The Outer Banks, a 200-mile-long string of barrier islands along the North Carolina coast, are a beach-driving paradise, and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, covering some 70 miles of it, is a great place to park your RV for an amazing vacation. Where exactly you choose to do so will depend on your budget and your choice of camping style.

Currently there is no admission fee to the National Seashore if you just wish to walk the beaches, swim, picnic, and play water sports such as kayaking, windsurfing, and kiteboarding. There are, however, fees for driving on the beach (these are included in most 4x4 vehicle rentals). And if you want to fish from the shore, you’ll also need to purchase a surf fishing license. Pets are allowed at the campgrounds and on the beach but must be kept on a six-foot lead. Open campfires aren’t permitted in the campgrounds, but you may build a fire on the beach below the high water line.

The small towns in which these campgrounds are located, meanwhile, have shops, restaurants, and bars, as well as entertainment venues and even a museum or two.

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