Beach camping in North Carolina

From the mountains to the Outer Banks, North Carolina offers plenty of camping on sandy shores.

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Beach camping in North Carolina guide

Overview

Whether it’s sand dunes and seagrass on the Atlantic Ocean or a pristine mountain-rimmed lakeshore near Asheville, water lovers and campers rejoice over the many opportunities for beach camping in North Carolina. Summer is the best time to head to higher ground in the western North Carolina mountains, where campsites abound and campers can fish, swim, kayak, and boat on the many rivers and lakes. In spring and fall, the North Carolina coast becomes a quiet, cooler oasis, offering seemingly endless campsites and beach camping options in and around coastal state parks, both on barrier islands (some with wild horses) and inland on the estuarine waterways of the Pamlico Sound. From Carolina Beach State Park near Wilmington to Hammocks Beach State Park, Cape Lookout, and Topsail Beach and all the way up to the barrier islands and North Carolina beaches of the Outer Banks, Ocracoke Island, and Cape Hatteras National Seashore, you’ll find numerous beach campsites and RV parks (many with full hookups, grills, and wifi). Oceanfront tent camping is even possible on the beach at Freeman Park on Carolina Beach. And there’s no shortage of outfitters offering activities, tours, and rentals for all your water needs while beach camping in North Carolina.

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