We took the car ferry to Ocracoke Island for a day while visiting the Outer Banks in November…read more While there, this was one of the places we stopped. We did a short .8 mile trail here. Parking is kind of weird. There's no parking at the trail, but we parked at a nearby church that had parking for a donation. The trail starts out in a wooded area that's really pretty. Then the middle portion of the trail is along the beach. The beach portion was my favorite part because of all the jelly fish we saw right on the shore. I don't know what phenomenon was going on that they were all right on the shore or if it's normal, but it was really cool. I'd definitely add this to your list of stops on Ocracoke Island.

Apparently this is Blackbeard's old stomping grounds. I'm kind of glad it hasn't been turned into…read moresome cheesy pirate-themed amusement park, but surprised that there really wasn't any information there on this. The paths lead through some diverse environments to a small inland-facing beach. People were using them for running, but you'll be done quickly if you do that. It's definitely a haven for mosquitos, and being on the inland side it isn't that windy. I saw signs indicating that the park is planning to expand with more trails. Given the amount of island that isn't easily accessible, this seems like a good decision to me.

Great area for the kids to play in the water without having to deal with the huge waves of NC…read more Highly recommend. Get there early to get beach space

There really are a lot of Canucks here windsurfing. I spoke with a few from the Montreal area…read more This mass invasion of socialists from the north means there's a lot of excessive politeness, "eh"s, "sorry"s, and disputes resolved with words rather than guns. 'Murica.

I made my reservation about two weeks ahead of time, finding a good number of spots available. It's…read moreworth noting that none of the spaces actually face the ocean or the inlet - there are trees between the campground and the highway on one side and there are 15 foot tall dunes on the other. So really, just pick any space that isn't next to the dumpster. Some folks had their cars parked and were in tents so that may be an option for you. I arrived before dark and had no problem finding my designated space that had a marker indicating my name and my dates of check in and out. After parking, I heated up dinner at my designated picnic table, enjoyed a discreet beer and then climbed the dune (on a designated path!) to watch the ocean waves for a bit. It's beautiful and there was so much room that I had a half mile of sandy beach to myself. Absolutely stunning. There are no lifeguards so be careful if you decide to swim. I did not. A quick shower in the shower cabin (cold water only!) and I locked up for the night. It was quiet and peaceful. In the morning, I was up just before Sunrise and on my way north for the ferry terminal to Hatteras. The campground has a dump station that is free if you're staying here. Other than the showers and some bathrooms, there isn't much else here. [Review 782 of 2025 - 4214 in North Carolina - 24342 overall]

My husband and I stayed at this National Park Service campground in mid-March, 2025…read more Pros. *a beautiful and peaceful location, with easy beach access just over the sand dunes. *sites were sufficiently spread out, especially in March when there are fewer campers. *easy access to main road or the dedicated bike trail along road that takes you into town of Ocracoke. *reasonable price. $28, less 50% for holders of NPS Senior Pass, so $14. *clean and heated restroom. Cons. *All sites are standard, non-electric. *showers would open only on April 1st. *watch out for sand spurs. At a minimum, they're irritating but they can also hurt! We would stay here again if in the area.

We decided to take a day trip on the free ferry to Ocracoke while staying in the Outer Banks…read more There isn't a TON to do on this island, so we decided to stop here to check out the beach. I LOVE that they have a nice walkway to the beach, makes it easier than having to trudge through the sand with a cooler. Also great that they have bathrooms on premise as I despise port-a-potties, sadly it was all closed during the government shut down. The parking lot is a little bit on the small side, so it might be best to try to arrive earlier in the day to secure parking. I spotted a warning sign about rip currents and I think it's great that they have this! Be careful, my friends on past OBX trips had some scary situations when they were caught in the dangerous rip tides. The beach here is beautiful and tranquil. It was cold when we visited in December, but I could see this as an amazing place to go for a stroll by the water. If you have some time to kill before you board the ferry back to the mainland, this is a nice place to stop. If you are here in the summer, pack a lunch and come here for the day.

