Home
Contact the park
910-326-4881
hammocks.beach@ncparks.gov
Address
Visitor center
1572 Hammock Beach Road
Swansboro, NC 28584
GPS: 34.671, -77.1429
Hours
►
- September to May:
8:00am to 6:00pm
- June to August:
8:00am to 7:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
►
- September to May:
8:00am to 5:00pm
daily
- June to August:
8:00am to 6:00pm
daily
- Closed Christmas Day
There is no ferry service January – March 2020. Ferry service for the 2020 season is scheduled to begin Friday, April 3, 2020. Currently, access to Bear Island is available by canoe, kayak, private boat, or private water taxi. The bathhouse on Bear Island, with rest room facilities and potable water, is closed and winterized. Camping is permitted but campers must bring all necessities with them including drinking water. Campsites 3, 9 , & 10 are currently closed through 3/15/2020 due to beach erosion. Open fires are not permitted at any time. Barring freezing temperatures or maintenance issues, the bathhouse will reopen on March 16, 2020. All facilities on the mainland are open including the trails, kayak launch, and boat ramp.
Please see Hammocks Beach Updates for additional information.
Last updated on: Monday, January 27, 2020Hammocks Beach State Park
A crown jewel of the North Carolina coast and Hammocks Beach State Park is Bear Island—a 4-mile-long, undeveloped barrier island accessible by the park’s passenger ferry or private ferry, or by paddling a canoe or kayak. A wide beach between massive dunes and the ocean is interrupted only by primitive campsites and a modest concession/picnic complex. The park’s mainland gateway offers a full-service visitor center and is the launch site for ferry service, canoes or kayaks. Rent or bring your own kayaks, canoes or paddleboards to explore paddling trails leading to marshes, Bear Island or Huggins Island, which is graced with unspoiled maritime forest. Interpretive programs and extensive exhibits teach about park ecology and wildlife including endangered sea turtles and nesting shorebirds.
Reservations
Find and book a campsite or facility online
Or make your reservation at 1-877-722-6762
Notices and alerts
Now hiring for several seasonal positions
Hammocks Beach State Park is now accepting applications for the seasonal positions listed below. Click each link to learn more about the position and how to apply.
- Ferry deckhands (3)
- Ferry operators (4)
- General utility workers (2)
- Lifeguards (4)
- Office assistants (2)
- Park technician (1)
- Refreshment stand/bathhouse fee collectors (2)
Status of park facilities
Prior to your visit, please visit the Bear Island Current Information page for more information on ferry service, camping, and more.
Current weather
Park Maps and Brochures:
