12 Best Beaches in the Outer Banks To Visit in 2024

SEARCHING FOR THE BEST BEACHES IN THE OUTER BANKS?

You’ve landed on the right article. We spent several weeks in the Outer Banks exploring the best beaches in the area. We have visited beaches across the United States and consider ourselves somewhat beach snobs when it comes to finding pristine and beautiful beaches.

There are miles of preserved beaches along these outer islands if you are looking to escape the crowds. If this is the case, we highly recommend the national seashore.

Here is everything you need to know about visiting the Outer Banks.

Find the Best Beaches in the Outer Banks

It is hard to name the best beach on the Outer Banks because each beach and town is unique and offers such different amenities. Someone may want a beach to themselves while someone else may not mind sharing the beach to be closer to amenities like restrooms, local restaurants, and beach rentals.

If you are looking for the best beaches for families or the best beaches for toddlers in the Outer Banks, we would recommend looking into Jennette’s Pier. It is a short walk to the beach from the parking area and there is a blue mat down over the sand for part of the way, making it easier to get out to the beach.

The Best Beaches in the Outer Banks – North

1. Corolla Beach

Corolla is most famous for the Corolla wild horses and sand dunes, but also has some of the best beaches in the Outer Banks. It is unique because it borders the Atlantic Ocean and Currituck Sound. The sound side is perfect for families looking for calmer beaches and kayakers.

This is one of the best cities in the Northern Outer Banks.

Corolla Beach and Wild Horses Tour

Seeing wild horses on the East Coast is a really fun activity that everyone will enjoy on their family vacation. My kids always get so excited when we find them. You will need a 4×4 vehicle if you want to see the horses. If you do not have this and don’t want to rent a jeep, a Wild Horses tour is a great way to see them.

The tour will take you through the sand dunes and along the ocean to find these beautiful animals. Your guide will also share interesting history about the area as well as ecology of the Outer Banks.

Check Prices for a Wild Horse Tour Here!

2. Duck

The town of Duck is one of the best Outer Banks beaches for families. It is a small city with a village-like charm. It is also the most pet-friendly beach in the Outer Banks. Dogs can be off-leash under the supervision of owners.

The only catch is there is no public beach access. There are lots of private neighborhood beach access points open to residents, renters, and guests.

3. Southern Shores

The Southern Shores beaches are quiet with plenty of room for beachgoers. They have a lifeguard patrol and a red-flag system for inclement weather.

Another fun part of the beach here is a walking path that runs along NC Highway 12. The walking path is a great place to get views of the maritime forest without leaving the ocean.

There isn’t a lot of commercial development in Southern Shores. It is mostly vacation rentals. There is no public access in Southern Shores. The beach is reserved for residents and property owners of the town and their guests.

Public parking in the area is limited.

The Best Beaches in the Outer Banks – Central

4. Kill Devil Hills

Kill Devil Hills is a great beach to go to if you’re looking for close amenities like food, supplies, and lodging. The town does a great job of maintaining its facilities. Along Highway 12, you’ll find various public beach accesses and public bathhouses.

It is important to keep in mind that Kill Devil Hills, along with Kitty Hawk, have some of the biggest waves on all of the northern beaches.

Kill Devil Hills is known for the best waves and water sports in the area.

If you realize you’ve forgotten something including lunch, Stop N Shop is just across the Beach Road and has a wide variety of beach supplies.

5. Avalon Pier + Beach Access

The Avalon Pier and beach are at Milepost 6. There are 15 paid parking spots there. It is a lifeguarded beach with a wooden walkway leading to the beach.

It is a beautiful area to stroll the wide beach and picturesque pier. Admission to the pier for sightseeing is $2.00.

6. Kitty Hawk Beach

Kitty Hawk Beach is a wonderful place to spend some time playing in the waves and enjoying the sand. You can access the beach between Byrd Street and Lillian Street. Most of the streets in between have parking areas.

If you’re looking for access to showers, handicap parking, and lifeguards, you should access the beach in the town of Kitty Hawk from Byrd Street (Mile 2) or Lillian Street (Mile 4). If you’re visiting during the busy season, most parking lots fill up by 10-11 am.

Dogs are allowed on Kitty Hawk Beach year-round but the rules vary based on the time of the year and time of day.

7. Jennette’s Pier and Beach Access

Jennette’s Pier stretches 1,000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. It is a beautiful pier. An interesting fact about the pier is that it is powered by the windmills on the pier.

There is an education center as well as a small aquarium on the pier. There is a small fee for walking on the pier. It is $2 for adults and $1 for kids.

If you’re interested in visiting some other piers there are three in Nags Head, one in Kitty Hawk, one in Kill Devil Hills, one in Rodanthe, and one in Avon.

