Park Hours (Today)
All Day
Bodie Island Visitor Center: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
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About the Park
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!
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Self-Guided Tours
Hatteras Light Station
Tour the historic Hatteras Light Station, home to the famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
Ocracoke Village Tour
Take a tour of the beautiful historic Village.
Bodie Island Lighthouse Area
The Bodie Island Lighthouse area is a great place to explore, and will quickly expose you to the amazing nature and human history of the Outer Banks.
Visitor Centers
Bodie Island Visitor Center
NOTE: The building is closed due to a January 2025 structure fire, but rangers are on site to assist visitors, and the lighthouse is open for climbing. 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.
Ocracoke Island Discovery Center
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.
Museum of the Sea
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.
Whalebone Junction Information 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
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.
Where to Stay
Ocracoke Campground
Ocracoke Campground with 136 sites is located east of the village of Ocracoke, North Carolina on the island of Ocracoke. The campground offers grills, flush toilets, drinking water, cold showers, and is pet-friendly. The soil is sandy, so tent-campers will need extra-long tent stakes. RVs under 40 feet are welcome at this campground. There's no electricity, but there is a nearby dump station. There is no shade at the campground. Mosquitoes are common, and insect spray is recommended. Open year round.
Oregon Inlet Campground
Oregon Inlet Campground has 107 sites and is open year round. Camping on a barrier island provides a chance to take in the power and nature of this special place. Listen to the breaking ocean waves while staring up at the night sky filled with stars. Walk along the sandy beaches during the day and share stories with friends at night. RV hookups are available at select sites. Running water and flush toilets are throughout the campground.
Frisco Campground
Frisco Campground with 127 sites is located west of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse near the village of Frisco, North Carolina. The campground is tucked between the sand dunes and shrub thicket. A public boardwalk allows easy ocean access for campers, and public bathhouses, grills, and picnic tables are available. Open spring-late fall.
Cape Point Campground
Cape Point Campground with 202 sites is located southwest of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and within walking distance of the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Hatteras (also known as Cape Point) itself. Open spring-late fall. Campsite reservations are limited to same-day reservations only. Campsites must be booked via recreation.gov.
Getting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
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.
Park Amenities
Permits & Reservations
Permits may be required
Some activities in Cape Hatteras National Seashore — including backcountry camping, certain trails, and climbing routes — require advance permits. Check the official NPS website for current requirements before your visit.
Operating Hours
Park Grounds
The grounds of Cape Hatteras National Seashore are always open for visitors, though there are resource closures that seasonally affect different parts of the beach.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Live Webcams
Click any camera to open the live feed on the NPS website.
Photos
A young girl paddles across the water with the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse visible in the distance.
A large sandy colored turtle facing the camera on the beach
Two kids play in the sand.
a yellow glow of the risiing sun over the beach and ocean
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
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Best Time
Year-round
Trip Length
1 day
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Planning Cape Hatteras National Seashore
These common questions go deeper into logistics and planning. For real-time updates on road closures and current conditions, always check the Alerts section above.