We stayed in Cabin 1 for one night to break up our travels to NC into two days. We visited Colonial Williamsburg before checking in. It is only minutes away with other activities for young kids near by including mini golf and a Ridley’s museum. The campground was very family oriented and quaint. I believe it’s been open since the 50’s and they have good old fashioned hospitality. I even got a courtesy check in call on our drive down to confirm and ask if we had any questions. I asked about late check in and they were very cheerful and helpful.

It had the cleanest bathrooms and showers I’ve ever come across in a campground.

They have a little arcade, pool and playground for kids. There were porch games like connect four and corn hole by the check in cabin to play also. I appreciated the flyers in our room listing local attractions and suggestions. They even had free donuts and treats for kids on certain days.

We loved our cabin. It was immaculately clean as if it were newly built. The door to the bunk room allowed us to tuck our toddler in early and keep her undisturbed. The A/C, TV and fridge made the stay very comfortable.

The sites are very close together but we felt like we had total privacy the whole time. There’s a train that goes by occasionally which might bother some people but we used to live by one so we liked to hear it roll by.

We plan to stay again on our way to the beach next year.

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.

We spontaneously added two days onto our beach camping vacation at Bear Island and took the Cedar Island Ferry to Ocracoke after being away from the island for 7 years.

Ocracoke in itself is a gem. But it is hard to find traditional lodging in town unless you book months in advance. We booked our site three days before our arrival and there were multiple spots open. We arrived after check in and our packet was conveniently tacked on our site marker.

Camping here makes it super affordable to enjoy everything Ocracoke has to offer while giving you direct access to the beach.

Pro tips- •Get a dune side site- we’ve camped here a few times and found they have less mosquitoes than the grass spots and are a closer walk to the dunes.

•For maximum privacy, look closely at the map and pick a spot where the community paths through the dunes for all campers are not right next to you.

•Bring lots of bug repellent and tuck in early to avoid bites. Spray your gear with high grade permethrin before your trip and bring spray and candles also.

•Bring shade- there’s little to no tree coverage.

•Don’t miss out of Ocracoke Coffee Co for coffee and baked goods and Dajio for lunch and/or dinner. Shrimp hour is 2-5!

Bathrooms and showers do need updated and could definitely be in better shape but otherwise we had no issue.