Buxton, North Carolina
Buxton is a community of 1,267 people in Dare County, North Carolina.
Why visit Buxton
Townapedia lists 5 museums and landmarks, 4 parks and trails, 18 places to eat, 18 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Cape Hatteras Light Station, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Museum of the Sea and Oil House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 87°F; January lows average 40°F.
Weather in Buxton
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Buxton
Buxton is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) on Hatteras Island (part of the Outer Banks) near Cape Hatteras. It is located in Dare County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 1,181. Located at the widest part of Hatteras Island, it is the largest community on Hatteras Island both in terms of area and population, and is home to the island's schools and other major public buildings and offices.
From the Wikipedia article Buxton, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Lighthouse · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Lighthouse in North Carolina, United States
Museums and landmarks5
Lost Colony Museum and Gifts
Museum · 2.2 mi
46618 North Carolina Highway 12, Buxton
Parks, trails and playgrounds4
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Restaurants and cafes18
Angelo's Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza, Burger, Italian, Sandwich, Salad, Wings · 1.9 mi
46903 North Carolina Highway 12, Buxton
12:00-22:00
Cockeyed Clam Restaurant
Restaurant · American, Seafood · 1.9 mi
47048 North Carolina Highway 12, Buxton
Mo-Sa 17:00-21:00
Diamond Shoals Restaurant
Restaurant · Seafood, Breakfast, Sushi, Burger, Sandwich, Steak · 2.0 mi
46843 North Carolina Highway 12, Buxton
07:00-14:00, 16:00-21:00
Giovanni's Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza, Italian · 1.8 mi
47365 North Carolina Highway 12, Buxton
16:00-21:00
Lighthouse Sports Bar
Restaurant · Burger, Sandwich · 1.8 mi
47170 North Carolina Highway 12, Buxton
11:00-24:00
Rusty's Surf & Turf
Restaurant · Seafood, American, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Italian, Mexican, Steak · 1.8 mi
47355 North Carolina Highway 12, Buxton
17:00-21:00
The Buxton Munch Co.
Restaurant · Seafood, Burger, Coffee, Tea · 1.8 mi
47359 North Carolina Highway 12, Buxton
Mo-Sa 11:00-16:00
Pop's Raw Bar and Grill
Restaurant · Seafood, Burger, Sandwich · 1.6 mi
48967 North Carolina Highway 12, Buxton
Mo-Fr 11:00-21:00; Sa, Su 12:00-23:00
6 more on the map.
History
In the precolumbian era the central village on Hatteras island was called Croatoan (council town, which is modern day Buxton), which is why the Native Americans and the island were referred to by the English as Croatoans from Croatoan.
On May 21, 1942, the body of a British seaman, unidentifiable but presumed to be from the HMT Bedfordshire, sunk by a German U-boat, washed ashore. The month prior, a British sailor from the sunken merchant ship San Delfino had been buried in Buxton. The Bedfordshire seaman was interred in an adjacent plot, resulting in a British Cemetery, formally known as Cape Hatteras Coast Guard Burial Ground.
From 1956-1982 Naval Facility Cape Hatteras occupied Cape Hatteras, for secret monitoring of submarines. As of 2013 the 12 buildings had been torn down but the soil underneath not been cleaned up ith its benzanthracene, benzopyrene, heavy metals ( arsenic, chromium and mercury) and other contamination. The National Park Service did not want to take on liability.
From the History section of Buxton, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay18
Churches and places of worship3
Our Lady of the Seas Catholic Church
Church · Catholic · 1.8 mi
48478 North Carolina Highway 12, Buxton
Buxton United Methodist Church
Church · United Methodist · 1.6 mi
48221 Buxton Back Road, Buxton
Shopping7
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries3
Map of Buxton
64 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°F | 40°F | 4.7 in |
| Feb | 57°F | 41°F | 4.3 in |
| Mar | 62°F | 46°F | 4.2 in |
| Apr | 69°F | 54°F | 4.0 in |
| May | 77°F | 63°F | 4.5 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 71°F | 4.8 in |
| Jul | 87°F | 75°F | 5.6 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 74°F | 7.0 in |
| Sep | 82°F | 71°F | 8.1 in |
| Oct | 74°F | 61°F | 5.2 in |
| Nov | 65°F | 52°F | 4.7 in |
| Dec | 58°F | 45°F | 4.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Frisco 2Nne (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Dare County has had 22 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-10-19: Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-06: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Billy Mitchell Airstrip (HNC) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- Frisco 3 mi west, about 5 min by car
- Avon 7 mi north, about 11 min by car
- Rodanthe 25 mi north, about 40 min by car
- Ocracoke 28 mi southwest, about 45 min by car
- Wanchese 42 mi north, about 1 h by car
- Swan Quarter 45 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Manteo 46 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Manns Harbor 47 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Nags Head 49 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Kill Devil Hills 54 mi north, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Eastern hognose snake on park property in Buxton (50123312691), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Public domain
- Canada Wreath in Buxton (14174344471), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Public domain
- Honor Guard in Buxton (14199051133), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Public domain
- UK Wreath in Buxton (14177675654), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Public domain
- USA Wreath in Buxton (14197765203), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Public domain
- Clibanarius vittatus-dorsal, Peterwchen, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cape Point Campground flooding, June 2020 (50087755536), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Public domain
- Cape Point Campground flooding, June 2020 (50087989917), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Public domain
- Cape Point Campground flooding, June 2020 (50087173903), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250823b RGB-raw-172205 0823251501139 010 RGB1, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250823b RGB-raw-172205 0823251501139 010 RGB2, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250823b RGB-raw-172204 0823251501092 010 RGB1, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250823b RGB-raw-172204 0823251501092 010 RGB2, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250823b RGB-raw-172206 0823251501188 010 RGB2, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250823b RGB-raw-172206 0823251501188 010 RGB1, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- Bodie Lighthouse (2537945092), Jim Bowen from Hampstead, London, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0
- Pen shell (50857150036), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Public domain
- Burrowing crayfish found on Hatteras Island after a large rain storm (50123297111), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Public domain
- View from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (50068867358), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Public domain
- Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Restoration Project 04-08-2024 - 53640897243, CapeHatterasNPS, Public domain
- Deer at Cape Point looking over the dunes 02-24-2021 (51759460944), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250823b RGB-raw-172203 0823251501044 010 RGB1, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250823b RGB-raw-172203 0823251501044 010 RGB2, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250823b RGB-raw-172207 0823251501235 010 RGB2, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250823b RGB-raw-172207 0823251501235 010 RGB1, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250822a RGB-raw-171115 0822251826487 011 RGB2, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250822a RGB-raw-171115 0822251826487 011 RGB1, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- South Beach pedestrian corridor (50082905762), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Public domain
- South Beach pedestrian corridor (50082079988), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Public domain
- South Beach pedestrian corridor (50082082813), Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250822a RGB-raw-171114 0822251826446 011 RGB1, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250822a RGB-raw-171114 0822251826446 011 RGB2, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250823b RGB-raw-172215 0823251505497 009 RGB2, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250823b RGB-raw-172215 0823251505497 009 RGB1, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250822a RGB-raw-171116 0822251826528 011 RGB2, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250822a RGB-raw-171116 0822251826528 011 RGB1, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
- Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Restoration Project 04-08-2024 - 53640677941, CapeHatterasNPS, Public domain
- Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Restoration Project 04-08-2024 - 53639804447, CapeHatterasNPS, Public domain
- 2025 Hurricane Erin-20250822a RGB-raw-171113 0822251826404 011 RGB1, NOAA / NODD, Public domain
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Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.