Looking to camp (a tent) on the beach in North Carolina – Where should I go?

So I want to take a day trip this summer to a beach here in NC with a couple of friends. We're just looking for a nice beach filled with people who can not just put a tent on the – right in the sand – and spend the night and the next day. I'm not looking for luxury camps, just a place to hook up a tent in the sand! Recommendations? Thank you!

Camping is prohibited in throughout North Carolina's beaches, as well as most states that have coastlines. There KOA camps and other camps you can go private, but most of them are not directly on the beach. Camping on the beach is prohibited on beaches to prevent waste and a mess of bonfires. If you really want to camp on the beach, you could drive to a remote area where it most likely is not, but if the police come around, most likely, be asked to leave and possibly charged. If you decide to do that, please respect the white beaches of North Carolina and be sure not to leave trash behind. Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a great place to go and is very quiet there. The Crystal Coast is also a great place to visit. Best of the Outer Banks of North Carolina is that there is a lot development as Myrtle Beach and other beach destinations. Cape Hatteras: http://www.nps.gov/caha/ Crystal Coast: http://www.crystalcoastnc.org/ Outer Banks of North Carolina camping guide: http://www.insiders.com/outerbanks/main-camping.htm Enjoy your trip:)

Carolina Beach July 2009