Long Point Boat Launch

Were it not for the sheer amount of trash, like half a glamor bed’s worth of pickup truck piled up and lying around, this place would be ideal.

There are somewhere between 3 and 5 sites. Two of these may be intended to park trucks at either for some of the sites or by sportsman—who apparently go hunting for deer from their boats—but if you and a friend were traveling together, they’re completely suitable for a van or truck camper. Two of the sites are then pull through, and could accommodate a large setup if you felt okay driving back the fairly potholed, but not washboard, dirt road, which in November was lined with hunters as well. One was standing in the bed of his truck, rifle pointing into the forest. Maybe hunting from the bed of your truck is legal in North Carolina? In any case, the turn around is maybe 30’ wide at most, and backing out of this place if you rolled down here in a large rig would make Mater jealous.

We took the site with two picnic tables that had the best view of the water, despite the massive heap of garbage stacked on what was either a second fire pit or just a big metal slab that served as a rusty platter for litter. A trailer with California plates was the only other camper, though he didn’t hang around his site much, so we had the place to ourselves. Calm waters barely flowed through the wide river and pignut hickory shaded everything while still providing plenty of solar-loving sunshine. Cigarette butts salted our entire campsite.

Around 5am, a car pulled in and a man messed around inside for about an hour before he left. My best guess was he was doing something related to this hunting deer from a boat situation that dominated the place the next day. You can’t launch a boat here, but several different trucks pulled up and were greeted by boats who pulled up to the canoe/kayak launch and sometimes they’d drop off dogs with radio collars or load up their kids onto the boat. Nothing felt dangerous but there were a ton of guns involved, and the constant traffic isn’t exactly adding to the peace and quiet of pursuing deep in the woods campsites.

I’d say a fee and a dumpster are necessary here, there was no way we could have packed out all the trash at this place if we’d have wanted to do so, but if you find yourself here when that isn’t a situation, and maybe outside of hunting season, I’d say this is an ideal campground for this tuck of North Carolina.

Join us on a video tour of the Long Point Boat Launch, Croatan National Forest, NC. There are three distinct campsites at the Long Point Boat Launch dispersed camping area with fire pits. A vault toilet is located at the parking area. This dispersed camping area may accommodate one small RV, and car or tent camping. Free camping at this location is limited to 14 days. Verizon cellular service clocked in at 39.8 Mbps download speed and 1.14 Mbps upload speed. AT&T cellular service clocked in at 31.1 Mbps download speed and 0.39 Mbps upload speed. This location is not a boat launch in the conventional sense but rather a kayak launch or takeout along with a dispersed camping area.

I'm in a 24f Class C. I don't know if I'd go down there with anything more. 26 max. Not much of a turn-around at the end. Spot had a few picnic tables and fire rings. Garbage around and evidence of burning trash in the fire rings cause some people are severely challenged. A couple of nice people shared the spot. 14 day limit. Town super close once you get back on the road. Cell service was fine.