Visitor Center Hours

The Hatteras Island Visitor Center at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year (closed Christmas Day).

The Bodie Island and Ocracoke Island Visitor Centers are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. year round (closed Christmas Day).

Bodie Island Visitor Center

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 building at the end of a short park road off of N.C. Highway 12 across from Coquina Beach. The building has exhibits on the Bodie Island Lighthouse history.

NPS/HOLDA

This boardwalk offers an excellent view of a freshwater marsh.

Outside the Visitor Center, a path leads to the 156-foot Bodie Island Lighthouse. The path continues past the lighthouse to a wildlife observation deck on the edge of a freshwater pond where you can peacefully observe area waterfowl and wading birds.

The Visitor Center also houses an Eastern National bookstore.

Ranger programs are scheduled during summer months. 

NPS

The Hatteras Island Visitor Center and Museum of the Sea are located at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

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 Visitor Center offers several bulletin board displays and houses an Eastern National bookstore.

The Museum is within the historic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Double Keepers' Quarters. The two-floor museum contains exhibits on various aspects of Outer Banks history and natural history. 

A small audiovisual room provides a variety of presentations.

Most visitors visit both the Visitor Center and Museum during their visit to the adjacent Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

There is beach parking nearby as well as the Buxton Woods Nature Trail.

Ranger programs are scheduled during summer months and offered intermittantly, or as posted, the rest of the year.

NPS

A ranger presents a program outside the Ocracoke Visitor Center.

Near the Seashore's southern edge in Ocracoke Village is the Ocracoke Island Visitor Center. This small building is located at the end of N.C. Highway 12 where the road enters the ferry terminal. The Visitor Center is a mix of Eastern National bookstore items and exhibits focused on Ocracoke history.

From the Visitor Center, the Ocracoke Lighthouse is visible across Silver Lake.

Ranger programs are scheduled during summer months.