The promise of spring shines brighter during a Cape Hatteras vacation, offering idyllic beach days, exciting events, and when you choose Lighthouse View for your seasonal sanctuary, all the comforts of home. And because our properties lie on the sands of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, you live the beach life you have always dreamed about waking each morning and falling asleep with the roar of waves crashing against sandy shores creating a soundtrack for a spring getaway that will never be forgotten. This ultimate spring Cape Hatteras travel guide will give you a clear idea of why this season may actually be the best time of year to plan an Outer Banks vacation.
Let’s Talk Weather
Your vacation experience may look different depending on the spring month you decide to visit but we can promise you will love it no matter how it plays out. The temperatures will rise as each month passes and the spring showers will lessen the closer you get to summer.
March
March will be the coldest month, offering highs that bump against 60 and lows that nudge at 50, while also being the rainiest, with an average number of eight days of rain in the month. You may not feel like swimming in the frigid waters in March, but a brisk morning walk along water’s edge will offer the perfect way to start the day, and a soak in the hot tub will keep you toasty warm and stress free. There are fewer crowds on Cape Hatteras this month, and although there is more rain, we think you will find charm in spending a rainy night at home, sipping hot cocoa, watching movies, and letting the storm rage outside the windows of your escape.
April
The mercury begins to rise in April, offering day and night lows of approximately 65 and 55 degrees respectively. The number of rainy days lowers from eight to six, and although there may be a small increase in tourists, the attractions you visit will still mostly be uncrowded, restaurants will rarely have wait times, and the beaches will remain quiet and serene. The hot tub will still be a popular activity, perhaps enjoyed in the evening hours to help guests feel more relaxed and as the sun makes its appearance more frequently, your beach walks may be extended into the nighttime hours.
May
The temperatures rise again, this time hovering around the mid-70s and mid-60s at night, the rains still average six days of the month, and the beaches begin to become populated with locals, knowing that after Memorial Day, the quiet peace will be disrupted by the hordes of happy travelers who flock to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore every summer. In May, Cape Hatteras remains an idyllic spring paradise and travelers who come from colder climates may find themselves enjoying a chilly dip in the afternoons when the sun is at its highest.
Outdoor Adventures
On the nicest days, you will want to get outside and explore the outdoor adventures that make the Outer Banks such a popular destination spot. This might be a wonderful time to take family photos while standing at the base of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (it is closed for tours until 2026 as it is being renovated), even if it is cloudy and on the verge of rain, because moody skies can add an extra element of drama to your standard pictures. This might be a good time for a road trip to Manteo and a visit to the Elizabethan Gardens, located just under 60 miles away from your Lighthouse View spring retreat at 1411 National Park Drive in Manteo. April showers bring May flowers, and your walk along the paths that traverse this 10-acre stretch of paradise will be aromatic and serene. Visitors may want to explore where the wild horses of the Outer Banks are known to roam, or, for those who have a distinct sense of adventures, a horseback ride on the beach, offered by Hatteras Island Horseback Riding (Ramp 55 Park Service Parking Lot) may take you to the greatest heights of happiness!
Spring Events and Festivals
The best way to get to know the places you travel to is by attending the local festivals they offer and these spring events and festivals are sure to add impact to your vacation experience, giving you a greater understanding of what makes Cape Hatteras and the entire Outer Banks a wonderful spring destination.
Hatteras Village Waterfowl Festival, March 21 & 22, Hatteras Village Civic Center & Various Locations
This fowl event has been a popular one for about five years now, offering bird watching events, guided painting workshops, interactive experiences with birds of prey, a duck calling contest, and so much more. The festival begins with the Fin, Feather, & Bourbon dinner, featuring a menu of chicken and seafood, desserts that will sweeten the sourest of dispositions, and a wonderful selection of bourbon, cocktails, beer, and wine. Also offering an art show, vendors selling arts and crafts, and decoy and wood art exhibits, this event will enhance your early spring vacation. Generally, the Hatteras Village Waterfowl Festival is held in February, but bad weather forced it to be postponed until March, something that is greatly beneficial to our spring travelers.
Outer Banks Taste of the Beach, April 4-6, Various Locations
Vacation adventures are made more enjoyable by the foods we eat while traveling, and the restaurants of Cape Hatteras and the entire Outer Banks are known to be something special. For those visiting during the week of April 4 through 6th, however, the Outer Banks Taste of the Beach will take your dining experiences to all new heights! A variety of restaurants across the Outer Banks will be offering special menus, including Good Winds Restaurant, located at 34502 NC-12 in Rodanthe.
