With its sandy beaches, barrier islands, tidal estuaries, blackwater rivers and swamp forests, North Carolina's southern coast provides a wealth of camping for all types of campers. The topography of the area has been shaped by the forces of wind, sea and weather and provides a rich experience for outdoor enthusiasts.
If you wear your home on your back and have the use of a small boat, leave the parking lot–style camping behind for the isolation of Masonboro Island, an eight-mile barrier island that stretches between Wrightsville and Carolina beaches. In the off-season, your only neighbors may be pelicans and rabbits.
Campgrounds nearest the beaches are generally RV towns with ample amenities, so if you'd like to take along the kitchen sink, you may as well take your electric bug-zapper too.
Bicycle campers will find campgrounds about a day's ride apart except in the Wilmington vicinity, where campgrounds are less numerous. In any event, camping the southern coast is ideal for visitors on a budget, anglers who want to walk to the water each morning and anyone for whom recreation is re-creation.
Naturally, the highest rates at private campgrounds apply during the summer and on holiday weekends. Tent sites are cheaper than RV sites. At most private grounds, weekly rates often discount the seventh day if payment is made in advance. Rentals by the month or longer are extremely limited from April to August due to the summer crunch. Some campgrounds offer camper or boat storage for a monthly fee.
As the Boy Scouts say, be prepared, especially for blistering sun, sudden electrical storms with heavy downpours, voracious marsh mosquitoes and insidious no-see-ums in summer. Temperatures in the region generally are mild, except for the occasional frost in winter and some scorching days in the midst of summer. Average summer peak temperature is in the 90s, average winter low is 36, and the overall yearly average temperature is 63. April and October tend to have the least rainfall, about 3 inches each, while July can boast some serious showers. However, weather patterns are often unpredictable, so be prepared for rain in any season and for the quick onset of foul weather.
Sunscreen is essential. Hats and eye protection are wise, and insect repellent useful. For tent camping, a waterproof tent fly is a must, and a tarp or dining fly is handy when cooking. Pack longer tent stakes or sand stakes for protection against high winds. Stay abreast of weather reports, especially during hurricane season (June 1 through November 30), and always bring a radio. A lightweight camp stove and cook set will come in handy when restaurants aren't convenient and at the many campgrounds where fires are prohibited.
The primary creature hazards in the area are poisonous snakes and spiders, which are prevalent in forested areas, and ticks, which can carry disease. Beware of poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac in brushwood and forests. Raccoons and other small nocturnal animals are seldom more than a nuisance, although rabid animals are occasionally reported in rural areas. Normally, the animals posing the greatest threat are human, which is why open fires and alcoholic beverages are restricted in most campgrounds.
For hikers or cyclists carrying packs, there are two noteworthy Wilmington retail outlets for equipment. In business for more than 50 years, Canady's Sport Center, 3220 Wrightsville Avenue, (910) 791-6280, is an excellent outdoor outfitter with a varied inventory. It's closed on Sunday. Another excellent source for equipment and outdoor clothing is Great Outdoor Provision Co. in Hanover Center, 3501 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, (910) 343-1648. It's open seven days a week.
Your other choices for field gear are Dick's Sporting Goods, 816 S. College Road, (910) 793-1904, and the two Wal-Mart Super Centers, one at 5135 Carolina Beach Road, (910) 452-0944, and the other at 5226 Sigmon Road, (910) 392-4034, which are good choices for novices and tailgate campers. In Brunswick County, Wal-Mart Super Centers are located in Southport at 1675 N. Howe Street, (910) 454-9909, and in Shallotte, 4540 Main Street, (910) 754-2880.
In this chapter we've provided a list of the area's nicest, most popular camping destinations. For information on children's summer camps, refer to our Kidstuff section.
