National Park Service Ocracoke Campground — Hotel in Ocracoke Island

BARE BONES BOONDOCKING At it's finest!!! Man we wish they had electricity!!! Turning off generators at 10 p.m. on a summer's night became gruesome. Sleep was difficult. Whine, whimper, moan. Talk about first world problems!! THIS SITE IS FANTASTIC!!! We've never taken a ferry with the 38 foot RV towing thre jeep- the GPS is set to avoid ferries. What kind of money would it take to pay for passage with a modern fleet and take a scenic hour long trip to Ocracoke? Free! Nada! Comp! Amazing. But make sure that you go to Hatteras on hwy 12 past Frisco. Othr ferries service the area and they charge. We don't know how much but it's more expensive than free!!! The campground is roughly 9 miles from the ferry. There are 4 loops or sections and tent camping is accommodated in D section where generators aren't allowed. Beautiful grass covered dunes lick at the edges of the site. Tents are interspersed throughout the brush and we tip our hat to these hearty souls. At the edge of the ocean weather does what it chooses. Wind, rainy conditions that drove some tent campers into their vehicles for shelter while some braved the elements. For us, the RV swayed when buffeted by the winds. Capricious nature then blessed us with three glorious days of sunshine and an occasional refreshing sprinkle. So much for the prelude! The star attraction is the ocean. The area is blessed with fantastic waves making for ideal surfing. With a permit ($50 for 10 days- annual options also) it's possible to actually drive on the beach!!! Another first! And of course the obligatory moment of getting bogged down in the sand only to be rescued by 4 locals who appeared, pushed us out and waved as we drove off!!! Beach umbrellas, tents, awnings attached to vehicles. Pavilions covered whole families who clearly did this a lot. Our favorite time is the wee hours of the night. Solitude, ocean mist wraps around you to cloak your presence. The lack of ground lights allows you to view stars bright, bold and mystical. We recommend also having a stargazing app on your phone to finally name that star you've noticed for so long. Red Mars shines brightly, recently it's been at the point of its orbit where it's closest to earth by 10s of millions of miles. City dwellers will not notice this phenomenon; their vision will be limited by ground lights. There are bath facilities here and a dump station with fresh water nearby. Gas for our too hungry generator was $3.44 for regular. So fill up prior to arriving. Longer stays like ours ( it expanded from the planned 2 days into 7 because of the beauty) will require a trip to the only gas station in town. There are restaurants of a few different stripes and you'll be well fed. But thr gem of the area is the food truck in the parking lot of the market! Mexican with a creative twist that will excite almost any palate. Antique shops abound, bands of tourists roam looking for deals, food and libations. No one has to walk far. There are too many eateries to name and all were seeing a wonderful share of business even in this off season . Go, enjoy, swim, bask in the sun's rays and don't forget the sunscreen. And be prepared to fail in love with nature, with life. Stress blows away in the wind. And if you're not careful you'll find yourself smiling for no reason and yearning to make a sand...

I solo camped, in a tent with my 10 month old Labradoodle, here in early June 2018. My time there will always be among my most treasured times of my life! D loop is all tents and the best loop if you want sites that don't flood in the rain. Bring plyers if you want to shower because the salt air corroded the handles off of the shower faucets! Plyers were necessary to be able to turn them on with the tiny shards of rusty metal that remained. Bring a ton of bug spray and a screen room tent! At dusk the bugs are nuts especially if your site is by the trees, which is great if you want to keep your tent cool. Just be prepared to kill the 50 mosquitoes that follow you into your tent in the 3 seconds it takes you to unzip, enter your tent, and rezip! If you prepare yourself for that, you'll be a happy camper! The 24/7 sound of the ocean (even on the far side of D loop where I was), easy access to the ocean, friendly rangers who checked on me periodically, the billions of stars that are visible from the campground, shopping, friendly islanders...more than make up for any trouble the bugs may cause you! The best thing I did when planning for beach camping was to get a Coleman tent with "darkroom technology". It cuts the light by 90% and decreases the greenhouse effect in your tent! Camping without ac isn't really a problem unless you spend time in the ac in stores and restaurants! Your body acclimated. Too much AC wrecks that for your body and makes it tough to a adjust. Request deck seating when eating at restaurants. For your tents, I recommend getting extra long steaks so they will stay in the sand. Better yet, get the ones that spiral into the sand like the dog tie outs do! Speaking of camping with a dog, remember to look for Pawtection balm for paws and natural sunscreen for dogs too! It really helped Finn stay comfortable! He slept on a blanket next to me in my tent. I had a tie out with a 20 foot leash so he could go all around the site and would reach into the tent so all I had to do in the morning was wake up, clip him to the tie out and open the tent. Easy! Skin so soft and natural bug spray for kids and pets (from Costco) did fine for keeping the bugs off of him. Remember a lifejacket if your dog will go near the water. Finn is an avid swimmer but I still have him wear his lifejacket because a tired dog is no match for the ocean (or any water). The beaches are not lifeguard protected at the campground. We still swam. In the evenings the dogs on the beach on a leash rule is largely ignored by most owners with retrievers. It made for fun play dates on the beach for those with dogs who love to fetch in the waves and owners who know no strangers! We're returning in June for more solo with dog camping for 11 days and 10 more when family joins...

Here’s a polished and engaging Google review you can post for the NPS Ocracoke Campground at Cape Hatteras National Seashore:

⸻

Ocracoke Campground is a true island paradise without the high price tag! We absolutely loved our stay here — the campground is part of the stunning Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and it feels like you’re camping just steps from your own private beach. Many of the sites offer amazing views and are just over the dunes from the picture-perfect shoreline, perfect for long walks, shell hunting, or just soaking in the ocean breeze.

Each campsite is paved and comes with a picnic table, and the layout is spacious and bike-friendly. While the sites are non-electric, a bit of self-sufficiency goes a long way — and it’s totally worth it for the experience. There’s a dump station and fresh water available just across the street, so everything you need is close at hand.

The campground is also conveniently located just a short ride or drive from town, where you can grab groceries, explore the Ocracoke Lighthouse, or enjoy a meal at one of the local restaurants.

If you’re looking for a peaceful, scenic beachside getaway with a laid-back vibe and unbeatable access to nature, this is it. We can’t wait...