Hatteras Island is the long, narrow barrier island that forms the wild, lighthouse-dotted heart of the Outer Banks. Stretching roughly 50 miles from the Bonner Bridge in the north down to Hatteras Village at the south end, it is connected by a single road — NC Highway 12 — that threads through seven small villages and miles of protected Cape Hatteras National Seashore. This map breaks the island down village by village so you can plan exactly where to stay, swim, fish, and drive.
Interactive Map of Hatteras Island
The map below shows the full length of the island and the chain of villages along Highway 12.
The Seven Villages of Hatteras Island
From north to south, Highway 12 connects Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras Village. Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo (often grouped as the “tri-villages”) anchor the north end and are popular with windsurfers and kiteboarders. Avon sits at the island’s midpoint with the most shops and groceries. Buxton is home to the iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the island’s widest beaches. Frisco and Hatteras Village round out the quiet south end, where the Ocracoke ferry departs.
Beaches & Public Beach Access
Because most of Hatteras Island is national seashore, beach access is generous and well-marked. Numbered access points and bathhouses appear regularly along Highway 12, with larger facilities at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the Frisco day-use area. The beaches here are broad and uncrowded compared with the northern Outer Banks towns.
4×4 Beach Driving & ORV Ramps
Hatteras Island has some of the best off-road-vehicle beach driving on the East Coast. A network of numbered ORV ramps lets permitted four-wheel-drive vehicles access the sand, with the famous Cape Point near Buxton being a top destination for surf anglers. You’ll need a National Park Service ORV permit and a properly equipped vehicle — if you don’t have one, you can rent a 4×4 built for OBX beach driving. Always check seasonal wildlife closures before heading out.
Getting to Hatteras Island
From the northern Outer Banks, you reach Hatteras Island by crossing the Marc Basnight (Bonner) Bridge over Oregon Inlet. From the south, the free Hatteras–Ocracoke ferry connects Hatteras Village to Ocracoke Island.
Plan the Rest of Your Outer Banks Trip
- Outer Banks Maps — the full island-by-island map directory.
- OBX Tide Charts — check tides before beach driving or fishing.
- Outer Banks Surf Fishing — Cape Point is one of the best surf spots anywhere.
- Beach4x4 — rent a Jeep or 4×4 for the sand.