Great Island Cabin Camp

131 Charles Street, Harkers Island, North Carolina, United States
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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
View all amenities

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.

Available sites

23 total sites
Cabins 23 sites Check Availability

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 reviews

Summary

AI generated

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.

Based on guest feedback

4.3

Overall rating

Based on 988 reviews

Write a review
5 stars 60.5% (598)
4 stars 23.8% (235)
3 stars 7.3% (72)
2 stars 4.4% (43)
1 star 4.0% (40)

Showing 988 reviews

Verified Only
Sort by: Oldest First
Newest First Oldest First

BARRY S

Verified

June 16, 2025 Stayed at: 003, Loop: GI

Ok

Helpful

BARRY S

Verified

June 16, 2025 Stayed at: 003, Loop: GI

Ok

Helpful

Bryan S

Verified

June 16, 2025 Stayed at: 017, Loop: GI

Staff at the Great Island Camp was fantastic and very helpful. Beach is pristine and one must visit Cape Lookout Lighthouse.

Helpful

BARRY S

Verified

June 16, 2025 Stayed at: 003, Loop: GI

Ok

Helpful

Bryan S

Verified

June 16, 2025 Stayed at: 017, Loop: GI

Staff at the Great Island Camp was fantastic and very helpful. Beach is pristine and one must visit Cape Lookout Lighthouse.

Helpful

Jeffrey M

Verified

June 23, 2025 Stayed at: 022, Loop: GI

1st trip to the island. Everything was as expected. Always make sure you are ready for insects both mosquitoes and biting flies. The flies can bite through light weight clothing material. Our trip was for surf fishing and we did great. I will definitely be returning.

Helpful

Jeffrey M

Verified

June 23, 2025 Stayed at: 022, Loop: GI

1st trip to the island. Everything was as expected. Always make sure you are ready for insects both mosquitoes and biting flies. The flies can bite through light weight clothing material. Our trip was for surf fishing and we did great. I will definitely be returning.

Helpful

tina w

Verified

July 2, 2025 Stayed at: 021, Loop: GI

My family and I have been visiting Cape Lookout (Great Island Cabins) for years. It's a favorite of ours. This last trip was somewhat of a disappointment, not because of the beauty of the island, but the condition of the cabins. I was hopeful the cabins would be at least slightly upgraded. The mattresses were in poor condition, rotting floors, invasion of ants, screens/windows in poor condition, etc. Especially, being the rates have gone up to rent the cabins. My reasoning for taking the time to write this review is because we plan to always revisit the island and are hopeful this will help make a difference.

Helpful

Nola S

Verified

July 2, 2025 Stayed at: 022, Loop: GI

Another great stay! Cabins always clean and staff is always kind and helpful!

Helpful

tina w

Verified

July 2, 2025 Stayed at: 021, Loop: GI

My family and I have been visiting Cape Lookout (Great Island Cabins) for years. It's a favorite of ours. This last trip was somewhat of a disappointment, not because of the beauty of the island, but the condition of the cabins. I was hopeful the cabins would be at least slightly upgraded. The mattresses were in poor condition, rotting floors, invasion of ants, screens/windows in poor condition, etc. Especially, being the rates have gone up to rent the cabins. My reasoning for taking the time to write this review is because we plan to always revisit the island and are hopeful this will help make a difference.

Helpful

Location & Directions for Great Island Cabin Camp

131 Charles Street, Harkers Island, NC 28531 United States

Elevation: 1 ft

Getting There

From NC-101, Havelock, NC 28532 to Davis, NC 28524 Ferry Landing

41 min (33.3 mi)

via NC-101 E and US-70 E

Head east on NC-101 E toward Cunningham Blvd

18 min (15.7 mi)

Take Merrimon Rd to US-70 E/Hwy 70 Bettie

6 min (4.7 mi)

Follow 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.

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Nearby destinations

Explore destination

Harkers Island

10 mi away

City
Explore destination

Atlantic

10 mi away

City
Explore destination

Beaufort

15 mi away

City

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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