Go Camping America

Dogwood Family Campground

Newport, North Carolina


52 RV Sites

Dogwood Family Campground in Newport, North Carolina, is a Dark Sky Friendly, year-round, family and pet-friendly campground at the edge of the Croatan National Forest in Carteret County — a peaceful retreat with on-site pond access, genuine dark sky stargazing, and the coastal plain forest character of eastern North Carolina within 15 minutes of the Crystal Coast's Beaufort waterfront and the Cape Lookout National Seashore's barrier island beaches. Newport's position at the inland edge of the Crystal Coast gives the campground its distinctive dual-access character: the Croatan National Forest's freshwater recreation and wildlife begin immediately to the north, while the sounds, beaches, and maritime heritage of Carteret County's coast extend to the south and east within the same easy drive. The campground's family and pet-friendly year-round operation, pond access for fishing and relaxation, Dark Sky Friendly designation, and the Croatan National Forest proximity give guests the complete outdoor recreation and natural quiet that Carteret County's inland forest edge delivers without the summer beach premium of the Crystal Coast's barrier island accommodation. The dark sky quality in this section of eastern North Carolina — away from the major urban lighting of Raleigh and the coast development — allows genuine Milky Way visibility on clear nights and the kind of unhurried stargazing that families and solo campers specifically pursue when choosing a campground away from major metropolitan areas. Pets are welcome year-round. The Croatan National Forest surrounding Newport encompasses 160,000 acres of coastal plain habitat — pocosins, longleaf pine savannas, blackwater creeks, and the Venus flytrap's native range in the acidic soils of the coastal plain that no other place on Earth outside of the Carolinas sustains. The forest's freshwater lakes — including the Catfish Lake, Great Lake, and Patsy Pond — provide fishing and paddling access to a backcountry lake system whose natural character the minimal development pressure of the military buffer zone surrounding Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune protects from the residential encroachment that has diminished most eastern Carolina natural areas. The Crystal Coast's Beaufort, the third-oldest town in North Carolina, preserves its Federal-era maritime character on Taylor's Creek across from the Rachel Carson Reserve's undeveloped marsh island — a historic waterfront with the North Carolina Maritime Museum, waterfront restaurants, and the wild horses of Shackleford Banks visible across the creek from the downtown boardwalk. Cape Lookout National Seashore protects 56 miles of undeveloped barrier island from Cape Lookout Light south to the Shackleford Banks — ferry access from Beaufort and Harkers Island leads to one of the most pristine and least-crowded Atlantic Ocean beaches accessible from the eastern North Carolina mainland. Dogwood Family Campground serves guests year-round in Carteret County's moderate coastal plain climate, where the Atlantic's thermal influence keeps winters mild enough to extend the effective camping season well beyond the summer peak and the spring and fall seasons deliver the most comfortable outdoor recreation conditions for the Croatan National Forest hiking and the Crystal Coast beach visits that sustain year-round camping demand. Summer brings the primary Cape Lookout beach season and the highest visitor pressure on the Crystal Coast's limited accommodation. Reserve sites ahead for spring break and summer weekends, when the Raleigh-Durham and Piedmont Triad markets' beach-bound visitors fill Carteret County accommodation across categories.