Bottom Line: A nicely maintained day use area for people of all abilities to enjoy the pristine…read moreOcracoke Beach. The Ocracoke Day Use Area is a specific plot of land and accompanying facilities on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. "Ocracoke Day Use Area" is the official name given to this public space by the National Park Service who maintains and operates this area. In the summer months the Ocracoke Day Use Area is a popular destination for those vacationing on Ocracoke Island and wanting to feel the sand between their toes or take a dip in the Atlantic. I imagine this beach access is popular because it has a large parking lot and it is the closest developed beach access to Ocracoke Village. In addition to a paved parking lot, the Ocracoke Day Use Area has the following amenities: - changing rooms - bathrooms - outdoor shows - handicap accessible bathrooms - beach access/boardwalk - bike rack Speaking of accessibility, a few years ago the NPS upgraded the beach access/boardwalk at this location. The boardwalk is lengthy but it has a gentle slope to be compliant with the Architectural Barriers Act. (I suspect that also means it is ADA compliant.) The boardwalk divides around the dune line and one section goes to a lovely scenic overlook while the other section descends onto the beach. So even if you're not up for getting sandy, you can still enjoy the beach. There are various places on Ocracoke Island to access the beach via motor vehicle but I don't think this is one of them. You'll need a permit which can be purchased at the Ocracoke Visitors Center. And I believe you can also rent beach wheelchairs there too.

Your typical surf shop with a nice variety of beach ware, clothing and home decor…read more COVID appears to have impacted their T-shirt selection with only small sizes available.

We loved renting kayaks and had so much fun. Can't wait to do it again. We go to ocracoke often but…read morethis was our first time doing this. We will definitely add this to our must do list.

I was at the beach during one of their "ghost story fires" and was absolutely shocked by the…read morebehavior of these business ""owners"". They firstly drove past the sign stating that no cars were allowed pay a point, only to park directly next to a fenced off sea turtle nest. Their car was less than 10 feet from these poor species that face enough danger as is. When confronted about their driving onto a no cars beach they stated that they "had a business" which obviously prevents them from following any rules or regulations. They then lit a bonfire less than 50 feet from the sea turtle nest, with rings of chairs practically touching the fence. A park ranger happened to drive by and was alerted to the issue, then confirmed they were not allowed to drive on the beach. They did move their fire to the legally-allowed location below the tide line, finally a decent distance from the sea turtle nest. Not only that, they were instructing people to climb the *protected* dunes to take photos of the sunset. This is completely irresponsible behavior from people profiting off the beach, absolutely ridiculous entitlement. If i could give 0 stars based on their poor behavior alone I would.

This campground is in a great location! Close to shops and restaurants but still down the road to…read moremake it a quiet spot. Our site #5 had nice shade from trees and was close to the bathhouse. We liked the outdoor showers but they could use a few new wood boards. The sites are a little close to one another but our camper is small so we didn't have issues. It could be trickier with large campers. The owner was friendly and was very understanding when we didn't have enough cash. Make a note: they only take cash or check! There's an ATM at the bank and variety store. Also, they start taking reservations in March and you have to call ahead! Not sure how fast they fill up. They also don't allow fires because of the city ordinances. Ocracoke was such a fun trip and this campground was a perfect place to stay with our camper!

Great, laid back atmosphere. Smaller areas where you camp but the island is small all in all…read more Easily able to walk up into town from here. Renting a golf cart we found to be the best way to explore the island in a day (which is at the intersection as your coming out of the campground). Also, found a great coffee shop in the neighborhood near the campground run by locals. All in all, this was a pretty clean campsite compared to others we have stayed at during our road trip this summer so far. We enjoyed it so much, we are going back this week to stay and look for apartments in Ocracoke.

