Cocoa Bch, FL to Nags Head, NC

[Floridafran]

Hi all,

I'm trying to help plan a trip for April 16 - 29 from Cocoa Beach, Florida to Nags Head, North Carolina. (These dates cover only the Cocoa Beach to Nags Heads part of this trip. It doesn't include the time needed to get from home to Cocoa or Nags Head back home.)

This is largely a surfing trip for 2 long-time surfers in their mid-60s and their non-surfing wives. (Me, DH & 2 good friends.) But we'll also be doing other things like "touring" Charleston, maybe some kayaking, biking, etc.

We all like scenic routes. We'll be driving a 31 footer w/a 4 door Wrangler in tow. They'll be in a Class B, no tow.

Because surfing is a major part of this trip, we have to stay as flexible as possible. The surf report comes out a week ahead and will tell them where the surf is going to be. That will influence where we go when and for how long. To make planning even more interesting, Easter weekend falls right in the middle of this. We may have to go ahead and pick a place, now, to be for those 3 days if we don't want to run the risk of ending up at Wal-Mart. (We may not need a lot to make us happy but "camping" at Wally World for 3 nights just would be miserable and isn't going to happen. Not to mention being bad for the image/reputation of RVers in general. )

Any recommendations you have for places to stay - we prefer State & County Parks as we don't need a lot of "extras" - and things to see or do would be greatly appreciated. Also places to eat. We'll be out and about during the day and don't want to miss trying great local foods.

I've searched here and found some places already, like James Island County Park and Edisto Beach State Park. Would love to hear about other places along those lines. Private is okay as long as they aren't huge resort-type places.

Almost forgot - we'll head back home (Pensacola, Florida area) from Nags Head. We would like to skirt north of Atlanta (I'd really like to go to Cloudland Canyon SP in NW Georgia) then eventually pickup I 65 South. Any other spots to stop along the way home would be a bonus.

Thanks.

[OldChief7155]

Skidaway SP outside Savannah is very nice.

[Bob and Inga]

Originally Posted by OldChief7155

Skidaway SP outside Savannah is very nice.

Ditto, GA state parks are some of the best in the country. 62+ for senior discount, get the annual pass to cover the daily entrance fee. Arrive on a weekday, they take reservations but the sites are then first come first served (specific sites do not get reserved, only a site gets reserved). We love that system. Fort McAllister SP (Richmond Hill) is a second option in the Savannah area. Going north from here, pickup US-17 to Charleston and north. New Bern NC is worth a visit along the way.

Bob

[Foggyphils]

Being from James Island, you're on the right track w/JICP. It's wonderful. Surfing on Folly Beach is mainly done at the "washout" or North of Folly Rd.

If possible, you might consider Sebastian Inlet SP (w/e)or Long Key(?) County Park. Some consider this to be the "surfing capital" of Fl. And is a little further S of Cocoa.
Gamble Rogers SP on Flagler Beach (N of Daytona) is right on the beach. (w/e)
Hanna Park (city/county) is within walking distance of Atlantic Beach in Jacksonville. (W/S/50amp)
Jekkyl Island CP near Brunswick Ga is on a lot of lists but I have not been there yet.
I get them confused, but Hunting Is and Huntington SP in SC are also very nice. The better one being S of Charleston, the other near Myrtle Beach.
Haven't been to the NC coast so can't recommend anything there!
Have fun

[Floridafran]

Thanks for the info everyone.

Ours friends have been to Hanna Park in Jax before and loved it. Depending on where the surf is up we may start there instead of farther south.

When we get ready to head home from the Nags Head area we'd like to cross North Carolina toward Asheville, possibly even going into Tennessee before turning more or less straight south toward Pensacola. Any suggestions as to routes and places to stay would be appreciated.

My husband and I were in NC in October (2 nights at Creekwood Farms RV Park and 3 nights at Black Mountain NF Campground before going over to the Charlotte area to see family) and that's about the extent of what we know about camping in NC.

I know there are wonderful Nat'l Forest campgrounds all over the place in both NC and Ga. And Georgia has so many wonderful sounding state parks it's hard to pick one.

This is only our 3rd "real" RV trip, and our 1st one where we'll be "winging it" with few, if any, reservations. That freedom is one of the reasons we got the RV, but I have to admit traveling this way is going to take some getting used to. Since we've always flown before and stayed in National Park lodging, our trips have been planned well in advance.

I know I'm going to really enjoy traveling like this once I get a few trips behind me, but for now, I'm a bit nervous. I just keep reminding myself that at least we'll always have a place to sleep and cook with us. But I do know it's wise to be prepared with various options, so keep those ideas coming.

[Bob and Inga]

"I know there are wonderful Nat'l Forest campgrounds all over the place in both NC and Ga. And Georgia has so many wonderful sounding state parks it's hard to pick one."

PS Don't forget about the COE, in certain areas of the country they have lots of CG's, usually very large sites with electric and water available. Add

www.CorpsLakes.us - Corps Lakes Gateway

to your favorites.

Bob

[Floridafran]

Bob,

Thanks for reminding me about the COE parks. We haven't stayed in one yet, but I've read a lot about them. I need to see what's near any of the places we'll be going, especially when we head back home.

Fran