Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a National Seashore in North Carolina. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 25 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Cape Hatteras
We matched 25 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Cape Hatteras. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Beaches (21)
Beach
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Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Cape Hatteras the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:12 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:35 PM | 5:13 PM | 245° | 10h 02m |
| February | 6:50 AM | 7:25 AM | 5:10 PM | 5:45 PM | 255° | 10h 55m |
| March | 7:14 AM | 7:48 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:10 PM | 268° | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:31 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:02 PM | 7:36 PM | 283° | 13h 05m |
| May | 5:59 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:01 PM | 294° | 14h 01m |
| June | 5:48 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:20 PM | 300° | 14h 32m |
| July | 5:59 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:19 PM | 297° | 14h 19m |
| August | 6:23 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:53 PM | 288° | 13h 30m |
| September | 6:46 AM | 7:20 AM | 6:38 PM | 7:11 PM | 274° | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:09 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:54 PM | 6:29 PM | 260° | 11h 19m |
| November | 6:39 AM | 7:16 AM | 4:21 PM | 4:58 PM | 248° | 10h 19m |
| December | 7:05 AM | 7:44 AM | 4:13 PM | 4:52 PM | 242° | 9h 47m |
Computed for the park's reference point (35.4137, -75.6506); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Cape Hatteras, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:51 AM – 5:21 AM | 0.5 | 15° |
| March | 3:56 AM – 5:46 AM | 1.8 | 22° |
| April | 1:56 AM – 4:56 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| May | 12:01 AM – 4:11 AM | 4.2 | 26° |
| June | 10:09 PM – 3:59 AM | 5.8 | 26° |
| July | 10:04 PM – 2:34 AM | 4.5 | 26° |
| August | 9:27 PM – 12:27 AM | 3.0 | 25° |
| September | 8:38 PM – 10:28 PM | 1.8 | 22° |
| October | 7:54 PM – 8:24 PM | 0.5 | 15° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
2 Estimated Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars.
Weather & best time to visit
The weather along the Outer Banks varies throughout the year and even throughout the day. Please check the National Weather Service information at http://www.weather.gov/mhx/ for forecast information.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 53% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (74%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Cape Hatteras National Seashore is located along NC-12 in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. You can reach the seashore from the north by following US 158 to Nag Heads, NC and the turn-off to NC-12 and Cape Hatteras National Seashore. From the south, you can take NCDOT ferries from Swanquarter, NC and Cedar Island, NC to the village of Ocracoke on Ocracoke Island. The provided physical address is the location of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, roughly in the middle of the park.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Auto Off-Roading
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Snorkeling
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Saltwater Swimming
- Wildlife Watching
Nearby parks
NC
NC
NC
VA
VA