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Cape Lookout National Seashore

Designation: National Seashore

Location: North Carolina

Visit Official Park Website

📘 Park Overview

A boat ride three miles off-shore brings you to the barrier islands of Cape Lookout National Seashore. Horse watching, shelling, fishing, birding, camping, lighthouse climbing, and touring historic villages--there’s something for everyone at Cape Lookout. Be sure to bring all the food, water, and supplies you need (and carry your trash out of the park) when visiting these remote beaches.

🌤 Weather Information

Spring: Temperatures generally range from 50 F to 70+ F. Rain & wind are common Summer: Temperatures usually range from 80 F to 100 F with high humidity (80-90%). Average wind speed is 10-15 mph. Be prepared with plenty of water. With little shade on the islands, an umbrella to provide shade from the sun is a good idea. Fall: Temperatures usually range from the high 70 F to the upper 40 F. Winter: Temperatures usually range from 50 F - 32 F. Winds can be strong. Dress in layers.

🚗 Directions

Cape Lookout National Seashore can be reached without taking a ferry: the Visitor Center on Harkers Island, NC. Please note: the park mailing address does not bring you to the Harkers Island Visitor Center parking lot. If you are using a GPS device - use the parking lot coordinates (34.68494, -74.52725) or the following "address" which approximates the location of the parking lot entrance: 1800 Island Rd, Harkers Island, NC 28531

Images

: Black & white patterned tower of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse stands against a blue & white cloud f

The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is still an active aid-to-navigation, warning ships of the nearby shoals. Climbing to up to see the view from the gallery level, 14 stories above the ground, is also a popular activity by visitors during the summer.

Credit: NPS photo

A bird with orange bill and orange legs runs along the tide line. Waves in the background

The American Oystercatcher, one of the protected species in the park, forages along the shoreline.

Credit: NPS Photo / Sabrina Godin

A red light illuminates a tent on the sand, with a star filled sky behind it.

Campers enjoying the preserved night sky at Cape Lookout National Seashore.

Credit: NPS Photo / Sabrina Godin

A seashell lays in the sand, with the sun setting in the background.

A perfect shell waits to pick up by a sheller.

Credit: NPS Photo / Sabrina Godin

A sand covered turtles flings sand on the beach while laying eggs.

A Loggerhead sea turtle, one of 4 species that nest at Cape Lookout, crawls on the beach.

Credit: NPS Photo

A Jeep drives on the sand in between grass covered dunes.

Visitors drive on the beach at Cape Lookout National Seashore

Credit: NPS Photo / Sabrina Godin

A angler sits in a chair, with two fishing poles in the sand. Lighthouse in background.

An angler enjoys the remoteness of South Core Banks.

Credit: NPS Photo / Sabrina Godin

Activities

Topics

Operating Hours

Sunday
All Day
Monday
All Day
Tuesday
All Day
Wednesday
All Day
Thursday
All Day
Friday
All Day
Saturday
All Day

Entrance Fees

No entrance fees listed.

Entrance Passes

No entrance passes listed.

3-Day Weather Forecast

Wednesday, Jul 22

Sunny

Sunny

High: 86.7°F | Low: 79°F

Humidity: 83%

Wind: 27.7 mph

Rain Chance: 75%

UV Index: 10

Sunrise: 06:08 AM

Sunset: 08:15 PM

Moon: First Quarter (64%)

Visibility: 6 mi

Dew Point: 79.1°F

Cloud Cover: 75%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Thursday, Jul 23

Patchy rain nearby

Patchy rain nearby

High: 84.5°F | Low: 75.8°F

Humidity: 83%

Wind: 23 mph

Rain Chance: 83%

UV Index: 6.7

Sunrise: 06:08 AM

Sunset: 08:15 PM

Moon: Waxing Gibbous (74%)

Visibility: 5 mi

Dew Point: 77.2°F

Cloud Cover: 83%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Friday, Jul 24

Light rain shower

Light rain shower

High: 80.6°F | Low: 76.4°F

Humidity: 85%

Wind: 9.8 mph

Rain Chance: 87%

UV Index: 7.3

Sunrise: 06:09 AM

Sunset: 08:14 PM

Moon: Waxing Gibbous (82%)

Visibility: 5 mi

Dew Point: 75.3°F

Cloud Cover: 87%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Weather Alerts (2)

⚠️ Small Craft Advisory (Minor)
▼

Small Craft Advisory issued July 22 at 2:36AM EDT until July 23 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC

Effective: Jul 22, 2026 2:36am
Expires: Jul 22, 2026 2:45pm

* WHAT...Southwest winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and
seas 4 to 7 ft.

* WHERE...The coastal waters from Ocracoke Inlet to Surf City.

* WHEN...Until 11 AM EDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.

⚠️ Small Craft Advisory (Minor)
▼

Small Craft Advisory issued July 22 at 10:55AM EDT until July 23 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC

Effective: Jul 22, 2026 10:55am
Expires: Jul 22, 2026 11:00pm

* WHAT...Southwest winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and
seas 4 to 7 ft.