8. Rodanthe Pier + Beach Access

The pier sells daily and weekly fishing passes as well as sightseeing passes. There is bait, tackle, and fishing equipment for sale as well as a room for TV and video games. If you need a bite to eat, there are snacks, sandwiches, and hotdogs.

We also had a great time playing on the beach below the pier. The girls had a wonderful time riding their boards in the waves and playing in the sand. Parking is $15 but after 5 pm there is no charge.

9. Cape Hatteras National Seashore

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore is one of the prettiest and best beaches in the Outer Banks. It is the first national seashore and is made up of seven towns on Hatteras Island. There are 70 miles of shoreline. Fun activities are swimming, crabbing, kayaking, kiteboarding, and snorkeling.

The Outer Banks North Carolina beaches are beautiful. The beach access is always free and there are lots of access points, making it easy to have a good stretch of beach to yourself. We played on the beach near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and had a great time.

10. Pea Island

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is a small island on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The 13-mile refuge is a completely undeveloped part of the Outer Banks. It is home to nearly 400 species of birds and other wildlife including the loggerhead turtles.

There is a visitors’ center on the sound side of NC Highway 12. It is the only building on this stretch of the highway. There are also restrooms here as well as good parking if you want to explore the beaches.

The information kiosks discuss the area’s species and environments. From the parking lot, there are two different nature trails – the North Pond Trail and the Salt Flats Trail.

Across the street from the visitor’s center is easy access to the beach. It is a beautiful beach that is great for shelling. We found hundreds of shells on the beach. We were surprised at the lack of shells on some of the Outer Banks beaches but there was plenty here.

11. Coquina Beach

If you’re looking for a more remote beach experience than Kitty Hawk Beach, head out to Coquina Beach. It is close to the central towns of the Outer Banks but has miles of undeveloped shoreline because it is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

If you have a 4WD vehicle, you can drive onto the beach after getting a permit from the National Park Service ORV Permit Office.

The sand is soft with a wide area between the dunes and the ocean.

12. Ocracoke Island

Ocracoke is a 16-mile-long island barrier that is part of the Outer Banks, North Carolina. You will have to take a ferry to get there. The ferry is free and runs every 30 minutes during the peak summer season.

Ferry schedules are available online.

Popular activities on Ocracoke Island are fishing, exploring downtown, water sports, visiting the lighthouse, and playing at the beach.

South Point is a popular fishing and shelling beach. The Lifeguard Beach is a family-friendly beach. Springer’s Point is a nice beach just past the lighthouse.

Map of the Best Beaches in the Outer Banks

How to Use This Map: Click on the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest.

If you click the star next to the title of the map, this will be added to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps. Then click on the menu button, go to “Your Place” and click on Maps. You will see this map added to your list.

Best Beaches in the Outer Banks for Shelling

The best shelling spots can change depending on the currents and seasonal stores however there are some spots that usually have decent shells regardless of the changing conditions.

Carova and Northern Corolla have a long shallow sandbar that is good for shelling and isn’t as popular with beachcombers.

To the South on Hatteras Island, Cape Point, and South Beach in Buxton are good places to look. This is a popular shelling spot so get there early.

If you’re willing to take the ferry ride, Ocracoke Island is one of the best places. It is harder to get to which means there won’t be as many people looking for shells. It isn’t uncommon to find a scotch bonnet, the official state shell of North Carolina.

The best time to find shells is after low tide or right after a fall storm. During this time, it is common to find scallops, starfish, sand dollars, and whelks.

What is the nicest part of Outer Banks?

The nicest part of Outer Banks, North Carolina are the hundreds of miles of unspoiled OBX beaches that are open to the public. The beaches as well as the many water activities are what make the Outer Banks so popular.

It is home to jet skiing, kayaking, surfing, parasailing, dolphin cruises, fishing charters, and more. It is renowned as one of the best kiteboarding and windsurfing places in the world.

Do the Outer Banks Have Good Beaches?

There are beautiful beaches in the Outer Banks. We had a great time exploring the best beaches in the Outer Banks like Cape Hatteras and Nags Head. The beaches are very clean and if you go outside the central city areas, it is easy to find an uncrowded beach.

Are Outer Banks beaches crowded?

The beaches are not as crowded as nearby beaches in Ocean City, MD, and Virginia Beach. During the summer months, Kitty Hawk, Duck, and Nags Head will be busy however it’s still a nice place to relax with the family.

What is the least crowded beach in the Outer Banks?

What is amazing about the Outer Banks, North Carolina is that thousands of people can be there, yet you still feel like you have the place to yourself. We visited during the summer as part of our east coast road trip and stayed near Hatteras Island. It was rare to see more than 5 different families on the same beach as us.

