I've heard there are places in the Outerbanks where you can pitch a tent right on the beach. Anyone know of any?

You cannot pitch your tent on the beach anywhere at the outerbanks unless you go to Portsmouth Island (this is the island past Ocracoke - private ferries can take you hear). It is part of Cape Lookout.

There are those who "fish" all night on the beach which is permitted. But don't try to pitch a tent.

The park service runs a number of campgrounds (one at oregon inlet, and a few on hatteras and ocracoke). campgrounds have only cold water (no hot showers) and no ammenities.

My favorite campground is Frisco Woods. It is a private campground in Frisco (on hatteras). Sites are wooded, and some are right on the bay. Clean, hot showers, and pool.

You may want to save tent camping on the beach until September. Hot and muggy aren't fun in a tent.

I have camped at Oregon Inlet. It doesn't sit right on the ocean, the sites sit behind the dunes.

I think it is funny that you can drive and park all day on the beach but you can't put up a little tent for shelter!

jetprincess, my guess is that if camping was allowed there would soon be a huge problem with human waste, litter from cooking, broken glass...

mm

The hottest I have EVER been is when we camped on Ocracoke (probably 1985) Hot, humid, buggy, no breeze. We left early just to get some a/c in the car. I don't think the weather was unusual for July. I think GoTravel's suggestion of waiting until September is very wise.

We decided to go in September to combine this with a trip to D.C. for my boyfriend's sister's birthday.

What are fun things to do on the outerbanks? Anyone been crabbing there?

crabbing is great on the bay side.
surf fishing
kayaking (lots of rental places in outer banks)
soaking up the sun
climbing the dunes at jockey's ridge
driving on the beach (where allowed)
drinking a local brew at weeping radish in manteo
September is a wonderful time to go!!

Liz5959, I am laughing because I think we were in the same Ocracoke campground at the same time - that was the most hideous camping adventure I ever had. There were zero trees in the campground, and only one cold shower, with a crude too-skimpy box around it for modesty. The line was 20 ladies long. I wonder if it's been improved???