OutReserve

Great Island Cabin Camp

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
Showers

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.

Number of accommodations: 23

Nearby Activities & Attractions

Boating

Fishing

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
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
6 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 002, Loop: GI
6 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 003, Loop: GI
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 004, Loop: GI
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 005, Loop: GI
6 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 006, Loop: GI
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 007, Loop: GI
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 008, Loop: GI
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 011, Loop: GI
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 012, Loop: GI
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 013, Loop: GI
6 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 014, Loop: GI
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 015, Loop: GI
12 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 016, Loop: GI
12 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 017, Loop: GI
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 018, Loop: GI
6 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 019, Loop: GI
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 020, Loop: GI
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 021, Loop: GI
4 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 022, Loop: GI
4 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 023, Loop: GI
6 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 024, Loop: GI
6 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🏠 026, Loop: GI
6 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available

Reviews (933)

What Guests Are Saying

Great Island Cabin Camp offers a unique, rustic experience perfect for families and fishing trips. While the cabins are basic, they provide essential amenities and have been noted for cleanliness and helpful staff. Visitors appreciate the beautiful scenery and opportunities for outdoor activities, making it a memorable destination despite some minor issues with accommodations.

Review Summary

4.3
933 reviews
5
60.7%
566
4
23.6%
220
3
7.4%
69
2
4.3%
40
1
4.1%
38

Albert D

Verified

May 29, 2021 Stayed at: 020, Loop: GI

4

A great park. Caution concerning over-zealous park ranger. Doesn’t matter if you are obeying all the laws—this one was keen on being dominate.

Robert S

Verified

May 28, 2021 Stayed at: 015, Loop: GI

3

Great beach! The cabin was OK but will soon need maintenance if it is to continue standing. The staff did not help us move our gear between the dock and cabin as they had in previous years.

Robert S

Verified

May 28, 2021 Stayed at: 015, Loop: GI

3

Great beach! The cabin was OK but will soon need maintenance if it is to continue standing. The staff did not help us move our gear between the dock and cabin as they had in previous years.

Marshall D

Verified

May 27, 2021 Stayed at: 026, Loop: GI

5

Great Island Cabins were great! However, the website for recreation.gov leaves a lot of room for improvement. The creator of that website should try and make reservations at the cabins and should try to purchase the new necessary $25.00 off road vehicle pass.

Barbara A

Verified

May 27, 2021 Stayed at: 002, Loop: GI

1

It’s very disheartening to see the cabins in such a state of disrepair. We’ve been coming here for 15 years and since the Park service took over managing the cabin they have really let them just go I understand there was a hurricane last year but the repairs they made were inexcusable. Checking in with the park rangers upon arriving to the island was a less than desirable experience. They really made us feel unwelcome and it left us with the feeling that the Park service doesn’t really want people visiting the island anymore. I understand it’s the national seashore which we want to maintain so the generations from now can enjoy it but why doesn’t the Park service offer little ranger talks to explain some of the safety measures that they’re taking to preserve the wildlife and preserve the integrity of the island. For the price we paid we could buy ourselves a camper and stay on the beach for free with every amenity we could want. It’s hard to believe the amount of money that the cabins bring in each month that there isn’t more effort into updating and renovating the cabins to make them more desirable

Marshall D

Verified

May 27, 2021 Stayed at: 026, Loop: GI

5

Great Island Cabins were great! However, the website for recreation.gov leaves a lot of room for improvement. The creator of that website should try and make reservations at the cabins and should try to purchase the new necessary $25.00 off road vehicle pass.

Barbara A

Verified

May 27, 2021 Stayed at: 002, Loop: GI

1

It’s very disheartening to see the cabins in such a state of disrepair. We’ve been coming here for 15 years and since the Park service took over managing the cabin they have really let them just go I understand there was a hurricane last year but the repairs they made were inexcusable. Checking in with the park rangers upon arriving to the island was a less than desirable experience. They really made us feel unwelcome and it left us with the feeling that the Park service doesn’t really want people visiting the island anymore. I understand it’s the national seashore which we want to maintain so the generations from now can enjoy it but why doesn’t the Park service offer little ranger talks to explain some of the safety measures that they’re taking to preserve the wildlife and preserve the integrity of the island. For the price we paid we could buy ourselves a camper and stay on the beach for free with every amenity we could want. It’s hard to believe the amount of money that the cabins bring in each month that there isn’t more effort into updating and renovating the cabins to make them more desirable

Sydnor G

Verified

May 18, 2021 Stayed at: 020, Loop: GI

2

Plan for Bugs!!!

Sydnor G

Verified

May 18, 2021 Stayed at: 020, Loop: GI

2

Plan for Bugs!!!

Daryl S

Verified

May 17, 2021 Stayed at: 006, Loop: GI

5

Great place to relax, reflect, and fish! Miles of beautiful beach, wildlife, and a very cool lighthouse. You probably won't like it, stay home.

Location Great Island Cabin Camp

Address:
131 Charles Street
Harkers Island, NC, 28531
United States

Latitude & Longitude: 34.7606 / -76.4122

Elevation: 1 feet

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: June 13, 2026

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