We did avoid the central area beaches during the busy times so that helped but I wouldn’t say the beaches were overly crowded.

If you have 4WD and you’re looking for a secluded beach, head to Carova. You have to have 4WD to get there which really cuts down on the number of people visiting. These are some of the least crowded Outer Banks beaches.

Our other recommendation to find the least crowded Outer Banks beaches is to head down to Hatteras Island. You can pull over along the side of the highway and head to the beach.

Ghost Crab Hunting

One of our kids’ favorite activities in the Outer Banks was ghost crab hunting. At least one day, you need to plan a late-night trip to the beach to find the Atlantic ghost crabs. There are sand-colored crabs that are about 2-inches in diameter.

Ghost crabs are found between Bald Head, Rhode Island, and Florida but are abundant in the Outer Banks.

We found it best to use headlamps out on the beach to have your hands free, but any flashlight will work. You can try to catch them with your hands, but they are pretty fast. We used a net and bucket to catch them and it worked really well.

After dark, you can head to the beach. We saw about 100 crabs in our 30 minutes on the beach. When a ghost crab is caught in the light, it generally freezes for a few seconds before running away. If you do catch them, enjoy them for a few minutes and then release them. These crabs are not for eating.

The best time to find the ghost crabs is during the prime summer months, from late May until early September.

Outer Banks Beach Weather

The “off” season in the Outer Banks averages in the low to mid 50’s F. There really isn’t ever snow in the Outer Banks or weather into the 30’s F. Walks on the beach are still enjoyable during the winter months but there won’t be much swimming. It is still a beautiful time of year to visit.

The summer season has average temperatures in the low to mid-80s. During the spring and fall, temperatures are in the 70s during the day and low to mid-50s at night.

Outer Banks Beach Information

Driving on the Beach in the Outer Banks

Driving on the beach is allowed from October 1 – April 30 in Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills although a permit is required. You can purchase the off-season beach driving permits at the town hall or area tackle shops in Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills.

If you’re planning on driving out onto the Outer Banks beach, make sure you have a four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle. Here are a couple of rental companies in the area that rent 4WD jeeps:

• Island Cruisers
• Outer Banks Jeep Rentals

After getting to the beach, lower the pressure on all of the tires. Typically, you can drive with 15-25 lbs of pressure in the tires. Be sure to air them back up before driving on the paved roads.

The easiest place to drive on the beach is the area just below the high tide mark. Typically, the speed limit is 15 mph.

Hatteras Beach Driving

On Hatteras Island, you can drive on the beach year-round. Vehicles must have an ORV permit to drive in Cape Hatteras and must follow the ORV routes. You can purchase these permits at the Hatteras Island ranger stations or online.

From May 1 to November 15 due to sea turtle nesting season, driving on the national seashore beaches is not allowed from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. These can change depending on the nests in the area so if you are interested in night driving, contact the park for more info.

Pets on the OBX Beaches

Towns throughout the Outer Banks and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore all have their own rules about taking your pets on the beach.

Duck is one of the most pet-friendly Outer Banks beaches. Dogs can be on the beach unleashed, as long as they are under the control of their owner. However, the duck beach accesses are privately owned and access is limited to owners, renters, and their guests. In Duck, there are no public beaches.

On the Southern Shores, dogs are allowed on the beach before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. from May 15 – September 15. Year-round the dogs must be kept on a leash.

On Kitty Hawk Beach, dogs are allowed on the beach but have to have a rabies tag. From the Friday before Memorial Day until the day after Labor Day between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., dogs must be on a leash. Outside of that, dogs just have to be within 30 feet of their owners.

Leashed dogs are allowed on Cape Hatteras National Seashore as well as Nags Head year-round.

Safety on the Best Beaches in the Outer Banks

Beach Fires

Fires are allowed (permits required) from May 1 to Nov 15 in Nags Head and along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Fires are not allowed in Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, and Kill Devil Hills.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Beach Fire Permit
Nags Head Beach Fire Permit

Lifeguarded Beach List

There are a number of lifeguarded beaches in the Outer Banks typically staffed from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The central beaches of North Carolina’s Outer Banks in Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, and Kitty Hawk are the best for families. There are lots of lifeguard stands and the cities have a flag system to warn swimmers of threats.

Are Outer Banks beaches safe?

We had a great time swimming at the Outer Banks, NC beach. Sometimes on the ocean side, the waves were a little too big for me to feel comfortable letting my little kids swim in the waves. If you’re looking for smaller waves, visit a beach on the sound side.

