Oyster Point Campground
Oyster Point Campground is located on the banks of the Newport River, near the town of Newport, NC. The campground is just a short drive to the beaches of Atlantic Beach, NC and other coastal fishing destinations. The campground can get very busy and reservations are reccamended but must be made 3 days in advance. Of the 15 campsites, 1 are considered a first come-first served campsite that cannot be reserved or held, so a person must physically be there with their camping equipment to purchase the campsite. Please make sure to contact a campground host to ensure availability before paying for any campsite.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in North Carolina · reservable in North Carolina · pets allowed in North Carolina
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 15 |
Site guide
15 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Back-in | 63 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 9 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
| 02 | Back-in | 83 | Gravel | Partial | 9 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard | |
| 03 | Back-in | 74 | Gravel | Full | 9 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard | |
| 04 | Back-in | 53 | Gravel | Full | 9 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard | |
| 05 | Back-in | 108 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 9 / 4 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
| 06 | Back-in | 78 | Gravel | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard | ||
| 07 | Back-in | 92 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
| 09 | Back-in | 65 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
| 11 | Back-in | 70 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 9 / 4 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
| 12 | Back-in | 71 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 2 | Yes | Yes | Standard |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Tent pads | Yes |
| Fees | Campsite Fee and Policy. Campsites should be paid for within 30 mins of arrival. If you arrive and/or setup on the campsite before 5am, you will be required to pay the following for the previous night (Example: if you arrive any time before 5am Saturday morning on a campsite, you must pay the full… |
| Accessibility | Sites 01, 02, 03, 04 and 11 more are listed accessible |
The campground features 15 campsites and two vault toilets. Each site has a picnic table, fire grill, parking spur, tent pad and lantern post. The boat lanch at this location is a small hand launch with no vehicle access that you may use a canoe or kayak cart/dolly for assistance to get your boat to the water if desired
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | Year-round |
| Forest | National Forests in North Carolina |
| Fees | $10/night for single sites; $20/night for double sites. Fee envelopes are located near the entrance. |
| Rules | Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times. No alcohol. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Newport, take SR 1154 to Forest Road 181 and turn right.
| Nearest town | New Port, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 34.7608° N, 76.7617° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Oyster Point campground has the option to use Scan & Pay system, but by the rules of recreaiton.gov it may only be used for first come-first served sites.
Charges and cancellations
- There is a $10.00 fee to cancel Reservations. Reservations canceled within the 3 days of arrival may result in the loss of the fee for one or more nights stay.
- Refunds for weather or checking out early will not be considered
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | EJW Outdoors ↗ | 2.3 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 17.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | RV sales & service ↗ | 18.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Discover Oyster Point Campground in Croatan National Forest! ** Tour of All Campsites **
Worth a stop
The campground is just a short drive to the towns of Newport, NC and Morehead City, NC. These towns offer full service grocery, retail, and an abundant selection of restaurants.
- 12.7 miPine Cliff Equestrian Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miNeusiok ↗19.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_recreation_or_other
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Pocosin Wilderness begins about 12.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 12.2 miPocosin Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 11,801 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Earle W. Webb, Jr. Memorial Civic Center and LibraryBuilding · Morehead City · 3.9 mi
- Morehead City Municipal BuildingBuilding · Morehead City · 3.9 mi
- Jacob Henry HouseBuilding · Beaufort · 6.1 mi
Natural features
Situated in the coastal pine forest and intercostal waterway of the Croatan National Forest, which encompasses 160,000 acres in eastern North Carolina, the Newport River is 12 miles long and opens into the Bogue sound. It is popular with anglers and flatwater paddlers.
Recreation
Canoeing and fishing are popular options. Power boating is allowed on the Newport River, however, the boat lanch at this location is a small hand launch with no vehicle access that you may use a canoe or kayak cart/dolly for assistance to get your boat to the water if desired. The Croatan Saltwater Trail weaves south between the barrier islands of the Bogue Sound and north on Adams Creek connecting to the Neuse River. This campground is also the trailhead for the Neusiok trail which is a 21-mile hiking trail that meanders through cypress swamps, loblolly pines and vast bogs of thick vegetation.
Guidebooks for North Carolina
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Great Day Hikes on North Carolina's Mountains-To-Sea TrailFriends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and Jim Grode, 2020Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Oyster Point Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Oyster Point Campground?
Campsite Fee and Policy. Campsites should be paid for within 30 mins of arrival. If you arrive and/or setup on the campsite before 5am, you will be required to pay the following for the previous night (Example: if you arrive any time before 5am Saturday morning on a campsite, you must pay the full…
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Oyster Point Campground?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Oyster Point Campground?
There is a $10.00 fee to cancel Reservations. Reservations canceled within the 3 days of arrival may result in the loss of the fee for one or more nights stay.
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Oyster Point Campground open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026. Season Year-round.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Oyster Point Campground have?
15 sites, including 15 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Oyster Point Campground?
Oyster Point Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Oyster Point Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Oyster Point Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Oyster Point Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Oyster Point Campground?
Sites 01, 02, 03, and 04 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 15 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Oyster Point Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Oyster Point Campground?
Canoeing and fishing are popular options. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation