A major bummer that the lighthouse is under repair, completely scaffolded and with none of its…read moreusual charm. It was supposed to be done later this year but with funding cuts, they no longer have an ETA. The gift shop is really nice and the folks working there were extremely apologetic and perhaps a little embarrassed. Still, it's a historic lighthouse and worth stopping by. Just check in first to see if they're finished the refurbishment. [Review 795 of 2025 - 4227 in North Carolina - 24355 overall]

It's still under construction. Bathrooms are about the only thing useful. I went inside the…read morevisitors center and gift shop and the staff seemed a bit mean and didn't want to be there. Plenty of parking.

Had no place to park motor home overnight that would allow me to run generator or plug-in. I have…read moremedical equipment that needs power 24/7 and no power also means no A/C. NO accommodations for RVs passing through without reservations made months in advance. The park ranger lied that I was asked to vacate a parking lot at the airport that was marked 24 hour parking. Was given $155 ticket for parking overnight. A beautiful area, to bad the rangers aren't more accommodating.

Nice national park site. Beach area is clean and easily accessible. Camping is no frills but gets…read morejob done. Entry visitor center closed because of fire. Nice junior ranger program. Not a destination but worth a stop in area.

We found a lot of hiking trails while visiting the Outer Banks. It's not what most people do, but…read morewe're not big beach people (and it's not all that warm in November). This spot is right across the street from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, so it's conveniently located. The trail is really short and flat like most of the trails in the Outer Banks. It's only .8 miles, so it's a quick stop. The trail is wooded and goes through a swampy wetlands area, similar to most of the other trails we did. I wouldn't say this was my favorite hike we did, but it's worth a stop if you're going to the lighthouse anyway.

If you're looking for a nice nature experience close to Nags Head, this is a great option! The…read morerefuge has several areas to look for birds and enjoy the natural marshes. You can head to a couple different areas, but the most popular is the trail right by the visitor center. Sometimes parking is difficult because people park to go to the beach, so bring some patience. The bathrooms have flush toilets but no sinks, so plan ahead if you'd like a nicer bathroom experience. The visitor's center has tons of educational information along with very informed staff. You can learn about where to go and even borrow binoculars to look for birds. There's a small gift shop as well. The path leading from the visitors center passes two large marshy fields and ends with a large tower overlooking more marshes. Bring binoculars- it's so fun to be able to watch the birds poke around in the sand, interact with each other, and sleep. The beginning of the path has a small pond filled with turtles as well that are fun to watch. Even if you're not a big bird fan, it's a beautiful area for a nice walk. You can spend time going to more of the refuge and, of course, you can go to the beach as well.

Lots of wildlife! Take bugs spray! The turtle pond was really cool because they all swim to you…read moreexpecting food. Water turtles and big snapping turtles. Jumping fish out of the water. Good nature walk. Beach was cool across the walk where you could see the top of a sunken ship. Cool little souvenir and information shop.

I've been obsessed with lighthouses since I was a child (an English thing, I guess?). Bodie…read more(Bow-dee NOT "body", I wish carpetbaggers would stop changing the pronunciations-two generations are now mispronouncing it) is not only beautiful, but has the additional museum and boardwalk to a scenic observation deck overlooking wetlands. I'm deathly afraid of heights so I can never go up, but I can appreciate the beauty and history from the ground.

After visiting the Hatteras Lighthouse and finding it all wrapped up in scaffolding, I was super…read moreexcited to get here to Bodie Island to find this one ready to photograph and visit. The Bodie Island Lighthouse is a striking black-and-white banded tower that has stood sentinel over the Outer Banks since 1872. This lighthouse is the third built in the area--the first, constructed in 1847, was abandoned due to a poor foundation, and the second, built in 1859, was destroyed during the Civil War by retreating Confederate troops. The current structure rises 156 feet and houses an original first-order Fresnel lens, casting light visible for up to 19 nautical miles. It was automated in 1940 and later transferred to the National Park Service in 1953. After extensive restoration, it opened to the public for climbing in 2013. Visitors can ascend its 219 steps for panoramic views of the surrounding marshes and Roanoke Sound. The lighthouse is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and remains one of the few tall brick lighthouses in the U.S. still equipped with its original lens. It was way too hot today to try climbing anything let alone that. I took my pictures and was more than satisfied. [Round number review 800 of 2025 - 4232 in North Carolina - 24360 overall]