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Location

Dogwood Family Campground, 101 Happy Camper Wy, Newport, NC 28570, USA


Things to know

Check-in: 1:00 PM

Check-out: 11:00 AM

Rules

Check-In Procedure - Check-in time is 1:00 pm. - Check-out time is 11:00 am. - Upon arrival for check-in please pull to the check-in lane (far right of the road) and all adults need to check in. - No check-ins after dark. - We are "Dark Sky Friendly" so we have limited lighting throughout our campground. - Payment is due at the time of reservation. - ID is required upon arrival. - Each campsite is for up to 6 people, children over the age of 18 are considered adults. - While each park attempts to accommodate your exact spot request, the on-site manager has the ultimate decision for spot placement. Bathhouse - We do not have bathhouses. Speed Limit - The campground's posted speed limit is 8 MPH. Parking Policy - No parking or driving on the grass. Only 2 vehicles per site, must park on gravel of your site in front of your RV/Camper. Quiet Hours - Quiet hours are 11:00 pm to 7:00 am. - Please turn off all outside lights during quiet hours. Visitors - Please notify us if you intend to have visitors. - Visitors must check in at the office and receive a vehicle pass. - No more than 6 people per site. - All visitors must vacate the campground property prior to 11:00 pm unless the office is notified and paid an additional fee of $5.00 per visitor per night with a limit of 2 days. - Please notify us of expected visitors. - All visitors must follow all rules and policies of the campground. You are responsible for your visitors. - We need to keep track of people on-premises for security and insurance purposes. - We reserve the right to refuse service/entry to anyone for any reason.​ Golf Carts - Golf carts (electric only) are allowed. - Driver must be at least 16 years of age with a valid driver's license and proof of insurance is required. Alcohol Policy - The public display and/or consumption of any alcoholic beverage shall remain on your designated site. - Please do not travel around the campground with alcohol. Illegal Activity - All varieties and forms of controlled substances and illegal drugs are prohibited. Prohibited Items - Any type of blow-ups; (hot tubs, slip-n-slides, pools, etc.), gas-powered scooters, ATVs, fireworks, all other types of explosive devices, and no drones. - Charging of EVs is not allowed. - Washing and/or maintenance is allowed on your RV/camper with notice given to the office, no washing of your vehicles. - Displaying signs is prohibited (Political, for sale, crafts for sale, Repair work, etc.). Trash - Dumpster - The dumpster is located in the rear of the campground. - We do not pick up trash/garbage from campsites, please put all trash in the dumpster. - Do not leave trash out overnight, wildlife will get into it. - The dumpster is for everyday household trash, all other items must go to the transfer station at 510 Tom Mann Rd, Newport, see the map. Campsite - No structures are to be built on sites (carports, decks, underpinning, sheds or dog fences, etc.). - You are required to keep your site free of debris and you must keep it neat. - Camping is permitted in RVIA-approved RVs / Campers only. - Each campsite is limited to 1 RV/Camper, 2 vehicles, and up to 6 people (2 adults & up to 4 children under the age of 18, limit of 4 adults per site). - Anyone renting a site must be at least 21 years of age. - Be respectful of your neighbors and their space, do not encroach upon them/do not walk through someone else's site without their permission. Recreational Vehicle - All RV's/campers must be self-contained. - RV/Camper units shall be 12 years old (2013) or newer, must be clean, and have a well-maintained exterior. - Exceptions can be made by management prior to arrival for older units that are clean and have a well-maintained exterior. - Misrepresentation of camper is cause for non-admittance. Children Policy - You are responsible for the children in your group, please monitor them at all times. - Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Pet Policy - If you have pets; a limit of 3 & proof of vaccinations are required. - Pets must be leashed at all times, with no exceptions. - Pets are not to be left alone outside, If fences are allowed, they must remain on the gravel. - Owners are responsible for cleaning up their pet's waste. - Non-aggressive dogs/animals only. - No barnyard animals allowed. - Pets must be under your control at all times. - If you do not follow the rules or your pet attacks anyone or any other pet you will be told to leave immediately and no refund will be given. - Please clean up / pick up after your pets. - No pets/animals allowed in the pond. Campfires - Campfires are permitted in designated fire rings only. - If there is a burn ban in effect it will be posted at the office and no campfires will be allowed. Pond Policy - Fishing is allowed in the pond, but it is catch and release only. - Swimming is not allowed, pets are not allowed in the pond. Payment - Payment in full when reservation is made. Mail - Campers are not allowed to use the campground address as their mailing address or a physical address, you can rent a PO box from USPS or The UPS store. - You can have small packages delivered to the campground office (via UPS, FEDEX, OR USPS), but there are no everyday mail or freight truck deliveries. - We are not a primary residence facility. Dangers and Unexpected Events - You assume all risks and dangers incidental to the activity of camping in a rustic outdoor environment, including specifically (but not exclusively): the dangers of being injured by insects or other animals, being injured while participating in recreational activities; such as walking the trails or fishing or being injured as a result of inclement weather conditions or your own camping items and agrees that the campground and it's owners, agents, and employees are not liable for injures or property damages resulting from such causes. - Camping is an outdoor experience; therefore we do not give refunds due to discomforts of nature, illness, work schedules, early departures or ejections, or for misrepresentation of camper. Septic - Use only RV toilet paper and bio-degradable septic treatment. - Do not flush feminine products of any kind. - Do not flush baby wipes or "flush-able" wipes - they are not bio-degradable and will clog our sewer system which will affect everyone and can cause sewer blockages throughout the entire campground. - Do not use garbage disposals.​ Campground Disclaimer - Dogwood Family Campground and its owners reserve the right to eject anyone (camper & or their visitors) without refund for non-payment of camping fees, not following the rules, and/or damage to property. - Any Camper over the age of 18 staying 27 days or more must agree to & pay for a background check. - Dogwood Family Campground or the owners are not responsible for any loss of valuables, accidents, damage, or injuries. - Rates and Rules are subject to change at any time! - Dogwood Family Campground is a privately owned campground. We are not a primary residence facility.

Cancellation Policy

Campground Cancellation Policy If the guest cancels at least 1 week before your check-in day and time, they will receive a full refund (minus Spot2Nite convenience and a $30 park cancellation fee). If the guest cancels within the 1 week before check-in, there will be no refund.