Camping on the Outer Banks
People come from all over the world to experience the beautiful natural wonder and temperate climate of the Outer Banks. What better way to become one with the surf, sand, and sun than to spend your Outer Banks vacation camping? Whether you're looking for a rustic place to pop up a tent and enjoy the great outdoors or you want somewhere to park the RV while you spend your time surfing, building sandcastles, and exploring the island, you'll find plenty of conveniently located campgrounds and RV parks up and down the island to suit your ideal vacation needs. Many of them offer a variety of amenities to utilize during your stay, including air-conditioned bath houses, club houses, and swimming pools, ensuring that even while camping, your Outer Banks experience will be relaxing, comfortable, and fun.
Most campgrounds prefer or require reservations, so it is important to check for availability before making your way to the island. And keep in mind that rates and amenities change throughout the year so be sure to plan ahead depending on which time of the year you'll be spending your vacation on the beautiful Outer Banks! Keep reading below for a list of campgrounds by location as well as some tips and tricks to make your Outer Banks camping vacation experience one that brings you back year after year to this pristine barrier island.
Campgrounds & RV Parks
National Park Service Campgrounds
If you’re looking for a vacation experience that gets you as close to the ocean as possible, the National Park Service operates 4 campgrounds up and down the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Payment must be made online or by calling a Recreation.gov representative at 877-444-6777. Wood fires are not permitted at NPS Campgrounds but charcoal cooking fires are permitted in grills, stoves, or other self-containted units. Toilets and showers are based on seasonal availability.
Oregon Inlet: Oregon Inlet Campground, NC Hwy 12, Nags Head
Open: Year Round
Rates: Sites: $20; Site w/Hookups: $35; Group Site: $70
Cape Point: 46700 Lighthouse Rd., Buxton
Open: April 2 - Nov. 29
Rates: $20
*No electrical hookups
Frisco: 53415 Billy Mitchell Rd., Frisco
Open: April 2 - Nov. 29
Rates: $28
*No electrical hookups
Ocracoke: 4352 Irvin Garrish Hwy., Ocracoke
Open: Year Round
Rates: $28
*No electrical hookups
Coinjock/Mainland Outer Banks
Outer Banks West/Currituck Sound KOA Holiday
1631 Waterlily Rd., Coinjock, NC 27923
252-365-6050
Open: April 1 to November 27
Rates: RV: $80-$200, per night; Tent: $60 and up, per night
Amenities: Wi-Fi; Snack Bar ($); Fishing; Dog Park; Cable TV; Propane ($); Firewood ($)
Kitty Hawk
Kitty Hawk Campground
1004 W. Kitty Hawk Rd.
252-423-6433
Open: March 1 - October 31
Kitty Hawk RV Park
3945 N. Croatan Hwy, MP4, Kitty Hawk
252-261-2636
Open: Year Round
Rates: May 1 - Sept. 30: $70, per night; Oct 1 - April 30: $50, per night
Amenities: Full hook-ups; Water; Sewer; Electricity; Cable Television
Kill Devil Hills
Joe & Kay’s Campground
1193 Colington Rd., Kill Devil Hills
252-441-5468
Open: April to December
Rates: $30 for 2 people, $5 for each additional person, per night
Amenities: Hot/Cold Water; Boat Ramp; Restrooms
OBX Campground
126 Marshy Ridge Rd., Kill Devil Hills
252-564-4741
Rates: Varies by season, $50-$90
Amenities: Bath House; Water & Sewer Hookup; Cable TV; Dump Station; Playground
WANCHESE/MANNS HARBOR/EAST LAKE
The Refuge on Roanoke Island
2881 NC Hwy 345, Wanchese
252-473-1096
Rates: Full Hookup RV: $50-$70
Amenities: Clubhouse; Toilets; Shower; WiFi; Water & Sewer; Laundry Facilities
The County Line OBX
19210 US Hwy 64, East Lake
252-305-4051
Rates: $10 per adult, per day
Amenities: 2 Paddle Boats; Canoe; Rowboat; Restrooms
Rodanthe
Cape Hatteras KOA
25099 NC Hwy 12, Rodanthe
252-987-2307
Rates: Tent: $70 to $120, per night; RV: $155 and up, per night
Amenities: Wi-Fi; Pool (Open Year-Round); Snack Bar ($); Cable TV; Hot Tub/Sauna; Propane ($); Firewood ($)
Cape Hatteras RV Resort and Campground
24798 Hwy 12 MP 40.5, Rodanthe
252-987-2777
Rates (peak season): Tent: $98 and up, per night ; RV: $108 and up, per night
Amenities: Cable TV; Club House; Indoor Heated, Outdoor, and Kiddie Pool; Jacuzzi; 5 Bath Houses and 4 Laundry Facilities; Pickleball, Tennis, Basketball, Shuffleboard, and much more!
