Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Best Time to Visit Cape Hatteras National Seashore

The seashore is open year-round with no entrance fee, so timing comes down to what you want out of the visit. Summer brings warm water and the busiest beaches; spring and fall bring lighter crowds, migrating birds at Pea Island, and more comfortable hiking weather. Hurricane season, June through November, can bring storm closures and NC-12 washouts, so it's worth checking conditions before a trip during that stretch.

Tips for Visiting Cape Hatteras National Seashore

• Check nps.gov/caha for current NC-12 road conditions before heading down — washouts happen with some regularity, especially after storms.
• An NPS ORV permit is required to drive onto the beach at the numbered ramps; pedestrian beach access doesn't require one.
• Bring your own water and supplies for remote stretches — services thin out well before you reach Hatteras or Ocracoke villages.

Getting to Cape Hatteras National Seashore

The seashore's north end connects directly to Nags Head and the rest of the northern Outer Banks via US-158 and NC-12. From the south, the free NCDOT ferry between Hatteras and Ocracoke islands links the seashore's two southern sections; a separate, longer toll ferry connects Ocracoke to Cedar Island and Swan Quarter on the mainland.

What to Expect at Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Cape Hatteras National Seashore protects roughly 70 miles of undeveloped beach, dune, and maritime forest across Bodie, Hatteras, and Ocracoke islands — the first national seashore established in the country, in 1953. Expect open beaches with both ORV and pedestrian access, historic lighthouses including the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, NPS campgrounds, and a scattering of hiking trails through maritime forest at spots like Buxton Woods and Ocracoke's Hammock Hills. It's a working, undeveloped landscape rather than a manicured park — pack accordingly.