Directions & Transportation

NC Highway 12 within Cape Hatteras National Seashore

National Park Service

Roads

There are multiple ways to reach Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The northern entrance of Cape Hatteras National Seashore is located at the junction of US Highway 64 and NC Highway 12 in Nags Head, NC. The southern entrance is located on NC Highway 12 just north of Ocracoke Village, NC (accessible by ferry only). Here are directions to reach the northern entrance of Cape Hatteras National Seashore from various locations.

North (From Richmond, VA)
Follow I-95 South to Richmond, VA. Take I-64 East toward Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA. Take I-64 or I-664 to Chesapeake, VA. From I-64, take Exit 291B to Route 168, the Chesapeake Expressway. Once in North Carolina, Route 168 turns into US-158 East. Follow US-158 East through Nags Head, NC to the junction of NC-12 South.

West (From Rocky Mount, NC)
Follow US-64 East through Tarboro, Williamston, Plymouth, Columbia, and Manteo, crossing the Alligator River Bridge and the Virginia Dare Bridge. Keep going on US-64 East to Nags Head, NC, going over the Washington Baum Bridge, to the junction of NC-12 South. Turn right onto NC-12 South and you will be at the north entrance.

South (From Florence, SC)
Take I-95 North to Wilson, NC. Take US-264 East through Greenville, NC and Washington, NC. From Washington, NC, take US-17 to Williamston and follow US-64 East to Nags Head, NC and the junction of NC-12 South.

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NC Highway 12 (NC-12) Operational FAQs

Is NC-12 located on lands managed by Cape Hatteras National Seashore or Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge?
Yes. NC-12 traverses lands managed by both the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, except for a 4-mile stretch between Whalebone Junction and Old Oregon Inlet Road. The North Carolina Department of Transportation holds the highway right-of-way and is responsible for operating and maintaining NC-12 where it crosses National Park Service lands within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands within Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. These federally managed lands do not include the villages of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras, or most of Ocracoke Village.

Do the counties of Dare and Hyde also maintain NC-12 or other Cape Hatteras National Seashore access roads?
No. Only the State of North Carolina, through the North Carolina Department of Transportation, is responsible for maintaining public roadways in Dare and Hyde counties.

What is an NC-12 hotspot?

NC-12 hotspots are locations where erosion has made the highway vulnerable to ocean overwash during elevated seas and wave action. Waves can leave deep water on the highway or damage the asphalt, causing travel delays or temporary closures.

You can learn more about NC-12 hotspots here.

What has Cape Hatteras National Seashore done to help NCDOT manage NC-12 in vulnerable areas?
Cape Hatteras National Seashore works with the North Carolina Department of Transportation on day-to-day coordination and on permits for protective measures such as sandbag installation, dune building, dune plantings, and roadway repairs. It also works with the North Carolina Department of Transportation on long-range planning and on oversight of large projects such as bridge construction.

Has Cape Hatteras National Seashore denied requests from the North Carolina Department of Transportation to move NC-12 near hotspots, such as the Canal Zone, the Pea Island Visitor Center, or northern Ocracoke?
No. Cape Hatteras National Seashore has not denied a request to move the highway. No formal requests to move NC-12 have been made.

Who is responsible for land management along the Pea Island section of NC-12?
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge covers about 13 miles of northern Hatteras Island. It lies within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore boundary and is administered as a National Wildlife Refuge by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In partnership with the Refuge, the National Park Service administers recreational uses that are not inconsistent with the purposes of the Refuge.

What agency makes transportation management decisions in the Pea Island area?
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is responsible for operating and maintaining NC-12. Because the area is managed as a refuge, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has the authority and responsibility for decision-making, including ensuring that activities such as transportation management are compatible with the purposes of the refuge. Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and Cape Hatteras National Seashore collaborate to evaluate transportation management proposals from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, then the Refuge makes decisions on proposals that affect Refuge lands and resources.

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North Carolina Department of Transportation ferry traveling across Hatteras Inlet to Ocracoke Island

National Park Service

Ferries

Ferries provide a vital link to Ocracoke Island, with ferry service provided by North Carolina's Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to both ends of the island. Here are directions to reach the different ferry terminals. See the NCDOT Ferry website for additional information.

Hatteras Inlet Ferry
This ferry connects Hatteras Village, located on the southwestern end of Hatteras Island, with the northeastern end of Ocracoke Island. To reach the ferry terminal, follow NC-12 from Nags Head, NC all the way down Hatteras Island to the ferry terminal at the far end of Hatteras Village. The ferry crosses Hatteras Inlet in roughly 70 minutes and reservations are NOT required. Check the NCDOT Ferry website for current departure schedules.

Cedar Island Ferry
This ferry connects Sea Level, on the mainland, with Ocracoke Village, located on the southwestern part of Ocracoke Island. From I-40 East, take Exit 306 to US-70 East. Follow US-70 East to Sea Level, NC. In Sea Level, take NC-12 North to the ferry terminal. The Cedar Island Ferry crosses the Pamlico Sound in roughly 2-1/4 hours and reservations are required. Once in Ocracoke, follow NC-12 to the park entrance.

Swan Quarter Ferry
This ferry connects Swan Quarter, on the mainland, with Ocracoke Village, located on the southwestern part of Ocracoke Island. Take US-264 to NC-45 in Swan Quarter. Follow NC-45 South through the town to the Hyde County Courthouse. At the courthouse, turn on Oyster Creek Road (SR-1128) and follow to the terminal. The Swan Quarter Ferry crosses the Pamlico Sound in roughly 2-1/2 hours and reservations are required. Once in Ocracoke, follow NC-12 to the park entrance.

 

Planes at the Billy Mitchell Airport, part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore

National Park Service

Air

Norfolk International Airport (ORF) is located about 100 miles to the north of Cape Hatteras National Seashore in Norfolk, VA. To the west is Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), which is located about 200 miles from the seashore. Commercial flights are available into both of these airports, with rental cars available for driving the rest of the distance to the seashore.

There are several ways to view or reach Cape Hatteras National Seashore by air. The Manteo/ Dare County Regional Airport (MQI) services private aircraft. The Billy Mitchell Airport (HSE) in Frisco, NC and Ocracoke Airport (W95) in Ocracoke, NC have 3,000' runways and tie-downs. Use is limited to daylight hours. There are NO services (fuel, hanger space, repair service, etc) at these two airports.

 

Maps

Maps of Cape Hatteras National Seashore

NCDOT Ferry Information

Ferry Information at Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Accessibility

Accessible Features at Cape Hatteras National Seashore