Fees & Passes

Overview of entrance requirements

Free
No entrance pass required

Most visitors need

  • Parking/Transportation
    Parking, shuttle, or other transportation-related fees may apply.

An entrance pass is not required to access Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Other National Park Service sites may require an entrance pass or fee. Depending on your trip plans, an interagency pass may save you money.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a entrance fee-free park. Permit fees are charged for off-road vehicle use, campground reservations, and lighthouse climbing.
 
There is no entry fee for Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Check the following table for costs of various services and activities within the park.
Activity Detail Cost
Bodie Island Lighthouse Climb Adult $10.00
Children under 12 (must be >42” tall) $5.00
Seniors (62 and older) $5.00
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Climb - The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is currently closed for climbing and will likely not open in 2023, due to restoration efforts. Outdoor areas near the lighthouse are open 24/7. Adult $8.00
Children under 12 (must be >42” tall) $4.00
Seniors (62 and older) $4.00
Disabled $4.00
ORV Permit 10-consecutive days $50.00
Annual (1 year from date of purchase) $120.00
Oregon Inlet, Frisco, and Ocracoke Campgrounds Nightly rate for no utility hookups
Nightly rate for utility hookups at Oregon Inlet Campground
$28.00
$35.00
Nightly rate for no utility hookups (with a NP & FRL Senior or Access Pass)
Nightly rate for utility hookups at Oregon Campground (with a NP & FRL Senior or Access Pass)
$14.00

$21.00

Group camping (Oregon Inlet only, maximum 30 individuals and passes do NOT apply, nightly rate) $70.00
Cape Point Campground Nightly rate $20.00
Nightly rate (with a NP & FRL Senior or Access Pass) $10.00
Marina Boat Dock Fees No reservations for boat slips
(Silver Lake on Ocracoke Island) Summer rate (per boat foot/day, cap at 80’ or $80/day) $1.25
Summer rate (with NP & FRL Senior or Access Pass) $0.60
Winter rate (per boat foot/day, cap at 80’ or $40/day) $0.60
Winter rate (with NP & FRL Senior or Access Pass) $0.30
Daily 110 volt electricity service $3.00
Daily 220 volt electricity service $5.00

National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes
The following National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes provide reduced activity fee rates as listed above:
  • Senior Pass
  • Access Pass
Visit the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes website for additional details about the various passes.

Educational Groups
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse climbing fees may be waived for educational groups visiting the park as part of their accredited curriculum. The fee waiver application and associated materials must be submitted at least four weeks prior to your visit.
Due to tour number limitations, there is no fee waiver for Bodie Island Lighthouse climbs.
 
Cover of the Senior Pass
Senior Pass
 
Every Kid in a Park Paper Pass
Fourth-graders and their families can visit over 2,000 federal lands for free with this pass.

Every Kid in a Park

This initiative allows every fourth-grade student and her or his family to visit over 2,000 federal lands—such as national parks, national forests, and national wildlife refuges—for free! For additional information, and to print off a paper pass, visit everykidoutdoors.gov.

Last updated: May 12, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Cape Hatteras National Seashore
1401 National Park Drive

Manteo, NC 27954

Phone:

252 473-2111

Contact Us