Bedroom in Cabin 3 at Great Island Cabin Camp
Photo: NPS Photo
About
Great Island Cabin Camp offers 23 rustic, wooden beachfront cabins with porches for individuals and families or small groups of up to 12 people. Cabins range in size from 288 to 960 sq ft., and Cabin 2 is accessible. All cabins are wired for generator use, needed to power electricity. Guests must provide their own generators, no larger than 5,500 watts or equipped with a GFI.
Campsites
Location
Great Island
Core Banks, NC 28524
Fees
Hours
Cabin office hours: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm Cabins: Check-in 2:00 pm Check-out 10:00 am
Reservations
Reservations may be made as early as January in the year of your visit. Reservations are highly recommended and made online through recreation.gov or by phone. Cabins open from mid-March through late November.
Make a Reservation →Directions
Cabins are only reached by ferry from the town of Davis, NC. Two different ferries carry both passengers and 4x4 vehicles over to the cabin area. For more complete directions to the ferry locations in Davis, NC follow the link to the directions page on our website
Weather
Located in Eastern North Carolina temperatures range from cool temperatures in the spring and late fall. Summer months are typically hot and humid but fortunately the winds along the coast blow about 10-15 miles per hour on a routine basis which can keep the summer temperatures from becoming oppressive. Afternoon thunderstorms are also common during the summer, plan accordingly.
Accessibility
Wheelchair access will be difficult outside of the cabin – all travel is done on/in soft sand which will make the use of standard or even power wheelchairs difficult. A manual (someone else must push) beach wheelchair is available for loan from the cabin office.
Internet and/or wifi is not provided. If connection is needed, bring a personal hotspot to make your connection. Even then the strength is generally not strong enough to allow for streaming services or connecting with online meetings or school distance learning.
Bring a solar cell phone charger with you as there is no place to plug in a charger unless you are using a generator in the cabin. Cell phone signal strength varies according to provider. There are small “dead zones” up and down the beach, generally these areas are not very large and by moving a short distance can generally pick up the signal again. Can reach the 911 system from the island.
No grills or stoves may be used on the porches or under the cabins. Open campfires must be built on the ocean beach below the high tide line (in damp sand), fires may not be larger than 3 feet in diameter. All fires must be extinguished with water until they are “cold and out”, in other words the coals should be cold to the touch before they can be considered “out”. Remember that you are the fire department when you are there, practice good fire safety.
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RVs and Camping Trailers are not permitted within the cabin camp area. RVs and Camping Trailers are only permitted in the dispersed camping areas on the open ocean beach of the barrier island.
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There is space for only two vehicles to be parked next to a cabin. If your group has more vehicles, ask at the cabin office for where you may park them. Vehicles should follow the Beach Driving best practices (https://www.nps.gov/calo/planyourvisit/orv.htm) – lower your tire pressure and have the equipment to dig your way out if you become stuck. If bringing a vehicle with you on your trip, be sure to purchase your driving permit before coming (https://www.nps.gov/calo/planyourvisit/orv_ed_certificate.htm)
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Cabin area is flat but has no hard surfaces, all travel areas are soft sand making the use of a wheelchair or other mobility devices challenging. Cabin 2 is accessible with an entry ramp, and accessible restroom. Other cabins use short stairs to reach the porch area. Each cabin has its own restroom facilities, but there is a centrally located bath house with showers and toilets near the beach that is also accessible.
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Unpaved Roads - 4WD/High clearance required
Developed Campground