Fees & Passes

Key Information

1. Parking/transportation fees are possible

   You may need to pay for parking, or for a shuttle, ferry, or other transportation while visiting the park.

   More about parking/transportation fees

Cape Hatteras National Seashore does not charge an entrance fee. Fees are charged for camping, lighthouse climbs, and Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) permits. Visit "Fees and Passes" for more information.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a entrance fee-free park. Permit fees are charged for off-road vehicle use, campground reservations, and lighthouse climbing.

2025 Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

Come experience the national parks! All National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply). Mark your calendar for these entrance fee-free dates:

• Monday, January 20 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Saturday, April 19 — First Day of National Park Week
• Thursday, June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
• Monday, August 4 — Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
• Saturday, September 27 — National Public Lands Day
• Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day

 

There is no entry fee for Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Check the following table for costs of various services and activities within the park.

Activity	Detail	Cost
Bodie Island Lighthouse Climb	Adult	$10.00
	Children under 12 (must be >42” tall)	$5.00
	Seniors (62 and older)	$5.00
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Climb - The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is currently closed for climbing and will likely not open in 2023, due to restoration efforts. Outdoor areas near the lighthouse are open 24/7.	Adult	$8.00
	Children under 12 (must be >42” tall)	$4.00
	Seniors (62 and older)	$4.00
	Disabled	$4.00
ORV Permit	10-consecutive days	$50.00
	Annual (1 year from date of purchase)	$120.00
Oregon Inlet, Frisco, and Ocracoke Campgrounds	Nightly rate for no utility hookups Nightly rate for utility hookups at Oregon Inlet Campground	$28.00 $35.00
	Nightly rate for no utility hookups (with a NP & FRL Senior or Access Pass) Nightly rate for utility hookups at Oregon Campground (with a NP & FRL Senior or Access Pass)	$14.00 $21.00
	Group camping (Oregon Inlet only, maximum 30 individuals and passes do NOT apply, nightly rate)	$70.00
Cape Point Campground	Nightly rate	$20.00
	Nightly rate (with a NP & FRL Senior or Access Pass)	$10.00
Marina Boat Dock Fees	No reservations for boat slips in advance. Dock space is first come, first served.
(Silver Lake on Ocracoke Island)	0 - 24 Feet	$33.00
	25 - 32 Feet	$44.00
	33 - 40 Feet	$55.00
	41 - 48 Feet	$66.00
	49 - 56 Feet	$77.00
	57 + Feet	$88.00

Please note the following regarding boat docking fees:

• A Senior, Golden Age, or Access Pass may be used to receive a 50% discount on the docking fee. You will need to have your pass with you at time of payment.
• Payment for docking fees is only accepted onsite.
• Payments are made via the payment kiosk located on the Discovery Center deck in Ocracoke.

National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes

The following National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes provide reduced activity fee rates as listed above:

• Senior Pass
• Access Pass

Visit the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes website for additional details about the various passes.

Educational Groups

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse climbing fees may be waived for educational groups visiting the park as part of their accredited curriculum. The fee waiver application and associated materials must be submitted at least four weeks prior to your visit.

Due to tour number limitations, there is no fee waiver for Bodie Island Lighthouse climbs.

 

Senior Pass

 

Fourth-graders and their families can visit over 2,000 federal lands for free with this pass.

Every Kid in a Park

This initiative allows every fourth-grade student and her or his family to visit over 2,000 federal lands—such as national parks, national forests, and national wildlife refuges—for free! For additional information, and to print off a paper pass, visit everykidoutdoors.gov.