Location

• North Carolina has a lot of coastline---more than 300 miles of it, in fact. So it's important that campers choose an area of the coast to focus on.
  
  Those with an eye on the white sand beaches at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore at the north end of the coast have four campgrounds to choose from: Oregon Inlet, Cape Point, Frisco and Ocracoke.
  
  For central coast options, vacationers should check out the beach camping at the Cape Lookout National Seashore just east of Morehead City, while those looking to camp along the Crystal Coast in the Jacksonville area should consider Hammock Beach State Park.
  
  Those interested in the southern end of the coast near Wilmington will want to consider Carolina State Park at Cape Fear, which has a campground in a wooded area right near the beach.
  
  

Somewhat Rustic

• Next, campers need to decide how much they are willing to rough it. Carolina Beach State Park earns the title of the least-rustic beach camping option thanks to the hot showers available for guests at its communal restrooms. The 83 individual sites are open to RVs, trailers and tents, and each has a picnic table and a grill. There are no hookups at the sites, but there is a dump station for RVs and a drinking water supply.
  
  Those who can do without a hot shower can add the campgrounds at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore to their list of possibilities. Otherwise, the setup is essential the same as at Carolina Beach: the sites accommodate RVs, trailers and tents; they are outfitted with picnic tables and grills; and they do not have hookups.
  
  Campers who are ready to really get back to the basics have a good option at Hammocks Beach State Park, which has a small campground (14 bare-bones sites) on 3 1/2 miles of undeveloped beach on Bear Island. There are services on the island but not at the campground, and the state park service uses the word "primitive" to describe the camping here. Things are even more primitive at the Cape Lookout National Seashore, where not only are there no restrooms or water supplies, there aren't even designated campgrounds or campsites. You can set up camp right on the sand or among the dunes.
  
  

Season

• Finally, prospective beach campers need to take into account the time of year they want to make their trip.
  
  Those planning a winter trip can consider Hammocks Beach State Park, which is open all year, although services on the island where the campground is located are closed from mid-November to mid-March. The Cape Lookout National Seashore is also open all year for camping.
  
  At the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the campgrounds at Oregon Inlet and Frisco are open from early April to mid-October. Cape Point opens later (late May) and closes earlier (Labor Day weekend), while Ocracoke is open from the Friday of Easter weekend to mid-October. Carolina Beach State Park is closed in the winter.