Portsmouth Visitor Center
Facility · North Carolina ·
Managed by the National Park Service
Cape Lookout National Seashore (National Seashore) · Open Access
Located in the historic Theodore & Annie Salter House (The first house on the right of the path from Haulover Dock) in Portsmouth Village on North Core Banks.
Available Facilities: Restrooms, first aid, park passport stamp; Exhibits on maritime history and village life
Getting there
Portsmouth Village is located on the northern tip of North Core Banks adjacent to Ocracoke Inlet. Currently the only way to reach Portsmouth Village is by passenger ferry from Ocracoke, NC. This 30 minute ride across the 5 miles from Silver Lake Harbor on Ocracoke down to the ferry dock in the village is done by small, flat bottom boats.
35.06979, -76.06392 · 35°4'11.2"N 76°3'50.1"W
Typical weather
Typically 85°F in Jul, down to 52°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 52 | 54 | 59 | 68 | 75 | 82 | 85 | 85 | 80 | 73 | 62 | 56 |
| Low °F | 40 | 40 | 46 | 54 | 63 | 70 | 74 | 73 | 70 | 60 | 50 | 43 |
| Precip in | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 4.4 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 5.1 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Portsmouth Visitor Center
- Can you reserve a site at Portsmouth Visitor Center?
- No. Portsmouth Visitor Center is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.
Camping near Portsmouth Visitor Center
- Ocracoke Campground 8.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cape Point Campground 14 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Long Point Cabin Camp 16.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Frisco Campground 28.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Great Island Cabin Camp 29.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- North Core Banks - Beach Camping 16.1 mi · Campground
- Hatteras Island Weather Bureau Station 23.5 mi · Visitor Center
- Swanquarter Wilderness 27.1 mi · Facility
- Great Island Cabin Office 29.1 mi · Facility
- South Core Banks -- Beach camping 29.1 mi · Campground
- Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge Deer Hunts 30.7 mi · Activity pass
- Mattamuskeet NWR September Canada Goose Hunt 30.7 mi · Activity pass
Contact
- Phone (252) 728-2250
- Email calo_information@nps.gov
- Info Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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