Freeman Park Camping-Carolina Beach, NC

Rules

Campfires

•Campfires are only allowed in the park October 1st through March 31st. •Only natural firewood can be burned in a fire container less than 3 feet in diameter. Burning trash, shipping pallets, or construction material is not allowed. •Small campfires are allowed Oceanside at Freeman Park starting at Marker F and extending north to the end of the park. •Campfires must be contained within fire containers no greater than 3 feet wide. •Small campfires are allowed in campsites but must be contained within a fire pit or container that may not exceed three (3) feet in diameter. Fire pits are not provided. Visitors must bring in and remove fire pits following its use. •No campfires are allowed within 10 feet of the dune or vegetation line. •Fires may not be left unattended and must be extinguished with water, not sand. Only natural firewood can be burned. Burning trash, shipping pallets, or construction material is not allowed. •All fire remains and debris must be picked up and placed in park provided ASH CANS or removed from the beach. Failure to do so will result in a fine.

Daily Vehicle Access Pass Required

If you are not an annual permit holder, you must purchase a daily access pass for your vehicle for the number of nights you are camping. Each day pass is valid until 10:00 am. the following day.

Freeman Park Rules

All Freeman Park Policies apply while camping. Please see our website for further details.

14 Consecutive Day Limit

Camping or sleeping in a vehicle or tent for more than fourteen (14) consecutive days is not allowed.

Fireworks

Fireworks are not permitted at any time.

No Concealed Weapons

No concealed weapons without a valid North Carolina concealed handgun permit. NC General Statute 14-415.23 and NC general Statute 14-415.11(C2) shall be enforced.

Campsite Boundaries Cannot be Changed

Do not attempt to remove or adjust the campsite boundaries markers for any reason.

Quiet Hours

As a courtesy to other campers, please observe the campground quiet hours. Quiet hours are from 11:00 pm until 7:00 am.

Beach Furniture

Only normal camping and beach furniture will be allowed onto Freeman Park. No commonly known household furniture such as couches, chairs, non-inflatable mattress, box springs, etc. are permitted.

Dog Policy

Dogs must be on a leash April 1st through September 30th. Dogs may be off lease October 1st through March 31st if under voice command. All owners are responsible for cleaning up after their animal.

Tents and camping equipment must not be left unattended in a campsite beyond the reservation period.

Tents and camping equipment must not be left unattended in a campsite beyond the reservation period. Day tents, canopies, other similar devices, and camping equipment that are left unattended may be removed from the park by the Town of Carolina Beach without notice.

Trash Removal

ALL trash must be removed by visitors. A Pack It In, Pack It Out policy is in place. Failure to clean and remove all trash and personal items from campsite will result in a civil citation and fine of $500.

No Drinking

It is illegal to possess spirituous liquor and or fortified wine per NC General Statute 18B-301.

Glass Containers

Glass containers are strictly prohibited.

Bounds of the Campsite

All vehicles, campfires, and camping equipment must remain within the bounds of the campsite at all times and must not block the travel lane.

No Walking or Driving on the Sand Dunes

Walking or driving on the sand dunes is strictly prohibited. Park privileges may be revoked and/or a civil citation and fine of up to $1000 issued for any violation.

Sand Dune Fencing

No vehicles or equipment may be stationed within ten (10) feet of the sand dune fencing.

Map

Click to open the map

Area Tips

Reviews Leave a Review

2.0

Camping on the beach was really amazing but the woman at the booth when we drove in was absolutely miserable. I seriously wonder if you could find more miserable old woman to welcome people to the camp. Really tarnished our experience and as we talked to other campers, they all mentioned that she was just as rude to them and equally as unhelpful.

November 17, 2024

Tyler Anderson

5.0

Awesome staff at the gate and excellent camping. What a blast!

November 11, 2024

Andrew See

3.0

Over priced! $50 to camp should include the day pass. Paying $80 is a bit much for 1 day!

October 28, 2024

Craig Seager

3.0

This was our second year camping at Freeman Park. We absolutely love the fact that you can drive on the beach and the camp sites a spacious. The port-a potties are a nice convenience but were absolutely disgusting, they never cleaned them once the three days we were there. Waking up to the ocean view, at sunrise was spectacular, except for the two vehicles that parked in front of us and camped there all night on the ocean side. Not sure what the rules are for visitors that don’t pay for campsites and are allowed to stay overnight. if that’s the case then next year, I’ll save some money and just buy a day pass and camp right on the ocean instead of renting a campsite.

