Light Station Visitor Center
Facility · North Carolina ·
Managed by the National Park Service
Cape Lookout National Seashore (National Seashore) · Open Access
- 5 ft
- Elevation
Available Facilities: Restrooms, first aid, shade shelter, water fountain.
Purchase tickets for climbing the lighthouse at the ticket window. Also available: park passport stamp station, free Jr Ranger & Jr Ranger Activity guides, bookstore, beach wheelchair (free rental)
Located on South Core Banks near the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, this visitor center is reached only by the park ferry or private boat. Open from mid-March through October, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM daily.
Getting there
Located on South Core Banks 3 miles offshore from the Harkers Island Visitor Center, the primary way to reach the Light Station Vistior Center is by the passenger ferry or taking your personal boat. Visitors with 4-wheel drive vehicles may take the vehicle ferry from Davis to the Great Island Cabin Camp on South Core Banks and drive the 10 miles down the beach to the entrance from the "backroad" between Ramp 40 & Ramp 41.
34.62415, -76.52340 · 34°37'26.9"N 76°31'24.2"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 4.5 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 6.7 | 6.9 | 8.0 | 8.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.7 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 7.4 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
Member photos
Common questions about Light Station Visitor Center
- Can you reserve a site at Light Station Visitor Center?
- No. Light Station Visitor Center is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.
Camping near Light Station Visitor Center
- Cape Lookout National Seashore Tours 4.2 mi · Tickets · we watch it
- Great Island Cabin Camp 11.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Oyster Point Campground 16.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Long Point Cabin Camp 24.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cedar Point Campground 32.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Flanners Beach Campground 34.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Harkers Island Visitor Center 4.3 mi · Facility
- South Core Banks -- Beach camping 11.3 mi · Campground
- Great Island Cabin Office 11.4 mi · Facility
- North Core Banks - Beach Camping 24.3 mi · Campground
- Cedar Point Recreation Area 32.3 mi · Facility
- Portsmouth Visitor Center 40.3 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone (252) 728-2250
- Email calo_VC@nps.gov
- Info Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-03-13.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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