Just about everything on Hatteras Island is nature and outdoor-oriented. The natural beauty of the island just beckons people outside, and almost everything on the island is an accessory to the outdoorsy lifestyle. If you want to find things to do in Hatteras nature, you’ll have opportunities at every turn.
Featured for Your Visit
8770 Oregon Inlet Road, off N.C. Highway 12, Nags Head
Over the last 70 years, Oregon Inlet Fishing Center has earned legendary status for its celebrated charter fishing fleet and proximity to the best fishing grounds. It earned this reputation as a no-frills facility, but big changes in 2024 have brought modernizations and upgrades to match its iconic status. A beautiful new, climate-resistant, two-story building elevated 11 above ground is now home to a retail area and tackle shop run by Oceans East Bait & Tackle, a new restaurant called Sea Chef Kitchen, a dedicated charter reservation area and an event room.
First and foremost, Oregon Inlet Fishing Center is all about making memories on the water. A fleet of 48 boats offers a variety of fishing excursions at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center year round (weather permitting). Nearshore, inshore vessels offer half-day or full-day trips, while the headboat, Miss Oregon Inlet II, offers a choice of morning or afternoon inlet/sound fishing. Offshore vessels travel to the Gulf Stream, where anglers enjoy a full day on the water going for billfish, tuna, mahi mahi and more, depending on the season. Make-up charters are available if you don't have a full party. Anglers aboard charters do not need to purchase fishing licenses, and all tackle and bait are provided. The newest boat at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center is The Safari, a dolphin-watching inlet/sound tour offering cruises daily. Even if you're not fishing or going out on the water, watching the boats come in with their catches is fine entertainment. Come to the docks between 3 and 5 p.m. and you'll see the day's catches being unloaded. Be sure to check out the world-record blue marlin replica mount (caught in 1974) displayed in an outdoor case, and take a photo of your group in front of a record-setting 805-pound bluefin tuna replica mount caught in 2011.
Come inside the tackle shop and retail store for a wide selection of bait, tackle, fishing and boating gear, hardware, sunglasses, apparel and footwear, souvenirs and Oregon Inlet Fishing Center apparel. Check out their online store too. Sea Chef Kitchen, provides counter service with indoor and outdoor seating, take-out and grab-and-go meals for charters.
Boaters can launch boats at the nearby NPS boat ramp, which has five launching lanes, courtesy docks and about 75 parking spaces for vehicles with trailers. Oregon Inlet Fishing Center sells fuel for boats (gas and diesel). Other services include air for reinflating your tires after driving on the beach, clean restrooms and ample parking. You'll find Oregon Inlet Fishing Center 8 miles south of Whalebone Junction in Nags Head.
Over the last 70 years, Oregon Inlet Fishing Center has earned legendary status for its celebrated charter fishing fleet and proximity to the best fishing grounds. It earned this reputation as a no-frills facility, but big changes in 2024 have brought modernizations and upgrades to match its iconic status. A beautiful new, climate-resistant, two-story building elevated 11 above ground is now home to a retail...read more
Over the last 70 years, Oregon Inlet Fishing Center has earned legendary status for its...read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
The Native American history of Hatteras Island and the Native American culture of our nation are preserved at this must-see museum in Frisco. The building, with one section dating back to 1880, is much larger than it appears from the outside and includes a nationally recognized collection of artifacts, exhibits and natural history displays. Galleries filled with native art, pottery, weavings, baskets, weaponry, jewelry, stone work and...read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
At the end of N.C. Highway 12 just past the ferry docks, Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum attracts attention with its composite of ship shapes, porthole windows and curved timbers. One of three North Carolina Maritime Museums operated by the North Carolina Division of Natural and Cultural Resources, the museum focuses on the maritime history and culture of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The Outer Banks’ stretch of sea is...read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
Hatteras Island Beaches Safety Information
The Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches are routinely named on Dr. Steven Leatherman's (aka Dr. Beach) annual Top 10 list of the nation's best beaches. It's a worthy honor – the beaches here are wide and flat with white sand and few crowds.
In North Carolina all of the beach below the high-tide mark is public property. So you can...read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
If you're a fan of horseback riding, you've probably dreamed of riding along a wide-open beach. Here's your chance! These folks take you out for private rides and can accommodate all ages and skill levels. Call them in advance to talk about weight limits and to make an appointment, which is required. They're near the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum and the Hatteras ferry docks.read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
Hatteras Island Ocean Center is an indoor/outdoor nature center that provides a wide variety of interactive educational activities for people of all ages. Nature programs are held on weekdays all summer long, including Sea Turtle Patrol, Kayak Nature Tours and Marsh Madness. Call or see the website for the schedule and prices. The Ocean Center's exhibit room is open from 12 to 5 p.m. Monday...read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
The Hatteras Island Park Store is located on the grounds of Cape Hatteras Light Station. No visit to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is complete without a stop at the Park Store for seashore-related gifts. Lots of parking and restrooms are on site. The Hatteras Island Park Store is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Christmas.read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
Hatteras Village Park is a nature preserve with a trail that winds through a maritime forest and salt marsh. You'll see high marsh and tidal marsh and cross an elevated boardwalk. Self-guided booklets will point out the plants and animals you might see. Parking and bike racks are available. read more
Take your family on a horseback riding journey on the beach or in Buxton Woods. Lighthouse Horse Rides offers something for everyone, from walks on the beach for more experienced riders to cart rides pulled by a miniature horse or pony for the little ones. Available rides vary by days of the week. The owners of this business love the Outer Banks and their horses...read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
Miss Hatteras, a 75-foot head boat, makes daily trips in season to the fishing grounds, with individuals paying a per-person fee to go along. All the gear and tackle you’ll need, along with instruction from the helpful crew, is provided. On Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Miss Hatteras takes full-day (6:30 a.m to 4 p.m.) trips to the Gulf Stream to bottom fish for triggerfish,...read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
A monument at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras honors Hotel De Afrique, the first safe haven for African Americans during the Civil War. The wooden house was approximately 1.5 miles west of where the museum now stands. A predecessor to the Freedmen's Colony on Roanoke Island and part of the National Underground Railroad, the building and surrounding barracks housed former slaves on...read more
Three vehicle ferries bring cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles and bicycles to Ocracoke Island. The free Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry offers multiple trips daily year-round, and the crossing takes 60 minutes. The ferry operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and reservations are not accepted. The Hatteras terminal is at the southern end of N.C. 12 on Hatteras Island, and after crossing Hatteras Inlet the ferry deposits riders on...read more
Want to enjoy a roaring beach bonfire but you don't know where to start to make that happen? Outer Banks Beach Fires will take care of everything. They get the permit, gather up all the supplies and do all the work. All you have to do is relax by the fire, maybe roast a marshmallow or two and enjoy the moonrise. They can accommodate a...read more
