Hatteras Island Visitor Center

The Hatteras Island Visitor Center sits at the base of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton, serving as the National Park Service's main orientation point for this stretch of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It's the place to start before heading out onto the beach, into Buxton Woods, or down NC-12 toward the rest of the island.

What's Inside

• Exhibits on the island's maritime and lighthouse history
• Current conditions for NC-12, beach access ramps, and ORV permit information
• Park maps and trip-planning materials
• A bookstore operated by the park's nonprofit partner
• Restrooms

Next to the Lighthouse

The visitor center shares its grounds with the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the tallest brick lighthouse in the country and one of the most recognizable landmarks on the Outer Banks. The lighthouse itself is currently closed to climbing due to a cast-iron bracket issue found during restoration work, a closure expected to last through at least the end of 2026 — but the grounds, exhibits, and visitor center remain open and worth the stop regardless.

Rangers here are a good resource for anyone planning a 4x4 beach drive on Hatteras Island, since ORV permits and current ramp conditions are part of what the center covers. It's open daily from 9am to 5pm.