October 28, 2024

Tomo Naito

2.0

First Off, I absolutely love getting out to Freeman Park to Camp overnight.  We camp here for calm nights, fire pit, dogs playing in the water, and hanging out with a great company.   However, here are my gripes.   #1 there are virtually no oversight during nighttime.  I spent $50 a night to have a camping spot; which was taken over by bunch of people who did not pay to stay there and they kept us up all night with music and yelling.   There are also lines of cars from people fishing that did not pay to stay there occupying the beach.  Should I just show up and not pay next time?   #2 there are no site provided clean ups.  I had to clean my site with beer cans and bottles that were thrown into a firepit the night before.  There are fishing lines, anchors and hooks on the beach from people discarding their lines.   #3 This is probably the biggest disappointment.  There is no oversite or designated fishing zones for people fishing on the beach.  it was practically impossible to be in the water due to fears that we will be hooked, or risk being bit by a shark that are lured closer to shore from all the baits in the water.  Please restrict people to only occupy the area before the camping zone.   #4 Bathrooms are poorly kept.  not even sure if there are washed down or pumped out once a week.  It should be serviced Thursday or Friday before campers show up on weekends.   I'd be more than happy to talk to someone on this, but I'm disappointed that I paid $160 only to be hassled by people that got on the beach for free.

October 21, 2024

Kris b

5.0

Amazing time with family! Perfect for the beach and camping lover! Flys and gnats were a bit much, and the toilette situation could be better

October 16, 2024

Sarah Esmail

5.0

Our college surf club has visited Freeman Park once before and both experiences were excellent. Camping here is an experience like no other. Thank you so much!

October 14, 2024

James Morse

2.0

For what it costs to stay here the porta potties were disgusting. I’m in construction and the porta potties on construction sites are cleaner. Probably won’t stay overnight again.

October 07, 2024

Julie Turner

5.0

Our family had a great time camping! Bonfire & marshmellows! Highly recommend!

October 07, 2024

Chontae Atti-Uptegrow

3.0

Love calling on the beach but people can be very inconsiderate. Dogs not under voice control are off leash and pooping and their owners are not picking it up. The portie potties used to be cleaned daily and now they sit there gross for the whole weekend. People come on the beach and play loud music and talk very loudly til 4am. None of the rules are being enforced anymore.

October 07, 2024

Jose Goris

5.0

Great place to camp when you love the beach!! This was my first time camping here, and will be my favorite 4x4 drive-in beach for camping. I’m just sad the they don’t allow camping from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I have one complaint tho. The Porta potties were very dirty. But I’m not going to judge base on one night stay. It was Monday-Tuesday, so I’m guessing the weekend was busy, and as I was leaving Tuesday morning, saw a truck servicing it. Had a great time, the weather was amazing, so was the water. Beach looks pretty clean, as they have a couple of dumpsters were people trow their thrash.

September 11, 2024

Justin Smith

5.0

Awesome trip!!! Clean. Speedy service will be coming back!!!

May 17, 2024

Sara Casarez

2.0

If we had other beach camping options that were as easily accessible as CB we would definitely be going elsewhere. Between the high fees, low maintenance, and increasing ridiculous rules (that aren’t enforced consistently)the place is really a joke. For example: why can a truck camper not camp here? We did this for years and had no issues and left no trace. It’s camping…but you can’t have a fire!? Get real. We wish they would police more important rules like idiots walking on the dunes or coming out without airing down their tires (or without 4x4) and getting stuck and blocking traffic. It’s a love/hate kind of thing. There should be more Porto-potties on the far end of the campsites. By the time the daily beach goers leave the ones closest to camp sites are beyond disgust.

May 16, 2024

First time At Carolina beach

2.0

The portajohns were extremely nasty - no toilet paper was available either. It would be nice if there were shower trailers as well and portajohns. It cost more to camp there then at the campground that has showers.

May 13, 2024

Leah A

2.0

The portable bathrooms aren’t cleaned out. We saw them being serviced and went directly after expecting a fresh clean interior but it hadn’t been touched, they just pumped out the tanks. 2 of the 4 stalls were inusable because there was fecal matter smeared on the seats. None of the stalls locked anymore due to warping. Additionally, the quiet hours are not enforced, and people who weren’t camping overnight stayed as late as they wanted without consequence.

