We at Lighthouse View envy our guests who are discovering all that makes Cape Hatteras the most beautiful spot on earth for the first time, and as much as we love our home on the Outer Banks, we know that we will never experience that love at first sight ever again. Offering stunning sunrises and sunsets, beach views, and lighthouse photo opportunities, everywhere you turn you will find something new to ooh and ahh over. And because we don’t want our guests to miss out on anything that makes this place one they will never want to leave, we have created this guide to the top five scenic views in North Carolina on Cape Hatteras, leading the way to the best pictures you will ever take!
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, 46379 Lighthouse Drive in Buxton
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has stood guard over the water since 1870, serving as a backdrop for pictures ever since cameras became a thing. Still shining its light out over troubled waters, the views from the top are even more breathtaking, but at the time of this writing, the lighthouse is undergoing renovations and is not open for tours. The tours are expected to begin again in the summer of 2026, but in the meantime, a family picture with the black and white striped lighthouse standing proudly in the background is going to serve as a reminder of your wonderful North Carolina vacation and the golden hours spent with your favorite humans.
Cape Point Beach in Buxton
We’ve taken a million pictures at Cape Point over the years, and every picture we take offers something different, something special, something that makes our pictures worthy of printing and framing. Sunset views, of course, are especially beautiful, but there are so many more views to capture, taking in a scene that you will hold close to your heart forever. A scenic view doesn’t always have to be photographed, but when you see the giggling toddler in a bright red swimsuit running down the beach with her arms overhead, thrilled with the flight of seabirds taking off all around her, we can guess that you will not be able to resist snapping a pic.
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, 14500 North Carolina Highway 12 in Rodanthe
Offering quiet beaches, groves of marine trees, and a visitors center clad in weathered shingles, every view in the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge will be your favorite. Technically, the refuge is adjacent to Cape Hatteras, but it is close enough that we had to include it on the list, and as you hike along its trails, sit on the sandy beach, arms wrapped around your knees watching the sea ebb and flow, and perhaps overheard the mournful cry of a red-throated loon as it swims with its mate, you may think you have found paradise on earth, and we may think you are correct in that assumption.
Sunset at Kite Point in Buxton
Kite Point is the spot for kiteboarding, attracting enthusiasts from all over the world to an area that helps make the sport look easy and although you may not choose to give kiteboarding a try, it will still be the site of some of your best scenic views in North Carolina, especially when the sun is setting over the sea. Offering quiet spots to watch the kaleidoscope of fiery colors light up the sky we’re pretty sure your camera will be at the ready when exploring this popular scenic view.
From the Balcony of Your Lighthouse View Retreat
You won’t have to travel far to see some of the most beautiful views of your life; just step outside the door of your Lighthouse View retreat and sink into the seats that are awaiting you out there. This is where you may sit when the sun is rising every morning or where you are drawn to when the sun is setting every evening and it may be your favorite seat in the house at any time of the day. Capture a shot of your spouse and your daughter kneeling in the soft sand, working together to build a sandcastle that “reaches the sky.” Take a picture of that empty beach chair awaiting the return of its person, its bright colors contrasting against white sand and blue waters. Or leave your perch in the sky, walk down to shore’s edge, and gather the family together, posing at water’s edge with the remaining light of the sun illuminating your family picture. The views that become pictures will all be your favorite when you choose Lighthouse View for your backdrop.
Reserve Your Favorite Sanctuary Today
Our spaces are designed to be the most comfortable part of your North Carolina vacation experience. Reserve your favorite Lighthouse View retreat today and discover that all views will be scenic ones!
