North Core Banks

Primitive back country camping is available on North Core Banks.

NPS Photo/S.Godin

Quick Facts

Location:

34.898536, -76.257046

Designation:

National Seashore

Amenities

8 listed

Beach/Water Access, Cellular Signal, Ferry - Vehicle, Primitive Campsites, Restroom - Seasonal, Showers, Toilet - Flush, Water - Non-Potable

No lifeguard on duty

Cape Lookout National Seashore consists of three-barrier islands, South Core, North Core and Shackelford Banks, along the coast of North Carolina. North Core Banks stretches about 21 miles from Portsmouth Village to Ophelia Inlet. The islands run northeast to southwest. The west side of the island faces Core Sound, and the east side faces the Atlantic Ocean.

North Core Banks is only acessible by boat. Visitors can ultiilze a vehicle ferry from Atlantic, NC. Beach driving is open from mid-March to December. If visitors bring their own vehicle, they must purchase an Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) permit from Recreation.gov. There are no pavement roads on North Core Banks. All-Wheel Drive and 4 Wheel Drive are highly recommended for driving on the beach. 

Many visitors come to North Core Banks to go shelling. Visitors are allowed to collect a 5-gallon bucket full of shells per day they are on the island. However, it is recommended that visitors check for live organisms within collected shells. Pinecones are also allowed to be collected from the seashore. Marine mammals bones and archeological artifacts are not allowed to be collected from the seashore. 

North Core Banks does a few amenties for visitors. Restrooms and public showers are available seasonally.These sources of water are turned off during the coldest part of the winter to prevent damage to pipes due to freezing. There are no Recreational Vehicle (RV) hookups available within the park. In addition, there are no designated campsites on North Core Banks. All camping is primative, backcountry camping. 

Visitors must take all their trash out of the park when they leave. Do not bury any trash as the sand is constantly moving and buried trash re-surfaces quickly. For more information on the Trash Free Park program, visit the Leave No Trace page. 

Pets are allowed on the seashore. However, they must be on a 6 foot leash at all times.