North Beach Campground
23781 NC Hwy 12
252-987-2379
Rates: RV/Campers/Vans: $65 ($10 extra per person); Tent Sites w/water & electric: $50
Amenities: Bath House; Dumping Station; Swimming Pool
Rodanthe Water Sports & Campground
24170 NC Hwy 12, Rodanthe
252-987-1431
Open: Mid-March - November
Rates: Tent: $55; RV: $70-100
Amenities: Waterfront; Electricity & Water Hook-up; Bath House
Saint Clair Landing Family Campground
25028 NC Hwy 12, Rodanthe
252-987-2850
Open: April 1 - November 30
Rates: Tent: $45; Water/Electric: $55; Full Hookup RV: $65
Amenities: WiFi; Laundry; Bath House; Outdoor Showers; Dump Station
Waves
Ocean Waves Camp Ground
25313 Hwy 12
252-987-2556
Open: March 15 - November 15
Rates: Tent: $40; Tent w/Water & Electric: $50; RV 30 amp 21A-28: $65; RV 30/50 amp: $70
Amenities: Cable TV; Free WiFi; Swimming Pool; Flush Toilet; Hot Showers; Ice; Camp Store; Game Room
Salvo
Lazy Days Campground
26263 Mullis Way, Salvo
252-207-2060
Open: Year Round
Rates: Call for current rates.
Amenities: Handicapped-Accessible bath house
Avon
Avon by the Sea RV Park
41001 NC Hwy 12
252-995-3125
Rates: $80 - $120, per night
Amenities: Restrooms; Showers; Playground; Restaurant; Drinking Water; Sewer Hookups; Wi-Fi
Sands of Time Campground
40523 Northend Road, Avon
252-995-5596
Rates: Tent: $35; Tent w/Water & Electric: $40; RV 30amp Full hook-up: $54; RV 50amp Full hookup: $58
Amenities: Hot Showers; Restrooms; Laundry; Lighted Fish Cleaning Table; Free Cable TV
Buxton
Island Hide-A-Way
47095 Buxton Back Rd., Buxton
252-995-6628
Rates: $40 and up, per night
Amenities: Hot/Cold Water; Sewer Hookups; Electrical Hookups; Ice Cream Shop ($)
Frisco
Frisco Woods Campground
53124 NC Hwy 12, Frisco
Open: March 1 - December 15
Rates: Tent: $42 to $70, per night; RV: $59 to $97, per night
Amenities: Pool; Free Wi-Fi; Dishwashing Areas; Laundry; Camp Store; Kayak/Paddle Board Rentals; Free Air Refill; Dumping Station
Hatteras
Hatteras Sands Campground
57316 Eagle Pass Rd., Hatteras
252-986-2422
Open: April 1 - December 1
Rates: Full Hookup: $69.25 to $118.25
Amenities: Bath House w/Air Conditioning; Laundry Facility; Clubhouse; Olympic Size Swimming Pool; Free Cable TV and Wi-Fi
Ocracoke
Jerniman’s Campground
990 Irvin Garrish Hwy., Ocraoke
252-928-0308
Rates: Tent: $45, per night; RV: $80 to $90, per night
Amenities: Golf Cart Rentals; Camp Store; Dump Station; Laundry; Bath House; Game Area/Arcade; On-site Resaurant
Teeter’s Campground
200 British Cemetery Rd., Ocracoke
252-588-2030
Open: March 15 - November 1
Rates: Tent: $30 to $40, per night; RV: $50 to $60, per night
Amenities: Bath House w/Hot Water; Free Wi-Fi
Tips for Camping on the Outer Banks
See which beaches you can drive on
While camping directly on the beach is NEVER allowed east of the dunes, one of the more fun parts of visiting the Outer Banks is the opportunity to drive your 4WD vehicle directly on the sand to find the perfect vacation spot. Check out our Outer Banks Beach Driving Guide to find out more about obtaining a beach driving permit and which beaches allow vehicles on the sand.
