Visit Our Seashore

The Cape Lookout National Seashore is a unique place... a place that everyone should visit and enjoy! Visiting the historic Light Station and Portsmouth Village, bird watching, fishing, or simply hanging out on our 55 miles of undeveloped beach are all great reasons for visiting our seashore.

The following sources can provide you with information about getting to our seashore and enjoying your visit while there:

1. The weather is always a prime consideration as conditions at Cape Lookout may be markedly different than inland. Before visiting, check here for NOAA's Carteret County Weather Forecast. For detailed current information, check the Cape Lookout weather station, about a 1/2-mile from the lighthouse.

2. Getting to lighthouse requires that you go by boat. If you don't have your own boat, small boat ferries are available from Harkers Island and Beaufort. For contact information, go here.

3. There are no hotels or motels in our seashore. If you want to stay overnight, the options are camping or rustic vacation cottages on South Core Banks and North Core Banks.

4. Vehicles, including RV's, are allowed on both North Core Banks and South Core Banks. For vehicle rules and ferry arrangements, click here.