Stayed here for a weekend to get away for a bit. All the staff we encountered were very nice and…read morehelpful with any questions we had. They also have a spot where you can pick up and drop off your keys to the cabins if you are coming amd going before or after their open hours. We stayed in one of the one bedroom cabins. It came with two beds with a mat on top but they do tell you to bring your own linens,which we did. The cabins only have ac not heat, which is one of the only few things I think they should upgrade to have a unit that does both as we stayed during Halloween weekend and the digits where in the 40's at night. Just enough to take the chill out of the air inside. But we brought plenty of blankets so we were pretty cozy but definitely didnt want to leave the warmth in the morning lol. I also think the grills need to be updated to something you can close not the tiny open faced ones they have. Even after scrubbing it down, our food tasted funny after cooking on it due to all the grime that had built up from being uncovered in all sorts of weather. Easy walk to the water and have a tavern and deli within walking distance close by as well with good food. Was a great place to sit outside and read a book and just relax, no blaring horns or city noise.

Wife and I went here to celebrate my birthday and had a blast! We travel in our Tesla and used…read moreFrisco woods as our base camp. Our site had 50A charging which was perfect for our setup. This campground has it all: easy late check-in, spots are clearly labeled, beautiful views, multiple clean(!!) bathhouses, a pool, great hookups, and even Tavern on 12 and Hatteras Sno-balls within walking distance for delicious eats! Also very convenient to the rest of Cape Hatteras and the Ocracoke ferry. We definitely plan on returning and spending more time around the campground, it was beautiful!

Such a great place! Any time of the year! Heaven on earth!!…read more A yearly must attend! If we are at the OBX, a trip to the Elizabethan Gardens is on the calendar!

I had a wonderful day at The Elizabethan Gardens! It was filled with beautiful flowers and…read morebutterflies! First passed through the store, they had unique hair clips, bags, jewelry, etc. Then on the trail we went. It was colorful and breathtaking! There are statues and fountains which adds even more charm. I could have stayed there all day. I saw frogs, squirrels, and garden spiders. Bathrooms were clean, parking ample. Prices were decent. We had a great time!

This was the number one thing I wanted to see on Ocracoke and now that I've seen it, I'm happy! I…read morelove lighthouses, having visited 128 lighthouses across the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland and even a lightboat in Sweden. Do lighthouses in Oklahoma (Lake Hefner), West Virginia (Summersville) and Vermont (Shelburne) count? They do for me! Ocracoka's lighthouse is easy to access with parking lots nearby and it's maybe a one mile walk from the ferry terminal. It was built in 1823 by Massachusetts builder Noah Porter and is the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina and the second oldest still standing in the state. It was constructed to guide ships safely through the treacherous Ocracoke Inlet into Pamlico Sound, a vital route for maritime trade and military supply lines. Standing 75 feet tall with a conical brick structure, the lighthouse was automated in 1955, and while visitors can access the base during summer months, the tower itself is not open for climbing. Its enduring presence and simple elegance make it one of the most beloved landmarks on the Outer Banks. [Review 775 of 2025 - 4207 in North Carolina - 24335 overall]

Well it's another lighthouse. There is free parking a block down, or park at the church just past…read morethe lighthouse for a donation. There is a boardwalk to the lighthouse that keeps your feet dry. Can't climb the stairs. Basically this is a 5 min visit, take some pics, read the history sign, then leave. I guess once the light keepers house is done with restoration there may be a museum to see?

We took the car ferry to Ocracoke Island for a day while visiting the Outer Banks in November…read more While there, this was one of the places we stopped. We did a short .8 mile trail here. Parking is kind of weird. There's no parking at the trail, but we parked at a nearby church that had parking for a donation. The trail starts out in a wooded area that's really pretty. Then the middle portion of the trail is along the beach. The beach portion was my favorite part because of all the jelly fish we saw right on the shore. I don't know what phenomenon was going on that they were all right on the shore or if it's normal, but it was really cool. I'd definitely add this to your list of stops on Ocracoke Island.

Apparently this is Blackbeard's old stomping grounds. I'm kind of glad it hasn't been turned into…read moresome cheesy pirate-themed amusement park, but surprised that there really wasn't any information there on this. The paths lead through some diverse environments to a small inland-facing beach. People were using them for running, but you'll be done quickly if you do that. It's definitely a haven for mosquitos, and being on the inland side it isn't that windy. I saw signs indicating that the park is planning to expand with more trails. Given the amount of island that isn't easily accessible, this seems like a good decision to me.