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Cape Hatteras National Seashore
The sound of ocean waves, the starry night sky, or the calm of the salt marshes, you can experience it all. Shaped by the forces of water, wind, and storms these islands are ever changing. The plants, wildlife, and people who live here adapt continually. Whether you are enjoying the beach, kayaking the sound, or climbing the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse there is something for everyone to explore!
RecAreaDirections
Cape Hatteras National Seashore is located along NC-12 in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. You can reach the seashore from the north by following US 158 to Nag Heads, NC and the turn-off to NC-12 and Cape Hatteras National Seashore. From the south, you can take NCDOT ferries from Swanquarter, NC and Cedar Island, NC to the village of Ocracoke on Ocracoke Island.
The provided physical address is the location of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, roughly in the middle of the park.
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Permits info
Facilities
Whalebone Junction Information Center Visitor Center
The Whalebone Junction Information Center is located on Highway 12 in Nags Head, NC at the entrance to Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Park maps, newspapers, and current beach conditions are available inside. The building is staffed by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. The Dyke Trail can be accessed from the Information Center parking lot.
Hatteras Island Weather Bureau Station Visitor Center
The Hatteras Weather Bureau Station was built in 1901 as one of the many stations along the east coast that would forecast weather for boats and the surrounding communities. Today the building is used as a information center.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Ticket Facility
The National Park Service provides visitors the unique opportunity to climb the Bodie Island Lighthouse and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Tours are a great way to experience these historic structures! Cape Hatteras tours have been suspended for the 2021 climbing season until further notice. Please call (252) 475-9018, hours are 7:00 am - 6:00 pm est. if you have questions.
OCRACOKE CAMPGROUND Campground
List of CampsitesOverview
Located in the famous Outer Banks area of the stunning North Carolina coast, this campground is perfect for a beach getaway trip.Recreation
The seashore provides a place for active recreation or for quiet reflection. Campers can visit a lighthouse, look for seashells, go fishing and clamming or just sit back and enjoy the peace and beauty of the white sandy beaches.More active recreational activities include swimming, kayaking and windsurfing.
Bird and wildlife viewing is also a popular pastime for campers. The seashore provides a home and habitat for creatures large and small, on land and in the water.
Facilities
Ocracoke Campground is only accessible by ferry or aircraft. Campsites are located on sandy soil, so campers are encouraged to bring extra long tent stakes. Flush toilets, drinking water, cold showers and grills are all provided for a more comfortable beach camping experience.The campground is conveniently located on the ocean side, separated from the beach by barrier dunes.
Natural Features
Ocracoke Campground sits on a barrier island along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The shore a recreational oasis for beach lovers. This ribbon of sand provides some of the most dazzling scenery that the Atlantic coast has to offer.contact_info
For facility specific information, please call (252) 475-9018.Nearby Attractions
Nearby Ocracoke Village offers restaurants, gift shops, grocery stores, a gas station and tackle shop.Frisco Campground Campground
List of CampsitesOverview
Frisco Campground is part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Camping here will put you in a prime location to experience the history, culture, and breathtaking beauty of North Carolina's barrier islands.Recreation
On a walk around the Frisco Campground visitors can enjoy the rolling topography, views of the Atlantic Ocean, and at night, the sweeping beacon of the nearby Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Boardwalks from the campground to the beach give pedestrians easy access to enjoy activities such as surfing, swimming, and fishing. There is also an off-road vehicle (ORV) ramp at the entrance of the campground for beach driving with a Cape Hatteras ORV permit.Facilities
Campers have access to modern restrooms with flushing toilets, potable water, and outdoor unheated showers. Each campsite is equipped with a paved parking pad, picnic table, and a charcoal grill for cooking. There are no RV hook ups in the campground. Dumpsters and a recycling center are located at the entrance of the campground. Wooden boardwalks make it easy for campers to travel to and from the beach.Natural Features
The elevated dunes in Frisco Campground afford campers the opportunity to have an ocean view from some of the campsites. Dense vegetation creates a sense of privacy not present in the other campgrounds on Cape Hatteras National Seashore.contact_info
For facility specific information, please call (252) 475-9018.Nearby Attractions
Frisco campground is within a short drive of the historic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The beacon gained fame in 1999 when it was picked up and moved 2900 ft. to its current location. It is also the tallest brick lighthouse in the country.
Charges & Cancellations
Changes and cancellations to reservations follow Recreation.gov polices.
