Top Places to See in Hatteras

Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

A small museum, but fascinating. There’s some great exhibits about life on the Outer Banks during the Civil War, commercial fishing and WWII. There is also some great information about the excavation of Queen Anne’s Revenge, Blackbeard’s flagship.

Located just past the Ferry Docks, the museum will probably take about an hour to an hour and a half to tour.

Ferry Terminal

The ferry terminal is at the southern end of Hatteras Village. It’s important because the only way to get to Ocracoke is by ferry. It is a free ferry, but expect a wait during the summer to get onboard.

NCDOT, who operates the ferry, also offers a high speed passenger only ferry during the summer. A car is not needed to explore Ocracoke Village. There is a fee charged for the passenger ferry.

Weather Station/Outer Banks Visitors Bureau

Behind the Burrus Red and White Grocery Store, there’s a beautifully restored yellow wooden frame building with an observation tower. Built in 1901, it was the Hatteras Weather Bureau Station from 1902-1946.

The building was the first constructed to design specifications that were used for at least five more weather stations.

The Weather Bureau station is owned the National Park Service but serves as an information site for the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.

The building is on the National Register of Historic Buildings and is located at the intersection of Kholer and Saxton Cut streets.

Hatteras Island Ocean Center

An education and information center, Hatteras Island Ocean Center offer walking tours of the marsh behind the center, some great information about sea turtles, and kayak tours. An excellent resource to learn about the local environment.

Buxton Business District

Village Market Red and White

There’s been some form of a store at the intersection Kholer Street and NC12 since 1866 when Caleb and Alonzo Stowe threw some wood from shipwrecks together to form an A frame building and sell groceries. Until 2017 it was the Burrus Red and White, the Burrus family direct decedents of the Stowes.

The store is a very well-stocked grocery store with a deli department, fresh meat and produce. Like Connor’s Supermarket in Buxton, the store has been able to meet the needs of the community for years.

Hatteras Landing

Just before the Ferry Dock there is a large shopping plaza. Hatteras Landing includes a number of clothing and souvenir stores, a Kitty Hawk Kites shop and restaurants. Located on the soundside, there are docks where a number of the Hatteras charter fleet boats dock.

There are a couple of places to get a quick to go order while waiting to board a ferry. Do not, however, lose track of time and miss the boat.

The Beach Experience

The Beach

The beach across from the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is fantastic. Great quality sand and very wide. There is plenty of parking available. However, there are no lifeguards on this beach, nor are there restroom or shower facilities.