There are some places in this world that you only want to visit during a certain season, but even though Cape Hatteras is often thought of as a summer destination spot, we want to show you that it is so much more! Cape Hatteras has something wonderful and unique to offer every season of the year, including during winter.
Even though a Cape Hatteras winter vacation will look very different from the summer ones you have enjoyed over the years, the comfort, warmth, and welcoming of our seasonal sanctuaries will not change and will always be one of your favorite parts of your Cape Hatteras vacation experience! The following guide will help create the picture of an idyllic North Carolina winter vacation.
Reason #1: The Siren Call of the Sea Doesn’t Go Away During Cape Hatteras Winter
Every vacation on Cape Hatteras is going to be a beach vacation, even when you don’t spend your days splashing in the surf. The sea calls out to you, gently, softly, and convincingly as the days shorten, the temperatures drop, and the extremely rare but occasional flakes of snow fall to the ground. Below, we have listed some of our favorite ways we enjoy the beaches of Cape Hatteras during the winter months.
Sensational Sunrises and Sunsets
Sunrise walks along the shoreline take place a little later, allowing guests to sleep in and enjoy the warm cocoon of the heavier linens topping our premium beds. Winter may be the only time you will consider wearing shoes as you trudge through the sand, and it will also be a time when you stay well in the dry sand zone of the beach.
As the skies begin to lighten and the first streaks of gold, orange, red, and purple begin to make their presence known, your feelings of joy, happy serenity, and well being will be the same as they are when walking barefoot at shore’s edge in the warmer months of the year. Repeating the activity at the end of the day, watching the same show you saw in the morning, only in reverse, is sure to be your second-favorite way to enjoy the beach when you visit Cape Hatteras.
Just Walk
Sunrise and sunset are both popular times of the day on the beaches of Cape Hatteras, but anytime is the perfect time to just walk, explore, and leave your troubles behind. The beaches look a little different in the winter months, with more sand exposed and less people around, but as you put one foot in front of the other, walking for as far as you can before your legs get tired, you can still enjoy the colorful cottages that sit well beyond the tideline, the sounds of waves crashing, sea birds crying out in triumph when they find their meal, and the quiet beauty of sea oats swaying in the salt air breezes.
For those traveling with children, afternoon is the ideal time to work together to build sandcastles, creating memories that will never be forgotten. We have lived here most of our lives and we still find that our troubles disappear quicker during our winter walks on the quiet beaches, and the photos we take offer a melancholy beauty that makes us eager to print, frame, and hang them on our walls.
Reason #2: Our Winter Events Are Fun and Exciting
Just as you enjoy the winter events and festivals in your hometown, the ones we hold on Cape Hatteras are destined to be memorable, giving guests an authentic peek into what life on Cape Hatteras is like. The events listed below are some of our favorites.
Hatteras Village Christmas Parade, 2nd Saturday in December
The Hatteras Village Christmas Parade kicks off the winter holidays with floats, marching bands, and of course, the man of the season, Santa Claus holding the anchor position in the processional. If weather conditions cause delays, it will generally be held on the next weekend day after the weather clears, but in most years, nothing keeps the crowds from gathering and the parade from parading, helping jumpstart our festive vibe.
There are other events over the Christmas holiday, including Holidays on Hatteras (arts, crafts, music, and tree lighting) at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, and Kites with Lights (exactly what it sounds like), which is sponsored by Kitty Hawk Kites and held at Jockey’s Ridge.
Hatteras Island Waterfowl Festival, Mid-February
Did you know that over 400 species of birds have been seen and documented on Cape Hatteras over the years? Did you also know that 250 of those species call the island their home? If you are an avid bird watcher, you probably do know those simple facts and so many more, and may have even already reserved your stay at Lighthouse View in order to be here during the Hatteras Island Waterfowl Festival that is held in the middle of February. Offering the annual Fin, Feather, and Bourbon Social, interactive experiences with birds of prey, a Guided Painting Workshop, and a Duck Calling Competition, along with keynote speakers, field trips, and so much more, this event is a popular one on Cape Hatteras and enhances a winter stay!
Reason #3: All the Fish You Can Catch While Surf Fishing
Yes, we are heading back to the beach for this next activity, and yes, it is something that can be enjoyed year-round, but there are some changes in the winter. First, however, if fishing isn’t something you do quite frequently, you may want to know what surf fishing is. Fishing from the shoreline is what you are doing when you surf fish, and as you relax in lawn chairs you will probably want to place out of range from the tide, you will discover that fishing is equally fulfilling in the winter months as it is in the summer.
