Visiting The Outer Banks | The Best Places to Stay, Eat, and Explore on Your North Carolina Beach Vacation
Growing up, my family and I would visit the Outer Banks every summer in June. Packing up the car always felt like the unofficial start of summer! Flash forward to 2020 - we rented a house and took Elliot to the Outer Banks for the first time. It was his first time experiencing a sandy beach, and he was IN LOVE. We had so much fun running up and down the beach together at sunrise and sunset that we’ve gone back every summer since. Being back as an adult allowed me to rediscover the area in a whole new way. Turns out there’s more to a beach town than building sandcastles and accidentally getting a sunburn!
So, if you’re looking to have the ultimate Outer Banks vacation, keep reading for my top tips based on over 30 years of visiting this incredibly special place.
What is the Outer Banks?
The Outer Banks is a set of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, separating the Atlantic Ocean from the mainland, and is is a popular summer destination for beach-goers, divers, and boaters.
Many major historic moments have occurred in the Outer Banks as well - Roanoke Island was the site of England’s first settlement in the New World, and Kitty Hawk was the site of the Wright Brothers’ airplane testing and first flight!
Today the Outer Banks are broken into many communities along the islands, connected by roads, bridges, and waterways. My personal favorite communities are Duck, Southern Shores, and Kitty Hawk, which is where most of my recommendations are located, but there are SO many more the further south you go.
When to Visit
High season in the Outer Banks runs from Memorial Day - Labor Day. This is when you will experience the best beach weather, have the highest potential for wildlife sightings (dolphins, wild horses, birds, etc.), and find the most restaurants and shops open. This is also the time where the Outer Banks will be the most crowded and rental prices will be the highest. June is my favorite month to visit during high season. The weather is warm but not too hot, and rental prices haven’t hit their peak yet.
Low season runs from Labor Day - Memorial Day. Rental prices are lower, and the entire area will be far less crowded. This is actually the ideal time to bring your dog to the Outer Banks, as you won’t have to worry about hot sand! However, the beach and ocean will be too cold to lay out and swim, and some shops and restaurants do close over the winter. Late October is a great time to visit during the low season. It’s usually still warm enough to walk on the beach and eat outside, and most restaurants are still open.
Getting to the Outer Banks
Flying: If you are traveling from far away and looking to fly into the Outer Banks, the closest major airport is Norfolk International Airport. Norfolk is located about two hours away from Duck, NC, so you will need to rent a car if you plan to fly in.
Driving: My family has always taken the Midwest approach to travel, and we would drive the 11 hours from Cleveland to Kitty Hawk every summer. While this might seem crazy to some, most people actually do travel to the Outer Banks by car.
Getting Around the Outer Banks
The best way to get around the Outer Banks is by car, whether your bring your own or rent a vehicle.
Depending on the community where you’re staying, renting pedal bikes or a golf cart once you arrive is another great option if you don’t plan to venture very far. (Duck is the most walkable/bikeable community.)
In general, ride shares, taxis, and public transport options are few and far between in this area.
Where to Stay
Soundside vs. Oceanside: Because the Outer Banks is comprised of barrier islands, you have the choice to either stay on the Currituck Sound side (the west side of the barrier islands) or the Atlantic ocean side (the east side of the barrier islands). Both are beautiful, but have their differences. You’ll find much calmer waters on the soundside, but there are far fewer beaches (think more boat docks and launches). Oceanside has the vast beaches and open ocean for swimming, diving, etc. Whichever you choose, the Outer Banks is so narrow that you can pop back and forth depending on your activities for the the day.
House rentals: The most popular way to book accomodation in the Outer Banks is by renting a house or condo through one of the major rental companies in the area. We have gone through a few different companies over the years, but our favorite is Joe Lamb. There is a WIDE variety of homes available for rent in the Outer Banks, from cozy 2 bedroom bungalows to 15 bedroom, multi-million dollar mansions. So whether you’re looking for something for a couples getaway or a place to host your extended family reunion, you’ll have options! Of course, the closer to the ocean you are, the more expensive and in-demand the homes become. If you plan to visit in the summer months, I would recommend researching/booking your accommodation as soon as possible. (I’m talking like a year in advance.) It can also be helpful to be flexible with dates and/or properties. There is slightly less pressure if you’re visiting in the off-season (October - April), but homes do book quickly over major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Note - most rental companies require a minimum stay of one week, and check in/check out days are firmly set by property (typically Friday, Saturday, or Sunday).