May 13, 2024

Russell Quaintance

5.0

Wendy at the entry booth saved our whole experience. Extremely helpful and kind and provided multiple solutions to issues we faced concerning our car complications.

May 10, 2024

SAL GUTIERREZ

5.0

One of the best places to camp! I'll be back again

May 07, 2024

Jane Harris

1.0

My 4x4 jeep Cherokee got stuck in the sand. There was very little rain in previous weeks so the sand was too soft and deep. Yes, it is a 4x4 AND yes, I used the same truck several times last summer without any issue. We had to have the truck towed ($260) plus we were not refunded the daily parking fee ($50) or for the 3 nights of camping ($150). So we paid $460+ fuel costs to look at the ocean for a few hours. Will never do this again.

May 07, 2024

Geoffrey Rodriguez

5.0

Beautiful beach, friendly staff, lots of room and space to explore. Bring plenty of water but well worth the trip!

May 03, 2024

Earl Styne

1.0

Dont bother to follow any of the rules, you can break all of them if you would like to and you wont get in trouble at all! We had a terrible time at Freeman park in Carolina Beach. For starters, the campsite number was missing so we ended up setting up camp in the wrong spot and had to move once the other campers showed up. Second, there was not supposed to be any fires on the beach during this time of year and I think we were the only campers who did not have a fire and now I wish we had brought materials to build one since everyone else had one. Third, there were supposed to be no dogs allowed on the beach without a leash and everyone out there who had a dog was letting it off the leash (wish I would've known so I could've brought my dog). Fourth, you are not supposed to be on the dunes at all because it is against the law but I witnessed people standing and walking all over the dunes. The family next to us was actually going into the dunes to use the bathroom (they pooped and peed in the dunes). Fifth, there are supposed to be quiet hours from 11pm to 7am but people were driving up and down the beach blasting music, drinking and driving, and being outright obnoxious while we're trying to sleep. Sixth, you are not supposed to drink alcohol or have any glass but we witnessed several people drinking alcohol out of glass bottles and found several in the sand around our tent (we could have been cut walking barefoot). Seventh, there are black widow spiders covering the inside of the portapotties and they were just absolutely disgusting. We spent $200 for a weekend here and I demand a full refund, this peice is absolutely rediculous and I hope this place makes some changes or just shuts down. It is an absolute trash place to go and makes carolina beach look terrible. There is no one there to enforce any of the rules/laws. I tried telling some of the other campers that they were doing stuff illegally and against the rule but none of them spoke any English so it was pointless. I WANT MY MONEY BACK!

April 24, 2024

Don Wells

4.0

enjoyed it

April 19, 2024

Benjamin Graebe

2.0

Positive: Beautiful sunrise Negative: The no fire pit rule here during certain times of the year is ridiculous. It was a cold night and we would’ve loved to have a fire, but because it was May, we couldn’t. Tons of people camping along the beach in the undesignated camping spots. Felt dumb for paying for a designated camping spot. There were also a ton of people showing up to camp in undesignated spots as late as 1:00am which was annoying due to bright lights and loud vehicles. Lastly, we had a group of young children keep shining bright flashlights into our tent throughout the night. Just an overall unenjoyable camping experience - especially considering we paid $50 for a spot. Price is definitely not justified when you allow people to camp just 30 feet away in undesignated spots. Summary: Save your money and sanity and go to Carolina beach state park or paddle out to masonboro island instead.

April 15, 2024

Melody Anti

4.0

Clean, well maintained, beautiful beach front camping! Good spacing between sites, dumpsters available for trash. Spaced out port-o-potty’s but could definitely be a bit better maintained.

April 08, 2024

Brian Hedges

5.0

Easy access. All the staff were very helpful. Beautiful location! Will definitely be back again.

April 08, 2024

Leah A

4.0

Not as family friendly as it used to be. The portable bathroom doors don’t lock anymore, and have to be held shut during use. People are very loud late into the night (quiet hours aren’t until 11) and as a result, it is hard to get kids to sleep. We love waking up to the ocean and the ability to bring everything we need right to our campsite in our car. I don’t understand why it’s $100 per night and they can’t be bothered to fix the bathroom doors.

April 07, 2024