Cape Hatteras Lighthouse rises from the Outer Banks at Buxton, North Carolina, on Cape Hatteras National Seashore. First lit in 1870, its black-and-white spiral daymark stands roughly 198 feet tall, making it the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States. For RV travelers, it anchors a long barrier-island drive of beaches, dunes, and seashore campgrounds along the Atlantic.
Best season — Late spring through fall (warm beach season)
At a glance
The facts worth checking before you roll out
Conservative, source-minded facts for planning your visit — always worth confirming against current conditions before you travel.
State
North Carolina (Buxton, Outer Banks)
First lit
1870
Height
~198 ft (tallest brick lighthouse in the US)
Manager
National Park Service
On the ground
The tower's bold black-and-white barber-pole stripes are among the most recognizable daymarks on the East Coast, set behind the shifting sands of Hatteras Island where the Atlantic meets the sounds.
Because the seashore is a long, narrow chain of barrier islands, an RV trip here strings together the lighthouse, wide-open beaches, and small village stops, with the ocean rarely out of view.
Climbing availability changes with the seasons and with periodic restoration work on the historic structure, so confirm current tower access, campground openings, and rig limits on the National Park Service site before planning your route.
Official sources
- National Park Service — Cape Hatteras Light Station National Park Service
Nearby & related
Keep planning North Carolina
Sourced costs, campground directories, and the places worth a detour — the next layer of North Carolina trip planning.
- North Carolina RV rental costFuel · camping · tax, sourced
- North Carolina RV-friendly campgroundsHookups, rig limits, booking tips
- Campervan & van rentals in North CarolinaVan-life routes, rules & rigs
- National seashoresCoastal RV escapes
- National recreation areasBig-water recreation guides
- Estuary reservesQuiet coastal reserves
- RV lifehacksCamp-smarter field tricks
Planning an RV trip near Cape Hatteras Lighthouse: An RV Traveler's Guide?
Was this guide helpful?