Cape Hatteras

Cape Hatteras is a prominent barrier-island headland on North Carolina’s Outer Banks known for hazardous offshore shoals, a historic lighthouse and a dynamic coastal environment. It marks a major turning point for coastal navigation along the southeastern United States.

The signature attraction is the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and its visitor facilities; the surrounding beaches, surf breaks and saltmarshes draw beachgoers, anglers and surf anglers, while the shoals offshore are known to divers and shipwreck historians. The area is also part of a nationally managed seashore that provides recreational infrastructure along the narrow barrier islands.

The present brick lighthouse dates from the 19th century and was moved inland in 1999 to protect it from shoreline erosion and storm loss. The Outer Banks have long been reshaped by currents and storms, producing the hazardous shoals that made navigation difficult and prompted the lighthouse’s construction.

Cape Hatteras occupies a central section of North Carolina’s Outer Banks barrier islands, separating Pamlico Sound from the Atlantic Ocean and forming part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

• Lighthouse move: The lighthouse was built in the 19th century and was physically moved inland in 1999 to save it from coastal erosion; it remains a major maritime landmark and visitor attraction.

What to See#

• Cape Hatteras Lighthouse: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse - the distinctive black-and-white spiral lighthouse constructed in the 19th century and relocated inland in 1999 to protect it from shoreline erosion.
• Diamond Shoals / surf zones: Diamond Shoals and surrounding beach and surf zones noted for hazardous offshore shoals and strong currents that make the area historically dangerous to shipping.

Cape Hatteras sits on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and is reached via NC‑12, the barrier‑island highway that runs along the seashore. From mainland approaches follow US‑158/NC‑12 across the bridges and causeways toward Buxton and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse; driving distances are roughly 3-4 hours from the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area and longer from inland North Carolina.

The lighthouse and nearby visitor areas are located just off NC‑12; parking and short walks (a few hundred metres to a kilometre) from roadside parking areas are typical.

• Visit early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid peak summer crowds and to get the best light on the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and shoreline.
• Check the National Park Service website before you travel for current information on road closures, permits, and any temporary restrictions on beach driving or access.
• If you want to see the lighthouse up close or tour visitor facilities, check the park's current access and program information in advance so you can plan around limited services and seasonal changes.