$20 / night

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Established Camping

Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore

13 Reviews

About

National Park Service

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Overview

Cape Point Campground sites have a shortened reservation window. Due to the ground saturation and potential for flooding we encourage you to check the sites prior to paying. Cape Point Campground is centrally located to all of the attractions on Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The campground puts you within walking distance of arguably the best fishing and surfing on the east coast.

Recreation

A short walk through the dunes leads you to the beach at the infamous Cape Hatteras. Many trophy fish have been landed from the point, and it has been a surfing destination for decades. If you prefer to drive to the beach you can access one of the many off-road vehicle ramps within a short distance of the campground. Exploration of the barrier islands beyond their beaches is possible on a hike through the nearby maritime forest. The Buxton Woods Trail is a 3/4 mile loop that can be accessed just north of the campground at the Buxton Woods Picnic Area on Lighthouse Road.

Facilities

Cape Point Campground is the largest campground on Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Each campsite is equipped with a paved parking pad, picnic table and charcoal grill. Rows D, E, and F are reserved for tent camping only. There are no hook-ups in the campground for RVs. Four sets of restrooms and outdoor shower facilities are dispersed evenly throughout the campground. Water spigots providing potable water are readily available.

Natural Features

The campground is nestled between rolling dunes to the south and the largest remaining tract of maritime forest on the North Carolina coast to the north. The environment is naturally suited to accommodate many bird and mammal species. A large heard of white tail deer frequent the area.

Nearby Attractions

The iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is located just north of Cape Point Campground on Lighthouse Road next to the Visitor Center. Standing at 198 feet, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States. It has undoubtedly saved the lives of many mariners navigating around the treacherous Diamond Shoals. The Museum of the Sea is also located near the Visitor Center within the shadow of the lighthouse. The museum's operating hours vary with the season.Buxton Beach is a family friendly swimming destination staffed with lifeguards from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It is a short walk or bike ride from the campground. Parking is available at the old lighthouse site adjacent to the current location of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

contact_info

For facility specific information, please call (252) 475-9018.

Fee Info

<p>Reservations only via Recreation.gov</p> <p>Change Fee: A service fee may be charged at the time a modification is made depending on the changes.</p> <p>Cancellation Fee: A service fee will be withheld from any refunds for a cancelled reservation.</p>
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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Unknown
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Cabins
  • Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Drinking Water
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Water Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

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Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

13 Reviews

Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Jan. 5, 2024

OK, not great

Campground is 1 of the 4 within the Cape Hatteras Nat’l Seashore. Cost here is only $20/night (the others are $28). No hookups available, but there is a dump station and potable water fill on your way out. Cell service is good. The walk to the beach is a bit long, maybe about 1/2 mile or so. 

We stayed here for a night in early November and the place was nearly empty. There were one or two campers per loop, so the campground was nice and open and quiet. I think that during the busy season it would be an unpleasant stay, as the sites are all right next to each other, side by side, just big grassy area. Sites are large though, which was nice. 

We didn’t use the showers but I believe they are cold showers. The set up is almost like an outdoor shower, with a short door and a pull rope for the water. Watch out for spiny sand spurs (?) that stick in your dog’s paws and your socks- very painful and they’re all over the grassy areas. 

Sites must be reserved through recreation.gov. It was easy to pull up with no reservation, pick a site, then reserve and pay online. No service fee through this site. 

No wood fires allowed here. Each site has a picnic table and grill, nothing else.

Dumpsters available, but no recycling bins. Not sure if North Carolina segregates recycling after pickup.

SiteJ25
Month of VisitDecember
  • Review photo of Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore by Laura M., January 5, 2024
  • Review photo of Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore by Laura M., January 5, 2024
  • Review photo of Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore by Laura M., January 5, 2024
  • (14) View All
Roger W.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Nov. 16, 2023

Open Park Like

Cape Point. - Hatteras NP: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (71 yr olds in 17’ trailer with a desire for at least moderately secluded campsites and a picnic area that is a bit tucked away. ) Overall Rating: 2.5. Too open for me. Less character than Oregon Inlet as far as I am concerned. Price 2023: $ $10 w interagency pass Usage during visit: Almost empty. Closes soon. Site Privacy: Not very good . Luke’s eight through CO2 open, not broken up. Site Spacing: Decent Site surface: Blacktop Reservations: Required Road Noise: None Through Traffic in campground: Outside loop as approach entry will have most campground traffic Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: Yes. You will see it just before you enter cg. Potable Water Available: Yes. Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Yes Showers: Cold and open to wind. Pull Throughs: Some Cell Service (AT&T): 2 bars Setting: Open parklike. As you approach the last loop the loops are more broken up by shrubbery. Sites still are open. Weather: eyes in the 60s and lows in the 50s. Windy Bugs: none Solar: good. Rig size: can accommodate larger rigs. Sites: K26, K21 - about the best it gets here.

SiteDrive Through
Month of VisitDecember
  • Review photo of Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore by Roger W., November 16, 2023
  • Review photo of Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore by Roger W., November 16, 2023
  • Review photo of Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore by Roger W., November 16, 2023
  • (14) View All
Katy Z.
Reviewed Oct. 28, 2022

Awesome camping next to ocean

This campground is right next to several beach access where you can drive your car onto the beach and fishing is good near the point. If you are walking it is a little far so I’d recommend bringing a vehicle to drive on the beach-or you can park in the lot with closer beach access but it does fill up quickly. Simple camping with restrooms and water. Bring a camp stove because campfires are rarely allowed and sand gets everywhere anyway. Watch out for thorns in the dunes if you have dogs! And also watch the weather because this campground is flat grass for the most part and if heavy rain it tends to flood. I’d choose a site on the perimeter if you like privacy since it’s so open. This campground is mostly rated for the location and again pretty simple otherwise!

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore by Katy Z., October 28, 2022
  • Review photo of Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore by Katy Z., October 28, 2022

Location

Cape Point — Cape Lookout National Seashore is located in North Carolina

Detail location of campground

Directions

North (From Richmond, VA) Follow I-95 South to Richmond, VA. Take I-64 East toward Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA. Take I-64 or I-664 to Chesapeake, VA. From I-64, take Exit 291B to Route 168, the Chesapeake Expressway (a toll-road costing $3.00 - $6.00 each way). Once in North Carolina, Route 168 turns into US-158 East. Follow US-158 East through Nags Head, NC to the junction of NC-12 South. Continue on NC-12 South until you reach the village of Buxton. Signs for Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and Cape Point Campground will be on your left. Follow Lighthouse Road until you reach Cape Point Campground on your right. West (From Rocky Mount, NC) Follow US-64 East through Tarboro, Williamston, Plymouth, Columbia, and Manteo, crossing the Alligator River Bridge and the Virginia Dare Bridge. Keep going on US-64 East to Nags Head, NC, going over the Washington Baum Bridge, to the junction of NC-12 South. Turn right onto NC-12 South and you will be at the north entrance. Continue on NC-12 South until you reach the village of Buxton. Signs for Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and Cape Point Campground will be on your left. Follow Lighthouse Road until you reach Cape Point Campground on your right. South (From Florence, SC) Take I-95 North to Wilson, NC. Take US-264 East through Greenville, NC and Washington, NC. From Washington, NC, take US-17 to Williamston and follow US-64 East to Nags Head, NC and the junction of NC-12 South. Continue on NC-12 South until you reach the village of Buxton. Signs for Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and Cape Point Campground will be on your left. Follow Lighthouse Road until you reach Cape Point Campground on your right.

Address

46700 Lighthouse Road
Buxton, NC 27920

Coordinates

35.2362083 N
75.9225028 W

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