10 Most Beautiful Oceanfront Campgrounds in NC

Imagine traveling down the east coast and staying at gorgeous oceanfront campgrounds in NC along the way. It’s as dreamy as it sounds! North Carolina offers beaches and stunning views.

We’ve compiled a list of the 10 most beautiful campgrounds on North Carolina’s coast. Let’s take a look!

Why You Should Visit the North Carolina Coast

All along the North Carolina coast, you’ll find beaches, lighthouses, and barrier islands. There are three sections of the coastline: the Outer Banks, Crystal Coast, and Cape Fear. These beautiful areas provide endless opportunities for water sports, hiking, biking, boating, and other adventures.

The Outer Banks have become a sought out and intriguing destination for many. These islands serve as a barrier between the mainland and the Atlantic Ocean. With approximately 3,000 shipwrecks in the area, snorkeling and scuba diving abound.

The coast also provides a lot of family-oriented activities. Ziplining, lighthouse tours, the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, and more opportunities await you. 

Can You Camp on North Carolina Beaches?

There are many beaches in North Carolina that you can camp on. North Carolina is home to multiple beach state parks as well as a national seashore that welcomes campers in their established campgrounds. There is also Cape Lookout National Seashore that allows primitive beach camping with a permit.

However, you should know that not all beaches in North Carolina allow camping on them. For instance, the Outer Banks region of North Carolina prohibits camping directly on the beach. If these cases, it is best to look at designated beach campgrounds like the ones we’re about to share.

10 Gorgeous NC Oceanfront Campgrounds You Should Visit

Exploring the North Carolina coast in an RV is a great way to take in as much of it as you can. Here’s our list of the 10 most beautiful oceanfront campgrounds in NC to book during your travels.

1. Carolina Beach State Park

Address: 1010 State Park Rd, Carolina Beach, NC 28428

Amenities: The Carolina Beach State Park campground is wooded and has 10 sites with full hookups. However, most sites, 69 of them, have no hookups. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring or grill. You can find drinking water and restrooms with showers nearby.

Activities available while you camp at Carolina Beach State Park include hiking, biking, paddling, fishing, and more along the Cape Fear River. The ocean beach is a short drive away.

Pet-Friendly: Pets are allowed and must stay on a leash.

Why You’ll Love It: Carolina Beach State Park has a marina and access to some of the best fishing around. 

Morton Road Trip Rating: 10/10

2. Whispering Pines RV Park

Address: 2791 Hwy 24, Newport, NC 28570

Amenities: Whispering Pines RV Park sits on the Crystal Coast. All sites offer full hookups. The RV park features a swimming pool, a boat ramp, fishing, laundry facilities, a beach close by on Bogue Sound, and RV storage.

Pet-Friendly: Pets are allowed, and there’s a dog park.

Why You’ll Love It: The proximity and access to the Crystal Coast make this RV park a perfect location. Plus, if you’re a Thousand Trails member with the Trails Collection, you can book this park under your membership.

Morton Road Trip Rating: 9/10

3. Camp Hatteras RV Resort

Address: 24798 Hwy 12, Waves, NC 27968

Amenities: This NC oceanfront campground offers over 400 campsites, all of which have full hookups with concrete pads and patios. Camp Hatteras RV Resort has cable TV, a pool and jacuzzi, a kiddie pool, a marina, water sports rentals, bathhouses, and laundry facilities. You can play miniature golf or enjoy one of the other activities on site.

The nearby marina has watersport rentals, and on-site sports courts include pickleball, tennis, basketball, and shuffleboard. They also have a camp store for anything you may need or have forgotten to pack.

Pet-Friendly: Pets are welcome, and they have a new dog park and agility course for them to play off-leash.

Why You’ll Love It: Located right in the Outer Banks, this RV resort touches both the Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. You can relax by the shore or take a day trip through the barrier islands.

Morton Road Trip Rating: 10/10 for its awesome amenities and stellar location.

4. Hatteras Sands Campground

Address: 57316 Eagle Pass Rd, Hatteras, NC 27943

Amenities: This is the only campground on Hatteras Island. This campground has over 60 campsites, many of which have full hookups. They also offer cable and WiFi. The campground has a bathhouse, laundry facility, and pool.

This campground is a little more simple and natural, away from the hustle and bustle. Enjoy the quieter small towns and the quaint coastal vibes of Hatteras Island.

Pet-Friendly: Pets are allowed, except for in some of the rental units.

Why You’ll Love It: You’ll love the canals in the park for kayaking and fishing from the dock. This oceanside campground in NC also features an Olympic-sized swimming pool and is just 5 minutes from the beach.

