Look out for the iconic Shackleford Banks wild horses and 250 species of birds, including ducks and herons.Ĭape Lookout is one of the best North Carolina national parks for primitive beach camping. Because of the remoteness of the seashore, visitors can experience wildlife completely uninterrupted. The barrier islands here are only accessible by ferry and require visitors to pack in and out any trash that they bring. The site is home to an International Dark Sky Park, the first such park in the National Park System on the Atlantic coast. Wild horses graze the dunes at Shackleford Banks, part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore © delphinus12 / iStockphoto / Getty Images Cape Lookout National Seashore Best park for stargazing and wild horsesĪlmost adjoining Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Cape Lookout runs from Portsmouth to Shackleford Banks.
Cape Hatteras has four campgrounds, two of which are seasonal, and all can accommodate tents and RVs. You can also get a permit to drive off-road vehicles on the beach. There’s no fee to enter the national seashore, but activities such as lighthouse visits, campground reservations and marina access require admission fees. You can also spot wildlife, including turtles, piping plovers and seals. Lifeguards are on hand during the summer, but be mindful of rip currents. Ocracoke is the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina and the second-oldest in the country.Ĭape Hatteras’ four beaches – Coquina, Ocracoke, Friso and Old Lighthouse – provide ample space for walks, kite flying or building sand castles. This 70-mile stretch of seashore runs from Whalebone to Ocracoke Island, including several sections connected by ferry.Īlong the way, visitors can drop in on such historic landmarks as the site of Blackbeard’s final battle and the Bodie Island and Ocracoke lighthouses. North Carolina’s 7 best hikes for waterfalls, fall foliage and mountain viewsĬape Hatteras National Seashore Best park for beaches and treasure huntingĬape Hatteras is one of two stretches of protected coastline in the Outer Banks, the sandy barrier islands that flank the North Carolina coast. The park also offers year-round camping at Smokemont Campground, where tent and RV sites are available from $25 per night.
There’s no fee to visit, but due to rising visitor numbers over the past few years, this may change in 2023. Popular trails run to the rocky lookout known as Charlies Bunion, the forest-covered Alum Cave Bluffs, the gushing Ramsey Cascades and the grassy hilltop of Andrews Bald. There are over 150 official hiking trails in the Smokies. The Mingus Mill, which has been grinding wheat and corn since 1886.
The North Carolina side of the park is home to the Mountain Farm Museum – a collection of buildings and historic structures that provide a glimpse into early life in the region.
The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is the best place to start your journey, a few miles from the town of Cherokee. It’s also America’s most visited national park, with some 14 million visitors annually. While most visitors access Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Tennessee, North Carolina is home to nearly half of the park's 522,419 acres. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Best park for hiking in the wilds Get trusted guidance to the world's most breathtaking experiences delivered to your inbox weekly with our email newsletter.