Harkers Island Visitor Center

About Harkers Island Visitor Center

Available Facilities: Restrooms, first aid, ferry ticket booth, picnic area, and a kayak launch site. Programs and Amenities: Exhibits on island history and ecology including the Shackleford Banks horses; interactive map of the park; Discovery Room with sounds of the seashore game, a touch table and other kid friendly activities; the park film is shown upon request; book store; Ranger programs and free Junior Ranger and Junior Ranger Adventures activity guides

How to Get There

This visitor center is located on the eastern end of Harkers Island, approximately 20 mi (30 km) east of Beaufort, NC and 30 mi (50 km) south of the Cedar Island terminus of the North Carolina State Ferry route from Ocracoke Island to Cedar Island. This visitor center is one of two Ferry Gateways to the Cape Lookout Light Station and Shackleford Banks.

Plan Your Visit to Harkers Island Visitor Center

Heading to Harkers Island Visitor Center? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)