Cape Hatteras National Seashore / outbanks

[rover4x4]

I dont think its "legal" to camp on the beach down there and no campgrounds are open. the GF wants to camp at the beach over spring break. I think I might just camp on teh CHNS, I wanted to avoid campgrounds. does anyone know a place on the outer banks of NC that camping on the beach is permitted? I was thinking about Cape Lookout but dont have a boat and I dont think anyone is offering any rides over there. Any thoughts or suggestions? thanks folks

 

[noee]

Might be kind of far down for you but at the very north end of Ocracoke, there is a campground that is very close to the beach.

 

[Leslie]

When I camped out on the Outer Banks, we used the campground that is north of Hatteras, closer to Bodie, south of Oregon Inlet.

My father-in-law used to spend his summers at Lookout, before the NPS took the keeper's house from the family. If you drive to Harker's Island, there was an outfit (Calico Jack's?) that would load into a whaler-sized boat, and run you up on the beach there, then come pick you up later. We just day-tripped the island, but you could stay overnight, I would think... if you trust them to remember to pick you up the next day, lol....

-L

 

[rdoane]

this past summer myself and a few friends camped at the Frisco campgrounds, which backs up to the intercoastal waterway, and is only about a 15 min. walk from the beach. they have camping space as well as cabins for rent. pool, laundry, showers, the works, and for a good price. if i can remember correctly, frisco is only about 15 min from hatteras, and about 30 min from nags head.

 

[dmcwhorter9974]

Forget all of that mess, go to carolina beach in wilmington. its 4 wheel drive friendly, 5 bucks a day. you can drive on the beach and set up a tent, start a fire, then party all night and no one will say anything. its awesome.

 

[dirtydisco]

x2......Carolina beach is the way to go.

 

[apg]

Not sure that beach camping is legal anywhere on the 'north' banks, that is from Ocracoke north to Virginia. There's a pretty nice federal campground down by the village of Ocracoke, tho'. I can't believe the huge NPS campground at cape point ain't open...guess Isabel did too much damage....

Another option - albeit one not including your vehicle - is to take the tram from Sandbridge (Virginia Beach) through the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge down to False Cape State Park. (No private vehiles can drive through the federal lands, but you can bike.) There are 'primitive' campgrounds with wells and privies, but you will be *totally* alone. Or you could canoe over from Knotts Island....

Cheers

 

[kennith]

10 bucks a day.

I sleep there whenever I go to Wilmington.

Cheers,

KEnnith

 

[jamsandwich]

i was at the ocracoke campground over memorial day. I've been there every memorial day for the past 10 years. It is on the other side of the dunes from the beach, i'd say a 30 second walk.

it is not on the north end however, it is closer to the south end than the north end. There are 2 beach access points less than 2 miles both directions from the campground to take your truck out on the beach.

you can ride multiple ferries to ocracoke, the only one that is free leaves from hatteras about every 30 minutes.

Enjoy the beach, best thing NC has by far!

 

[draaronr]

Northend of Carolina Beach, fort fisher end is only open during the day.

 

[Denisk]

so, are you guys saying something will happen to me if i just overnight on a beach in ocracoke? I am planning on doing just that, possibly use a tent!

 

[draaronr]

so, are you guys saying something will happen to me if i just overnight on a beach in ocracoke? I am planning on doing just that, possibly use a tent!

no but the aliens will definitely get you.