Cape Hatteras National Seashore North Carolina

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Overview

Cape Hatteras National Seashore consists of a thin, broken strand of islands curves known as the Outer Banks that extend out into the Atlantic Ocean. They consist of beautiful streteches of beach, sand dunes, marshes and woodland.

The treacherous waters off the coast of the Outer Banks is also known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Over 600 ships wrecked here as victims of shallow shoals, storms, and war. In the past 400 years the graveyard has claimed many lives, but island villagers saved many. As early as the 1870s, villagers served in the US Life-Saving Service. Others staffed lighthouses built to guide mariners. Few ships wreck today, but storms still uncover the ruins of the old wrecks that lie along the beaches of the Outer Banks.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore protects parts of three barrier islands: Bodie Island, Hatteras Island, and Ocracoke Island. Beach and sound access ramps, campgrounds, nature trails, and lighthouses can be found and explored on all three islands.

Camping

The park has four campgrounds and all have tent, trailer, and RV (recreational vehicle) campsites.

• Oregon Inlet has 107 sites (47 with hookups) and is open year round.
• Cape Point has 202 campsites (no hookups) and is open early May to late November.
• Frisco has 127 campsites (no hookups) and is open early May to late November
• Ocracoke has 136 campsites and is also open year round.

Amenities include drinking water, flush toilets, hot-water showers, vault toilets, trash collection and a dump station. Cell service is generally pretty good.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore – Area Recreation & Activities

Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor recreation including camping, surf-fishing, kite-boarding, surfing, paddle-boarding, kayaking, swimming, windsurfing, hiking, biking, crabbing, shell-collecting, nature-experiencing, lighthouse-climbing, picnicking and sightseeing. Wildlife viewing is also fantastic.
Please visit the Cape Hatteras National Seashore website for more information.

Make a Reservation for Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Amenities

• Amphitheater
• Bathhouse
• BBQ Grills
• Campground Host
• Campsite Tables
• Cell Service - Good
• Drinking Water
• Dump Station
• Fire Pit
• Fire Rings
• Firewood Available
• Golden Age & Access Passports accepted
• Grills
• Overflow Parking
• Pets OK
• Picnic Tables
• Recycling Center
• Restrooms (Flush Toilets, Vault Toilets)
• RV Hookups
• Showers
• Trash Collection
• Visitor Center

Activities

• Beach
• Beach Access
• Beach Combing
• Biking
• Bird Watching
• Boating
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Historic Sites
• Kayaking
• Lighthouse
• Nature Programs
• Nature Trails
• Ocean
• OHVing
• OTV Trails/Riding
• Paddle boarding (SUP)
• Paddle Boating
• Photography
• Picnicking
• Sand Dunes
• Skin Diving
• Snorkeling
• Stargazing
• Swim Beach
• Swimming
• Walking Trails
• Water Sports
• Wildlife Viewing
• Wind Surfing