No water, no facilities, just you and your loved ones in nature. All of the camping is anywhere you can find along the beach. You can camp on the beach at Cape Lookout National Seashore. They are not domesticated, so be careful! Camping If you get a chance to stop by Shackleford Banks, remember to give the horses some room. We can’t get over how they get by with all of the hurricanes that come through this area. No matter where these horses came from, they have been here for centuries and have found a way to survive in some rough conditions. Some say they were shipwrecked and swam to shore, others say they were thrown overboard to lighten the load. Nobody knows where these horses came from, but there are some great theories out there. The cost to get your vehicle to the island runs from $35 to $400 depending on the size.Īs great as all of that stuff is, the reason why people go to Shackleford Banks is the herd of wild horses that live here. The vehicle ferries take off from Atlantic and Davis, both small villages on the inner banks. You will need to get a permit and take one of the vehicle ferries. You can take your four-wheel drive vehicle out on the beach at Cape Lookout. You will need to call for availability and prices. Austin is an Ocracoke native and it is an experience not to be missed.

You can either be dropped off at historic Portsmouth Village on the northern end of Cape Lookout or simply take the 90-minute boat tour of the surrounding area. From Ocracokeįrom Ocracoke you can take Rudy Austin’s Portsmouth Island Boat Tour. The cost is $18 for adults and $11 for kids. This ferry drops you off and will pick you up at your desired pick up time.

The second option from Beaufort is the 15-20 minute ride to the west end of Shackleford Banks. The cost is $35 for adults 12 and up and $25 for kids 3-11. Along the way you will see the wild horses of Shackleford Banks and maybe even some dolphins. It is a 45-minute one way and you have between 2-2 and a half hours at the lighthouse area. This is a four-hour narrated roundtrip ferry ride. This ferry fills up fast so you will need to reserve your spot plenty of time in advance. The first option is the ferry to Cape Lookout Lighthouse. There are numerous ferry services that operate out of Beaufort, but once again Island Express is the official ferry service from this location. It is full of history and fun – a great place to spend the weekend. You can make reservations in advance, but walk-ons are welcome.īeaufort is one of our favorite towns on the Inner Banks. During peak season the ferry runs every 30 minutes from this location. The cost to ride the ferry is $18 for adults 12 and over and $11 for kids 3-11. It is about a 15-20 minute ferry ride from Harkers Island to Cape Lookout Lighthouse. If you want to do both in a day, you can purchase the two islands in one day ticket (about $10 more), spend some time on Shackleford Banks, then head to the lighthouse on a later ferry (you will have to make sure there is room). The ferry stops at Shackleford Banks first and then goes to the lighthouse. It is out of the way, but it is such a fun drive that takes you through the beginning of the Outer Banks Scenic Byway.įrom Harkers Island you can go to the west end of Shackleford Banks or Cape Lookout Lighthouse area on the Island Express Ferry. Harkers Island is a beautiful little fishing community about 25 minutes east of Beaufort. The main visitor’s center and point of departure is located on Harkers Island.

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