Camping at Carolina Beach State Park
Available Camping Facilities
The park's family campground is located in a wooded area near Snow's Cut.
The campground has a bathhouse with toilets and hot showers available to all campers. There are also potable water spigots and trash and recycling bins around the campground loop for campers to use. Firewood is available for purchase at the visitor center or marina store.
There are 69 campsites with no hookups. Ten campsites have full hookups (water, electric and sewer). Electric hookups offer 50-amp, 30-amp, and 20-amp services. Long driveways can accommodate RVs of all sizes. All sites are each equipped with a picnic table and grill or fire ring.
The following sites are accessible for people with limited mobility or disabilities: sites 37 and 59, and site 8, which has full hookups. Please do not reserve an accessible site if no one in your group needs it, unless it is the only site left available when you are making your reservation.
In addition to the 79 campsites, the park has six camper cabins located in the family campground.
These camping cabins sleep six people in two rooms, one with a queen bed (sleeps two) and one with two sets of twin-sized bunk beds.
Campers must bring their own pillows and sleeping bags or linens, as these are not provided. Each cabin has electrical outlets and a heating and air-conditioning unit. There are no restrooms inside the cabin, and campers must use the nearby bathhouse and water spigots. Outside each cabin, there is a picnic table, charcoal grill, and a fire ring. There are also Adirondack chairs by the front door.
Centennial Cabin on site 42 is accessible for people with limited mobility or disabilities. Please do not reserve an accessible site if no one in your group needs it, unless it is the only site left available when you are making your reservation.
No smoking, cooking, or open flames are allowed inside any of the cabins. Animals are not allowed in the cabins or cabin area, with the exception of service animals. Each cabin has parking space for two vehicles.
Park gate is locked daily at posted closing hours. Vehicle access after gate closing and before 7 a.m. is restricted, except in an emergency.
For more information on camper cabins, including additional photos, visit the Cabin page.
Cancellation Policy for Cabins
Please note that cabin reservations must be cancelled at least 14 days prior to the scheduled arrival date. No refunds are issued after the 14-day mark, but campers may reschedule to another date and will be charged only the cancellation fees.
Carolina Beach State Park has two camping areas for organized or established groups (i.e. scout troops, church groups, etc.) located along the Swamp Trail and are available by reservation only.
Site #1 accommodates up to 26 people; site #2 accommodates up to 40 people. These are all walk-in campsites, and all camping equipment and supplies must be carried to the site, approximately 400 yards from the Flytrap Trail parking area. These sites are not accessible by vehicle.
These areas include two picnic tables, grills/fire rings and pit toilets. Water and shower facilities are not available. Reservations can be made by contacting the park marina office.
Cancellation Policy for Group Campsites
Please note that if you need to cancel your group campsite reservations, you have until 14 days prior to the scheduled arrival date. No refunds are issued after the 14-day mark, but campers may reschedule to another date and will be charged only the cancellation fees.
Call 910-458-7770 to book now.
Important Information
Check-In and Check-Out Times
Check-in at all state parks is 3 p.m. and check-out is at 12 p.m. These times apply to all campsites, including the cabins and group campsites.
Some parks can accommodate early check-in or late check-out, depending on the reservation schedule and site availability. Please contact the park to make such arrangements: carolina.beach@ncparks.gov or 910-458-8206.
Leave No Trace
Camp on designated sites only. Your camping equipment must be on the tent pad or within the designated limits of each site. When leaving, inspect your campsite, food preparation areas, and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter.
Burn all woods and coals to ash. Put out campfires completely before you leave, then scatter cool ashes.
Learn About the Seven Principles
Amenities
Not all campsites have identical amenities. Read the campsite information on ReserveAmerica to see photos of campsites; check availability and fees; find out whether a specific site is wheelchair accessible, has access to water, bathhouses, or pit toilets, or has RV hookups; and learn other important information.
Gate Access
Park gates are closed and locked at posted closing times for your protection. There will be no exiting or entering the gates after the closing time. All visitors who are not spending the night need to be out by closing time. Vehicles left overnight must have a camping tag.
