Wilmington KOA Holiday Blog
Big Holiday Camping Deals are Here. Plan Ahead to Save 30%.
Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
From I-40 - Take exit 416B. This will put you on the I-140 bypass. Follow this for 5 miles and take exit 25, signage will read, 17 S./Market St. At the stop sign take a right, this is Market St. Follow for 2 miles, turn right in-between the Speedway Gas Station and the Ogden Carwash. You will see the sign for KOA on the right, above the Ogden Carwash.
From Rt. 17 S. - Follow 17N, take exit 39 on to I-140 (US 17 N/Wilmington/New Bern/Jacksonville).Follow I-140 approx. 25 miles. Take exit 25 , signage will read 17 S./Market St. At the stop sign take a right, this is Market St. Follow for 2 miles, turn right in-between the Speedway Gas Station and the Ogden Carwash. You will see the sign for KOA on the right, above the Ogden Carwash sign.
From US 74/76 - Take exit on to I-140 (US 17 N/Wilmington/New Bern/Jacksonville). Follow I-140 approx. 25 miles. Take exit 25, signage will read 17S/Market St. At the stop sign take a right, this is Market St. Follow for 2 miles, turn right in-between the Speedway Gas Station and the Ogden Carwash. You will see the sign for the KOA on the right, above the Ogden Carwash sign.
From Rt. 17 N. - Follow 17S through Hampstead. Take exit to the right (about 8 miles past Hampstead), signage will read 17 S./Market St. This is Market St. Follow for 2 miles, turn right in-between the Speedway Gas Station and the Ogden Carwash. You will see the sign for KOA on the right, above the Ogden Carwash.
GPS: N34.27778. W77.81417
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One of the best things about RV travel and campground stays is bringing your dog along. At Wilmington KOA Holiday, most of our guests travel with pets, whether they’re arriving in an RV or staying in one of our dog-friendly cabins. And since the beaches are one of the biggest reasons people come to Wilmington, it’s no surprise that we get plenty of questions about where dogs are allowed.
Fortunately, there are several dog-friendly beaches near Wilmington, but the rules vary by beach and by season. Some welcome dogs year-round, while others only allow dogs during the cooler months. Wrightsville Beach, for example, opens the beach to dogs beginning October 1st!
This guide includes information on the current beach rules, seasonal access, parking considerations, and a few tips from our team. If you’re staying with us at Wilmington KOA Holiday, be sure to ask for our printed dog-friendly beach guide at check-in.
Wrightsville Beach: Leashed dogs are welcome on the beach from October 1 through March 31. Dogs are prohibited on the beach strand April 1 through September 30.
Carolina Beach: Leashed dogs are welcome year-round. From April 1 through September 30, they are allowed before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. From October through March, they can visit any time. Dogs are never allowed on the historic wooden Boardwalk or within the defined Boardwalk Business District.
Freeman Park: Dogs are welcome year-round. Leashes are required April through September. From October 1 through March 31, dogs may be off leash under voice command with their owner nearby.
Kure Beach: Leashed dogs are welcome year-round. From April through September, they may visit before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Leashes may not exceed 15 feet.
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area: Dogs are welcome year-round in permitted areas on a leash no longer than six feet, but they are not allowed on the designated swim beach or inside buildings.
Surf City: Dogs are allowed on the beach year-round on a leash no longer than 20 feet.
Topsail Beach: Dogs are welcome year-round. Leashes are required May 15 through September 30, with additional seasonal restrictions in protected areas. Dogs must now remain leashed year-round in the Topsail Nature Preserve at the South End.
North Topsail Beach: Dogs are welcome year-round but must remain leashed at all times. Leashes may not exceed 25 feet.
If running on the sand is your dog's idea of the perfect vacation, Freeman Park is the clearest off-leash beach option near Wilmington during the cooler months.
From October 1 through March 31, dogs at Freeman Park may be off leash if they remain under voice command, and their owner stays within a reasonable distance. During the rest of the year, dogs are still welcome but must remain leashed.
This is one place where knowing your dog matters just as much as knowing the ordinance. Fall and winter can bring plenty of other dogs to Freeman Park, so off-leash time is best for dogs with reliable recall that are comfortable sharing the beach. Be mindful that horseback riding is also permitted between October 1st and March 31st.
Topsail Beach also has more relaxed leash rules during the cooler season in areas where additional restrictions do not apply. However, rules are more complicated there because protected areas have different requirements, and the new Topsail Nature Preserve at the South End now requires dogs to remain leashed year-round. If you’re looking for straightforward off-leash beach time, Freeman Park is the easiest to plan around.
Several beaches near Wilmington allow dogs year-round, though the hours and leash rules differ.