Plan ahead for a bonfire
Bonfires with smores are one of the more fun parts of camping, but make sure to follow local rules and regulations when lighting bonfires on the beach. Fires are NEVER allowed on the beaches in the 4WD area, Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, or Kill Devil Hills.
Beach fire pits ARE allowed in the Town of Nags Head with a permit, available here. Permits are issued online only between 5:30p.m. and midnight based on wind speed and fire danger conditions.
Beach fires ARE allowed on all beaches of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore between 6am and 10pm from November 16 to April 30, with a permit. From May 1 to Novmber 15, fires are only allowed at Coquina Beach, the Ocracoke Day Use area, and the villages o Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras, with a permit. Permits are available online, here.
Check the rules before you go
Just as there are many different campgrounds up and down the Outer Banks, with something for everyone, this also means that the rules are going to be different wherever you stay so it’s important to call ahead or check online before you arrive. While most campgrounds are pet-friendly, some may require a fee or certain proof of vaccination. At the same time, some sites also have quiet hours as well as additional regulations for the number of people who can stay at each site. It’s better to call ahead and be prepared. And if you’ve never been to the Outer Banks, check our Outer Banks for First Time Visitors Guide.
Pack everything you need for the beach and the campsite
When most people think of camping, they tend to imagine mountains, forests, etc. and not necessarily brushy beach foliage and nearby sand. For your camping trip to the Outer Banks, it’s important to think about what you want to bring berforehand so that you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Plan to bring all the normal camping equipment, including a tent, tarps, sleepings bags and coolers, but also consider bringing extra-long stakes that can be used in the sand as well as bug spray and lanterns and flashlights for areas where fires are not allowed.
The weather on the Outer Banks can be extremely unpredictable, so plant to bring rain gear, extra blankets, as well as warm-weather clothing and a light sleeping bag, just in case. And don’t forget to bring everything you’ll need for the beach, as well, including swimsuits, sunscreen, towels, and flip-flops. If you get down to the Outer Banks and realize that you forgot something, don’t fret! There is a Walmart in Kitty Hawk and multiple grocery stores and seafood markets up and down the beach. Consult our Outer Banks Grocery Stores and Outer Banks Seafood Markets guides to find the closest grocery store or mearket near you!
Take advantage of the free or inexpensive activities nearby
Several campgrounds on the Outer Banks offer discounts for rentals on watersports and beach equipment or provide access to game rooms, arcades, and swimming pools, so be sure to check with your campground’s main office to see what sorts of amenities and activities are close by. Meanwhile, be sure to head out and have as much fun as possible during your vacation. Check out our 10 Inexpensive Outer Banks Vacations Activities and our Outer Banks Adventures guides for some ideas. And if you’re looking for something fun to do with the whole family, why not try crabbing and catching your own seafood? Find out more in Crabbing on the Outer Banks Guide.
Seaside Vacations is Here for All Your Vacation Rental Home Needs
Camping on the Outer Banks can be a fun and rewarding experience however you decide to do it, whether you plan to stay in an RV or in a tent. But just in case you decide to trade in the tent for a beach cottage on your next Outer Banks vacations, Seaside Vacations is always here to help satisfy all of your vacation rental needs. Check out one our available Outer Banks rentals today!
About the Author: Lauren is the author of two books and a travel enthusiast. She grew up on the Outer Banks and only left for a few years to get her degree at UNC-Chapel Hill and complete a tour in the Coast Guard before making her way back to the beach in 2017. The only thing Lauren loves more than writing is sharing her love of the Outer Banks and its rich history with visitors and locals alike. When she isn’t writing for the Seaside Vacations Travel Blog, Lauren can usually be found with a book and cup of tea in hand, planning her next travel adventure and trying to figure out what happened to the Lost Colony.
