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A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

National Park Service cabin or lookout

Long Point Cabin Camp

National Park Service cabin or lookout in Cape Lookout National Seashore, Carteret County, North Carolina. 6 feet. 25.5 miles from Beaufort.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
National Park Service Cape Lookout National Seashore
Elevation
6 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
20 19 cabin electric, 1 cabin non-electric
Longest rig
35 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Carteret County

Overview

Escape to North Core Cabin Camp, a one-of-a-kind coastal getaway on North Core Banks within the stunning Cape Lookout National Seashore. Just off the mainland of North Carolina, this secluded destination offers unspoiled beaches, endless ocean views, and a true taste of island adventure.

Built to replace the former Long Point Cabin Camp, which was lost to Hurricane Dorian in 2019, North Core Cabin Camp continues the tradition of seaside stays with a renewed spirit of resilience and natural beauty.

Here, you’ll enjoy a primitive, self-sufficient camping experience surrounded by sand, sea, and sky. Each cabin features a hookup for your own generator, while restrooms and hot showers are available at a shared community bathhouse. Be sure to bring everything you’ll need for your stay, fuel and ice are not sold on-site, keeping this island experience refreshingly simple and off the grid.

Getting here is part of the adventure. The camp is accessible only by boat, offering a sense of privacy and escape that’s hard to find anywhere else. Cross scenic Core Sound in your own vessel or bring your vehicle over on the vehicle ferry to explore miles of oceanside beaches. Once you arrive, it’s just a five-mile drive from the ferry landing to your cozy coastal retreat.

Discover your next great adventure at North Core Cabin Camp, where the wild beauty of Cape Lookout meets the timeless joy of island living.

Recreation

The park’s sandy beaches provide excellent opportunities for fishing, shelling, swimming, birdwatching, and quiet relaxation. Spring and fall are considered prime fishing seasons, offering some of the best angling conditions along the Atlantic Coast. Kayaking is also a popular activity, with 112 miles of undeveloped shoreline ranging from calm sound waters to the open surf. These diverse coastal conditions make Cape Lookout National Seashore one of the premier paddling destinations on the Mid-Atlantic coast.

Facilities

North Core Cabin Camp offers 16 primitive metal cabins situated along the scenic Atlantic Coast, ideal for individuals, families, and small groups seeking a simple coastal getaway. Each cabin allows the use of user-provided generator electricity, includes a furnished window air-conditioning unit, and provides access to potable water.

Cabins 1–8 accommodate up to four guests , while cabins 9–16 accommodate up to eight guests .

· The four-person cabins measure approximately 20 feet long by 8 feet wide (160 sq. ft.).

· The eight-person cabins measure approximately 40 feet long by 8 feet wide (320 sq. ft.).

All cabins feature a raised deck, with Cabin 1 offering enhanced accessibility via an entrance ramp.

Inside each unit, guests will find bunk beds (configured for 4 or 8 sleepers), mattresses, and a combination sleeping/living area that includes a counter with upper and lower storage cabinets.

A centrally located bathhouse provides restrooms, hot water, and shower facilities for all guests.

Please note: Refrigerators are not provided. Campers must bring their own linens, bedding, cookware, food, food storage, coolers, first-aid supplies, and any additional personal items needed for their stay.

Natural Features

Cape Lookout National Seashore extends approximately 56 miles along the North Carolina coast, from Ocracoke Inlet in the northeast to Beaufort Inlet in the southwest. This series of undeveloped barrier islands is characterized by wide sandy beaches, low dunes covered with scattered sea grasses, open grasslands bordered by dense vegetation, and extensive salt marshes along the sound. The area preserves a natural coastal environment that offers visitors opportunities for recreation, exploration, and the appreciation of diverse coastal habitats.

Nearby Attractions

Historic Portsmouth Village

Portsmouth Village - Cape Lookout National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service)

The description, directions and fees are the National Park Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • beach camping
  • beachcombing
  • birding
  • boating
  • camping
  • canoeing
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • hunting
  • kayaking
  • paddling
  • picnicking
  • sea kayaking
  • star gazing
  • surfing
  • swimming
  • water activities

The land around Long Point Cabin Camp

The ringed pin is this cabin or lookout; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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