Mid Atlantic Boondocking on the Eastern Shore

[Larry71]

My wife and I will be taking a two week trip on the 1st of May from NJ south down the eastern coast. We would like to do some boon-docking to try out our new generator and grey water tote. Does anyone have any recommendations for sites along the MD,VA, NC or SC coastline? We would like to be as close to the beach as possible. Thanks.

[53flyingcloud]

It would be early into your trip but, there is a turn off just before the bridge in Va., on your left hand side that you can pull into..Restroom and water is available..No charge for this...Further on down, I don't have a clue..
53FC

[vajeep]

Larry,
The national park campgrounds are not free, but almost.

Check out this link
http://www.nps.gov/caha/pphtml/camping.html


We like Ocracoke Island. Be sure to read the mosquito warning!!!

Abe

[Bob Thompson]

Also, you may want to purchase a copy of Coleman's Guide to National Forest Campgrounds. It will have nearly 4000 campgrounds listed and most are low cost or free and most will not have hookups. You can start here: http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/list/nflist.htm, but you will also find the Coleman's Guide indespensible if not hard to read.

This will also help: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/map/finder.shtml

[tin sista]

Have a great trip, we did a similar route last year same time of year too. Shenandoah is awesome. The Smokies are great too--Elkmont Riverside is boondocking, you pay but you can get a site right on the Little River if you get there early enough in the day (reservations aren't site specific) Hatteras/Ocracoke would be nice too as it won't be super crowded on the Island yet, definitely worth the drive! We're trying out the SC state park near Murrell's Inlet, south of Myrtle Huntington Beach (based on reviews on the forum and in camping guides) its not boondocking but one of the top beach parks in SC. Love to see pix and hear about your trip when you get back! Happy travels.

[Larry71]

Thanks for all the tips. We will definitely look into the national parks as well as that spot just before the VA bridge.

Larry

[tkowalyk]

One of the best places we have done some primative camping is Assateague Island - on the Md side.

The campground is the Assateague Island National Seashore - not the State Campground.

The campground is very primative, providing only water (not at your site), pit toilets, and cold showers only. Dump stations are available. Bugs can be a problem - but you should be ok in May.

There are some cool things to see in the visitor centor, and some of the hikes are great.

Here is the link to the website:

Assateague Island National Seashore - Camping At Assateague (U.S. National Park Service)

Hope this helps!