Cape Lookout, NC, 2025
Cape Lookout lighthouse
Cape Lookout, North Carolina—one of the better slices of sand on the Outer Banks where you won't drown in tourist kitsch. Remote, rugged, and accessible only by boat or ferry, this barrier island feels blissfully isolated, exactly as nature intended.
Load up your truck (your trusty Tacoma will do fine) and snag a ferry from Harkers Island or Davis. No paved roads here—just miles of pristine beaches perfect for overlanding and beachfront camping. Keep an eye on the tides and the weather, though, as storms can roll in with an impressive fury.
Set up camp, drop a fishing line, or kick back and take in sunsets behind the iconic black-and-white diamond lighthouse. This isn't your crowded boardwalk beach—it's raw, it's wild, and it's beautiful. If your idea of relaxation includes sand between your toes, cold drinks, and endless horizons, Cape Lookout won't disappoint. Just don't forget the bug spray—nature bites back here.