Camping Cape Lookout NC

NickMaul

NickMaul

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2009
Location
Norfolk, VA
I am big into the camping scene and usually go camping when I can. Always a well time but has anyone ever done cape look out nc? I really want to do it and I love love love the beach so it looks like a dream but it is always hard to commit to a trip when six hours of driving is on the line.

I have done beach camping plenty of times with my father when we did beach surfing trips. I expect it will be the same thing. Anyone have any experience at Cape Lookout in general?


Nick:driver:
 
I've been there, great spot! I highly recommend it if you like camping right on the beach. I went in April, the temps were great but it was windy. The private ferry is more expensive than the state run ferries, but you're paying to see less people and thats worth it to me. I didn't see anyone else camping on the beach, and there were very few people on the Island. There's a bath house (or two) and some primitive cabins, thats it.
 
a buddy of mine and myself were planning a trip the first weekend in march to ocracoke and ride up the beach all the way to manteo basically with the exception of hoping on the new ferry thanks to (Irene).

He found out that we were not able to camp on the beach. Do either of you guys know whether or not you can camp on the beach (open container) during march and april. And what beaches are you able to privately, primatively camp, fires minimal people and a few beers with out worrying about breaking laws.
 
All the ferries are the same. If there are differences, they may be just a few discounts for groups, etc. But, they are private companies that bid on the ferry service to the state. None are state "run" anymore...

The price is set by the state, so they are supposed to be the same. However, the ferry services are not all the same. The one old ferry that has done it for years and years is a POS. Cape Lookout Campgrounds and Ferry Service is fairly new and has a new boat, new shop, and is awesome to work with. I'm a little biased though, my FIL is good friends with the owner... :)

http://www.calocabins-campsinc.net/701.html

Check the park dates, etc. They aren't open right now so if you went this weekend, you'd be SOL and wouldn't have a vehicle...
 
to add, I've always had great experiences at Cape Lookout. If you go in the cabins, you need a generator or you won't have power...

You can primitive camp anywhere on the beach.

Fishing is awesome. Find the good spots and stripers are around and the best are red drum right off the beach. Nothing like catching a 40" red drum in the surf! :) There are some good shallow pool areas where you can catch flounder off the beach with a stick bait. Good sized too! I've seen them so thick out there (within the last year) they are jumping out of the water... :)
 
http://davisferry.com/

Camping on the Core Banks is pretty awesome, so long as the weather holds. We've had it both ways... awesome, clear, sunny weather with the beach all to yourself... and nor'easters with 3ft of floodwater behind the dunes and 6ft bow waves in front of the truck. Which... I guess is awesome too, but in a completely different way.
 
oleblue said:
I am big into the camping scene and usually go camping when I can. Always a well time but has anyone ever done cape look out nc? I really want to do it and I love love love the beach so it looks like a dream but it is always hard to commit to a trip when six hours of driving is on the line.

I have done beach camping plenty of times with my father when we did beach surfing trips. I expect it will be the same thing. Anyone have any experience at Cape Lookout in general?


Nick:driver:
Click to expand...
I will be out there April 13-16, you are more than welcome to come if you can get a spot on the ferry, if interested go to Davisferry.com for the info on getting a ferry I'm on the 11am ferry out the the island on the 13th and the Noon ferry back on the 16th. So far it is just me and my brother going but the more the better! Just PM me if interested. it's like $75 for trucks under 20ft long and $14 per person.
 
Some pics Some from the Great Island and some from Portsmouth Island but all Cape Lookout I'm going to the Great Island.
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I would love to camp out one day! Looks very peaceful.

U-joint, a will echo the comment about you cool builds! Unfortunately, I ran into a Trojan virus on your website tho. :eek:
 
camping at the cape is the best. good surf no crowds and good fishing but plan it wrong and the mosquitos will carry you off the island. No joke. Go before it gets to warm or before it gets to cold anyother time and the mosquitos will get you. plenty of bug spray and nets and you will be fine
 
No-see-ums are worse than the mosquitoes. We were there in the July one year. Had a storm come through, and it got really still after it passed. We ducked into the tent during a lull in the downpour, so about 2AM, both dogs decide they really need to empty their bladders. I got LIT UP as soon as I stepped outside.

As long as there was a breeze... and as long as you stayed out of the dunes, the bugs were all right.
 
if you have the ability to ferry yourself out there, shackleford banks is AWSOME. only came face to face with a couple people the whole weekend and they were locals. its so cool to be chillin on the beach and a couple wild horses come walkin through. everyone else is right about the small bugs in the summertime. i cant comment on fishing there vs. at the point though
 

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not to hijack but, what do you use stake your tent in the sand? I would thing regular stakes wouldn't hold in the sand.
 
Wire stakes don't work in the sand, but some 10-12" V-section stakes like these work pretty well. You can also drive them extra-deep and pile sand over them, too. You need to make sure they have a decent angle on the rope. You don't want to be pulling up on the stake... just pulling sideways.
 
I use 14" rebar stakes I made. They will anchor anything in sand. Cape lookout is amazing.
 
Don't know how you are camping, but take tarps, you'll want to set up a shaded area on the beach. There are some shelters (ok, at least one), but you might have to share with a scout troop. Take or get some of the "sand" stakes mentioned above... it can be really windy out there on the Cape.
 
For stakes, we usually have a piece of 12" square plywood that we burry in the sand as a stake/weight. Put an eye bold in the center or a hole and use that to tie the tent to. I've never had good luck with a normal stake out there.


Can't wait! Heading out there the 2nd weekend of Sept. :D
 
I'm taking my truck with me. But i also have a huge tent, probably not the best idea but i guess i'll find out. Is there hard ground to camp on as opposed to just sand?
 
You might get a large tent to work if it's sheltered from the wind behind some dunes or you truck but as said before the skeeters can be brutal in the dunes at night or when the wind is calmish. Also sometimes SWARMS of very determined, small black biting, ( feels like a bee sting ) flies will attack and they will make you RUN to try to get way from them, be sure to bring plenty o bug spray. Smaller, sturdier tents work better on the beach where the wind is usually stiff and can tear cabin type tents to pieces. It is a beautifull, desolate place to explore/camp and the fishing can be fantastic. Fresh fish is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner!! There is also a ferry to Core Banks at Davis N.C. I believe.
 
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