If you leave the park and do not return before closing time, you will not be able to re-enter. Check with the visitor center or marina during business hours for the after-hours emergency phone number. Please notify the campground hosts for emergencies only.
Quiet Hours
Quiet hours are from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. at Carolina Beach State Park. Generators must be powered off during quiet hours.
Firewood
Firewood can be purchased at the park from the visitor center or the marina for $8 a bundle. Fires are permitted only in designated areas and must be tended at all times. Gathering firewood is prohibited.
Please don't transport firewood into our state parks because you could unknowingly spread dangerous insects and diseases and harm the forest. Purchase firewood locally or buy heat-treated firewood. For more information on how to have a risk-free campfire experience, please visit the Don't Move Firewood website.
Making Reservations
All North Carolina state park campgrounds are designated for recreation only. A single campsite can be reserved for a maximum of 14 consecutive nights within any 30-day period. Upon reaching that limit, a camper must vacate the park for 16 nights before returning.
There is no long-term camping or monthly RV parking or storage at the park.
Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance.
Changes and Cancellations
You can cancel reservations online by logging into your account on ReserveAmerica. Please note that there is a $6 fee per night to cancel your reservation. The fees will be deducted from your refund.
Same-day cancellations will incur an additional charge of one night's camping. You cannot cancel a one-night reservation on the same day. Same-day cancellations can be made only by calling the reservations number at 1-877-722-6762.
Please note that cabin camping and group camping reservations must be cancelled at least 14 days prior to the scheduled arrival date. No refunds are issued after the 14-day mark, but campers may reschedule and will be charged only the cancellation fees.
If you need to make changes to your reservation, please call ReserveAmerica at 1-877-722-6762. You cannot switch dates, campsites, or parks using your account online — you will be charged the cancellation fees, even if you book a new site.
In the event of a closure for a campsite, campground, or the entire park, you will be contacted automatically by ReserveAmerica to cancel or change your reservation. You will receive a full refund for cancellations due to park closures.
No refunds are issued for "no-shows," early departures, or cancellations made after the arrival date.
Camping Rates per Night
All prices listed on the page include the $3 reservation fee.
| Campsite Type | Nightly Rate |
|---|---|
| RV campsite with electric, water, and sewer hookups | $36 |
| Tent/trailer/RV campsite with no hookup | $26 |
| Primitive group campsite #1 — up to 26 people | $45 |
| Primitive group campsite #2 — up to 40 people | $55 |
| Camper cabins | $78 |
Senior Citizen and Military/Veteran Discount
Campers 62 years old or older and any veteran or active military members are eligible for a $6 discount per night on most reservations (except group campsites). When making a reservation online, check the box for the discount program to apply it to your reservation. When you check in at the park, please make sure you have a valid ID with your birthdate or proof of military service or veteran status to confirm the discounted rate.
There are no other discounts or passes for camping.
Volunteer as a Campground Host
Campground hosts "live in" the park and assist park staff in maintaining the campgrounds and in serving campers. They typically answer questions, provide directions to local amenities, and inform campers of the rules and hours of the campground. They may also help register campers when the visitor center or park office is closed for the day, or they may sell firewood.
Campground hosts serve as the point of contact between campers and on-call rangers. They would report incidents, suspicious behavior, and other situations that may need to be addressed by staff.
Campground hosts serve as volunteers, so they do not get paid. A volunteer work schedule will be arranged with the park's host coordinating ranger. Those interested in serving as campground hosts should be willing to work flexible hours and be prepared to work on weekends and holidays.
Hosts will stay on the host campsite free of charge. Campground hosts serve for 1 month.
Campground hosts must meet the age requirement, which is 18 years old at Carolina Beach. Hosts at Carolina Beach need to have an RV.
Hosts need to be willing to learn about the operations and general information about the park and the local area, in order to effectively assist campers. They must follow and comply with all North Carolina State Parks rules and regulations.
Hosts with pets are permitted, but they must follow pet rules at all times: dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet, and they must be kept in the host's vehicle during quiet hours.