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South Core Banks -- Beach camping
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South Core Banks -- Beach camping
Dispersed camping along the ocean beach of this 20 mile long barrier island -- this is backcountry-style camping -- all camping is done directly on the ocean beach, there are no camp sites. This area is reached only by ferry. Both tent camping and vehicle camping is allowed. Vehicles -- 4x4 highly recommended -- must be able to drive on the soft sand of the beach and the sand trail behind the dunes known as the "back road". There are no hard surfaces on the island. Practice Leave No Trace principles.
Published campsites
- total Sites
- 0
- group
- 0
- horse
- 0
- tent Only
- 0
- electrical Hookups
- 0
- rv Only
- 0
- walk Boat To
- 0
- other
- 0
Published camping fees
- No Fee Camping
- $0 · There is no fee charged for camping
Amenities
- trash Recycling Collection
- No
- toilets
- No Toilets
- internet Connectivity
- No
- showers
- None
- cell Phone Reception
- Yes - year round
- laundry
- No
- amphitheater
- No
- dump Station
- No
- camp Store
- No
- staff Or Volunteer Host Onsite
- No
- potable Water
- No water
- ice Available For Sale
- No
- firewood For Sale
- No
- food Storage Lockers
- No
Accessibility and facilities
- wheelchair Access
- Wheelchairs and scooters, unless they are a beach wheelchair with wide tires for all-terrain use, will find it difficult to move on the beach.
- internet Info
- Internet and/or wifi is not provided. If connection is needed, bring a personal hotspot to make your connection. Even then the strength is generally not strong enough to allow for streaming services or connecting with online meetings or school distance learning.
- cell Phone Info
- Bring a solar cell phone charger or cell phone car adapter with you as there is no place to plug in a charger unless you have brought a generator with you. Cell phone signal strength varies according to provider. There are small “dead zones” up and down the beach, generally these areas are not very large and by moving a short distance can generally pick up the signal again. Can reach the 911 system from the island.
- fire Stove Policy
- Open flame fires (campfires) allowed on the ocean beach below the high tide line (in damp sand) away from all vegetation. Contained fires, such as in a camp stove, are allowed near the campsite
- rv Allowed
- 1
- rv Info
- RVs and camping trailers may be used for beach camping. All camping vehicles and trailers must remain on the open beach, seaward of the dunes. There are no hard surfaced roads or camping pads on the islands. A 4x4 vehicle is recommended for driving on the beach and/or pulling a camping trailer. The maximum size of the trailer or RV depends on if it will fit on the deck of the ferry. The different ferries can handle lengths from 38 to 54 feet. Call and talk directly with the ferry about your RV and/or trailer.
- rv Max Length
- 54
- additional Info
- During the summer months, drinking water is available at the restrooms near the lighthouse and from a spigot on the back road near the boardwalk to the beach. At the cabin camp, drinking water is available in the public restrooms. These sources of water are turned off during the coldest part of the winter. Keep a clean camp – store all food, and even trash, in sturdy, sealable containers, to prevent raccoons. Follow Leave No Trace principles. There is no trash pickup on the islands, take all trash back to the mainland for disposal. Dump stations are located in Great Island Cabin camp and on the back road near the point of Cape Lookout. Ice and gas sales are through the cabin camp. A public bath house with showers is located in the cabin camp.
- trailer Max Length
- 54
- ada Info
- The wide sandy beaches of South Core Banks are covered in soft sand which makes for uneven footing and not easy for mobility assistance devices to navigate. There are no hard surfaces anywhere on the island, all travel is by walking or driving directly on the beach. There are no established campsites on the island, primitive style camping is dispersed along the beach. Restrooms and other amenities may be miles from where you are camping. A public bath house is located in the Great Island Cabin Camp with accessible toilets and showers.
- trailer Allowed
- 1
- access Roads
- No Roads
- classifications
- Primitive Camping Areas
Official NPS information and current conditions ↗
| Place / record | Campground records | Context | Explore |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Core Banks -- Beach camping | 1 | Dispersed camping along the ocean beach of this 20 mile long barrier island -- this is backcountry-style camping -- all camping is done directly on the ocean beach, there are no camp sites. This area is reached only by ferry. Both tent camping and vehicle camping is allowed. Vehicles -- 4x4 highly recommended -- must be able to drive on the soft sand of the beach and the sand trail behind the dunes known as the "back road". There are no hard surfaces on the island. Practice Leave No Trace principles. | Profile → |