Longer poles are used and if you must walk into the surf, you might want to consider renting or buying hip waders to keep the cold water out of your shoes and clothes. The fish you can catch during the winter are different than the ones you might catch in the summer and include large red drum (between 30 to 50 pounds) and striped bass, both of which can be grilled on the barbecues we offer at Lighthouse View.
Reason #4: Exploring All the Indoor Activities on Cold Days
Although it doesn’t get all that cold on Cape Hatteras in the winter months, there may be stormy days, there may be cold snaps, and yes, there may be days when it snows, such as in January 2025, when nearly 8 inches fell! Snow is a rare occurrence, of course, but there will be days when you want to stay inside and play, making your winter trip the best time to explore museums, art galleries, and many other interesting sights. We’ve listed some of our favorites below, but if something else catches your eye, be sure to stop by and check it out!
Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, 5200 Museum Drive in Hatteras
Open weekdays from 10AM until 4PM, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum explores our maritime history, bringing to the surface facts about all the thousands of ships that met their demise in the turbulent waters off the Outer banks. This fascinating museum explores local culture and the difference lighthouses made for the safety of the ships and is one that we recommend all visitors to Cape Hatteras take some time to explore.
Frisco Native American Museum & Natural History Museum, 53536 NC Highway 12 in Frisco
The Frisco Native American Museum & Natural History Museum offers a peek into the original settlers of our island home but is only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10AM until 5PM, so be sure to consider that when you start planning your winter itinerary. Offering an extensive collection of Native American artifacts, pottery, and jewelry, its colorful creations are a beautiful sight to see. If you are visiting during a warmer winter day, be sure to explore the nature trails that are an integral part of the museum experience, offering wide open spaces, benches for resting, and trees, bushes, and plants which are all labeled so you can learn about the natural beauty of Cape Hatteras as you wander.
Hatteras Island Ocean Center, 57204 NC Highway 12, Mile Marker 71 in Hatteras
The Hatteras Island Ocean Center is a great place to visit any time of the year, offering an education center that your children will love (education can be entertaining and the center does a great job of both) and a variety of outdoor activities in the spring, summer, and fall months that include kayak tours and marsh walks. Open weekdays from noon until 5PM, this is another wonderful adventure featuring an exhibit hall and a gift shop that is a great place to purchase souvenirs for the littles in your life.
Reason #5: Finding Peace and Comfort in Our Lighthouse View Retreats
Our favorite reason for visiting Cape Hatteras in the winter is, of course, our favorite reason for visiting Cape Hatteras at every other time of the year as well. Our Lighthouse View rooms, suites, and cottages have been the perfect place for visitors from all over the world to come home to at the end of every day of their North Carolina vacation for nearly eight decades, and in all those years, we have learned a few things.
We have learned that people want to feel that they are wanted, that their needs are catered to, and that style is never chosen over comfort. As you relax, play, and savor the serenity of our seaside escapes, you may be curious as to what it would be like to visit during all the other seasons. We’ve created a mini guide to the spaces we offer, giving you a peek inside a vacation experience you will never forget in the paragraphs below.
Lighthouse View Rooms
When Lighthouse View opened for the first time in 1952, it was just a single building with a number of Cape Hatteras motel rooms, and although we’ve stayed true to the underlying heart of Cape Hatteras, we have definitely updated and modernized over the years. Today, our rooms will be serene spaces, mostly facing the sea (although a few will offer pool views) and equipped with state of the art televisions, microwaves, mini fridges, coffee makers, and the warm vibe that lets guests know they are welcomed.
Lighthouse View Suites
Our Cape Hatteras suites are larger than our rooms, offering small kitchens, dining areas, and a separate living room that is perfect for movie or game nights with the family. Less expensive than a cottage and still offering room for up to five guests, the suites are also mostly ocean view spaces, although a few feature few pool views. Both our rooms and suites will have access to on-site laundry, making them great choices for longer vacations as well.
Lighthouse View Cottages
The Cape Hatteras cottage rentals we are so proud of will help make your beach vacation dreams come true, offering generously sized windows, patios that are ideal for watching the sunset from, and a vacation experience that could have come straight from the pages of your favorite beach book. For those who want to make their beach life their real life, our cottages are available to rent for as long as you need, and many of our cottages, suites, and rooms are pet friendly, allowing you to bring your entire family along for your winter adventures on Cape Hatteras.
Reserve Your Favorite Lighthouse View Seasonal Sanctuary Today
Your winter vacation on Cape Hatteras will be different than the ones you may have experienced in the summer months, but it will be serene, peaceful, and infinitely fulfilling! Contact us today to book your Cape Hatteras vacation rental and come visit Cape Hatteras in the winter.
