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

Samuel C

Verified

June 2, 2026 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: GI

3

Clean cabin however we did not have hot water. 😀

Johnny G

Verified

June 6, 2026 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: GI

5

Most fantastic vacation I’ve ever had. Cabin. Beach. Fishing. Cape Lookout. Everything a fellow could wish for.

Rheannon C

Verified

June 9, 2026 • Stayed at: 026, Loop: GI

2

We expected some insects, but we experienced lots of cockroaches, beetles and even mice during our stay. One of the chairs in the cabin was so old and rusted it collapsed on me during our stay.

Christopher M

Verified

June 11, 2026 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: GI

4

This was our 3rd stay at the cabins and, once again, we had a great time! Check in and out was super easy and being able to get gas and ice is really helpful. Our key learnings are to bring Lysol spray, electric leaf blower for sand, and white trash bags to cover the windows. Our boys are 7 and 9 and they look forward to returning next year!

William F

Verified

June 13, 2026 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: GI

5

A beautiful, peaceful place. Looking forward to next year.

Aaron C

Verified

June 30, 2026 • Stayed at: 001, Loop: GI

5

Great facility where lots of memories are made!

Francesca T

Verified

July 13, 2026 • Stayed at: 011, Loop: GI

5

Beautiful, pristine setting!

Amber R

Verified

July 16, 2026 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: GI

5

Been coming to great island for going on 15 years we love it here

edward b

Verified

July 19, 2026 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: GI

4

Had a great time and spent most of it on the beach. Went clamming on the inside and thus had a nice seafood dinner. Good thing you can get ice at the office as it was pretty hot the whole time we were there. Only problem was that there were three days of wind at about 18 to 20 knots. Tough for an umbrella but we shielded ourselves with our truck.

Chris M

Verified

July 24, 2026 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: GI

5

My wife and I bring our shepherd every year, sometimes more than once. Friendly, helpful rangers and volunteers on the island, and a great ferry experience as well. Cabins are clean, maintained, and the there is nothing like the experience of sleeping just feet from both the Atlantic and the Sound! Peace, nature, sunsets, and an experience like no other.
- The Masters Family

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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