Croatan Crawl to the Cape 2026

Thursday June 4 - Monday June 8 2026

Cape Lookout, NC

Please please please read all of this!!!!

What a better way to kick off summer and raise money for a great cause than an epic beach overland adventure??

Join us the first weekend of June for a great weekend of camaraderie, adventure and fun! Hosted by Last mile relief we will spend time on the coast exploring the beautiful Croatan National Forest then cross over the water to one of America's ONLY sea shores you can drive and camp on to Cape Lookout! Nothing but beautiful sea shores, great friends, new memories and exploration for a long weekend to welcome summer!

Itinerary:

Day 1 - RALLY DAY! 

Thursday June 4 - Come one, come all, from all corners of the Southeast and beyond! We will rally at a location to be disclosed to attendees in the Croatan National Forest in Beautiful Eastern North Carolina. Arrive to camp early or late, whatever fits your schedule and journey best! That night Mr Ryan Garcia, a local to the area, will guide a ~2 hour night ride exploring the beauty of the coastal forest! After that we will settle in for the night and prepare for the beach!

Day 2 - Ferry to Cape Lookout

Friday June 5 - This is the day we will have a reservation to ferry over to Cape Lookout. When you leave Friday camp depends solely on when your ferry time and if you want to stop in town for provisions. Arrive at the Davis Ferry at least ONE HOUR ahead of your departure time and check in. Once on the island, you may choose to explore the island or you may proceed to camp. Camp coordinates will be shared in the chat.  Depending on your ferry time, it will determine how you spend this day. This is a great time to grab a shower at the bathhouses located on the island!!

Day 3 - Relax, Unwind, Enjoy!!

Saturday June 6 - There is really no place like a white sandy beach in early summer! You have no responsibility but to kick back and relax! Go explore the island, enjoy a Mojito with your feet in the sand, learn to do cartwheels from Alex, it doesn't matter, just have a good time! That night we will do a volunteer community Potluck, come together around the fire and enjoy a meal with friends!

Day 4 - Keep it EZ-Breezee, Guided ride around the island, Raffles, Movies!

Sunday June 7 - Cape lookout is a gorgeous island, and a fun place to explore. Chris will lead a guided ride from camp to the south tip, through the back woods and all the way up the shore to the very top(or as far as we can go) of the island! That evening we will feature an LMR raffle and a movie night on the beach!

Day 5/6 - Winding down, heading home

Monday/Tuesday June 8-9 - It's hard to say goodbye to a beach vacation, but all good things must come to and end. Stay as long or as short as you want, most folks will head home Monday/Tuesday. Same as with the incoming ferry, ensure you arrive at the dock at least an hour before your scheduled ferry.

Cost: 

Last Mile Relief donations, $50 or more, this will cover everyone in your rig. Help us keep the lights on, and build out a Rapid Deployment Trailer! Every dollar donated to LMR goes right back into local communities in times of need and supports our mission to help care for underserved communities in times of great need. Learn more about our cause today and THANK YOU for your support!! Each donor will receive a special gift bag with all kinds of goodies as our way of saying THANK YOU!!

Other Costs:

Due to NPS regulations and the wide range of vehicles attending, it is up to you as the attendee to cover costs for the Sate Permit and Ferry ride over.

National Parks Permit -  Permits purchased before March 12, 2026, will cost $35.00. Beginning on March 13, 2025, the permits will cost $75.00. READ THE PERMIT WEBSITE CAREFULLY. EVERYONE MUST PRINT AND HAVE IT ON THEIR PERSON. Link to purchase HERE STATE PERMIT.

Ferry Cost - You must call the Davis Ferry Service to arrange an arrival and departure time, payment will be due at time of crossing and varies based on your rig dimensions and if you are bringing a trailer. More info is available HERE ON THE DAVIS FERRY WEBSITE.

Rig/gear Requirements and Expectations:

• 4x4 Required, they will not let you on the ferry in a 2wd

• Recovery Points, though recovery is not common, it's very expensive if the NPS has to recover you.

• GMRS Radio (Loaners available)

• TREADLightly principle awareness is required

• Camping gear and Enough Supplies to last the weekend on the island are required, there are NO stores on the island

  • Remember, hydration is crucial

• Recovery gear is recommended

• First Aid Kit Required

• All Terrains Recommended

• Full sized spare Recommended

• SANDBAGS!!! It's is VERY windy on the island at times, bring sandbags and rope to tie off otherwise expect to lose anything that may be caught by the wind

• Some form of shade, be it an awning or a canopy are highly recommended as shade on the island is near nonexistent

Communications leading up to the ride:

• In Late April/Early May we will open up a Facebook Messenger chat to get excited and prepared for the trip

• Around the same time we will schedule 2 calls on Google Meet to go over any relevant details

  • Both will cover the same information, please make sure you are one one of them, this information is VERY IMPORTANT

  • The meeting invite will be shared via email when the time comes

Official Merchandise!

Yes, we will be offering some merchandise for this trip!! We plan to have sun shirts and ballcaps with the event design, as well as the LMR logo on them. These are an additional purchase you can make during registration. They will be distributed along with everyone's complimentary gift bag when we get to camp on Friday and throughout the weekend. We are still in the process of sourcing as tickets go on sale, if you sign up you will get an email soon with details on purchasing additional merchandise! 

Final notes:

• Cape Lookout is one of the most amazing overland camping destinations on the east coast, but be aware the weather can vary in an instant! Be prepared for pop up thunderstorms, high winds, and high temps.

• Arrive to the ferry with a FULL TANK OF GAS! Fuel is available on the island but.... It ain't cheap!

• Make sure you have enough water, it gets HOT in the sun and staying hydrated is vital! There is potable water available on the island but making sure you being enough to begin with is key.

• Again, please make sure you get your permits! 

• Pack for the beach appropriately, this isnt a normal coastal Air B&B, it's a true overland experience with little to no resources. There is NO SHORE POWER, bring solar if you have battery banks. Bring portable camp toilets and bags, there are restrooms and showers on the island but they are a few minute drive from camp, prepare accordingly.

• Wind. Wind. Wind. Wind. Again, it can get VERY WINDY on Cape Lookout, I watched a $500 Gazelle tumble across the beach into the ocean last year like a pair of dice on a craps table. Please be prepared to tie down your things or sacrifice them to Poseidon. 

Thank you ALL for your support and interest, we are very excited to see this trip come to life!!!!!

Purchase tickets below!