{"id":"nps-caha","slug":"cape-hatteras-national-seashore","name":"Cape Hatteras National Seashore","designation":"National Seashore","category":"national-seashore-lakeshore","categoryLabel":"National Seashore and Lakeshore","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"CAHA","designation":"National Seashore","sourceId":"nps-caha"}],"states":["NC"],"stateNames":["North Carolina"],"location":{"lat":35.41370839,"lon":-75.65061112},"bbox":[-76.0112,35.0655,-75.4611,35.9058],"acres":{"value":28464,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"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!","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/caha/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=35.9058&b_tl_lng=-76.0112&b_br_lat=35.0655&b_br_lng=-75.4611","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Cape%20Hatteras%20National%20Seashore","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"cover":{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/A4618C00-B3FB-D35D-3DA226D108CCC498.jpg","title":"Cape Hatteras Lighthouse","alt":"A beach landscape with the black and white spiraled lighthouse in the background","credit":"NPS Photo","license":"Public domain (U.S. government work)","licenseUrl":null,"filePage":"https://www.nps.gov/caha/index.htm","tier":1,"source":"National Park Service"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/A4618C00-B3FB-D35D-3DA226D108CCC498.jpg","title":"Cape Hatteras Lighthouse","alt":"A beach landscape with the black and white spiraled lighthouse in the background","credit":"NPS Photo","license":"Public domain (U.S. government work)","licenseUrl":null,"filePage":"https://www.nps.gov/caha/index.htm","source":"National Park Service","cover":true},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C8354E7-1DD8-B71B-0B7954E06B1E2CEB.jpg","title":"Paddling Pamlico Sound","alt":"A young girl paddles across the water with the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse visible in the distance.","caption":"Lots of recreation opportunities await visits on the sound side of the barrier islands.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/A448D4F3-C919-60FE-EBA4F812CD985CD5.jpg","title":"Loggerhead Turtle","alt":"A large sandy colored turtle facing the camera on the beach","caption":"Cape Hatteras Seashore is home to a variety of life","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C8353B5-1DD8-B71B-0BF7DB7E885477F8.jpg","title":"Playing in the Sand","alt":"Two kids play in the sand.","caption":"Two kids enjoy the sands of Cape Hatteras.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/A457160A-FBE3-452F-72E494B2BD1A849B.jpg","title":"Sunrise over the Beach","alt":"a yellow glow of the risiing sun over the beach and ocean","caption":"Sunrise over the beach","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Auto and ATV","Auto Off-Roading","Astronomy","Stargazing","Camping","Car or Front Country Camping","Group Camping","RV Camping","Fishing","Saltwater Fishing","Food","Picnicking","Hiking","Hunting and Gathering","Hunting","Paddling","Canoeing","Kayaking","Junior Ranger Program","Snorkeling","Surfing","Swimming","Saltwater Swimming","Wildlife Watching","Birdwatching","Museum Exhibits","Shopping","Bookstore and Park Store"],"topics":["Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite","Maritime","Lighthouses","Piracy and Privateering","Ships and Shipwrecks","Military","US Navy","US Coast Guard","US Air Force (Army Air Corps)","Science, Technology and Innovation","Wars and Conflicts","Civil War","World War II","Animals","Birds","Tortoises and Turtles","Climate Change","Coasts, Islands and Atolls","Night Sky","Astronomy","Oceans","Unique Species","Endangered"],"fees":[],"passes":[],"hours":[{"name":"Park Grounds","description":"The grounds of Cape Hatteras National Seashore are always open for visitors, though there are resource closures that seasonally affect different parts of the beach.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"All Day","monday":"All Day","thursday":"All Day","sunday":"All Day","tuesday":"All Day","friday":"All Day","saturday":"All Day"},"exceptions":[]}],"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.","weatherInfo":"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.","contacts":{"phone":"2524732111","email":"caha_general_information@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"Museum of the Sea","description":"About 50 miles south of the seashore's north entrance is the Hatteras Island Visitor Center and Museum of the Sea in Buxton, NC. The Museum of the Sea is within the historic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Double Keepers' Quarters. The two-floor museum contains exhibits on Outer Banks history and natural history. A small audiovisual room provides video presentations, available upon request. Between the Park Store and the Museum of the Sea stands the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.","url":"http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/visitor-centers.htm","lat":35.2511112083,"lon":-75.5297223111},{"name":"Bodie Island Visitor Center","description":"NOTE: The building is closed due to a January 2025 structure fire, but rangers are on site to assist visitors, and the lighthouse is open for climbing. Approximately six miles south of the seashore's northern entrance is the Bodie Island Visitor Center. This visitor center is located in the historic Bodie Island Lighthouse Double Keepers' Quarters at the end of a short park road off of NC Highway 12 across from Coquina Beach. The visitor center is a great place to get oriented and browse the park store.","url":"","lat":35.81826,"lon":-75.56399799999997},{"name":"Ocracoke Island Discovery Center","description":"The Ocracoke Island Discovery Center is where you can go within the village of Ocracoke to get park information and start your exploration of Ocracoke Island.","url":"http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/visitor-centers.htm","lat":35.11629,"lon":-75.98634},{"name":"Whalebone Junction Information Center","description":"The Whalebone Junction Information Center is located on Highway 12 in Nags Head, NC at the entrance to Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Park maps, newspapers, and current beach conditions are available inside. The building is staffed by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. The Dyke Trail can be accessed from the Information Center parking lot.