On April 4th this year, they will be featuring an event they call Sips and Savories: Bourbon and Brews Dinner, offering a curated three-course dinner paired with bourbon and beers. Ticket prices are $40 per person for a no alcohol feast or $60 for the alcohol. On April 5th the restaurant will offer another special event, their Vines and Views: A Wine Tasting on the Sound, which obviously celebrates good wine and beautiful views. Their three-course tasting menu will offer appetizers, an entrée, dessert all paired perfectly with wine and craft beers. Tickets are also $40 and $60 per person. The event ends with a champagne brunch on April 6th and tickets for that tasty event will be a little lower, just $35 and $45 dollars for a four-course meal you will never forget.
Rainy Days Are Perfect Museum Days
It is spring in North Carolina, and as we stated, there will be rainy days but when you spend those rainy days exploring the museums we have listed below, we don’t think you will mind the extra moisture in the air!
Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, 59200 Museum Drive in Hatteras
A maritime museum focusing on the ships that lie at the bottom of the Atlantic, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is dedicating to preserving the memory and the history of all those lost at sea. Closed on weekends and state holidays, this museum tells the stories of the thousands of shipwrecks that litter the bottom of the Atlantic off the Outer Banks with the use of artifacts, recreations, movies, and photographs.
Museums of the Sea, 46377 Lighthouse Road in Buxton
Located inside what used to be the lighthouse keeper’s residence, the Museums of the Sea focuses on the maritime and barrier island history of the Outer Banks. The two-story white painted structure stands in a grassy meadow, looking like a farmhouse in the country, but the black and white lighthouse standing in the background will serve as a reminder that no, you aren’t at a country farmhouse, and this building once played an important part in protecting the ships at sea. Offering artifacts that include cannon balls, captain’s uniforms, and an authentic binnacle (housing for a ship’s compass) as well as offering models of a variety of boats, this museum complements your previous visit to the Graveyard of the Atlantic.
Frisco Native American Museum & Natural History Center, 53536 NC Highway 12 in Frisco
We’re leaving the sea and focusing on our Native American and natural history in the Outer Banks with a visit to the Frisco Native American Museum & Natural History Center. Located inside a building that is nearly 100 years old and offering a comprehensive history of the Native Americans who were the first residents in this area, it also offers nature trails that traverse the lush landscape for which North Carolina is famous. Surviving several hurricanes and growing and adapting as each year passes, the gift shop of this museum is an ideal spot for purchasing out of the ordinary souvenirs that will remind you of your time on Cape Hatteras and all the exciting spring adventures you enjoyed.
Our Lighthouse View Spring Sanctuaries
Your time in Cape Hatteras and the surrounding islands and towns will be where some of your best memories are made, especially during the times you spend relaxing at home in our Lighthouse View retreats. Honoring our history and our humble beginnings as a quiet motel that just happened to have the best views of the ocean, today you can choose from a selection of rooms, suites, and cottages, all offering breathtaking views and welcoming vibes that will make you feel at home within your first few seconds inside. Southern hospitality is at the forefront in these special escapes, and your spring in North Carolina on Cape Hatteras wouldn’t be the same without our spaces and the amenities they offer.
Room for Two
Our charming hotel rooms actually offer room for as many as four or could simply provide respite to the solo traveler, but we like to think of them as romantic love nests built for two. Most will offer ocean views, although a couple do sit facing the pool, these rooms also provide a kitchenette of source including a microwave, coffee maker, and mini fridge, a state of the art television, and the most comfortable beds in the state.
A Little More Room
Families that are on the smaller side may prefer to choose our suites for their vacation accommodations, offering the room for as many as five people. Providing a fully equipped kitchen and a bedroom with a door that shuts out the world, ocean views make them special and a cheerful vibe will make them feel like home. Separate living and dining rooms give the space the feel of a condo instead of hotel suite and a beach décor complements the views that you can see from nearly every window, although a couple of these units also face the pool.
Charm, Romance, and Grace
Beachfront cottages have played second billing in Hallmark romance movies for as long as they have been making them, but if they used our cottages, we can assure you they would steal the show. The weathered shingles, unique shapes, and comfortable amenities will make you wish you never had to return to real life. These structures come in a variety of sizes, offering room for as many as 12 guests, and featuring wrap around decks, stunning ocean views, and of course, all the comforts of home.
Community Amenities and More
Your time spent in our Lighthouse View escapes will be a peaceful time, and as you start and end every day with a walk along the sand, feeling the serenity of the sea deep in your bones, watch the sun set from your spot on the generously sized decks, you can also enjoy community amenities that include a swimming pool, hot tub, and barbecue area, as well as a fish cleaning station so you don’t have to do the yucky stuff in your retreat. Reserve your favorite Lighthouse View spring sanctuary today!
