We went camping here over Labor Day weekend. Our camping game is high (meaning we have lots of gear to make it super comfy), but trying to limit our equipment knowing that we have to carry everything from the ferry to the campsite was stressful. But we did it, and it was 100% worth it! Here is what we learned:
It is buggy!! Bring Picaridin spray for the body. We had 2-6 oz cans between 5 people, and we used them both for the 5 day weekend. Spray tents with Sawyer insect repellent to keep the bugs away from the tents.
If you have, bring a cart. It is quite a hike with your gear from ferry to campsite, and in the heat is it's not fun. You can borrow carts from the ferry station area. Ask the staff.
Bring bungee chords to keep all your equipment in place on the carts
There is camp store with all necessary supplies, but it is expensive. If you can organize and bring everything from mainland, it will be cheaper.
There is boardwalk everywhere. Unless you are wilderness camping on the beach, you won't have to drag anything through sand (phew!!)
Choosing a campsite: The map on the reserve america is not clear. Some campsites are two in an alcove area. If you are a group of two sites, you need to pick correctly. Site 10 is solo site. 11/12, 9/8, 7/6 are alcove, the others are in row next to each other. Unlike other campgrounds we have been to, these sites are on the smaller side. In our 11/12 site we luckily picked an alcove area, we had two sleeping tents and bug tent.
There is a restaurant at the marina which becomes a disco on the weekend. The food is pretty good, cocktails are not bad!
Beach is walking distance from the tents with a lifeguard
Lots of birds, and very chatty gray catbirds (bring ear plugs! I kid you not! One was right outside our tent at 5 am!!)
It seems that a lot of families come back every year on the same weekend, and it felt like close community.
National Parks have lots of activities during the day. On Monday they had a canoeing trip. You had to sign up the day of the trip to get a spot.
Highly recommend, and we will make it an annual trip!
I am not sure the glamping sites are worth the price but we have all camping gear. I can't speak of their comfort.