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NASA CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Hatteras Island

Island

Hatteras Island on North Carolina's Outer Banks features Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, wide beaches and strong surf. Visitors come for fishing, wind- and kite-sports, boat charters and the barrier-island coastline's maritime history.

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In this guide

Hatteras Island essentials

Address: Hatteras Island, Outer Banks, North Carolina, USA - main park administration: 1401 National Park Drive, Manteo, NC 27954 (NPS)
Website: nps.gov
Hours: Roads open year-round; National Seashore visitor centers have seasonal hours (see NPS).
Admission: Cape Hatteras National Seashore - free entry; lighthouse climb fees variable (check NPS). Ferry fees apply for Hatteras-Ocracoke crossings.
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About Hatteras Island

Hatteras Island is a barrier island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, United States, and is best known for the prominent Cape Hatteras Lighthouse that marks a historically dangerous stretch of Atlantic shoals. The lighthouse visible from much of the island was constructed in the early 1870s and remains its most-significant landmark.

The island offers wide surf beaches, inshore sounds, and access to Atlantic fishing grounds, making it popular for surf fishing, charter sportfishing, surfing and wind sports. The long, low profile of the island contains several small communities and access points to beaches and ferry terminals for Ocracoke and the mainland.

The current Cape Hatteras Lighthouse replaced earlier lights and was completed around 1870; it was physically relocated inland in 1999 to protect it from shoreline erosion. Much of the island’s shoreline is managed as part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, a U.S. National Park Service unit established to conserve the barrier islands and their maritime habitats.

Hatteras Island lies offshore along the North Carolina coast, forming part of the Outer Banks chain. Local population centres on the island include Buxton and Hatteras Village, and the island is reached by roads and ferry links from the mainland and neighbouring barrier islands.

  • Lighthouse move in 1999: The lighthouse tower is 64 metres tall and was physically moved inland in 1999 to protect it from coastal erosion.
  • Ferry connections: Car and passenger ferries link the island to Ocracoke Island and the mainland, making it a gateway for both tourism and local transport.

What to See#

  • Cape Hatteras Lighthouse: A 64-m (210-ft) brick lighthouse originally built in 1870 and rebuilt on the same site in 1870-1871; the tower was moved inland about 880 metres (2,900 ft) in 1999 to protect it from shoreline erosion.
  • Cape Hatteras National Seashore: A stretch of protected coastline managed by the U.S. National Park Service as part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, which preserves beaches, dunes, and maritime habitat across the Outer Banks.
  • Island communities: A string of small communities and villages along the island’s length, notably Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras Village, which serve as local service centres and access points to beaches and fishing.
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Hatteras Island

Best in late spring through early fall for beach and ferry access; spring and fall offer fewer crowds while winter is for storm watchers and solitude.

Summer (Jun-Aug)
June-August · 22-30°C
Warmest weather, prime beach season and highest visitor numbers; ferries and campgrounds fill early.
Spring/Fall (Apr-May, Sep-Oct)
April-May; September-October · 15-25°C
Fewer crowds, good wind and surf for kitesurfing and less humid conditions for exploring the Cape.
Winter (Nov-Mar)
November-March · 5-15°C
Quieter, sometimes dramatic storm months; NC‑12 can suffer seasonal washouts or closures after storms.

Weather & Climate near Hatteras Island

Climate

Temperate climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 4°C to 30°C. Abundant rainfall (1415 mm/year), wettest in August.

Air Quality: AQI 29 Good
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
30°
Warmest Month
4°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January - 4° - 12° 5° 131 mm - - 4.9 m/s - -
February - 4° - 12° 5° 99 mm - - 5.0 m/s - -
March - 7° - 16° 11° 116 mm - - 5.2 m/s - -
April - 11° - 19° 15° 84 mm - - 5.1 m/s - -
May - 15° - 24° 19° 102 mm - - 4.6 m/s - -
June - 19° - 27° 23° 107 mm - - 4.2 m/s - -
July - 22° - 30° 26° 130 mm - - 4.0 m/s - -
August - 22° - 29° 26° 160 mm - - 3.8 m/s - -
September - 20° - 27° 23° 140 mm - - 4.3 m/s - -
October - 15° - 22° 19° 124 mm - - 4.3 m/s - -
November - 10° - 18° 14° 116 mm - - 4.4 m/s - -
December - 6° - 14° 10° 106 mm - - 4.7 m/s - -
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Hatteras Island

Hatteras Island is reached by driving US‑64 and NC‑12 from the mainland (via the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge at the northern end, though road conditions can change seasonally) or by ferry (Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry for travel to the southern islands). The nearest regional airports are Dare County Regional (Manteo) and the larger airports in Norfolk and Raleigh, both a few hours’ drive away.

Tips for Visiting Hatteras Island

  • Drive the length of NC‑12 early in the morning for light and fewer vehicles - the roadside offers pullouts and vistas that are quickly shaded by afternoon haze.
  • Book Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry crossings well in advance during summer; lines form early.
  • For surf photography, head to the Cape at sunrise but mind posted closures - the rip currents here are among the strongest on the U.S. East Coast.