Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
4.5
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A national seashore preserve that has the most extensive stretch of undeveloped seashore along the Atlantic coast.
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
596 reviews
Excellent
487
Very good
77
Average
19
Poor
5
Terrible
8
TJ
1 contribution
Oct 2022 • Couples
I planned a trip predicated on beach drives. Purchased an ORV permit no problem. Don't plan on using said permit. Once purchased (their website would not populate my information on permit), I was unable to print my permit due to rec.gov issue. Being in possession of a printed permit is a requirement for ORV access. After 3 hours on hold I was told too bad, so sad. Stay away if your plans involve beach driving.
Written October 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Donna R
Lake of the Ozarks, MO29 contributions
Jun 2023
This is a lovely drive, from the southern area of Nags Head, out to the Lighthouse. You can stop and walk to the beach at any number of places along the road. Bodie Island Lighthouse came with a bonus: a boardwalk over the swamp with much wildlife to view. We drove out to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse -- interesting museum, fantastic to know that they actually moved the Light back in 1999 to save it from the sea. The Bodie Light was open to climbing this year, but not the Hatteras.
Written June 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elsa C. L.
New York City, NY4,953 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
The Atlantic Ocean in Hatteras has perfect temperature! Refreshing to dip in. It is blue or green or a combination of both on a sunny day. It has no seaweeds, no pointy, sharp rocks and no jelly fish. The sand is clean. So is the water which is also clear.
There is warning posted about rip tides. The waves could push one down as well but fun.
Beautiful beaches all over its length!
There is warning posted about rip tides. The waves could push one down as well but fun.
Beautiful beaches all over its length!
Written August 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe McNamara
Thurmont, MD9 contributions
Jun 2022 • Family
The natural resources were beautiful. Endless stretches of empty beach with only the occasional fisherman in sight. Small town communities about every 15 to 20 miles apart that offers shopping, food, gas, some entertainment. Otherwise nothing but dunes, beach and soundside beauty. There are soundside pull offs that offer anything from bird watching, swimming, kayak put in’s or just a quit place to set and watch the sunset into the sound.
Ocean side has great surf fishing and a fishing bridge (Bonner fishing bridge) that extends out into the Oregon Inlet. At the end of the road. Yes, Rt.12 does end in a sense. But good news is you can hop onboard of the Ocracoke ferry. This hour+ ferry ride is free and lands you on Black boards hideout. Ocracoke island. Rt.12 continues from there. There is another ferry on the other end of the island that takes you to the mainland. You have to pay for that ferry and I believe you have to schedule a boarding time. So, enjoy Ocracoke then return to Cape Hatteras on a returning ferry.
Ocean side has great surf fishing and a fishing bridge (Bonner fishing bridge) that extends out into the Oregon Inlet. At the end of the road. Yes, Rt.12 does end in a sense. But good news is you can hop onboard of the Ocracoke ferry. This hour+ ferry ride is free and lands you on Black boards hideout. Ocracoke island. Rt.12 continues from there. There is another ferry on the other end of the island that takes you to the mainland. You have to pay for that ferry and I believe you have to schedule a boarding time. So, enjoy Ocracoke then return to Cape Hatteras on a returning ferry.
Written June 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
csserious2
Chantilly, VA823 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Cape Hatteras has a lot to offer, perhaps the seashore got the most with sand dunes, sea gulls and blue tranquil water, not to mention the golden sunset with whole bunch of hues. We passed through the seashore on our way to Buxton and enjoyed all the treasures of the sea shore. If you like to spend some quality time in silence and solitude, a plan for sunrise or sunset would perfectly fit the bill.
Written October 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mwooduk
Miami, FL9,027 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
We came here with our son and four young grandsons, the beach is beautiful and there were plenty of shells. The waves are quite dangerous at times with a strong riptide but there is a lifeguard on duty here and they were called into action two or three times. Very good beach for boogie boarding and surfing, my only complaint is that the portable toilet by the carport was absolutely disgusting and none of us could use it!
Written July 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
obx96
5 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
We rented with Outer Beaches for several years with no problems...we loved them. Then Vacasa took them and Hatteras Realty over. This year we had a lovely house booked that we stayed in before. Got a call from Vacasa several months beforehand and was told that the house was damaged by a noreaster and wouldn't be available. I was offered a 'comparable' house (oceanfront, same amt of bedrooms, etc.) When we got there, we found out it wasn't comparable AT ALL. Right off the bat, the front door lock needed to be replaced, it took us at least 10 minutes to get it open, the tumblers were so rusted inside. My husband got slivers of rust stuck in his hand from trying to get it open. Decks were rickety, boards bent under my less than 120 lb. sister's weight, sections of the railing were literally falling off (a serious danger if we would have had little kids with us), the carpet was filthy, sand all over the floors, screens completely missing or ripped. We called about it, and were told someone would be out to fix the deck railing sometime that week, and to expect a call first. We got no call, and no one showed up, either. To top it all off, I found out that the house that we were supposed to stay in originally wasn't damaged, the owner decided he didn't want to deal with Vacasa, so he went with another company, as is his right. But the fact remains that I was LIED TO. (As a retired Realtor, this really disgusts me. It's highly unethical to lie to clients!)
Needless to say, we will avoid Vacasa like the plague from now on!
Needless to say, we will avoid Vacasa like the plague from now on!
Written September 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
psycozz
Washington DC, DC141 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
We were in the OBX during the pandemic and looking for a beach to walk on that wasn’t overcrowded. We pulled into one of the small parking lots off Hwy 12 just south of Salvo and had a bit of a walk as the shortest route to the beach was closed for breeding birds. Our reward was a pristine beach all to ourselves! Tremendous beauty. The only downside is that it was very hot and because of the trek, we hadn’t brought an umbrella. We would have stayed longer had we not been so hot.
Written August 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maria R
Aiken, SC147 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
This must be among the world's great beaches: a long stretch of sand, fishing at high tide, shells (if you are lucky) at low tide, wildlife, . . . Walking along the sand isn't always easy, but it's always enjoyable. The Baltic beaches with their sugar-fine white sand are comparable, but the water is warmer here. Leashed dogs are allowed, so bring yours.
Written October 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hatzlacha
Virginia939 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
We stopped by the entry to the seashore, mostly around the visitor's center and the lighthouse. BLUF, if you've seen one national seashore, I think you've seen them all. Go here if you enjoy drives along the water and views of sand dunes. Don't visit for long if you're looking for something to actually do.
Written July 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you do not drive out on to the beach, is it a long hike from the parking area to the water?
Written June 15, 2017
only a two-lane road to cross if you must. Some parking on both sides in places, some with restrooms.
Written September 6, 2017
Ocracoke's ponies are penned up off the northern beach road; sometimes you see one or two, maybe not, from a small viewing platform. Can't get anywhere near them! In Currituck area, you need to pay about $50 for a buggy ride to a preserve to hope to see them. Several of these operations around. Sad, but it's not safe for them to not be in a preserve.
Written September 6, 2017
Is there water in the campgrounds (for tents) or do I need to bring in water?
Written April 9, 2015
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