Hatteras Island Inn sits right on NC-12 in Buxton, a short drive from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the beach accesses that draw surfers, anglers, and hikers to this stretch of the National Seashore. It's a straightforward, well-placed option for a stay on this end of Hatteras Island — close enough to reach the village center on foot, far enough south that Avon and the northern villages are still an easy drive away.
Location on the Island
Buxton is the widest point of Hatteras Island and home to the tallest brick lighthouse in the country, moved back from an eroding shoreline in 1999. The lighthouse grounds are open to visit, though the tower itself is currently closed to climbing while the National Park Service addresses a cast-iron bracket issue found during restoration. From Buxton, NC-12 continues south through Frisco to Hatteras village, where the free ferry departs for Ocracoke Island, and north through Avon toward Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo. It's the only road connecting these villages, so it's worth checking current conditions before a trip — especially during hurricane season, roughly August through October, when washouts and closures are a real possibility here.
Good to Know
- Front desk hours run 8am–9pm Monday through Saturday and 8am–5pm on Sunday
- Located within Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the first national seashore in the US
- Reach the island via the Marc Basnight Bridge over Oregon Inlet from the north