Public beaches are also good about posting flags with weather conditions. If there are a lot of rip tides, red flags will be posted on the beaches.

Beach Games

Packing some games and toys will help keep everyone at the beach entertained a little longer. Especially if you’re traveling with kids, you can earn yourself a little relaxation with some planning.

Here are our favorite beach toys and games –

Kid Sand Toys: It seems like with a good bucket and shovel, my kids can play in the sand for hours.

Check Prices for Sand Toys on Amazon Here!

Portable Corn Hole Set: This is a fun game that all skill levels can enjoy. It is a collapsible set so it is easy to take in the car.

Check Prices for a Corn Hole Set on Amazon Here!

Body Board: My kids love riding in the waves and the Outer Banks is a great place to test out some of the top boogie boards on the market!

Check Prices for Body Boards on Amazon Here!

Spikeball: This game is geared toward adults and teenagers but is a fun and easy game to play on the beach.

Check Prices for Spikeball on Amazon Here!

What to Bring to the Outer Banks Beach

Along with games and entertainment, there are some supplies and gear that will really turn your trip to the Outer Banks beach into a party!

Here are our tried and true recommendations along with items you want to be sure to pack –

Water Bottle: It is important to stay hydrated when you’re out in the sun. We love how durable these water bottles are.

Sunscreen: Nothing is worse than leaving the beach with a bad sunburn. Be sure to bring proper sun protection.

Beach Chair: These chairs are compact and easy to carry out to the beach on your back, leaving your hands free to carry other things. Check out this list of some amazing beach chair with an umbrella options!

Check Prices for Beach Chairs on Amazon Here!

Waterproof Speakers: Life at the beach is always more fun with some good music.

Check Prices for Speakers on Amazon Here!

Yeti Cooler: This is one of our favorite things we take in our RV. It keeps food and drinks cold for so long, even in the hot sun, and is easy to carry out to the beach.

We have taken this cooler on so many road trips and vacations and LOVE it! It is well worth the cost. It keeps ice frozen for over 24 hours and is big enough to take food for our family for the day. Plus, you can take it on the plane as a carry-on.

Check Prices for the Yeti Cooler on Amazon Here!

GoPro: Capture all of your fun memories at the beach and playing in the water without the worry of ruining your camera.

Check Prices for GoPros on Amazon Here!

Beach Tent or Umbrella: The Outer Banks are hot and trust me… you’ll appreciate some shade!

Planning an Outer Banks Beach Vacation

What airport is closest to Outer Banks NC?

The Outer Banks is only 82 miles north of Norfolk International Airport, making it the closest airport. It is also 192 miles west of the Raleigh Durham International Airport. Either airport will lead to a beautiful and scenic drive as you make your way to the Outer Banks.

What is the best time of year to visit the Best Beaches in the Outer Banks?

The best time to visit the OBX beaches is March to May or September to November. By visiting the Outer Bank beach during this time, you will avoid a lot of the summer crowds and vacation rental rates drop.

If you want the warmest temperatures, plan on visiting in July and August. We visited at the end of June and it was plenty warm for swimming and enjoying the beach. Some days we were too hot!

Outer Banks Beach Hotels

• Hilton Garden Inn Outer Banks/Kitty Hawk (Kitty Hawk)
• Kitty Hawk Townhome at Sea Dunes (Kitty Hawk)
• Beachwoods by Diamond Resort (Kitty Hawk)
• Comfort Inn South Oceanfront (Nags Head)
• Sand Castle Village (Nags Head)
• Hampton Inn & Suites Outer Banks (Corolla)
  

There is also a wide variety of AirBNB rentals in the Outer Banks if you prefer to have a kitchen and space to yourself.

Twiddy Vacation Rentals

Another great option for finding a place to stay in the Outer Banks is with Twiddy, a family-owned and operated vacation home rental company. Twiddy property listings are vacation homes and have amazing amenities like pools, hot tubs, and theater rooms, depending on the listing.

They even have some amazing ocean-front properties, making you just a few steps away from the ocean. We always love staying in vacation homes because of the kitchen and the extra bedrooms we have for our kids. Having the extra space is a huge bonus!

▶ Browse Twiddy Vacation Homes

If you have any questions, please comment below! We had a great time in the Outer Banks and would love to help you plan your vacation to the Outer Banks beach. And make sure to follow along on our travels on Instagram @csginger.com.

More East Coast Beach Inspiration

A Guide to the Jekyll Island Beaches Including Driftwood Beach
Top Things to Do on Assateague Island National Seashore
Hunting Island State Park – Camping and Things to Do

Pin This Article to Read Later –

Want more North Carolina inspiration? Follow our Visit North Carolina Board on Pinterest!