A straightforward Buxton motel on NC-12, close to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Cape Hatteras Motel sits directly on NC-12 in Buxton, within easy reach of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. As a motel-style property on the island's main road, it offers straightforward lodging for exploring the village and the surrounding seashore.
Buxton sits roughly midway down Hatteras Island, part of the string of villages connected by NC-12, the single road running the length of the seashore. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse — the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States, moved inland in 1999 as erosion closed in — is a short drive away, though it's currently closed to climbing while the Park Service addresses a cast-iron bracket issue found during restoration. Continuing south on NC-12 leads to Hatteras village, departure point for the free ferry to Ocracoke Island.
420 reviews
8 months ago
This place is absolutely amazing! We booked oceanfront hotel, and that’s exactly what we got! Jamie was at the desk he was super helpful very friendly took care of all of our needs. The hotel was clean and affordable, perfect views and the fact that though water came right up to the hotel was amazing loved listening to the sounds of the beach at night time definitely coming back will be our permanentCape Hatteras hotel
5 months ago
True waterfront experience! Locally owned property, some kinks, but totally worth it. First room was still full of plumbing tools, second one also needed the owner to come and fix the toilet, but after this rocky start, we had a wonderful night falling asleep to the sound of crashing waves on the beach right below us and up to the sunrise. And where else on the coast can you fish right from your own balcony?
4 months ago
My husband & I come to Outer Banks for the fishing. We love it. We paid extra for an oceanfront room with a full size refrigerator to store our fish in. We were given an oceanfront room with a mini refrigerator & microwave. We were also given a non-oceanfront vacant room on the other side of the street that had a full refrigerator/freezer to store our fish in. This was a mild inconvenience, but we were fine with it. Upon checking out, my husband went to retrieve our 25+ filleted fish & they were gone. When we asked the front desk about this, we were told that a housekeeper cleaned the wrong room & threw all of our fish away. We were very frustrated, but accidents happen. What bothered us the most is that we were not offered a discount or a one night complementary stay in the future. We will not be staying there again.
8 months ago
We had a wonderful stay at the Cape Hatteras Motel. From the moment we arrived, we were met with wonderful hospitality from Jamie. He worked diligently to get our party checked in and gave us excellent directions on how to zooooooom! across the street over to our rooms. We booked the ocean front rooms and they were definitely ocean front! You couldn’t get a better view than that. The rooms were well kept and clean. The beds were comfortable and the sound of the ocean was so relaxing to fall asleep to. We spent the evening hanging out on the deck watching the dolphins jump around in the surf. Unfortunately, it was rainy so we didn’t get to experience the sunrise, however I imagine it would have been stunning. We will definitely be back to stay at the lovely Cape Hatteras Motel.
9 months ago
The office smells like mold,first thing i noticed when i first walked in. They told me that the room i got is across the street from the office because i got the ocean front and the office guy said we cannot park our vehicle there so we have to come back to the office and park our car at the office and need to walk across the street to go to our room. I was so concerned of our safety because it was dark over there and water everywhere because of high tide. The water from the ocean was under the motel. they are fixing the other half of the hotel to reinforced the structure so it won’t get swept away by the water. I told the guy that i don’t want to wake up in the middle of the ocean Because lately that exactly what happening there so i am kinda worried. So he gave me the keys to our room but when i get to my car i was so worried so I called the office back and requested if we can just stay at one of the rooms upstairs where the office at instead of across the street. I was scared. The lady answer the phone and she told me that the place has no available room which i think was BS. Because First, we noticed no cars on the property, second not a busy season. December 19 , 2025. I was so disappointed that they not even trying to help us, so My husband and i drove a few blocks away to Hatteras Island Inn and we are the 2nd guest staying at the hotel, like i said not a busy season. We ended up staying there for the night. My husband and i drove by the office again late that night to check if they were booked but no cars park there by the office, i was so disappointed. They don’t even try to help us. I will not stay at this hotel ever and i will not recommend this motel to anyone.