We tent camped at White Oak River Campground this past weekend. The places has its pros and cons…read morebut for me the cons outweighed the pros so we won't be going back. Cons first so I can end on a good note: CONS - The campground is REALLY close to the highway and an overpass. You will hear the cars all night long if you are tent camping. All.Night.Long. We didn't sleep very well; I would say not at all but we doze off a few times. (5 people in our group, 1 person said they slept ok. That same person drank more than anyone else - pack a pint of Beam and you may sleep too!). - There are 1, maybe two full time campers with what appears to be full time residents. They PARTIED hard, loud music until 3-4 am. Totally unacceptable for the campground manager to allow this, and to be a part of it. Yep, he partied with them; we think he lives right behind the office in a camper too. PROS - Now for the good stuff: - There's a wonderful stream/river that runs along the campground; we got a spot on the turn which we really liked. - There are several lakes that are awesome! I taught my wife to cast a fly and there are no/few trees around so she was able to not get snagged up and she really enjoyed it. My daughter lost a nice bass in the lake nearest the camping area. We saw 4 other nice bass caught on worms. Bait can be bought south of the campground a mile or so on the left. - It is pet friendly; we bought our dogs and enjoyed walking the grounds with them. - Bathrooms are pretty clean and have showers. If you are looking for a quiet spot to chill and sleep well, this may not be the best choice. They'll never be able to fix the road noise, but if they can get the mgmt under control and address the noise at night it would be a 4 star place.

Stayed weekend at this campground. Mike is a great person and was extremely helpful to us…read morenewbie's. We arrived after dark and Mike lit up the site with his four Wheeler and helped us get backed in. We enjoyed our stay and will definitely return someday. Nice walking trail. Thanks Mike for a pleasant stay.

Very very affordable, clean, beautiful, and green. Clear view of the marsh especially at sunset. We…read morewill be back. Also be sure to meet the camp ground host, perhaps the sweetest person alive!

Camped here for one night to save on a stay at the beach. Each site has picnic table, fire…read morepit/grill and lantern hooks. There are 2 pit toilets, that were surprisingly clean and did not smell. There was a potable water pump, but no sinks or showers. The cost was $8, and is a self service drop box for check or cash. There was a campground host while we were there. Campsites are fairly private with lots of trees in between each. Some have views of the water. We drove about 20 minutes to get to the Morehead City/Atlantic Beach area. Would definitely stay again! A cheap way to enjoy the coast.

Loved the retro decor. Owner went above and beyond with his hospitality…read more Can't beat the price for the view.

Was literally left out in the rain. Can't say anything about the accommodations as we never made it…read moreinside. Room was booked for weeks and confirmed with credit card. When our party of 4 arrived (2 adults & 2 children) the door was locked at 7pm and after multiple phone calls that no one returned we were forced to go to another hotel. Even after more calls for 3 days not one response. Thanks for nothing By the way place completely run down with ash trays and butts all over and the parking lot floods. They did a nice job in the photos making it look presentable.

Always giving you the star treatment great family fun and memories. Thank you again.read more

This was a great experience out to the lighthouse. We were able to catch the ferry and the driver…read morewas friendly, and gave a little informal lessons about the area. Overall it was great. Just make sure you don't miss the last ferry ride. 2025-07 #558

Coastal Passages was our vacation hero for our third camping trip to Bear Island. We were in a…read morepinch having planned a trip outside of peak season, when the Hammocks Beach State Park ferry isn't a daily operation. Though we looked into a few different options, we knew Coastal Passages would be the right fit after a quick phone conversation. Captain Seth was welcoming, friendly, and incredibly accommodating and for people who are easily motion sick, the ride was smooth and beautiful. Thanks to Coastal Passages, we have photos and memories that we'll cherish for a lifetime and he even pointed us toward our next adventure. Next time we're in the area, we're looking forward to trying one of their tours!

