Visit The Outer Banks

Responsible Recreation Guide for Outer Banks National Parks

Use these tips to plan safe, respectful visits to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and other Outer Banks national park sites.

By Outer Banks Forever on Jun. 01, 2025

Our national parks safeguard many of the places, histories, and landscapes that make this area so meaningful. The stories preserved here have influenced our local community, our nation, and the wider world. From the Carolina Algonquian peoples, to the first European settlers, to the Freedmen’s Colony, to the first African American lifesaving service, to the Wright brothers’ first heavier-than-air powered flight and beyond, the Outer Banks community and Outer Banks national parks hold lessons for all of us.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore — Est. 1953

Recognized for a dramatic shoreline that is always shifting, America’s first national seashore draws millions of people each year. Generations of visitors come back to these barrier islands again and again for their unspoiled beauty and the memories made here. Across 70-mile of beaches, marshes, dunes, and maritime woodlands, people can hike, swim, fish, boat, surf, fly kites, climb lighthouses, and enjoy many other activities.

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site — Est. 1941

The fate of the first attempted English settlement in the “New World” is still unknown. At the park, visitors can view the recreated earthen fort, discover more about Roanoke Island’s original residents, the Carolina Algonquian peoples, and visit the First Light of Freedom Monument, which honors the freed African Americans who sought safety on Roanoke Island during and after the Civil War and established the Freedmen’s Colony.

Wright Brothers National Memorial — Est. 1927

The first national memorial developed on the Outer Banks honors the creativity, perseverance, and bravery of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers from Dayton, Ohio. Their inventive thinking, paired with hands-on knowledge gained in their bicycle shop in Ohio, led them to achieve the first successful heavier-than-air powered flight above the sands of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. Guests at the national memorial can explore reproductions of the 1903 camp structures, view a replica of the 1903 flyer, and visit the newly remodeled Visitor Center.

Plan Ahead for Your Trip: Know Before You Go

In the peak summer season, from Memorial Day – Labor Day, the national parks and Visitor Centers are at their busiest in the afternoons, particularly from 12 p.m.– 2 p.m. During spring, fall, and winter, the parks continue to welcome visitors but are usually less crowded than in summer. Ranger programs happen regularly during summer, while schedules vary in spring, fall, and winter. All our national parks are open daily, except for Christmas Day. For more specifics on Visitor Center hours and campground seasons, check information for Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial.

If your plans include time at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, follow these beach and ocean safety practices:

We also strongly recommend swimming only where lifeguards are present at Cape Hatteras National Seashore: Coquina Beach Access, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach Access, Frisco Beach Access, and Ocracoke Beach Access. Lifeguards will be stationed at these beaches from May 31 through September 6, 9 a.m.—5 p.m. daily. Additional safety details for Cape Hatteras National Seashore are available from the park.

Bringing Pets Along

Pets may join you on the grounds of our national parks. Some limits apply, but service dogs are allowed in all national park facilities. Pets must also remain on a six-foot-long leash or shorter at all times. Do not leave your pet unattended. Before bringing your furry companion, keep these guidelines in mind.

Remember the four B.A.R.K Ranger principles:

Pets at Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Pets cannot enter any resource closure and are not permitted on designated swimming beaches. Horses are welcome, too. You may ride horses wherever vehicles are allowed, except in campgrounds. Horseback riders must use Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) ramps to access and leave the beach.

Pets at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

You and your pets may walk the 0.3-mile Thomas Hariot Loop Trail through Roanoke Island’s maritime forest to the sandy shoreline of Albemarle Sound. You can also explore the maritime forest on the 1.25-mile Freedom Trail, which finishes with views of the Croatan Sound on the park’s western edge. To return, either retrace the trail or follow the bike path beside Highway 64 for a 2.5 miles loop back to the visitor center.

Pets at Wright Brothers National Memorial

Pets are allowed across the park grounds.

Visit Our National Parks with Care and Safety in Mind

We are lucky to have three distinctive national parks that support the preservation of Outer Banks history, culture, and environment. Whether this is your first national park visit or you come often, we encourage you to experience these places with care and safety. Follow the principles of #RecreateResponsibly:

Sand Dunes and Sea Oats

Please be aware of the beautiful sand dunes and sea oats along Cape Hatteras National Seashore. They help hold the coastline in place and protect the local community from ocean overwash. Avoid walking on dunes and do not uproot sea oats. If you would like to visit the largest climbable sand dune in the Outer Banks, consider Jockey’s Ridge State Park.

Beach Equipment

Think about renting beach gear such as chairs, umbrellas, tents, canopies, boogie boards, surfboards, or kiteboards from Ocean Atlantic Rentals or REAL Watersports instead of purchasing items that may later be thrown away. Every year, a large amount of beach equipment is left behind, creating strain on the environment and on national park staff. If you purchase your own beach gear and choose not to bring it home, donate it to a local Outer Banks thrift store. When you can, choose reusable containers for food and beverages.

Wildlife

Enjoy wildlife from a safe distance, and never feed wild animals. If you find wildlife that is injured, sick, distressed, or deceased, call the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Stranding Hotline at (252) 216-6892. Do not try to help or move the animal yourself; leave that work to professionals.

For accessibility and safety details, visit information for:

Say Thank You

Our national parks saw record-breaking visitation in 2021, when Nearly 4 million people visited Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial. National park staff and volunteers work hard to deliver the margin of excellence visitors expect while spending time in these parks. They also collaborate with these organizations to help keep the parks safe and welcoming:

We invite you to thank national park staff, volunteers, and partners for the daily work they do to protect the parks and everyone who visits them.

Author

Outer Banks Forever is the official nonprofit partner of the three national parks of the Outer Banks – Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial —helping to protect and enhance these special places.

With your support, Outer Banks Forever will help future generations keep learning, growing, and making memories here in the Outer Banks through history, conservation, and the celebration of innovation. To learn more about Outer Banks Forever, review their Frequently Asked Questions or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for additional responsible recreation tips for Outer Banks national parks.

About the National Park Service

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

Visit the Sustainable Travel Tips for Visiting Outer Banks National Parks page →