If you want the best of East Coast beach life and Southern hospitality, North Carolina is positioned perfectly at that crossroads. Beach camping in North Carolina provides an idyllic getaway experience where campers can fall asleep to the crashing waves and wake up to the ocean breeze.
One of the unique things about North Carolina beach camping is that you can drive on the beaches here. There are posted speed limits to observe, but oftentimes you can drive right up to your beach campsite and have everything you need right next to you!
Freeman Park

You’ll find Freeman Park just south of Wilmington and near the border with South Carolina. With proximity to Myrtle Beach, you can definitely go two for one on your Carolina beach trip here.
Daily access passes are the only way in after annual passes stop being sold on March 1st. You’ll find day-use passes available for purchase at the park entrance. A combination of high tides and erosion means you’ll have to check the park’s website (or Facebook page) for closure information.
While tide and erosion notices may not mean plans being canceled, you will want to be aware of how they affect driving regulations and recommendations.
Overnight camping is unavailable for summer 2022 but will pick back up at the beginning of September.
READ MORE: 6 Beautiful Spots for Camping in Virginia Beach
Cape Lookout & Shackleford Banks

Cape Lookout National Seashore and the Shackleford Banks are the next great destination for beach camping in North Carolina. Here you’ll find yourself settled between the Back Sound to the north and Onslow Bay to the south and catch great views of the stars. If you don’t have an America the Beautiful (Inter-agency) pass, no worries. Cape Lookout doesn’t require entrance fees!
Cape Lookout (and by extension, Shackleford Banks) is open 24/7 all year, with limited amenities from December to March. If you want to take advantage of beach driving, you’ll need to acquire an ORV driving permit and display the window sticker on your vehicle. Currently, only the North Core Banks and South Core Banks allow beach driving.
The biggest draw for beach campers in North Carolina is the Dark Sky Park designation here. This is the first Dark Sky certified spot on the eastern seaboard, so pitching a tent here is incredible for unadulterated stargazing.
Hammocks Beach State Park

Hammocks Beach State Park is quite small at just four miles in length, but it offers the opportunity to retreat into a simple, undeveloped beach area. Hammocks Beach is open year-round with hours from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm from September until May and then from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm from June to August.
Camping is available on Bear Island, which is only accessible via the water. Ferries are available to take you across, though the schedule depends on weather and sand migration. Boating across is another option, though kayaking is probably the most fun. If you don’t have your own watercraft, there are rentals nearby to take advantage of.
Make sure to register at the mainland office before paddling over. All overnight cars must also be registered.
READ MORE: Best Hiking Trails in Boone, NC
Masonboro Island

Just up the coast from Freeman Park is the Masonboro Island Reserve. If you want a simpler camping experience, you’ll love the primitive camping available at Masonboro. Nearly 90% of this area is marshland, but the remaining section is a beach reserved for dispersed camping.
If you like the idea of self-sufficiency, Masonboro Island runs on responsible free camping and Leave No Trace ethics. You’ll have to pack everything you want to bring with you, but you’ll have the freedom to choose your campsite and enjoy the untouched wilderness.
Like Hammocks Beach, this is only accessible via watercraft. There is a public boat launch on the premises as well as private boats you can rent to get across.
Oregon Inlet Campground
Oregon Inlet Campground is one of four campgrounds available at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore near Nags Head, North Carolina. Of the four, Oregon Inlet offers the most amenities, with 47 of the 107 total sites featuring hookups for an extra $7. None of the other three campgrounds provide this.
Oregon Inlet is open for camping (with reservations) all year long for both individual and group sites. You’ll find basic amenities like potable water and flush toilets throughout the entirety of the campgrounds, though. While the campgrounds charge a fee, entrance into Cape Hatteras is completely free. Should you wish to partake in some of the activities available or get an ORV permit, you’ll find a fee schedule on the Cape Hatteras NPS website.
READ MORE: 9 Best Outer Banks Campgrounds
Frisco Woods Campground
If you don’t need the electric hookups available at Oregon Inlet, consider checking out Frisco Woods Campground. Also located at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, this campground doesn’t offer hookups but provides basic amenities like water, toilets, and (unheated) showers.
Your campsite will include a paved parking spot, a table, and a charcoal grill. Much like the other campgrounds here, you’ll be right next to the beach and have a wooden boardwalk to make travel to and from the sand easy. If you have the time and extra cash to get an ORV permit, off-road enthusiasts will love driving along the seashore here!
Whatever activities you enjoy, make sure to check out the seashore’s namesake, the historic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – the tallest brick lighthouse in the US.
Ocean Waves Campground
NPS campsites aren’t your only option when you’re visiting the Cape Hatteras area. Just up the coastline near Rodanthe, North Carolina, you’ll find this small, private campsite. Ocean Waves Campground has 68 full hookup sites to suit those looking for a bit of extra luxury.
With a store on-site, you’ll have everything you need right at your fingertips, all while being able to pitch a tent or park an RV near the beach. While everything here is beachfront, tent sites get you as close as possible to the sand.
Beyond just the basics of full hookups, you’ll also get to enjoy wide RV sites, cable TV, free WiFi, hot showers, and even a game room!
Explore Other North Carolina Campgrounds
Camping on the beach isn’t the only way to enjoy the outdoors in North Carolina. The state is home to the Pisgah National Forest, Nantahala National Forest, dozens of State Parks, and there are several great campgrounds in North Carolina away from the beach.
Visit one of the guides below to find campgrounds near one of North Carolina’s gorgeous mountain towns.