Bodie Island Lighthouse still has its first-order Fresnel lens.
Photo: NPS Photo
About
The sound of ocean waves, the starry night sky, or the calm of the salt marshes, you can experience it all. Shaped by the forces of water, wind, and storms these islands are ever changing. The plants, wildlife, and people who live here adapt continually. Whether you are enjoying the beach, kayaking the sound, or climbing the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse there is something for everyone to explore!
Activities
Auto and ATVAuto Off-RoadingAstronomyStargazingCampingCar or Front Country CampingGroup CampingRV CampingFishingSaltwater FishingFoodPicnickingHikingHunting and GatheringHuntingPaddlingCanoeingKayakingJunior Ranger ProgramSnorkelingSurfingSwimmingSaltwater SwimmingWildlife WatchingBirdwatchingMuseum ExhibitsShoppingBookstore and Park Store
Directions
Cape Hatteras National Seashore is located along NC-12 in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. You can reach the seashore from the north by following US 158 to Nag Heads, NC and the turn-off to NC-12 and Cape Hatteras National Seashore. From the south, you can take NCDOT ferries from Swanquarter, NC and Cedar Island, NC to the village of Ocracoke on Ocracoke Island. The provided physical address is the location of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, roughly in the middle of the park.
Get directions →Weather
The weather along the Outer Banks varies throughout the year and even throughout the day. Please check the National Weather Service information at http://www.weather.gov/mhx/ for forecast information.
News
Mar 3, 2026
Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Outer Banks Forever Announce Repairs to Bodie Island Double Keepers’ Quarters
Cape Hatteras National Seashore and its official non-profit partner, Outer Banks Forever, today announced an upcoming partnership project, funded by Outer Banks Forever, that will restore the interior of the Bodie Island Double Keepers’ Quarters.
Jan 30, 2026
Cape Hatteras NS, Fort Raleigh NHS and Wright Brothers NMEM Announce Visitor Facility Closures Ahead of Winter Storm
Ahead of an impending winter storm, all National Park Service visitor facilities at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial will be closed this weekend and will remain closed through at least the morning of Feb. 2. The Oregon Inlet and Ocracoke campgrounds are closing at 12 p.m. today.
