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 North Carolina's southern coast provides a wealth of
camping opportunities. 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. But 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.
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 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. Average summer peak
temperature is 88, 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 boasts nearly 8 inches. However, weather patterns
can be a little 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 are poisonous snakes, which are prevalent in
forested areas, and ticks, which have been known to 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.
We've provided here a list of the area's nicest, most popular camping destinations. (For information on children's summer camps, refer to our
Kidstuff chapter.)
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