Surf City and North Topsail Beach have one of the simplest policies: dogs are allowed year-round as long as they remain on a leash. Surf City requires leashes no longer than 20 feet, while North Topsail requires leashes no longer than 25 feet.
Leashed dogs are welcome at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area year-round. Leashes can be no longer than six feet. Dogs are allowed on the shoreline and trails, but the designated swimming beach is off-limits. For dogs that would rather explore than spend the day swimming, consider the 2.2-mile dog-friendly Basin Trail. This easy trail winds through salt marsh and includes boardwalks. Just be sure to keep your pups away from any wildlife or nesting birds.
Carolina Beach and Kure Beach both allow dogs throughout the year, but during the warmer months dogs are prohibited on the beach between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. From October through March, leashed dogs are allowed all day.
For dog owners, October changes the beach experience around Wilmington.
The biggest change happens at Wrightsville Beach. Dogs are completely prohibited from the beach strand between April and September, but come October 1st, the strand reopens to leashed dogs through March 31. At Wrightsville, it’s the dog days of Fall.
October 1 also means:
Carolina Beach and Kure Beach remove daytime restrictions.
Freeman Park begins its off-leash season for dogs under voice control.
Topsail Beach moves into its more flexible cooler-season rules outside protected areas.
These lifted restrictions on dogs at beaches also happen to coincide with what Wilmington locals call the “local summer.” Wilmington native and Wilmington KOA General Manager Leigh explains that ‘local summer’ is a favorite season because it means fewer tourists, less crowded beaches (and dog-friendly beaches), and it's not so hot - which the dogs also appreciate.
For Wilmington KOA guests traveling with dogs, fall means you get more choices about when and where you can take your dog to the beach, while cooler temperatures make longer shoreline walks more comfortable.
If your camper van is also your beach-day vehicle, parking can influence where you go just as much as the dog rules.
Wrightsville Beach: This is one of our recommended options for smaller Class B RVs and camper vans, particularly on weekdays or the less busy fall and winter season. Public lots provide direct access to the beach. Paid parking currently runs March 1 through October 31, so November through February also means the end of the town's paid-parking season. There is plenty of room to navigate a small RV within the parking lot, and you can typically take up two spots if necessary, so long as you pay for both parking spaces during the paid-parking season. These parking lots are mostly paved asphalt. Just keep that in mind on hot days, as the asphalt will be very hot on your dog’s paw pads.
Carolina Beach: The town does accommodate oversized vehicles in its parking system, but we find the spaces are a little tight if you are maneuvering with a Class B. Carolina Beach currently charges a separate oversized-vehicle parking rate during its paid season.
Fort Fisher: This is our team’s favorite option when easy maneuvering is a priority. The large gravel parking area provides plenty of room for maneuvering and parking camper vans and small Class Bs. Plus, gravel tends to be less hot on dog paws during the summer months.
North Topsail Beach: North Topsail also has gravel lots, which are nice for the pups. Some lots and space can be tight, so those traveling with Class Bs may wish to visit on a weekday to ensure there is space.
A dog-friendly beach adventure usually doesn’t stay at the beach. In fact, the beach may come back with you - via the sand in your dog’s coat and paws!
While most beaches provide public showers or rinse stations, they are intended for people - not dogs. The best practice is to keep a jug of water and an old towel in your vehicle for a quick paw rinse and towel off before heading back from the beach. Once you’re back at Wilmington KOA, you can take advantage of our DIY dog wash station!
The campground dog wash has a ramp leading to a raised platform and a hose, making it easy to rinse sand and saltwater from your dog's paws and coat.
Need additional supplies? The Wilmington KOA camp store carries:
Dog shampoo and conditioner
Leashes
Insect repellent for dogs
Doggie duffel bags with waste bags
And plenty of T-R-E-A-Ts
Dog-friendly amenities don't stop there. Wilmington KOA also offers Kamp K9 dog park, Paw Pen RV sites with private enclosed pet areas, and pet-friendly Camping Cabins and Deluxe Cabins.
Learn More:
See our Cabin and Cottage Rentals
Read our guide to Dog-Friendly Things to Do in Wilmington
There isn't one “best” dog-friendly beach. You should probably visit them all - over time. Then let us know which is your dog’s favorite and why! Here’s some ideas based on different motivations:
Closest to Wilmington KOA: Wrightsville Beach
Best for “local summer”: Wrightsville Beach
Best for off-leash beach time: Freeman Park
Easiest parking for a Class B: Fort Fisher
Best for beach + nature: Fort Fisher State Recreation Area.
Best for summer stays: Surf City and North Topsail
Least Crowded: Your pick, so long as you go on weekdays or in the fall and winter.
Sources:
That doesn't mean this area has to always be empty. When you start reviewing camping options, your history will display here to help compare sites and find the best stay. You will be able to share your stay information with friends or family and save it for a later time if you have a KOA Account.
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