An aerial view of Great Island Cabin Camp, with the ocean on the right, the sound on the left, and the cabin area in the center
A view of the bunk beds in the bedroom of Great Island Cabin 3.
Sunlight shining on 3 bunk beds in a plywood cabin
Great Island Cabin Camp Bath House

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
Showers Showers

Available sites

23 total sites

About Great Island Cabin Camp

Great Island Cabin Camp sits on South Core Banks within Cape Lookout National Seashore, just off the North Carolina coast. This historic, remote camp has long been a favorite destination for fishermen and beachgoers. Because it is only accessible by water, visitors arrive either by personal boat or by reserving space on one of the vehicle ferries that cross scenic Core Sound to South Core Banks.4WD, high-clearance vehicles are strongly recommended due to deep sand on the Back Road and along the oceanside beaches. There are no paved roads on South Core Banks. An Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Driving Permit is required and must be purchased on Recreation.gov before your trip. Upon arrival, present your proof of purchase to staff at the Great Island Cabin Camp Office, and they will issue the appropriate decal for your vehicle.

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Boating

Boating

Spring Summer Fall
Fishing

Fishing

Year-round

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Mar 12 to Nov 30

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Pet friendly Pet friendly
Showers Showers
RV Utilities and Hookups

RV Utilities and Hookups

  • Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
  • Showers
Water Access

Water Access

  • Beach Access
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

23 Sites Available

Site
Price
🏠 001, Loop: GI Cabin
6 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 002, Loop: GI Cabin
6 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 003, Loop: GI Cabin
8 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 004, Loop: GI Cabin
8 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 005, Loop: GI Cabin
6 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 006, Loop: GI Cabin
8 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 007, Loop: GI Cabin
8 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 008, Loop: GI Cabin
8 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 011, Loop: GI Cabin
8 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 012, Loop: GI Cabin
8 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 013, Loop: GI Cabin
6 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 014, Loop: GI Cabin
8 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 015, Loop: GI Cabin
12 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 016, Loop: GI Cabin
12 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 017, Loop: GI Cabin
8 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 018, Loop: GI Cabin
6 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 019, Loop: GI Cabin
8 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 020, Loop: GI Cabin
8 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 021, Loop: GI Cabin
4 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 022, Loop: GI Cabin
4 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 023, Loop: GI Cabin
6 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 024, Loop: GI Cabin
6 guests · Pet Friendly
🏠 026, Loop: GI Cabin
6 guests · Pet Friendly

Reviews (988)

What Guests Are Saying

Great Island Cabin Camp offers a peaceful and beautiful vacation spot with pristine beaches and a rustic charm. Many guests appreciated the comfortable cabins, helpful staff, and the serene environment, making it a favorite destination for repeat visitors. However, some noted issues with cabin maintenance and staff interactions, suggesting the need for improvements while still cherishing the unique, remote experience the island provides.

Review Summary

4.3
988 reviews
5
60.5%
598
4
23.8%
235
3
7.3%
72
2
4.4%
43
1
4.0%
40

Marty W

Verified

October 7, 2026 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: GI

2

Park ranger was very unprofessional and not Curtis at all

Pansey T

Verified

October 6, 2026 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: GI

5

So much fun!! Can’t wait to get back there next year.

J P B

Verified

September 25, 2026 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: GI

4

Good times. Struggled to get the hot showers to work, and the bathroom sink faucet was ridiculously corroded, but everything worked somewhat. It's rustic and plain as can be. It's also the only lodging in this historic and unique spot on the NC coast. The weather was mild. The scenery was awesome. We Will Return.

BARRY S

Verified

September 24, 2026 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: GI

5

Great trip! Weather was spectacular and cabins are a great getaway!!

Vernon M

Verified

September 19, 2026 • Stayed at: 026, Loop: GI

4

Every thing was good with the cabin other than a few worn window screens needed to keep the critters out , overall experience was very good

Danny H

Verified

September 19, 2026 • Stayed at: 024, Loop: GI

5

We go for relaxing, fishing and shelling. We are never disappointed. Mostly relaxing (lol)

Wayne K

Verified

September 13, 2026 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: GI

5

Staff very friendly

Michelle D

Verified

September 12, 2026 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: GI

5

We stayed in a cabin at Great Island Cabin Camp and on the beach in a tent. Both experiences were unforgettable!

A word of caution RE the heat and the bugs, as both can ruin your trip. Just be prepared for a rustic experience and take everything you need, as there are no shops on the island, just the camp office, where you can buy ice.

We would like to express our appreciation to the fabulous volunteers, June and Debbie, who made our trip so much better! These guys went above and beyond the call of duty and we can't praise them enough! The staff was also friendly and helpful. We are grateful and hope to return soon.

Conan M

Verified

September 11, 2026 • Stayed at: 003, Loop: GI

5

Eh

Donald C

Verified

September 11, 2026 • Stayed at: 020, Loop: GI

4

Cabin beds were comfortable. Make sure you bring bug spray and some type of insecticide.

Location & Directions for Great Island Cabin Camp

131 Charles Street, Harkers Island, NC 28531 United States

Elevation: 1 ft

Getting There

<p><strong>From NC-101, Havelock, NC 28532 to Davis, NC 28524 Ferry Landing</strong></p><p>41 min (33.3 mi)</p><p>via NC-101 E and US-70 E</p><p>Head east on NC-101 E toward Cunningham Blvd</p><p>18 min (15.7 mi)</p><p>Take Merrimon Rd to US-70 E/...

Nearest town

Harkers Island, NC - 18 mi

About 54 min to downtown

Policies & Rules

Arrival & departure

Check in time

2PM

Check out time

10AM

Cancellation policy

  • Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
  • Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
  • Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
    • Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
    • Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
    • One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
  • Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
  • Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
  • Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.

Fires & fuel

  • Guests should obtain firewood locally and burn it on-site to protect forests; transporting firewood is illegal in some states.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 21, 2026

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Explore Harkers Island, NC

Population: 1,060

Nearby city: Jacksonville, NC

Approx. 58 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 10 ft

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