Welcome to Hatteras Island - Cape Hatteras National Seashore

About Us
Must Dos
Programmed Activities

About Hatteras Island, Cape Hatteras National Seashore:

At A Glance

Visit us on the web at:
www.nps.gov/caha
Email: Click Here
Phone: 252-995-4474
Hours: Park open 24 hours a day. Visitor center open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours in the summer
Payment:
Cash
Entry Fee: Free
Age Requirements: All ages
Season: Year Round, visitor center closed December 25
Handicap Accessible? Yes
Helpful Hints: Bring sunscreen and bug spray.

The Hatteras Island district of Cape Hatteras National Seashore is perhaps most famous for the black-and-white, spiral-striped Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Located in Buxton, the lighthouse, along with the nearby visitor center and Museum of the Sea is a place every visitor to Hatteras Island must see. Remember, pets are welcome on Hatteras Island, though they must be leashed at all times. Fireworks are prohibited.

From the top of the lighthouse, you get an excellent view of Cape Point and its surrounding beaches. To visit the beach on foot, try the beach near the old lighthouse site. Lifeguards are on duty here daily during the summer. You can also access many beaches on Hatteras Island in a four-wheel-drive, off-road vehicle. Designated access ramps begin at Rodanthe, and continue to Hatteras Village. If you decide to drive on the beach, consult the tips for beach driving on our website: http://www.nps.gov/caha. There you’ll find maps of beaches open to driving, along with other suggestions and general information. Make sure to observe speed limits, and wildlife and safety closures.

Recreational opportunities abound on Hatteras Island. From Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge at the northern end of the island south to Hatteras Inlet, visitors can experience island and water environments. A lifeguarded beach is located near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton. Soundside day-use areas are located near Salvo (Salvo Day-use Area), Avon (Haulover Day-use Area), and Hatteras Village (Sandy Bay Day-use Area). National Park Service campgrounds are located in Buxton at the Cape Point Campground, and in Frisco.

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Must Dos:

Visit the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Make sure to stop at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse during your visit. The lighthouse is open for climbing mid-April through early October, but the grounds are open all year long. For information on climbing the lighthouse, visit our website: http://www.nps.gov/caha The Hatteras Island Visitor Center and Museum of the Sea are located near the lighthouse and are open every day except December 25. Free, but there is a charge to climb the lighthouse.

Explore Nature

Hatteras Island boasts miles of beautiful beaches and soundside waters waiting to be explored. The beaches can be accessed from parking lots along N.C. Hwy 12. Ramps allow four-wheel drive, off-road vehicles (ORV) to access the beaches. Ramps are located between Rodanthe in the north and Hatteras Village in the south. Day-use areas along the island provide access to the sound and its recreational offerings. You can even escape into a forest on the island. A rich maritime forest grows in the Buxton area, and you can hike the Buxton Woods Nature Trail or the Open Ponds Trail, both near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Free

Share in History

Hatteras Island offers a wealth of historical attractions and activities for the visitor. American Indian history, Civil War sites, shipwrecks, life-savers, and the sun and storms of the Weather Bureau are just a handful stories that can be found on Hatteras Island. For more information, visit our website: http://www.nps.gov/caha. Some non-National Park Service museums may charge a fee