Hatteras Island is the wild half of the Outer Banks — fifty miles of national seashore hung between two bridges and a ferry, with seven villages (Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras) strung along a single road. If the northern beaches are a resort, Hatteras is an expedition you can do in sneakers.
Come for the tallest brick lighthouse in the country, the emptiest drivable beaches, and wind that made this coast world-famous among people who ride it. Everything below is on the map.
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Things to Do in Hatteras Island
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, at 46379 Lighthouse Rd in Buxton, is the tallest brick lighthouse in the US at 198 feet. The lighthouse has been undergoing a major restoration — the grounds and visitor area remain open; check the National Park Service for current climbing status.
Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station, at 23645 NC-12 in Rodanthe, is a beautifully preserved 1874 station of the service that became the Coast Guard — a self-guided museum across several original buildings. Catch a beach-apparatus drill demonstration if the schedule lines up.
Canadian Hole, the Haulover Day Use Area between Avon and Buxton, is a world-famous windsurfing and kiteboarding launch on the sound — shallow, calm, and beginner-friendly, with the ocean a short dune-walk across the road. Parking, seasonal restrooms, and sunsets that are the whole show.
The piers: Rodanthe Pier at 24251 Atlantic Dr is the old-school wooden one, with walk-on access in season. Avon Pier at 41001 NC-12 has rod rentals and bait; check each pier for its current walk-on terms and hours.
The ORV beaches are the island’s signature: numbered ramps put true 4WDs on the sand from Rodanthe to the inlet. A National Park Service ORV permit is required, nesting closures reshape access in spring and summer, and a night-driving restriction applies in the warmer months — the Cape Hatteras ORV permit guide covers the current terms. If you did not bring one, renting a 4WD is the way onto the sand. Check the NPS beach status before you go, and check the Hatteras tide times too — a rising tide narrows the drivable beach fast.
The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, at 59200 Museum Dr in Hatteras Village beside the ferry docks, is freshly renovated — shipwrecks, WWII U-boat battles, and the life-saving service, told where it all happened.
The state-run Hatteras–Ocracoke ferry leaves from the village’s south end — a bit over an hour each way, no reservations, first come first served. Lines build fast in season; go early, or ride at sunset.
Where to Eat & Stay
Each of the seven villages keeps its own small cluster of restaurants and seafood markets, and lodging is nearly all vacation rentals with a handful of small motels — book ahead in summer. See our full Outer Banks Restaurants guide for the wider area.
Related OBX Guides
See the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and find the best fishing piers. Browse everything in our Things to Do in the Outer Banks guide. Hatteras Island is in Dare County’s Hurricane Evacuation Zone A, so know the hurricane evacuation routes and follow current county orders during approaching storms.
Locally verified
Reviewed by the Beach4x4 team in Kill Devil Hills, NC
Last checked: July 2026
Sources: NOAA, National Park Service, and local town & county offices. Always confirm hours, fees, and closures with the official source before you go.
Can you climb the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse?
Not currently — the lighthouse has been undergoing a major restoration, and climbing is suspended. The grounds and visitor area remain open; check the National Park Service for current climbing status.
Do you need a permit to drive on Hatteras Island beaches?
Yes — a National Park Service ORV permit. Cape Hatteras ORV permits are purchased online through Recreation.gov; if you can’t print the proof of permit, self-certification display cards are available at NPS visitor centers and selected local businesses. Seasonal nesting closures and a summer night-driving restriction also apply.
How long is the ferry to Ocracoke?
The state-run Hatteras–Ocracoke ferry takes a bit over an hour and doesn’t take reservations. Arrive early in season.
What are the seven villages of Hatteras Island?
North to south: Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras.
Where do people windsurf and kiteboard?
Canadian Hole, the sound-side day-use area between Avon and Buxton — shallow, steady wind, easy parking, and beginner-friendly water.