Portsmouth Village and Cape Lookout
A ghost town on an empty island across the inlet from Ocracoke, once a busy port, reached only by small boat.
Portsmouth's visitor center is closed for repairs. At Cape Lookout Lighthouse the ferry dock is closed, so you land on the beach and may wade.Checked November 2, 2026 · Latest
- Open
- Boats run from Ocracoke in season
- Price
- Paid boat
- Time Needed
- Half a day
- Address
- Portsmouth Island, Cape Lookout National Seashore, NCGoogle MapsApple Maps
- Getting There
- By private ferry from Ocracoke, in the warmer months.
Why Go
About 500 people lived here in the 1860s, and the last residents left in 1971. The church, school and life-saving station remain, cared for by the National Park Service as part of Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Further south, Cape Lookout's diamond-patterned lighthouse and Shackleford Banks' wild horses are reached by ferry from Harkers Island and Beaufort.
Tips
- Bring water and strong insect repellent. There are no services at all, and the mosquitoes are legendary.
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