![]() Beaches are pristine, uncrowded and beautiful. This campsites are an exceptional value, especially for seniors. Across the road, there is a dumping station and a supply of potable water for filling tanks. We had our own bathroom facilities, but there are toilets, lavatories and cold showers at several locations. Shortly after our arrival we were greeted by a campground "hostess" who welcomed us and let us know how we could register and pay the next morning when the ranger arrived. Sites were clean, level, paved, offer no hook-ups and are just a dune away from breathtaking ocean beaches. RVs are accommodated on most of the sites, but there is a section set aside just for tents and "quiet" camping. There was nobody to welcome us at the ranger station, so we just found an empty camping site and parked. If you find yourself out in the Outer Banks wondering what is good to eat, my suggestion is this: find the spots with a line waiting out the door and call it “jackpot.We arrived at about 7:00 pm on September 24th without reservations. ![]() ![]() I stayed at the base and walked Lily around since “No Dogs Allowed.” Then we headed to Nags Head where we stopped at Waveriders for cold brewed iced coffee and Panini pressed bagel sandwiches inside a brilliant pastel colored building. Campsites are basic - no water or electric, cold water showers. We woke at 6:30am (sleeping in late for us) to see the sun come up at 7:00am.Ĭharlie made the climb up Bodie Island Lighthouse, the last day for climbing the lighthouses for the season. Campsite is situated a few mins walk from a beautiful beach. Another beautiful thing about fall? Sunrise lets you sleep in a little later. We woke early the next morning to watch the sunrise. The moon was so bright we put the rainfly on our tent with only one of our tent “windows” open to let the breeze in. There is nothing quite like feeling relaxed at the beach, away from the crowds, enjoying the last days of summer beneath the Milky Way. We scurried back over the dunes and watched the nearly-full moon scatter light as it rose above the crashing waves. All of a sudden it dawned on me: it was the moon! It was only a couple of days after the last full moon so the sky really wasn’t supposed to be all that dark at all. I was fairly convinced someone was using the light to fish at night, until the orange glow continued to get brighter. There was a brilliant orange glow coming from above the dunes. We sat in silence enjoying the sound of the ocean and the view of the sky until we noticed visibility fading. Then we sat outside our tent, a blanket sprawled so pup didn’t get any sandburs stuck in her, and watched the sky slowly darken until it was blanketed in stars, the Milky Way dancing through the middle of the sky. Charlie, Lily, and I frolicked through the dunes to watch sunset over the ocean, drinking beers and enjoying the view. The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. There isn’t a lot of hiking involved but there is plenty to do. I’d have a picture but I only had my iPhone due to leaving my batteries in the charger at home. The thing about being at the National Seashore is the lack of housing eliminates a lot of the light pollution giving you truly dark skies. The big difference about camping is the sound of the waves crashing as you sleep, the salty breeze through your tent netting keeping you cool, and the stars. You have the typical ingredients: beach, sand, sunscreen, towel, book, sunglasses, beverages. Hiking (1 mile) Picnicking Hang gliding (registration required). A day at the beach is about the same whether you are day-tripping, camping, or lodging somewhere. The closest state park with camping is Pettigrew State Park. The campsites in Oregon Inlet are set up so you are a short walk over the dunes to the ocean. The plants are desert like and there is no shade, another reason October is ideal. Chaparral and other shrubs grow along the ridge, dotted with the occasional wildflower. The sand dunes have been left to their own, the wind forming ripples in the ridges and surf carving a steep edge straight to the waters edge. ![]() There are no houses built along the beach, all residents are outside of the Seashore. Oregon Inlet is nestled South of Nags Head, a few miles into the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It’s towards the end of hurricane season so an occasional offshore storm can bring a swell with higher waves and strengthened rip currents, but the rip currents are a problem regardless.Ĭamping at Oregon Inlet was the perfect way to end summer and welcome in fall. ![]() The humidity is gone so the sky looks significantly crisper but the water still holds the warmth from scorching August temperatures. The crowds clear out after Labor Day weekend so there isn’t any traffic but there are still enough people on the islands so most of the shops are still open. October is the perfect time of year to go camping in the Outer Banks. ![]()
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