Cape Lookout National Seashore

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Operating Hours & Seasons

Visitor Center on Harkers Island is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET (closed December 25 and January 1). Visitor Centers in the Lighthouse Keepers Quarters and in Portsmouth Village are open from April to November (hours vary). Private ferry service to the park offered mid-March to the first weekend in December. Park accessible by personal boat year round. Primitive cabin rentals available from April 1st to the first weekend in December.
Local Partners & Information Resources

North Carolina Tourism Board

Carteret County Chamber of Commerce


Getting There

Car
Cape Lookout National Seashore's Visitor Center is located on the eastern end of Harkers Island, approximately 20 mi (30 km) east of Beaufort, NC and 30 mi (50 km)south of the Cedar Island terminus of the North Carolina State Ferry route from Ocracoke Island to Cedar Island. From Beaufort: Take U.S. 70 east to Harkers Island Road (SR 1332/SR 1335). From Cedar Island: Take SR 12 south past the Atlantic turnoff to US 70 west. Continue on US 70 to Harkers Island Road (SR1332/SR 1335) . Follow Harkers Island Road until it terminates. On the left is the two-story visitor center.

Public Transportation
Cape Lookout National Seashore is accessible only through private ferries leaving from Harkers Island, Davis, Atlantic, Beaufort, Morehead City and Ocracoke or your personal boat. Ferries leaving from the communities of Harkers Island, Beaufort, Morehead City and Ocracoke, NC carry passengers only. The ferries from Davis and Atlantic, NC can transport passengers and 4-wheel drive vehicles. For additional information call (252)728-2250, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM ET. After hours a recording will give you a list of the ferry operators.



Getting Around

Most people walk although personal 4-wheel drive and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are allowed on North Core and South Core Banks subject to State of North Carolina laws. All vehicle operators, ATVs included, must have a valid drivers license in their possession while driving a vehicle in the park. For those without a vehicle there are limited privately operated beach shuttle services available during the summer months.