to the bathhouse.
- Sites are widely spread out, so you could end up a mile from water and bathhouse 
- There are NO trash cans or trash collecting points (even in the bathrooms), so you have to pack trash out.
- There is very little shade at the primitive site areas, so hot, sunny days can be challenging. You can hang at the large shelters at the bathhouse, I suppose. Carrying a pop-up shelter would be grueling. A light sunshade would be good.
- During on-season, when the ferry is running, there are LOTS of people that come for day-beach visits, so it can get crowded near the bathhouse. The sites themselves would be remote enough to not be a problem.
- Get up EARLY for shelling, as professional shelters get there early to find good specimens.

Photos of Hammocks Beach Bear Island Campsites — Hammocks Beach State Park

Real photos from real campers