About this campground
The Cedar Point Recreation Area, near the mouth of the White Oak River, is surrounded by a salt marsh and a coastal forest. The salt marsh, where fresh water meets salt water, stretches out like a sea of grass. This nutrient-rich wetland is a valuable "nursery" for commercial seafood, including fish, shrimp, crabs and oysters. A small-craft boat ramp and fishing pier provides easy access to the river and its bounty. The shallow water is suited to flat-bottom boats. Canoes and kayaks can navigate the maze of canals through the salt march. From the boat ramp, paddle around the point, then pass under the boardwalk of the Tideland Trail. Be aware of the tides; an extremely low tide can leave some canals dry. The loop is shown on the map is about 2 miles and can be completed in half a day. The campground has 36 sites with electrical hookups, a bathhouse with flush toilets, warm showers, drinking water and a ramp for shallow water boats. Picnic tables are nearby. The Cedar Point Tideland Trail crosses boardwalks to explore the salt marsh and the life above and beneath. Common birds around the salt marsh: Osprey*, Red-tail hawk, Turkey vulture, Fish crow, Common egret, Snowy egret, Great blue heron, Tri-colored heron, Little blue heron, Red-winged blackbird, Boat-tail grackle, Belted kingfisher. Common birds in the forest: Carolina chikadee, Brown-headed nuthatch, Tufted titmouse, Northern mockingbird, Brown thrasher, Caolinawren, Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Pine warbler, Northern cardinal, Rufous-sided tewhee, Eastern bluebird, Red-bellied woodpecker, Red-headed woodpecker, Pileated woodpecker *Mostly Mar-Oct. All others are year-round residents Common Mammals: White-tailed deer, Raccoon Other Common Wildlife: Marsh periwinkle, Fiddler crabs, Blue crabs, Oysters, Mud crabs, numerous insects, Green anole lizard, Eastern fence lizard. Check out the brochure.
Getting there
From Swansboro, take NC 24E, cross White Oak River, turn left onto NC 58N, go 3.3 miles, turn left on VFW Rd. Go 0.5 miles and turn left on FR 153A at Cedar Point sign.
Activities
- BOATING
- CAMPING
- HIKING
- PICNICKING
- RECREATIONAL VEHICLES
- WILDLIFE VIEWING
Nearby federal campgrounds
- Cedar Point CampgroundNational Forests in North Carolina0 mi
- Dixon Fields Canoe LaunchNational Forests in North Carolina13 mi
- Catfish AreaNational Forests in North Carolina15 mi
- Oyster Point CampgroundNational Forests in North Carolina19 mi
- Flanners Beach CampgroundNational Forests in North Carolina21 mi
- Pine Cliff Equestrian TrailheadNational Forests in North Carolina23 mi
Explore more North Carolina camping
Cedar Point Recreation Area doesn't take campsite reservations — but plenty of nearby North Carolina campgrounds do, and we'll alert you the moment a sold-out site opens up.
Browse North Carolina camping →Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.