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    Cape Hatteras

    4.4 (35 reviews)

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    Nikki G.

    In our tour of lighthouses in the Outer Banks, my mom and I stopped here while we were exploring Hatteras Island. This is a free National Park. They have a great gift shop. They also had a ranger program going on when we first arrived. We listened for a few minutes and it was enjoyable. There were so many people intrigued and listening to the presentation that we were actually near the entrance to the pavilion. All the seats were taken and it was standing room only, if that is an indication of how exciting the talk was, I don't know what is. One of the main things I learned was that each lighthouse has a different pattern on it so that the boaters can tell where they are on the coast. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is a lighthouse that most people recognize, as it has the spiral pattern attached to it. We went exploring and took our pictures around the lighthouse. The museum is great and it was fun reading the information. It was also cool to see how the lighthouse was relocated and what went into the preparation and execution of that.

    Ocracoke Lighthouse remind me of a salt shaker
    Courtney K.

    Bottom Line: 70+ miles of scenic and historic coastline meandering over separate islands and between various quaint villages. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore, managed by the National Park Service (NPS) stretches over 70 miles from Nags Head to Ocracoke. This stretch of North Carolina's Outer Banks includes eight villages and three historic lighthouses. Beaching, bird watching, fishing, shelling and other outdoor activities are popular in this delicate chain of barrier islands. North Carolina Highway 12 is the only thoroughfare between Nags Head and Ocracoke. The 70+ mile trip along the coast may take longer than one suspects because it's a single lane in each direction and to travel between the villages of Hatteras and Ocracoke you must take a ferry. Driving NC 12 at times requires patience since it is a single lane and is used by everyone from the leisurely sightseeing tourist to the hurried commercial driver. For ferry options, there is a free car ferry and a $5/person express passenger ferry. Travelers headed to or from Ocracoke may want to factor in the amount of time it will take to ride the ferry (approximately an hour) and what I'll call ferry queueing time. The drive on Hwy 12 is very scenic and probably best enjoyed at a leisurely pace. In some places both the ocean and the sound can be seen from the road. Here are some of my favorite sights along the seashore from north to south: Coquina Beach Bodie Island Lighthouse Oregon Inlet Fishing Center Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Museum Pea Island Art Gallery Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Scotch Bonnet Fudge and Gifts Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum Ocracoke Lighthouse I personally am not a camper but I know camping on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore is popular. There are various campgrounds along the way but I think a few of them tend to flood after heavy rains and may unexpectedly be closed. When spending any prolonged amount of time on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore I recommend big repellent, sunscreen and water. More of a technical note - towards the northern end of the National Seashore is the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge. It is not technically part of the National Seashore managed by the NPS but it is sandwiched in between NPS managed seashore. The Pea Island Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Nevertheless, it is equally scenic to the stretch of islands that officially make up the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Overall I am a big fan of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Despite having vacationed in this vicinity for many decades the sights, sounds and history never get old.

    Beach at ramp 27. Taken at sunset.
    Sue F.

    My parents started bringing me to the Outer Banks when I was 5. I'm not going to tell my age, but, suffice it to say, it's been a bit. Way back then, you could pick a spot on the beach and see one person waayyy down to the right of you and a person waayyy down the beach to the left. Now, on most days, it is not nearly so desolate but it's still nowhere near the crowds that you'll find at Myrtle Beach or Destin. While I enjoy watching the sunrise from the beach, sunset is actually my favorite time. Sometimes there is not another person in sight. I sit on my towel, smelling that fresh salty air and watch the clouds change colors as the sun sets behind me over the sound. This is my happy place.

    Boon C.

    Cape Hatteras beaches are nice and soft to walk on. It is also the shipyard for the broken ship. Some of the shipwreck is partially in the water. Some day you see it and other day you don't. As result, they built numbers of lighthouse along the coast. The cape Hatteras has turn point for the entirety island in the 90 degree angle at Buxton. It make this location receiving a lot of wave. Many surfer show up to surf. Water is a bit cold in June. The season start in the mid of June to begin of September. During this time hotel is difficult to book. There are many route to the beach. Some part of the beach is wide and take a few minutes to get to the water. Point of interest includes Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, British Sailors Cemetery, Cape Hatteras Campground, Graveyard of Atlantic Museum, Museum of the Sea.

    John B.

    Taken in total, the protected area of the Outer Banks is quite substantial. Long stretches of beach too windswept for much development stretch down the island. The dunes are substantial, but periodic parking areas with very nice boardwalks stretch through. It's easy to drive down the highway and stop where you like. There are off-road vehicle areas as well, but I wasn't overwhelmed by them at all. There's plenty of room to spread out. It's quality oceanside beach with diverse types of sand and wildlife, and on the ocean side, the wind detracts the bugs. It looks quite a bit different from the more developed stretches of the Outer Banks, and thankfully it will probably remain that way.

    Sanjay G.