* WHERE...The coastal waters from Ocracoke Inlet to Surf City.

* WHEN...Until 11 AM EDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.

Park Alerts

Park Facilities Closing January 31 ahead of Winter Storm Park Closure
Due to the winter storm, visitor facilities at Cape Lookout National Seashore will be closed from Saturday, January 31 through at least the morning of Monday, February 2. The park will reopen following post-storm assessments by staff.
High Fire Danger and Fire Ban Danger
Due to high fire danger throughout the park, a fire ban has been put into place. As a result, the lighting of campfires is not allowed at this time. Charcoal grills are permissible as long as the charcoal is attended during use.
Passenger Ferry Dock Closed; Visitors Deboard via Beach Landing Park Closure
The ferry dock servicing the Cape Lookout Lighthouse area is closed for repairs. Visitors will deboard the ferry in front of the lighthouse. To reach the boardwalk, visitors will need to walk 5–10 minutes on soft sand. Depending on the tide, visitors may also need to walk through water.
Prospectus for Passenger Ferry Service to the South Core Banks and Shackleford Banks and Land Transp Information
Find more information for concession business opportunity to provide passenger ferry service to the South Core Banks and Shackleford Banks and land transportation on the South Core Banks at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/concessions/cc-calo001-26.htm
2026 Off Road Vehicle Permit Information
Clarification: Cape Lookout National Seashore's Off-Road Permit for 2026 is valid for March 12, 2026, to December 31, 2026.

Park Events

Children's Art and Poem Show

On display at the Harkers Island Visitor Center and along the Sound Side Trail is artwork and poems from schools in Carteret County. We encourage our artists to think about what the seanshore means to them. Can you imagine the waves crashing along the coast? Do you picture a humpback whale swimming under a starry night sky? What shipwrecks can be discovered along Cape Lookout? What can we do to help preserve the ocean and reduce pollution?

Date: Apr 2, 2026 12:00am to Apr 2, 2026 12:00am

Paid Event

Crystal Coast Star Party 2026: Starlight Cruise to Cape Lookout Lighthouse
During our annual star party, join a park ranger for a starry night beside the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. The park ranger will give a program about different constellations, stories about using the stars for navigation, and more. Enjoy the first International Dark Sky Park on the East Coast. Visitors will experience the night skies with the sound of the waves crashing along the shore.   Island Express Ferry Service will be taking visitors from Harkers Island Visitor Center to Cape Lookout Lighthouse by passenger ferry. Ferry passengers will disembark from the starlight cruise for a laser-pointed tour of the night sky by a park ranger.   Visitors should bring chairs, bug spray, jackets, and red-light flashlights. The program will be around the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, where chairs are not available. Restrooms are available at the Light Station Visitor Center and at Harkers Island Visitor Center.   This program is weather dependent. If rain or wind is predicted, the event will be canceled.

Location: Visitors will catch the Island Express Ferry from Harkers Island Visitor Center

Date: Apr 17, 2026 12:00am to Apr 17, 2026 12:00am

Paid Event

Crystal Coast Star Party 2026: Public Stargazing
Join us as the Crystal Coast Stargazers club lend their expertise and their telescopes for a night of star gazing and planet viewing. Dress for the weather and bring mosquito repellent (in case). Flashlights should have a red lens to protect your night vision.Have a telescope? Bring it along and join us. Bring your own folding chair or a beach blanket/towel to use on the grass.This event is kid-friendly, but we kindly request no pets.   Stargazing is weather dependent.  Please monitor the weather and/or call the Harkers Island Visitor Center (252-728-2250) before 5:00 P.M. (EDT) to confirm event status. 

Location: Behind the Harkers Island Visitor Center

Date: Apr 17, 2026 12:00am to Apr 17, 2026 12:00am

Paid Event

Crystal Coast Star Party 2026: Astronomy Activities for Kids

Join State Park Rangers, Cape Lookout Park Rangers,and the Crystal Coast Stargazers for an astronomy activity. More information to come about the activity!

Location: at Core Sound Waterfowl Museum Education Hall

Date: Apr 18, 2026 12:00am to Apr 18, 2026 12:00am

Paid Event

Crystal Coast Star Party 2026: Solar viewing with NASA Solar System Ambassador

Join Nasa Ambassador, Jimmy Fulks for solar viewing at the Cape Lookout National Seashore Harkers Island Visitor Center. 

Date: Apr 18, 2026 12:00am to Apr 18, 2026 12:00am

Paid Event

Crystal Coast Star Party 2026: NASA Speaker: Sarah Elizabeth McCandless, NASA JPL Navigation Engineer

We’re excited to announce our speaker for the Crystal Coast Star Party 2026 – Sarah Elizabeth McCandless, NASA JPL Navigation Engineer – the interplanetary navigator for the Europa Clipper! The Europa Clipper, a mission to one of Jupiter’s moons, launched in October 2024 and is scheduled to arrive at Jupiter in 2030.

