Department of Defense Site Camping In North Carolina

Carolina Outdoors Guide – Parks & Forests – Camping – Hiking – Adventures

Department of Defense Camping in North Carolina

The U.S. Army’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation Web site has a guide to five Department of Defense family campgrounds in North Carolina (the Weeksville Campground at USCG Support Center, Elizabeth City is apparently no longer available) and there are several additional tents-only campgrounds available we also provide information about below. In general, these facilities are available to active duty, reserve or retired military, National Guard, or Department of Defense civilians.

After destructive storms, check at the links below to make sure sites are open.

Department of Defense Camping Links

Updated July 2025.

Camping opportunities at military bases in North Carolina:

Blakeslee Air Force Recreation Area aka Fort Fisher AF Recreation Area, Kure Beach. (Locator Map)
RV sites with water, sewer and electricity; overflow sites without hookups; primitive tent sites. One-, three- and four-bedroom cottages. Smoke-free and pet-friendly accommodations available by request. Rec area has a boat ramp and fishing pier on the Cape Fear River, beach access, swimming pool, recreation hall, basketball and volleyball courts, bar and grill, convenience store, gift shop, coin-operated washers and dryers. Camping equipment can be rented. Rates vary. (910) 500-6465. (The rec area is administered by Seymour Johnson AFB.)

MCAS Cherry Point Marine Corps Community Services. Cherry Point offers an RV park, a group camping site and three picnic areas that allow overnight tent camping. Reservations for all sites at (252) 466-2762.
– Bartlett Pond. (Locator Map) Tent camping. Bathroom with running water, picnic tables, covered areas, grills, fish pond. Free.
– Duck Pond. (Locator Map) Tent camping. Picnic tables, grills, fish pond. Free.
– Lone Tree Point. (Locator Map) Tent camping. Picnic tables, covered areas, grills, pond. Free.
– Oak Grove Campground. Campground No. 1 has room for 10 campers a small canoe/kayak launch, pavilion, picnic table, grill. Campground No. 2 has room for 50 campers, two small boat docks and a launch, three pavilions, three picnic tables, three grills. Available Friday-Sunday the second week of May through September 1. $15.
– Pelican Point RV Park. (Locator Map) 35 concrete RV sites on Slocum Creek with water, sewer, 30/50 amp electricity, expanded cable. Flush toilets, showers, laundry, lounge, store; golf course nearby. All year. $35 per day, $185 per week, $630 per month.

Onslow Beach Recreational Area. (Locator Map) 33 RV and tent sites with water, electricity (30/50/110 amp), sewage, cable TV, picnic table, gazebo. Amenities include bathhouse, coin-operated laundry, picnic pavilion with charcoal grill, fishing dock within walking distance, dog park. The area also has cottages, cabanas and trailers for rent. $42, dry camping $10. (910) 450-7502.

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base FamCamp, Seymour Johnson AFB. (Locator Map)
24 concrete parking pads with “full hookups,” grassy overflow area, bathhouse with showers, dump station, laundry, picnic tables, grills, walking trails. Several key support facilities and parks on the air force base are within easy walking distance. $25 two-week maximum, $26 long-term camping, $15 nightly dry/overflow camping. Reservation form. (919) 722-1104.

Smith Lake Recreation Area, Fort Bragg. (Locator Map) The Smith Lake Rec Area includes a swiming beach; inflatable in-water obstacle course; pedal boat, stand-up paddleboard and kayak rentals; fishing; mountain biking trails (and bike rentals); hiking trails; disc golf; picnic grounds; ADA playgrounds; volleyball and basketball courts; and an Army Travel Campground (Campground Map).
Campground has 31 RV sites, 22 with water, sewer and electricity and nine with water and electricity. Undesignated tent sites. One cabin with microwave and fridge but no running water, two rooms with one double bed and one set of children’s bunk beds. One cabin with bathroom and kitchenette, two bedrooms and a loft, outdoor grill and picnic table. Campground amentities include bath house with individual bathrooms, dump station, coin-operated washers and dryers. Cabins have electricity, refrigerator, small microwave, air conditioning and heat. Two-week limit for camping and cabin rental. RVs: $30 full-service pull-through sites, $25 and $28 full service, $22 and $25 partial service. Tent sites: $10. Cabins: small $45 and $60 (seasonal rates); large $95 and $135 (seasonal). (910) 396-5979.