Latest news
- Operational Updates for Oct. 19 at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial
- National Park Service Announces Weather-Related Closures at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore Begins Treatments to Control Invasive Reed
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore Reports Status Updates After Recent Coastal Storm
About Cape Hatteras
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!
From the National Park Service.
- Region
- Southeast
- State
- North Carolina
- Designation
- National Seashore
- Entrance fee
- None listed
- Trail data for this park is still being added.
- Places for this park are still being added.
Know before you go
Fees, hours, weather and getting to Cape Hatteras.
Entrance fees
The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.
Hours
Park Grounds
Open 24 hours a day, every day.
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.
Weather and when to go
The weather along the Outer Banks varies throughout the year and even throughout the day. Please check the National Weather Service information at http://www.weather.gov/mhx/ for forecast information.
Getting there
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.
Contact the park
- Address
- 46375 Lighthouse Road, Cape Hatteras Light Station, Buxton, NC 27920
- Phone
- (252) 473-2111
- Official site
- nps.gov/caha
From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.
Trip planner
A day-by-day plan for Cape Hatteras
Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.
The trails and places you save below go into your plan as must-sees.
Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.
Campgrounds in Cape Hatteras
Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.
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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 to…
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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 pla…
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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 t…
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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…
What to pack for Cape Hatteras
Gear & Essentials
Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:
The basics
Worth having in the car whatever the park.
For this trip
Traveling with kids
Bringing a pet
RVing
Backcountry
Winter conditions
On the water
Photography
Accessibility
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