Sarah Elizabeth has flown eleven different missions exploring our solar system, including the Mars Perseverance rover, Artemis I, Psyche, and Near-Earth Object Surveyor (NEO Surveyor). Working as an “interplanetary Google maps”, she ensures NASA knows a spacecraft’s location and can precisely predict its trajectory to ensure successful orbit insertion about or landing on another planet or body. In 2024, she was selected for NASA’s Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) Campaign 7 Mission 3 and served as an “analog astronaut”, simulating a mission to Mars for 45 days at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Outside of work, she enjoys running, camping, and piloting a Cessna 172S.

Location: Event will take place inside the Harkers Island Visitors Center

Date: Apr 18, 2026 12:00am to Apr 18, 2026 12:00am

Paid Event

Crystal Coast Star Party 2026: Starlight Cruise to Cape Lookout Lighthouse
During our annual star party, join a park ranger for a starry night beside the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. The park ranger will give a program about different constellations, stories about using the stars for navigation, and more. Enjoy the first International Dark Sky Park on the East Coast. Visitors will experience the night skies with the sound of the waves crashing along the shore.   Island Express Ferry Service will be taking visitors from Harkers Island Visitor Center to Cape Lookout Lighthouse by passenger ferry. Ferry passengers will disembark from the starlight cruise for a laser-pointed tour of the night sky by a park ranger.   Visitors should bring chairs, bug spray, jackets, and red-light flashlights. The program will be around the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, where chairs are not available. Restrooms are available at the Light Station Visitor Center and at Harkers Island Visitor Center.   This program is weather dependent. If rain or wind is predicted, the event will be canceled.

Location: Visitors will catch the Island Express Ferry from Harkers Island Visitor Center

Date: Apr 18, 2026 12:00am to Apr 18, 2026 12:00am

Paid Event

Crystal Coast Star Party 2026: Public Stargazing
Join us as the Crystal Coast Stargazers club lend their expertise and their telescopes for a night of star gazing and planet viewing. Dress for the weather and bring mosquito repellent (in case). Flashlights should have a red lens to protect your night vision.Have a telescope? Bring it along and join us. Bring your own folding chair or a beach blanket/towel to use on the grass.This event is kid-friendly, but we kindly request no pets.   Stargazing is weather dependent.  Please monitor the weather and/or call the Harkers Island Visitor Center (252-728-2250) before 5:00 P.M. (EDT) to confirm event status. 

Location: Behind the Harkers Island Visitor Center

Date: Apr 18, 2026 12:00am to Apr 18, 2026 12:00am

Paid Event

Horse Sense and Survival Horse Watching Walking Tour

Join the park ranger who monitors the wild horses for a glimpse into their world. Walking difficulty is MODERATE. The horses roam far and wide so we'll be walking to find them. We will be climbing dune hills, walking in loose sand, ducking through shrubs and winding through prickly needlerush as we search for the horses. Wading through salt water to our knees and slogging through marsh mud to our ankles are also a possibility. Dress for the conditions, wear sturdy shoes that can get wet and muddy.

The tour will start at the Harkers Island Visitor Center group meets at 8:30 AM and then boards the ferry for the East end of Shackleford Banks (near Harkers Island). The group will re-board the ferry at 12:15 PM for the return to Harkers Island arriving back at the visitor center at 1:15 PM.

Call the Cape Lookout Visitor Center on Harkers Island to ask questions and to make your reservations.

For more information, please go to Horse Sense and Survival Tours

Date: May 10, 2026 12:00am to May 10, 2026 12:00am

Paid Event

Starlight Cruise to Cape Lookout Lighthouse
Join a park ranger for a starry night beside the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. The park ranger will give a program about different constellations, stories about using the stars for navigation, and more. Enjoy the first International Dark Sky Park on the East Coast. Visitors will experience the night skies with the sound of the waves crashing along the shore.   Island Express Ferry Service will be taking visitors from Harkers Island Visitor Center to Cape Lookout Lighthouse by passenger ferry. Ferry passengers will disembark from the starlight cruise for a laser-pointed tour of the night sky by a park ranger.   Visitors should bring chairs, bug spray, jackets, and red-light flashlights. The program will be around the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, where chairs are not available. Restrooms are available at the Light Station Visitor Center and at Harkers Island Visitor Center.   This program is weather dependent. If rain or wind is predicted, the event will be canceled.

Location: Visitors will catch the Island Express Ferry from Harkers Island Visitor Center

Date: May 16, 2026 12:00am to May 16, 2026 12:00am

Paid Event

Visitor Center & Contacts

📍 Physical Address:
1800 Island Rd
Harkers Island, NC 28531

🏤 Mailing Address:
131 Charles St
Harkers Island, NC 28531

📞 Voice Phone: 2527282250

📞 Fax Phone: 2527282160

✉️ Email: CALO_VC@nps.gov

Park Location

👏 Fun Fact
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