Dolphin Realty runs the Hatteras Cabanas, a group of 40 privately owned one-room cabanas only steps…read moreaway from the beach. Everything from the process of selecting a cabana and checking on availability to arriving, staying, and checking out was smooth, simple as pie, and budget-friendly. We had our vacation dates picked out first and checked the website to see what would be available during the September 17-24 (Saturday to Saturday) week. There were plenty of options when we booked in July, but by September there were no vacancies listed on the website (though there was a sign at the cabanas themselves that said "Vacancy," so something might have opened up). The first half of the fee was due immediately, and the second half was due a month before arrival. The rates vary widely depending on the season. Ours came to about $570 for a week's stay after tax, fees, and trip insurance were all figured in, but "off season" begins in early September, thanks to potential hurricane threats. Prime season is listed in the brochure as $820.37 per week and may be more after fees. The cabanas are a mix of uniform and highly individualized. They're single-room affairs (plus a bathroom with a door, of course) on stilts -- you park underneath. They have no fewer than three decks: both front and back decks on the living floor and a third one at roof level. They all have air conditioning, a TV, and kitchen areas including a fridge and oven. They're all built of the gray, salt-blown wood that is popular all over the island. The best way to visualize the size is to think of a medium-sized dorm room with a kitchen. Beyond these details, they all have their separate personalities. The one we stayed in, Ocean's Door East (#27), had a rare two-bed setup, one of them loft-style. Most others appear to have one bed, some of them full-size and some of them queen. It was decorated with a beautiful array of beach-inspired wall knickknacks, many of which said "Welcome" on them -- and welcome we felt! The kitchen had lots of dishes and pots (but not all of the cabanas necessarily will, so come prepared!), and we were pleased to find beach chairs we could borrow. There were also a lot of children's beach toys, but again, that will vary from cabana to cabana, so don't count on it. This one allows pets, both dogs and cats, but not all of them do. We chose our cabana based on its proximity to the beach -- it was the closest one available when we booked. There is a wooden walkway that takes you over the dune, and there you are! There was always a smattering -- but not a crowd -- of people lounging, reading, fishing, beachcombing, or throwing balls for their dog. The waves were medium-height while we were there, but of course that can be variable. A convenient hose is located at the cabana end of the walkway for cleaning off sandy feet. About halfway through the week, we realized there was a hose under our cabana, too. Additional tips: Be aware that weather in this area is volatile. We had the pleasure of partly cloudy 88-degree days and rainy nights during our week, but it could just as easily storm, or a hurricane might blow through. Hatteras Island gets completely evacuated at such times, so get trip insurance. Also note that you will need to bring your own sheets, towels, and paper goods. This isn't a hotel, it's someone's beach home, so there will be imperfections in the accommodations, and you're cleaning up after yourself, ESPECIALLY right before you leave. Also, bring bug spray. Even though the cabana has an owner, it's through Dolphin Realty that you'll be paying your fee and signing your lease agreement. I did this all by email with them. They responded within a business day or so of any inquiry I made. It was all so easy and reasonably priced that we'll consider coming back to Hatteras Cabanas for future trips here!

Unit 27 - Ocean's Door East. Fall 2020. Maggots in the refrigerator that migrated into…read moredining/living/sleeping area. Dangerous wiring and extension cords hanging off of TV. Stale, rotting food and exposed wiring under stove burners that didn't work. Filthy, thread-bare curtains that partially covered non-functioning windows and sliding door. Urine and miscellaneous stains on sofa upholstery and bedding. Doors hanging off of rusty hinges. Broken and leaking hose outside for rinsing off after the beach. ZERO Covid-19 protocol or cleaning. Disrespectful and rude Dolphin Realty employee named Suzanne. Protect the health and safety - not to mention your "relaxing" vacation and search for accommodations elsewhere.

Tami and her crew were great! We used their 4 boats for shelling excursions. All captains were…read morevery personable and fun to be around. We found a lot of shells and sand dollars. We would highly recommend doing a tour with them! So much fun!!

What a fun afternoon!!! Captain John took us out shelling, he was knowledgeable and fun and we…read morethoroughly enjoyed our time. We found some amazing treasures and learned a lot too! We had 5 women. This trip would be great for a small family. Great experience and we all highly recommend! We are already thinking of doing it again next year!! Kudos to all.