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State Park

Photo: NPSPublic domainRecreation.gov

Great Island Cabin Camp

Cape Lookout National Seashore · Davis, NC

Verify with the state park system

State parks set their own rules and reservation systems. Fire bans, road closures, and operating dates change seasonally — check the state park website before traveling.

Directions

48

Total Sites

0.0

0 Reviews

25 Tent23 Cabin

Official sources & verification

Managed by State Park

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Source of truth

Managing agency

Verify by phone or mail

We display cached information from agency feeds. Hours, fees, permits, closures, fire restrictions, and conditions change without notice. Outdoors is not the permitting authority. Confirm current conditions for this campground using the links above before you go — you are responsible for compliance. Last verified by us: Aug 8, 2026. Our copy is more than a month old — please reconfirm with the agency before relying on it.Spot an error in our data?

Live availability

via Recreation.gov
See every open campground nearbySame dates & filters, across the whole area

Availability is a recent snapshot, not a live hold — you always complete the booking on recreation.gov.

About

Overview Great Island Cabin Camp is located on South Core Banks within beautiful Cape Lookout National Seashore just off the mainland of North Carolina. The historic camp has been a favorite of fisherman and beach goers for many years. The camp can only be reached by boat, adding an element of both privacy and adventure. Visitors can travel by personal boats or reserve a spot on the vehicle ferry, which cruises across scenic Core Sound to South Core Banks and the Great Island Cabin Camp. 4WD, high clearance vehicles are strongly recommended due to deep sand on the Back Road and the oceanside beaches. There are NO paved roads on North or South Core Banks. An Off-Road Vehicle Driving Permit is required and must be purchased from Recreation.gov prior to arrival. Once you arrive on the island, show proof of payment for the Off-Road Vechicle Driving Permit to the park staff at the Great Island Cabin Camp Office or law enforcement Rangers/staff on North Core Banks, and they will issue you the corresponding decal for your vehicle. Recreation The park's sandy beaches are a prime location for fishing, exploring, beachcombing/shelling, swimming, birding or simply relaxing. Spring and fall at Cape Lookout offer what many consider to be some of the best fishing on the Atlantic Coast. Kayaking is a popular activity at the park. With 112 miles of uninhabited shoreline ranging from docile sound to pounding surf, Cape Lookout National Seashore has become one of the premier paddling destinations on the Mid-Atlantic Coast. Facilities Great Island Cabin Camp offers 23 rustic, wooden beachfront cabins with porches for individuals and families or small groups of up to 12 people. Cabins range in size from 288 to 960 sq ft., and Cabin 2 is accessible. All cabins are wired for generator use, needed to power electricity. Guests must provide their own generators, no larger than 5,500 watts or equipped with a GFI. Each cabin contains bunk beds and mattresses, a private bath with sink and shower stall, a hot water heater, a table and chairs. Small kitchens are equipped with cabinets and a propane oven/stove. There are no refrigerators. A grill is just outside each cabin. Bathroom facilities with showers are also centrally located within the camp. Campers must provide their own linens, bedding, cookware, food and food storage, coolers, first-aid supplies and anything else needed during their stay. Most campers also bring flashlights or lanterns. Ice and fuel are available at the camp office. Natural Features Cape Lookout National Seashore is a low, narrow ribbon of sand running from Ocracoke Inlet to Beaufort Inlet. At 56 miles long, these barrier islands consist mainly of bare beaches with low dunes covered by scattered grasses, flat grasslands bordered by dense vegetation and large expanses of salt marsh along the sound. Nearby Attractions Cape Lookout Lighthouse, historic Cape Village Charges & Cancellations Please note: Customers who cancel a cabin reservation **less than 14 days prior** to the arrival date will pay a **$10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee.** Refunds resulting from storm closures will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

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How busy it gets

Recreation.gov
Popular4.3

512 camper reviews on Recreation.gov

Books out

95% booked

2,436 of 2,570 released site-nights were already reserved · Aug 2026 – Nov 2026 · busiest Sep 2026 at 97%

  • Aug

    90%

  • Sep

    97%

  • Oct

    96%

  • Nov

    95%

Share of nights Recreation.gov had released for online booking that were already reserved when we checked. Walk-up sites, closures, and nights outside the booking window are excluded.

Amenities

Showers
Flush Toilets
Picnic Tables
Fire Rings
Trash Service
Cell Service

Cell reception

Camper reports · checked Sep 29, 2026

Good Coverage

Average 3.1 of 4 bars · 413 reports across 3 carriers

Uninterrupted voice connection; consistent but possibly weak/slow data service; rare and/or very small drop-outs at site/facility. Signal may not show as full-strength across site/facility. Slower social media photo/video upload speeds.

  • Verizon

    Good Coverage

    3.1/4

    288 reports

  • AT&T

    Good Coverage

    3.3/4

    78 reports

  • T-Mobile

    Good Coverage

    3.0/4

    47 reports

Reported by campers on Recreation.gov, not measured by us. Reception varies by handset, weather, and where you stand in the campground. Recreation.gov

Check-in & Check-out

Check-in 2:00 PM

Check-out 10:00 AM

Pet Policy

Pets are allowed in the cabins, but may not be left unattended. All pets must be kept leashed when outside of the cabin and when on the beach.

Park Regulations

What is allowed: * Pets are allowed in the cabins, but may not be left unattended. All pets must be kept leashed when outside of the cabin and when on the beach. * Driving may only take place on the open beach, or on established, marked sand trails within the camp or behind the dunes. * All drivers must be at least 16 years old and hold a valid driver’s license, including for ATVs and UTVs. What isn't allowed: * Vehicles, including ATVs and UTVs, may not drive on the dunes. * Fireworks, including sparklers, may not be used within the camp or on the beach. *Drones may not be used within the camp or on the beach. * Metal detectors may not be used within the camp or on the beach.

Published by the National Park Service. Rules change seasonally and by area within a park — confirm current regulations with the agency before you go.

Campground Rules

  • Campfires generally permitted — verify current fire restrictions before lighting

Reservations

This campground accepts reservations. Book early for popular dates.

Make a Reservation

Individual Sites (48)

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Loop GI

Check official pricing Max 6 guests35 ft
CampsiteCabinWaterfrontPets OK
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Loop GI

Check official pricing Max 6 guests35 ft
CampsiteCabinWaterfrontAccessiblePets OK
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Loop GI

Check official pricing Max 8 guests35 ft
CampsiteCabinWaterfrontPets OK
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Loop GI

Check official pricing Max 8 guests35 ft
CampsiteCabinWaterfrontPets OK
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Loop GI

Check official pricing Max 6 guests35 ft
CampsiteCabinWaterfrontPets OK
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#006

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Loop GI

Check official pricing Max 8 guests35 ft
CampsiteCabinWaterfrontPets OK
Reserve

Within ~30 miles

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