Bottom Line: Well-maintained and busy campground on the Atlantic ocean on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Looking for something a little "beachy" without all of the crowds, this year (July 4th week) we ended up staying seven nights straight at Camp Hatteras, which is the longest we have stayed in one spot. We had tried Myrtle Beach, SC a couple of years ago and had a god experience at the campgroup, but the whole area is over populated and very crowded. This was also the first time we brought an extra vehicle. We did that so that we could run to the store and down to Ocracoke island.
Being on the beach, Camp Hatteras has no shade to speak of, but there is an almost constant breeze as well as direct beach access and a pool. The evenings were quite nice with the only downside being mosquitoes. Those were (mostly) taken care of by sprays and repellent candles.
The weather in July was hot and humid as expected, and so we discovered how great air conditioning is. Crazy Train's A/C thermostat quite working sometime during the drive, so I called around and was able to find a newer replacement. The guy (Outer Banks Camper, RV,, and Trailer Supplies) was just across the street and had a big selection of stuff an RVer would need when things break. I got the A/C up and running within 15 minutes of having the part. Other than a couple of storms with some serious wind and a slight tear in a weak spot of my awning, the rest of the stay was uneventful.The sites were mostly all the same, and they appeared to be almost 100% booked up for the independence day week. It was the perfect place for kids on bikes, golf carts, and even some Frisbee or football.
The pools were clean and comfortable. The beach (no life guard) was not terribly busy, and the ocean was a bit chilly, but great for cooling off. There were activities for the kids during the day, and the staff were all very attentive and nice. I was surprised at the level of service at Camp Hatteras. The price was a little high, but this is a peak month (and week). They do give Good Sam discounts as well.
About 3 miles South is the Salvo Day Use area which is a nice little free beach area on the sound side. The water there is warm and shallow for quite a ways out. That area is heavily used for kayak and paddle board enthusiasts. There are golf cart and vehicle rentals nearby as well as a decent little store and various shops. There It was about a 40 minute drive to the ferry for Ocracoke and the ferry line was very long on July 3rd. I think we arrived around 10am and waited about 2 hours before boarding the ferry. There are shops nearby, which made the wait easier.
Features: sites with 50a/30a/20a/water/septic/cable, concrete pad, picnic tables, bath/laundry houses, indoor and outdoor pool, hot tub, beach access to the Atlantic, and a small store.
Summary:
Camp Hatteras Campground is fully featured and well managed and I would love to stay there again. I give it eight out of ten stars.
Camp Hatteras Campground (Official Site)
24798 NC HWY 12
WAVES, NC 27968
Phone: 252-987-2777
Web: https://camphatteras.com
