Bells Island is one of two populated "island" communities that are found in the Currituck Sound. Small but easy to access and explore, the island is a good side-trip for visitors who want to uncover every corner of Currituck County.

About the Area

Bells Island is located in the town of Currituck and is easy to access from US 168 via Bells Island Road. It takes just 7-8 minutes and 3.5 miles of driving to cover the length of the island from the Currituck mainland, making it an easy off-the-beaten path destination.

The island was originally home to a remote community that was sustained by individual farming, hunting and fishing. Today, while hunting and fishing are still recreational past-times, the community is popular with Chesapeake area communities and other full-time residents.

There are about 75-100 residences on Bells Island, but no grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants or other amenities. (This is not a huge inconvenience considering that the center of Currituck is literally about 3-4 miles away.) Many of the properties are soundfront or Canalfront, with easy access to the Currituck Sound.

Bells Island Campground

The big (and only) attraction on the island is the Bells Island campground. Located at the very southern tip of the island, the campground is a popular destination for Currituck County visitors who want to be close to the water in a secluded, and relatively quiet community.

Here's a quick overview of Bells Island Campground highlights, features and facts:

  • The campground is situated on approximately 22 acres of land that is adjacent to the Currituck Sound.
  • Bells Island is one of the oldest campgrounds in Currituck County and first opened to visitors in 1963.
  • The campground is located 5 minutes away from the Knotts Island ferry, and is a 20 minute boat ride away from the beach community of Corolla. It's also a 45 minute drive away from the Outer Banks beaches.
  • Area restaurants within a 10-minute drive include the Pass the Salt Cafe, McDonalds, Currituck BBQ Company, and the roadside Morris Farm Market for fresh produce.
  • Bells Island Campground features 39 full hook-up RV sites, 24 RV sites with water and electricity, and a separated collection of 26 tent areas.
  • Campground amenities at Bells Island include a dump station, restrooms, and shower facilities for campers.
  • Community amenities include tennis courts, horseshoe pits, basketball and volleyball areas, and a boat ramp and fishing pier.
  • Popular activities in the campground include fishing, crabbing, boating, swimming, sailing, and jet skiing.
  • Pets are allowed but must be leased at all times.
  • Rates vary depending on the type of site available, as well as the season. The campground is open year-round and visitors can all (252) 267-2284 for current rates.

 

Currituck
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Corolla Outer Banks and The Currituck Mainland Tourism

Corolla Outer Banks and The Currituck Mainland Tourism

Discover Historic Corolla Park with its wide open green spaces and scenic views, Historic Corolla Park is the heart of Currituck County in Northeastern North Carolina. It’s a great place to take in a seasonal event or simply take a walk, and is home to three unique landmarks — The Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Whalehead in Historic Corolla, the Currituck Maritime Museum and the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education. Outdoor activities such as fishing, crabbing and kayaking the Currituck Sound are welcomed, as are bicycles, kites and leashed pets.

The Cotton Gin

The Cotton Gin

For those traveling to the Outer Banks, The Cotton Gin is a beloved landmark with its large windmill and picturesque gardens. The Cotton Gin has stood in the same location since 1929, starting as a working cotton gin and growing to a gift store with 4 locations. Visitors are treated to a unique shopping experience in our main store in Jarvisburg, as well as our beach stores in Corolla, Duck, and Nags Head. Explore room after room filled with décor for your home and coastal fashions for both men and women. Discover the brands you really want, like, Vera Bradley, Vineyard Vines, La Mer Luex, Simply Southern, Lindsay Phillips, Scout, Pandora, Kameleon, Brighton, Spartina, Tommy Bahama, Southern Tide and Salt Life and Old Guys Rule - all under one roof!

 

Don’t forget the gourmet market, or shop our beautiful linens for your bedroom and bath. We also feature coastal books and fine art, or just a whimsical fun gift to bring home to family and friends. Stop by soon and don’t forget to try our estate grown wines in our stores or visit our vineyard and winery, Sanctuary Vineyards, located adjacent to the original Cotton Gin in Jarvisburg.

 

Most know The Cotton Gin as a must-stop shop for fine gifts, beachwear, souvenirs and so much more, but this retailer has a long-standing history within the Outer Banks. A local landmark that holds almost a century of memories, The Cotton Gin started from humble beginnings and continues to adapt to the times and tourists. Tommy Wright’s family has been in the Outer Banks for nearly 200 years. His great-great grandfather, Jacob Francis Wright, shipwrecked in Duck back in the early 1800s. Calling these barrier islands his new home, Wright and his family acclimated to their new environment.

 

Adaptation is a common theme for the Wright family. Tommy and his wife Candace, who continue to steer The Cotton Gin, have seen not only their business change with the times, but the Outer Banks as a vacation destination as well. A farm market in Jarvisburg eventually transformed and flourished into several retail locations dotting the Outer Banks.

 

“As the area changed and tourism took off in the 1960s, the family saw people coming for vacations, so they began to grow vegetables and things developed from there,” says Tommy Wright. The Wright family expanded upon the farm market and began to remodel a working cotton gin, later transforming the gin into The Cotton Gin general store in the late 1960s. While the additions to the farm store drew visitors, it was their encounters with the Wright family that kept people coming back year after year, which is something that remains true today.

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