We had an outstanding time out on the water with Capt. Seth in Swansboro. From the moment we…read morestepped on the boat, you could tell everything was first-class. His boat is easily one of the nicest out there. Spotless, comfortable, and set up perfectly for a day of exploring and shark tooth hunting. The shark tooth hunting was incredible. We came back with some amazing finds and way more than we expected. Capt. Seth really knows the area and took the time to show us what to look for and how to spot the good ones. His background speaks for itself. Being prior Coast Guard and now a professional teacher, it really shows in how he runs the trip. He's very humble, but his experience and confidence on the water are obvious, and we felt safe the entire time. What really stood out to us was how great he was with the kids. He's a natural teacher, patient and engaging, and made sure everyone was involved and having fun. It never felt rushed, and he made the whole experience enjoyable for both adults and kids. If you're looking for a fun, educational, and memorable day on the water around Swansboro, this is absolutely worth doing. We'd book again without hesitation.

This location is perfect - private, dolphins, kayaking, fishing, BBQ and close to other things to…read moredo! The rooms are really comfortable and cozy. We highly recommend the Waterway Inn

By far the cleanest motel style we have ever stayed in. Very cute rooms, clean, comfortable bed…read more The staff or owners were absolutely amazing. We did not even get to partake in everything it has to offer but enjoyed our stay so much. The sunset was stunning, the view right outside our room is beautiful, we even saw some dolphins! Will absolutely recommend as well as be booking again!

Sitting right on the water, the views from this cozy inn are breathtaking! From check in to check…read moreout, our experience here was delightful. The rooms were big and spotless and tastefully appointed. There were plenty of towels, snuggly beds, and many amenities in the room. Each morning we'd go outside on the balcony and sit in the rockers and soak in the sun! The hotel was decorated with a beachy, nautical theme that make us feel relaxed and comfortable. There's a huge lobby with wicker chairs for you to snuggle up and read or just watch the waves. The dining area is spacious and welcoming. The stay comes with a continental breakfast. Honestly, that could be better. For a nice Inn like this, it would be nice to have a better choice and quality of food: fresh, baked pastries and muffins, etc. but we had packaged and microwaved fare. They did have yogurt though. The front desk folks were super accommodating and pointed us to all the cool tourist attractions in the area. We had a wonderful stay here. Improve the food service and I'd give it 5 stars.

Slightly older motel on a scenic river. Well-appointed rooms. Adequate beds. Nice to have a suite…read morewith a separate bedroom when traveling with family. Lobby area was very nice with lovely view of river. Located in historic section of Beaufort with an easy walk to downtown. Staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Would stay there again. Granny gives it two thumbs up.

We stayed at the Beacon Hotel in Salter Path and had a great experience overall. Christina, our…read moremain point of contact, was incredibly friendly and helpful from start to finish, which really set the tone for a relaxing stay. The price was very reasonable considering the location, just a short walk (about 400 feet) to the beach. That said, be aware that the stairs down to the beach are pretty steep, so it might be a bit tricky if you're carrying a lot of gear or have mobility concerns. Our double queen room was the perfect size for two people. I could see it working for two adults and maybe two small kids, but I wouldn't recommend it for a larger group. The room stayed wonderfully cool thanks to a quiet and efficient AC, which was much appreciated during the heat wave this part of the country was experiencing during our trip. It was clean, comfortable, and had just about everything we needed. A couple small improvements like more outlets between the beds, blackout curtains, and maybe a desk or vanity in the little nook near the bathroom would've made it even better. One thing to note is that sound travels easily through the walls, so you'll likely hear folks walking by or chatting outside. It didn't ruin our stay, but it's something to be aware of. Outside, the hotel really shines. There's a patio area with a shower to rinse off after the beach, plus an outdoor lounge area with games, beach toys, umbrellas, even an outdoor kitchen setup. They also offer two bikes with gear storage for guest use, which was a nice bonus. Some of the more amazing room photos online appear to be from units renovated as part of a TV restoration series, so just be sure to check which type of room you're booking. Overall, we were really happy with our stay. For the price, location, and all the thoughtful extras, it's a great value and we'd absolutely recommend it.

We stayed one night at the Beacon and had a wonderful time. The room was clean and so was the…read morebathroom. Very nicely decorated too. We chatted with the owner and his daughter separate times and they were so nice and friendly! He recommended we go to the crab shack for dinner (a 5 minute walk) and it was such a good choice. All the food was fresh caught and brought directly in from the boats. The beach is a short walk connected directly through a boardwalk, we were able to leave the room barefoot and go directly to the water. There is an outdoor cooking area along with a foot wash station/shower connected to the board walk. The hotel is also a very short ride to the aquarium, super fun! Will definitely be back again!