Is there an entrance fee at Cape Hatteras National Seashore?

NPS lists it as a fee-free park, so there is no entrance fee. Fees can change, so confirm on the official park page.

What is the busiest month at Cape Hatteras National Seashore?

In 2025 the busiest month was July with 408,360 recreation visits. The quietest was February with 61,061.

Are dogs allowed at Cape Hatteras National Seashore?

Where pets are allowed, they must be crated, caged or on a leash of six feet or less. They are not allowed on designated swimming beaches, and the park can close more areas to pets.

How many campgrounds are there at Cape Hatteras National Seashore?

NPS and Recreation.gov list 4 campgrounds. NPS lists nightly individual-site fees from $20 to $35.

All parks › Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Cape Hatteras National Seashore: fees, hours, camping and when to visit

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on National Park Service data. Published by Humblebee.

Entrance fee: None^[1]
Busiest month (2025): July^[2]
Recreation visits, 2025: 2,684,009^[3]
Campgrounds: 4^[4]

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a National Seashore in North Carolina^[5]. NPS lists it as a fee-free park, so there is no entrance fee^[1].

Entrance fees and passes

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for Cape Hatteras National Seashore^[1]. Some tours, campgrounds or permits inside a park can still have their own fees.

When to visit and hours

NPS says the grounds are open to visitors at all hours, but resource closures can affect different parts of the beach by season^[6]. In 2025 the busiest month was July with 408,360 recreation visits^[2]. The quietest month was February with 61,061 visits^[2]. NPS notes that Outer Banks weather changes through the year and even within a day^[7]. It points visitors to the National Weather Service for forecasts^[7].

Recreation visits counted by the National Park Service in each month of 2025. The busiest month, July, is highlighted^[2].

Show visits by month

Month, 2025	Recreation visits
January	71,908
February	61,061
March	149,490
April	215,930
May	243,608
June	397,042
July	408,360
August	341,476
September	332,175
October	221,256
November	156,207
December	85,496

Show visits by year

Year	Recreation visits
2021^[3]	3,206,056
2022^[3]	2,862,844
2023^[3]	2,826,169
2024^[3]	2,762,954
2025^[3]	2,684,009

Camping

NPS and Recreation.gov list 4 campgrounds here^[4]. They are Oregon Inlet Campground with 245 sites, Cape Point Campground with 202 sites, Ocracoke Campground with 140 sites and Frisco Campground with 128 sites^[4]. NPS lists nightly individual-site fees from $20 to $35^[4].

Oregon Inlet Campground, 245 sites^[4]
Cape Point Campground, 202 sites
Ocracoke Campground, 140 sites
Frisco Campground, 128 sites

Pets and dogs

Under the national NPS pet rule, pets must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet where they are allowed^[8]. Pets are not allowed in public buildings or on designated swimming beaches, with service animals excepted^[8]. Each park can close more areas to pets, so check with the park before you go^[8].

Before you go

NPS lists no entrance fee, but fees and hours can change, so confirm on the official park page before your trip^[1].
Resource closures can affect parts of the beach by season^[6].
NPS lists 5 visitor centers if you want local information^[9].
Campground fees of $20 to $35 per night are what NPS lists, so check Recreation.gov for current rates^[4].

Questions people ask

Is there an entrance fee at Cape Hatteras National Seashore?: NPS lists it as a fee-free park, so there is no entrance fee^[1]. Fees can change, so confirm on the official park page.
What is the busiest month at Cape Hatteras National Seashore?: In 2025 the busiest month was July with 408,360 recreation visits^[2]. The quietest was February with 61,061^[2].
Are dogs allowed at Cape Hatteras National Seashore?: Where pets are allowed, they must be crated, caged or on a leash of six feet or less^[8]. They are not allowed on designated swimming beaches, and the park can close more areas to pets^[8].
How many campgrounds are there at Cape Hatteras National Seashore?: NPS and Recreation.gov list 4 campgrounds^[4]. NPS lists nightly individual-site fees from $20 to $35^[4].

Facts and sources

NPS lists Cape Hatteras National Seashore as a fee-free park: there is no entrance fee. National Park Service
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 3,206,056, 2022: 2,862,844, 2023: 2,826,169, 2024: 2,762,954, 2025: 2,684,009. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
Campgrounds in Cape Hatteras National Seashore (list on this page). National Park Service
Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Seashore) in North Carolina. National Park Service
Operating hours, Park Grounds: The grounds of Cape Hatteras National Seashore are always open for visitors, though there are resource closures that seasonally affect different parts of the beach. National Park Service
NPS weather and seasons overview for Cape Hatteras National Seashore. National Park Service
National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
Visitor centers listed by NPS: 5 (Bodie Island Visitor Center, Ocracoke Island Discovery Center, Museum of the Sea, Whalebone Junction Information Center, Hatteras Island Weather Bureau Station). National Park Service

Fees and hours are what NPS lists in its data at the snapshot date. They change: tell readers to confirm on the official park page before a trip. Visits are NPS recreation visits (counted entries, not unique people). Use them only for this park's own months and years, never to rank parks. Campground list and site counts come from NPS and Recreation.gov records. Count fields can differ slightly between the two. The pet rule is the national baseline (36 CFR 2.15). The park may close more areas to pets. Do not claim specific trails allow dogs unless a fact says so.