Cape Lookout National Seashore officials are set to begin preseason sales of off-road vehicle permits and start accepting reservations for the 23 rustic, oceanfront cabins on South Core Banks.
Starting at 10 a.m. Jan. 4, 2025, Great Island Cabin Camp reservations and off-road vehicle permit purchases can be made through Recreation.gov.
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Cost for preseason off-road vehicle permits is $35 between Jan. 4 and March 12, 2025, up $10 from 2024. Permits for the regular season will cost $75 starting March 13, 2025, through the remainder of the year, up $25 from the current year. Permits must be purchased before bringing a vehicle to the seashore.
The season is mid-March through Dec. 31. Vehicles are only allowed on the oceanside beaches, ramps, the back road of Portsmouth Island and Davis Island. The only way to get a vehicle to the islands is by vehicle ferry.
Great Island Cabin Camp is scheduled to be open March 13 to Nov. 29, 2025, and only accessible by vehicle ferries or a personal watercraft.
The “rustic, wooden cabins at Long Point and Great Island offer beachfront views of the pristine, undeveloped barrier islands of Cape Lookout National Seashore,” according to the National Park Service. “The cabin camps can only be reached by boat, adding an element of both privacy and adventure. The park’s sandy beaches are prime locations for fishing, shelling, swimming, birding, and simply relaxing.”
Cabins range from 288 to 960 square feet in area, and have a water heater, private bathroom with shower, table and chairs, kitchen with a propane oven/stove with propane included, bunkbeds with mattresses, and a charcoal grill.
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All are wired for 120-volt power but campers must bring their own generator. Campers will need to bring their own linens, bedding, cookware, food and food storage, coolers, first-aid supplies and anything else needed during their stay. Most bring flashlights or lanterns. Ice and fuel are available at the camp office.
