Camp Hatteras - Travel Trail Sail

I have had the opportunity to stay at Camp Hatteras two times and I recommend it.

Camp Hatteras is really all about the beach. Camp Hatteras is located in Rodanthe/Waves North Carolina in the Outer Banks. This is a fairly large camping resort with level, paved sites and incredible access to the beach.

If you like playing in the sand and sea, this is the place to stay. From your site, you are only a few hundred feet from the beach. It is an easy walk so you can get to the ocean but still take a break if you need. The resort also has an indoor and an outdoor pool for those days when the waves might be a little rough.

Rodanthe and Waves are small towns. You can find the basics here including a few good restaurants. It is an easy drive to visit the Hatteras and Bodie Island lighthouses. Going a little farther, you can get to Ocracoke by ferry or cross a bridge to Nags Head. This part of the outer banks is a very thin strip of sand that is mostly a wildlife refuge. The sound side offers opportunities to try kayaking, sailboarding, or other water sports.

Camp Hatteras is clean and well maintained. It has a beach feel to it. There are few trees or shade. If you prefer to be near the beach but want a more wooded feel, you might consider Frisco Woods Campground in Frisco, NC.

This is a very dog friendly vacation location. Dogs are allowed on the beach and in the campground. However, keep in mind that the sand gets very hot so you may want to limit your dog’s time on the beach to early and late in the day.

There are a few minor negatives to Camp Hatteras. It is expensive. The wi-fi doesn’t work well. And, bring plenty of bottled water because the taps here are so salty that you can’t really drink it. If you plan to be on the beach after dark, you may want to bring some bug spray – if the wind isn’t blowing right, the mosquitos can be a bit much.

All things considered, this is a great place to stay. After staying a week last year, I visited again this year and there is a pretty good chance I will go again next year.

Have you camped out at the beach? What is your favorite spot? I would love to hear your tips and stories.

First posted to Amundson.me August 31, 2011