Morton Road Trip Rating: 9/10

5. OBX Oceanfront Campground in NC

Address: 126 Marshy Ridge Rd, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948

Amenities: All sites are full hookups. You can get cable TV as well. The campground features a bathhouse, laundry facilities, a dump station, and a dock.

Pet-Friendly: Pets are allowed and must stay on a leash. No aggressive dog breeds are allowed.

Why You’ll Love It: Sitting on the Albemarle Sound, you’ll enjoy spectacular views during your stay. It’s also 2.4 miles from the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

Morton Road Trip Rating: 8/10

6. Oregon Inlet Campground at Cape Hatteras National Seashore

This oceanfront campground is located within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and is the northernmost one available. It is just a short distance from the town of Nags Head, NC, and a short walk through the dunes to the east to the beach. You can also access the calmer sound waters to the southwest for paddling, crabbing, and more.

Address: 12001 Hwy 12, Nags Head, NC 27959

Amenities: There are electric and non-electric sites. The paved sites include a picnic table and grill. This NC oceanfront campground offers water fill stations, a dump station, a bathhouse, and beach access.

Pet-Friendly: Pets are allowed.

Why You’ll Love It: You’ll have access to world-class fishing at the Oregon Inlet just south of the campground. Or you can check out the historic Bodie Island Lighthouse, which is only four miles from the campground. 

Morton Road Trip Rating: 8/10

7. Cedar Island RV Park

Address: 3557 Cedar Island Rd, Cedar Island, NC 28520

Amenities: Some sites have full hookups, and all sites have frost-proof water fills for year-round camping. There’s a dump station or honey wagon service for sites without sewer hookups. The RV park has a boat launch, a bathhouse, a laundry facility, kayak and canoe rentals, and horseback riding. 

Pet-Friendly: Pets are welcome in the RV park and on the beach. There’s a dog park on-site.

Why You’ll Love It: Almost every site has a partial or full view of the Cedar Island Bay or Pamlico Sound. You can easily hop on the Cedar Island Ferry and explore Ocracoke Island or the Outer Banks.

Morton Road Trip Rating: 10/10

8. Harkers Island RV Resort

Address: 288 Guthrie Dr, Harkers Island, NC 28531

Amenities: All sites at this NC oceanfront campground are full hookups. You can rent overnight or month to month. The RV resort has a boat ramp, beach, pier, pool, and boat slips. Harkers Island RV Resort fills up quickly, so be sure to book well in advance.

Pet-Friendly: Pets are allowed.

Why You’ll Love It: You’ll love the location. This island resort sits surrounded by water and gives you access to days of water sports and beach time. 

Morton Road Trip Rating: 10/10

9. Holiday Trav-L-Park “HTP” Resort

Address: 9102 Coast Guard Rd, Emerald Isle, NC 28594

Amenities: The Holiday Trav-L-Park Resort has some full hookup sites and some water and electric-only sites. The resort has a pool, a splash pad, a go-kart track, cable TV, WiFi, a laundry facility, camper and boat storage, and propane refills.

Pet-Friendly: Pets are welcome, but not pit bulls or “aggressive dog breeds.”

Why You’ll Love It: The resort has lots of activities and easy access to the coast. With its location in Emerald Isle, you can enjoy miles of bike paths.

Morton Road Trip Rating: 9/10

10. Goose Creek RV Resort

Address: 350 Red Barn Rd, Newport, NC 28570

Amenities: Goose Creek RV Resort is an Encore Park. This means that if you’re a Thousand Trails member with the Trails Collection, you can book this park under your membership. All sites are full hookups.

The RV park has a swimming pool, a store, a restaurant, laundry facilities, and a beach close by

Pet-Friendly: Pets are allowed, and there’s a dog park.

Why You’ll Love It: You’ll love that this RV resort sits near an unspoiled part of the Crystal Coast. There are plenty of options for activities on water and land.

Morton Road Trip Rating: 10/10

Oceanfront Campgrounds in NC Give You Prime Access to The Coast

The North Carolina coast can keep you exploring for weeks or even months. Staying at one or more of these oceanfront campgrounds in NC will give you prime access to all the area has to offer.

Have you visited any of these resorts? How do you think they rank? Let us know in the comments!

After you’ve spent some time in North Carolina, you may want to head south and explore the equally beautiful South Carolina coast.

Here are our top recommendations for places to camp in SC: 10 Most Beautiful Oceanfront Campgrounds in South Carolina

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