Ocean Waves Campground

🏖️ **Introduction / Overview: Your Direct Route to Hatteras Island Beaches**

For North Carolina residents who consider the Outer Banks a home away from home, **Ocean Waves Campground** in Waves, NC, stands out as a desirable and established destination. Nestled right on Hatteras Island between the Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico Sound, this campground offers a quintessential coastal camping experience, prioritizing direct beach access and a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere.

Ocean Waves is not one of the massive, crowded camping resorts; rather, it's a smaller, **family-run** business that fosters an intimate, cozy, and often returning community of campers. It offers approximately 68 spaces for RVs and a few tent sites, providing essential amenities that make beachside living comfortable. Visitors frequently praise the staff and the easy-going vibe, noting the "Great campground" and the "Awesome beach access." It’s known as a well-kept facility with "clean facilities," offering a "cute little pool to swim in when you are beached out."

While a long-time customer review noted a recent negative interaction regarding site assignment, the overwhelmingly positive sentiment from most guests highlights the park's key strengths: its unbeatable location, cleanliness, and the personalized service typical of a family-operated business. This campground is a beloved fixture on NC Highway 12, serving as the perfect, full-service launchpad for all the oceanfront adventures the Outer Banks have to offer. The seasonal operating period is typically from **March 15 to November 15**, catering to the prime North Carolina travel window.

---

📍 **Location and Accessibility: Oceanfront on Hatteras Island**

Ocean Waves Campground boasts an exceptional coastal location at **25313 N 12 Hwy, Waves, NC 27982, USA**. This address places it directly on **Hatteras Island**, a jewel of the Outer Banks, with NC Highway 12 running right through the heart of the island.

The accessibility is a major feature:

LI **Oceanfront Position:** The campground is situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico Sound, providing **direct, private beach access** via a short trail over the dunes. This means no driving or public parking is needed to enjoy the sand and surf.

LI **Central to the OBX:** Located in the village of Waves, it is conveniently positioned for exploring attractions both north and south. It is about one mile from the Rodanthe Pier and near other Hatteras Island villages like Rodanthe and Salvo. Major attractions like the **Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station** and the **Cape Hatteras Lighthouse** are easily reachable for day trips.

LI **Big Rig Friendly:** The campground features **paved roads and concrete pads**, making it easier for RVs of various sizes to maneuver and level, though sites can be clustered.

LI **Convenience to Local Hubs:** Being on Highway 12 means quick access to nearby commercial centers for groceries, dining, and watersports. REAL Watersports, a premier destination for kiteboarding, is only about 0.5 miles away.

The location offers the classic Outer Banks experience, with the soothing sound of the ocean lulling campers to sleep at night.

---

amenity **Services Offered**

Ocean Waves Campground provides a strong lineup of services designed for comfortable RV and tent camping right by the Atlantic:

LI **Full RV Hookups:** All RV sites are equipped with **full hookups**, which include **water, sewer, and electric service (30-amp and 50-amp)**.

LI **Internet and Entertainment:** **Free Wi-Fi** access and **Cable TV** connections are provided at the full hookup sites, ensuring guests can stay connected and entertained.

LI **Restroom Facilities:** The park features **three bathhouses** with **hot showers and clean facilities**, which are maintained daily.

LI **On-Site Laundry:** **Guest laundry facilities** are available, a huge convenience for longer stays or cleaning up after sandy beach days.

LI **Camp Store:** A **well-stocked on-site convenience store** is available, offering groceries, snacks, souvenirs, ice, and camping supplies, so you rarely have to leave the island for necessities.

LI **Site Features:** Each campsite typically includes a **picnic table** and many sites feature **concrete pads** for easy leveling.

LI **Seasonal Rates:** Offers flexible pricing with **daily, weekly, and monthly rates** during its operating season (March 15 - November 15).

---

✨ **Features / Highlights**

The highlights of Ocean Waves Campground emphasize its ideal location and array of recreational amenities:

LI **Unrestricted Beach Access:** This is the park's defining feature—a **short, private trail over the dunes leads directly to the ocean**, allowing guests to maximize their time on one of North Carolina's most beautiful beaches.

LI **Outdoor Swimming Pool:** The presence of a **cute little outdoor swimming pool** offers a refreshing alternative for swimming when you're "beached out" or if the ocean is too rough.

LI **Family Entertainment:** A **playground** and a **game room** are on-site, providing essential, easily accessible entertainment options for children and families.

LI **Pet-Friendly:** The campground is **pet-friendly** (dogs are typically free), with a small gated **dog area/dog run** noted in some reviews, which is a rare and highly appreciated amenity on the Outer Banks.

LI **Mix of Sun and Shade:** While many OBX sites are wide open, Ocean Waves offers a mix of open sites for satellite/solar access and a few prized **shady sites with trees**, which is a "difficult commodity" in the area.

LI **Proximity to Watersports:** The campground is located just moments from the headquarters of **REAL Watersports**, making it an ideal base for kiteboarding, windsurfing, and paddle sports.

---

☎️ **Contact Information**

To secure your oceanfront site on Hatteras Island or to inquire about availability, please use the following contact details:

Address:

25313 N 12 Hwy, Waves, NC 27982, USA

Phone:

(252) 987-2556 or +1 252-987-2556

Reservations:

The park encourages calling directly for reservations, especially during the operating season (March 15 - November 15).

---

✅ **What is Worth Choosing: Oceanfront Location and Family Atmosphere**

For North Carolina residents seeking the ultimate Outer Banks camping experience, **Ocean Waves Campground** is worth choosing primarily for its **unbeatable oceanfront location and strong family-run atmosphere**.

The key factor is the **direct and awesome beach access**. Being able to walk a short, private trail over the dunes directly to the Atlantic Ocean is a luxury that few campgrounds on the OBX can offer. This immediate proximity to the water for swimming, surf fishing, and sunrise viewing is priceless and is consistently highlighted as the reason for return visits.

Furthermore, while some past service issues have been noted, the majority of visitors experience the park as a friendly, relaxed place with "nice people that work there." The park's amenities—including full hookups, cable, Wi-Fi, laundry, and a clean pool—provide all the necessary comforts, allowing you to easily transition between the rugged beauty of the ocean and the convenience of your site. Choosing Ocean Waves means opting for a classic, small-scale Outer Banks experience where you are only steps away from the sand and surf.