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/visitor-centers.htm","lat":35.9041668444,"lon":-75.5975001528},{"name":"Hatteras Island Weather Bureau Station","description":"The Hatteras Weather Bureau Station was built in 1901 as one of the many stations along the east coast that would forecast weather for boats and the surrounding communities. Today the building is used as a information center.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/uswbs.htm","lat":35.2200002194,"lon":-75.6902778667}],"campgrounds":[{"name":"Frisco Campground","description":"Frisco Campground with 127 sites is located west of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse near the village of Frisco, North Carolina. The campground is tucked between the sand dunes and shrub thicket. A public boardwalk allows easy ocean access for campers, and public bathhouses, grills, and picnic tables are available. Open spring-late fall.","url":"https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251430","reservationUrl":"https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251430","sites":117},{"name":"Cape Point Campground","description":"Cape Point Campground with 202 sites is located southwest of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and within walking distance of the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Hatteras (also known as Cape Point) itself. Open spring-late fall. Campsite reservations are limited to same-day reservations only. Campsites must be booked via recreation.gov.","url":"https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251945","reservationUrl":"https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251945","sites":202},{"name":"Ocracoke Campground","description":"Ocracoke Campground with 136 sites is located east of the village of Ocracoke, North Carolina on the island of Ocracoke. The campground offers grills, flush toilets, drinking water, cold showers, and is pet-friendly. The soil is sandy, so tent-campers will need extra-long tent stakes. RVs under 40 feet are welcome at this campground. There's no electricity, but there is a nearby dump station. There is no shade at the campground. Mosquitoes are common, and insect spray is recommended. Open year round.","url":"https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232504","reservationUrl":"https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232504/availability","sites":135},{"name":"Oregon Inlet Campground","description":"Oregon Inlet Campground has 107 sites and is open year round. Camping on a barrier island provides a chance to take in the power and nature of this special place. Listen to the breaking ocean waves while staring up at the night sky filled with stars. Walk along the sandy beaches during the day and share stories with friends at night. RV hookups are available at select sites. Running water and flush toilets are throughout the campground.","url":"https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251431","reservationUrl":"https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251431","sites":107}],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"pea-island-national-wildlife-refuge","km":34},{"slug":"alligator-river-national-wildlife-refuge","km":42},{"slug":"mattamuskeet-national-wildlife-refuge","km":49},{"slug":"fort-raleigh-national-historic-site","km":58},{"slug":"swanquarter-national-wildlife-refuge","km":61},{"slug":"wright-brothers-national-memorial","km":67}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=caha"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.608Z","alerts":[{"source":"NPS","kind":"Park Closure","title":"Closure of Billy Mitchell Airport for Repaving Project","text":"The Billy Mitchell Airport (HSE) is closed to accommodate a runway pavement rehabilitation project. The project will provide full resurfacing of paved areas, new reflective paint, and new tie-downs and anchors, improving visitor safety and enhancing the overall visitor experience.","url":null,"updated":"2026-08-17 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-6F113A63-6DEF-4FFE-81AB-D01209881DD0"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Park Closure","title":"Project Safety Closure in Place Near Southernmost Groin in Buxton","text":"Public access is closed for 300 feet north and south of a groin repair project site in Buxton, as well as the adjacent ocean area to the east. Surfers, swimmers, and all other recreationists should stay at least 300 feet from the southernmost groin area for safety purposes.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/caha/learn/news/cape-hatteras-national-seashore-announces-temporary-beach-and-swimming-closure-for-dare-county-groin-repair-project.htm","updated":"2026-08-04 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-73B184A1-9946-494C-BCA2-24ED40224C68"}],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/cape-hatteras-national-seashore/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/cape-hatteras-national-seashore.geojson"}