    "Long stretch of beautiful beach..." We were here at the sunrise time. Walking at sunrise feels really good. Beach is uneven at some place. Beach houses are right at the beach unlike other beaches at OBX. Shells are really beautiful here. This is a small island and beach just near to hotel we stayed, makes it more beautiful. OBX beaches are so long that you won't find crowded at all. You can swim, kayak-surf, do water sports. Get down and have some relaxing moment.

    Dunes
    Kathy D.

    This is for latest road trip vacations ended or should I say started. The OBX is an excellent place to get away and unwind and get close to nature. You can take your time and lounge on the beach, fish, kayak, surf, any assortment of water sports or other activities that you would like to indulge in. I believe it's enough that they have a boardwalk, there is also an outlet mall somewhere along the way in each little city is completely different from the northern end of the southern end of the OBX. What a delightful place to spend a vacation. What are you vacationing with friends, family, or loved ones it all works out. Perfect for children and adults alike. The water, the piers, the lighthouses, all the natural history, the sound... all so beautiful and serene. Every place you turn there's beauty. On the Eastside you have the ocean and on the west side you have the sound. Both are uniquely different and equally as beautiful. It's a place where you can see the sunrise or the sunset depending on which side you're on. Even in a weeks time it's hard to fit in everything that you want to do. There is so many unique things to do and see from the wild horses - lighthouses - watersports to anything that you're interested in. A totally wonderful vacation spot, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my stay. What's a girl to do? Enjoy every second of every vacation.

    Bodie Island Lighthouse.
    Mike T.

    Cape Hatteras National Seashore has a lot to offer. Weather it be beautiful Lighthouses or miles and miles of untouched pristine beaches the national seashore has it. Their are many great area's to visit while exploring the seashore. Three lighthouses are part of the national seashore Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke light house. Camping is also available in different areas along the coast. Hiking is abundant over marshes and beaches. Overall the Cape Hatteras National Seashore is beautiful weather spending a day or a week exploring this area of the North Carolina Outer Banks.

    Sarah K.

    The scenery was beautiful but we were a little let down, we weren't able to go in the lighthouse due to it being "off-season"

    Sound side beach.

    Fun daytime exploring activity while at the Outer Banks. If you're the kind of vacationer who prefers to get up and do things instead of laying on the beach all day, driving the national seashore is a great day-long adventure. Give yourself time to pull off at various spots to take in the sights. This may require you to climb some dunes & get sandy, but the views are worth it! You can see miles of undeveloped beaches backed by tall dunes. On the sound side, there are lots of pull offs with public parking, and there are some stunning views too. Highly recommend :)

    The lighthouse and keepers house/museum both beautiful. The keepers house is very informative.

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    This is a great day trip. There is a lot to see driving down the seashore and fun places to stop. Definitely climb the lighthouses.

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    Review Highlights - Cape Hatteras

    In our tour of lighthouses in the Outer Banks, my mom and I stopped here while we were exploring Hatteras Island.

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    Inn at Rodanthe

    Inn at Rodanthe

    3.8(5 reviews)
    12.0 mi

    My husband I spent our honeymoon here in 2019! We loved it! Steps from the beach and we even…read morewatched the movie while we were there. We found all the movie film spots in the town, and it was so exciting for us movie buffs to see where these movies were filmed. Safe Haven was filmed here as well. It is beautiful and worth every penny that we spent. If you ever wanted to stay in a perfect movie house experience....go for it!!! So romantic!

    The moody, rustic, towering pitched roofs and weathered grey wood siding along with the wrap around…read moredecks are sure to conjure up clips of the 2008 romantic drama, "Nights in Rodanthe". For a fun, photo op drive down to this iconic Inn and spend a bit of your "Day in Rodanthe" capturing some cool shots of this unique house. If you're a fan of the movie, a house hunter, or even an OBX lover, you're bound to enjoy seeing this appx 3,000 square ft giant gorgeous grey house with its most famous bright blue shutters! We didn't spot Richard Gere or Diane Lane, but it's exciting to see the house filmed from the Nicholas Sparks' book (which is better than the movie)! The house now a rental home which can be rented for weekly or sometimes for a shorter stay, but it's no longer an "inn." It's also been remodeled to shadow the rooms in the movie. It may not be "inn" you budget as it holds a hefty price tag, ranging from $430-$1,000+ a night, depending on the month. Check their website for availability and current prices. I get that they want to capitalize on the movie fame, but the higher price point is exorbitant. I mean, this is an older home, quite weathered by the ocean and not in top top condition. But if you're a die hard fan, go for it! There's not a lot to do in Rodanthe, a tiny beach town with a population hovering around 200 people. Located on the Hatteras Island strip, it's one of the many small coastal villages dotting the trail from Nags Head heading south to Hatteras. It's worth the stop to grab a few pics, check out the pier and the beautiful beach views, so you can say "been there, done that"! Every time I visit OBX, I love seeing the outside of this place, although it can use a spruce... and we usually rent the movie for a beachy vibe! Then we keep driving and hit all the towns and shops along the way!!

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    Inn at Rodanthe
    Inn at Rodanthe
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    Cape Hatteras - beaches - Updated May 2026

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