The link below has a list of NPS campgrounds with prices. I know Oregon Inlet is on the water. Not sure about the others.
If you are going to go the way of the ferrys leave early and don't be in a hurry.
I have been to OBX several times and the last visit I was by myself and decided to take the ferrys. My normal 6 hr drive turned into a 12 hr short cut.
The ride from Ocracoke to the mainland is a 2- 2 1/2 hr ride on a boat that you can't fish from. The first 15 minutes were great and then I took a nap for the remainder of the ride. Maybe I just get bored easily. I did meet some interesting people on the ferry. Not much else to do on the boats. But if you are not in a hurry it is something for the kids to talk about when they get home.

Bob

Here is a link that might be useful: National Park Service Campgrounds Outer Banks

If you are new to the sea-shore, please ask about going into the water. There are hidden dangers there that can get you into trouble right quick, especially kids!
Things such as rip-tides, jelly fish, sharks, all kinds of things. Please, go to the library and read up on the sea shore, before you or your kids get in trouble there!
I don't mean to sound like the voice of doom, but others have gone into the water, and haven't come out!
I almost lost my new bride on our honeymoon! Yep, she got caught in a rip-tide, and if it hadn't been for another man who had experience with rip-tides, she'd have been gone!
so, read up on it, and be careful!
by: Rustyj

Thanks Bob and Rusty,

I'm really torn between the comforts of the Rodanthe KOA and the atmosphere of Okrakoke. I guess we might try a couple nights in each.

I appreciate the warnings, I know there are often hazardous conditions on those beaches. My kids are strong swimmers and I've been teaching them about rip currents. We have some experience with east coast beaches (Hunting Island, SC) but I don't think we're over-confident. I have to remember to carry the vinegar or amonia or whatever one applies for jelly stings.

When my wife got caught in that rip-tide, i couldn't go to help her!
I had lost my left foot in WW II! Being with that problem, if i had taken off my artificial leg, i would of had to crawl to the water! (Like a large turtle)If i had left it on, and gone into the water, the VA would have had my neck in a noose! And, i'd have probably needed rescuing, too, at that point!
Later on, on a canoeing trip. i had decided, if i had to push the canoe when it got stuck on the bottom, i'd keep the left foot in the canoe, and the good foot in the water! Well, in the excitement of getting stuck, somebody hollered to me that i had gotten mixed up, and had the wrong foot in the water! Four hours in front of the camp-fire got it dried out, but it had to be replaced later on!
Never was the same after that! (The foot-not me!)
Rustyj

Ok, we're home and glad of it. Now I remember why we don't like to camp in the summer - too hot and crowded. The tent sites at Ocean Waves campground near Oregon Inlet were very nice, but the neighbors in nearby (as in, nearly on top of) rental homes were loud late into the night and many folks were shooting off fireworks every evening so the beach was littered with garbage. The water was very cold for us Floridians.

Down on Okracoke we enjoyed the NPS campground, cold showers and all, but the bugs are pretty bad. The water was several degrees warmer and waves break more gradually there - interesting to see how different the beach is because of the angle to the ocean. The weather turned bad so we only stayed one night and then took the long ferry south. Fun enough, but somehow we ended up watching People's Court on TV so that was weird - next time we'd have to do a better job of planning activities.

I'm glad we saw it, but it isn't on our "must visit again" list. We are much closer to South Carolina beaches which are more accessible, with better facilities and better beaches. But we'll wait till early Autumn to do any more trips.

The fall (October) is my very favorite time of the year for the beaches in North & South Carolina; also April and eary May are nice, too - but bring "Skin-So-Soft" for the gnats & no-see-ums!

The summer-time crowd is noisy and the hot weather puts a crimp on the sleeping pleasures on being next to the surf.

Dale