Oregon Inlet Campground Campground
List of CampsitesOverview
Oregon Inlet Campground is the northernmost campground on Cape Hatteras National Seashore. When camping here, you are within a short distance of the full service town of Nags Head to the north, and the world class fishing at Oregon Inlet to the south.Recreation
The beach adjacent to the campground can be reached by foot from your campsite as well as by vehicle with a Cape Hatteras Off-Road Vehicle Permit. Popular activities include fishing, swimming, surfing, birding, and shell hunting. The calmer waters of the sound to the west of the campground can be accessed at the public boat launch at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. Popular sound side opportunities include crabbing, clamming, paddle-boarding, boating, and fishing.Facilities
Each of the three loops in the campground have a bath house with flush toilets, potable water, and heated outdoor showers. Each campsite has a paved parking pad, picnic table, and charcoal grill. There are limited sites with RV hook-ups. A dump and water fill station are located directly across Highway 12 at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, and are free of charge for campers.Natural Features
The campground is located on the east side of the barrier island, just a short walk through the dunes to the expansive waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Sea Oats and other native flowering plants blanket the dunes providing a picturesque backdrop for your camping experience.contact_info
For facility specific information, please call (252) 475-9018.Nearby Attractions
The historic Bodie Island Lighthouse is approximately four miles north of Oregon Inlet Campground on NC Highway 12. The Bodie Island Lighthouse is open seasonally for self-guided climbs. Climb tickets are available on a first come, first served basis and can only be purchased from www.recreation.gov. Tickets go on sale at 7am for that day's climbs only. Tickets may only be purchased on the same day of your intended climb. Coquina Beach Day Use Area is located directly across HWY 12 from the Bodie Island Lighthouse access road. The day use area provides a vehicle free beach perfect for families. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Coquina Beach is staffed with lifeguards to ensure the safety of visitors. Other amenities at Coquina Beach include a bathhouse with outdoor cold showers, flush toilet restrooms, water fountains, and a boardwalk to the beach.
Charges & Cancellations
Change Fee: A service fee may be charged at the time a modification is made depending on the changes.
Cancellation Fee: A service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.
Cape Point Campground Campground
List of CampsitesOverview
Cape Point Campground sites have a shortened reservation window. Due to the ground saturation and potential for flooding we encourage you to check the sites prior to paying. Cape Point Campground is centrally located to all of the attractions on Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The campground puts you within walking distance of arguably the best fishing and surfing on the east coast.
Recreation
A short walk through the dunes leads you to the beach at the infamous Cape Hatteras. Many trophy fish have been landed from the point, and it has been a surfing destination for decades. If you prefer to drive to the beach you can access one of the many off-road vehicle ramps within a short distance of the campground. Exploration of the barrier islands beyond their beaches is possible on a hike through the nearby maritime forest. The Buxton Woods Trail is a 3/4 mile loop that can be accessed just north of the campground at the Buxton Woods Picnic Area on Lighthouse Road.Facilities
Cape Point Campground is the largest campground on Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Each campsite is equipped with a paved parking pad, picnic table and charcoal grill. Rows D, E, and F are reserved for tent camping only. There are no hook-ups in the campground for RVs. Four sets of restrooms and outdoor shower facilities are dispersed evenly throughout the campground. Water spigots providing potable water are readily available.Natural Features
The campground is nestled between rolling dunes to the south and the largest remaining tract of maritime forest on the North Carolina coast to the north. The environment is naturally suited to accommodate many bird and mammal species. A large heard of white tail deer frequent the area.contact_info
For facility specific information, please call (252) 475-9018.Nearby Attractions
The iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is located just north of Cape Point Campground on Lighthouse Road. From the third Friday in April until Columbus Day visitors can climb the lighthouse with a ticket that can be purchased from a kiosk on the walkway leading to the lighthouse. Standing at 198 feet, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States. It has undoubtedly saved the lives of many mariners navigating around the treacherous Diamond Shoals.Buxton Beach is a family friendly swimming destination staffed with lifeguards from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It is a short walk or bike ride from the campground. Parking is available at the old lighthouse site adjacent to the current location of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
Bodie Island Lighthouse Ticket Facility
- The National Park Service provides visitors the unique opportunity to climb the Bodie Island Lighthouse and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Tours are a great way to experience these historic structures!
- Bodie Island Lighthouse is open seasonally for self-guided tours..
- Climbing tickets can only be purchased on the day of your intended climb. Tickets go on sale daily at 7 a.m. Tickets may not be purchased for future dates.
- Please be at the base of the lighthouse 5 minutes before your ticket time. No refunds for no shows or late arrivals..
- Cape Hatteras Lighthouse may not be open for climbing due to ongoing restoration efforts.
- Please call (252) 475-9018, hours are 7:00 am - 6:00 pm est. if you have questions.
This tour may be cancelled if weather conditions are unsafe (i.e., high winds, storms, and/or lightning in the area).
Bodie Island Visitor Center Facility
Approximately six miles south of the seashore's northern entrance is the Bodie Island Visitor Center. This visitor center is located in the historic Bodie Island Lighthouse Double Keepers' Quarters at the end of a short park road off of NC Highway 12 across from Coquina Beach. The visitor center is a great place to get oriented and browse the park store. Outside the visitor center, a path leads to the 156-foot Bodie Island Lighthouse, which is open for tours seasonally.
Hatteras Island Visitor Center Facility
The visitor center offers orientation information, a bookstore to shop for gifts, and a great views of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
Museum of the Sea Facility
About 50 miles south of the seashore's north entrance is the Hatteras Island Visitor Center and Museum of the Sea in Buxton, NC. The Museum of the Sea is within the historic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Double Keepers' Quarters. The two-floor museum contains exhibits on Outer Banks history and natural history. A small audiovisual room provides video presentations, available upon request. Between the Park Store and the Museum of the Sea stands the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
Ocracoke Island Discovery Center Facility
The Ocracoke Island Discovery Center is where you can go within the village of Ocracoke to get park information and start your exploration of Ocracoke Island.
