Buxton
Buxton, NC
Buxton sits at Cape Point, the elbow where Hatteras Island turns and two ocean currents collide, home to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and some of the most consistent surf on the East Coast. Free parking areas branch off Old Lighthouse Road, with the lot closest to the lighthouse doubling as the main lifeguarded beach access.
Cape Point's surf and the lighthouse together make this one of the true landmark stops on the whole Outer Banks, though the current that makes the waves good is also genuinely dangerous for casual swimmers.
How we score beachesSurfers head straight for Cape Point itself, a sandy spit where the currents create a wave that doesn't exist anywhere else on the Outer Banks. It's a serious break, not a beginner spot.
Free parking at multiple lots along Old Lighthouse Road, including the main lot near the lighthouse and lifeguarded beach.
A paved path leads from the main lot toward the lighthouse and beach. The walk to Cape Point itself is over open sand.
Dogs are allowed on Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches on a leash, though not inside the lighthouse.
Water peaks in the upper 70s by August, in the middle of Atlantic hurricane season, June through November, which also happens to be when storm swell makes Cape Point's surf even better. Winter brings serious waves for the cold water crowd.
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