South Core Banks -- Beach camping
Campground · North Carolina ·
Managed by the National Park Service
Cape Lookout National Seashore (National Seashore) · Open Access
- 3 ft
- Elevation
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.
Getting there
Take a ferry from Davis, NC over to Great Island on South Core Banks. The barrier islands of Cape Lookout National Seashore may only be reached by boat -- either your own boat or a ferry from the mainland.
34.76056, -76.41222 · 34°45'38.0"N 76°24'44.0"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 4.5 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 6.7 | 6.9 | 8.0 | 8.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.7 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 6.3 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about South Core Banks -- Beach camping
- Can you reserve a site at South Core Banks -- Beach camping?
- No. South Core Banks -- Beach camping is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.
Camping near South Core Banks -- Beach camping
- Great Island Cabin Camp less than 0.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cape Lookout National Seashore Tours 8.4 mi · Tickets · we watch it
- Long Point Cabin Camp 13 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Oyster Point Campground 19.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Flanners Beach Campground 34 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Ocracoke Campground 37.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cedar Point Campground 38.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Great Island Cabin Office less than 0.1 mi · Facility
- Harkers Island Visitor Center 8.3 mi · Facility
- Light Station Visitor Center 11.3 mi · Facility
- North Core Banks - Beach Camping 13 mi · Campground
- Portsmouth Visitor Center 29.1 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone (252) 728-2250
- Email calo_vc@nps.gov
- Info Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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