Hotels: There are a variety of hotel and motel options throughout the Outer Banks. Many nationwide hotel chains, like Hilton, Holiday Inn, and Marriott have properties scattered throughout different OBX communities. Many offer amenities that you won’t find in all rental homes, including complimentary breakfast, direct beach access and a lower nightly rate.
Airbnbs: The homes available on Airbnb tend to be a bit smaller and further removed from the ocean. But on the flip side, the nightly rate is often significantly lower than what you’d find by going through a larger rental company. You will also have the option to book for a shorter duration and choose your own check in/check out date. This option is ideal if you are traveling as a couple or don’t care about staying waterfront.
Where to Eat
The Outer Banks is home to countless restaurants - many of which have been operating for multiple decades! It’s not always easy to find good vegetarian options in an oceanfront community, but these are my favorites after trying A LOT over the years.
My general rule of thumb is to arrive everywhere early. We like to go to breakfast when the restaurants open, have a small lunch on the beach, and go to dinner around 4:30pm. We joke that this is our version of “beach time”, but I really think it’s worth it to not have to wait 1-2 hours for a dinner table. I’ve noted below if restaurants accept reservations (*) or have great take-out (^), which can also help beat the dinner rush.
Treehouse Cafe & Coffee^ is a delightful coffee house famous for its mouth-watering homemade biscuits. I highly recommend the egg and cheese biscuit sandwich and the huevos rancheros burrito. Treehouse biscuits also freeze really well, so we always order a few extra biscuits to bring home with us! We love having a taste of vacation at home once the actual vacation is over. Pro tip - Treehouse Cafe & Coffee is usually VERY busy for breakfast but less so at lunch. If you’re happy to have breakfast for lunch, I’d go around 12:30pm.
Eventide is my favorite date night spot to watch a sunset with a bottle of wine and a cheeseboard. Eventide is also a wonderful place to go for an outdoor happy hour in the rain - their outdoor patio is covered and overlooks the Sound.
The Blue Point* is Eventide’s sister restaurant, and the best dinner I’ve EVER had in the Outer Banks. The Blue Point is situated right on the Currituck Sound and is the perfect location for a fancy evening out. The Blue Point does accept reservations, but I’ve also walked in without issue.
Duck Donuts^ is a create-your-own donut shop with locations throughout the Outer Banks. Every donut is made to order, and you can customize all of your own toppings! My favorite is made with peanut butter frosting, chocolate drizzle, and peanuts.
Art’s Place serves my favorite veggie burger in the entire world - the Blues Burger - a black bean patty topped with bleu cheese, grilled red onion, spinach, & balsamic reduction. Art’s Place hosts live music some nights, and their rooftop patio is a great place to watch the sunset.
Duck’s Cottage & Downtown Books is an adorable coffee shop and bookstore located in Duck. Be sure to check out the section dedicated to local authors and fiction set in the Outer Banks! I like to grab a coffee, a beach read, and take both to the Duck Boardwalk - it makes for a great morning on the Currituck Sound.
Southern Shores Pizza & Deli^ is my go-to place to pick up a pizza in the Outer Banks.
Black Pelican: My family has been eating at Black Pelican since I was a baby! They have a huge menu that is seafood-forward, but their vegetarian options include wood-fired pizza, a portabella mushroom stack, and amazing desserts. This is also a fun place to bring kids - all kid’s meals are served in a frisbee! (Yes, I still have mine!) The restaurant is very marina-themed - more upscale than an oyster shack, but people still go in shorts and t-shirts.
Awful Arthur’s Oyster Bar^ is a classic seafood establishment located in Kitty Hawk. They specialize in fast, fried options, including a rotating catch-of-the-day, and in recent years, they’ve added a veggie burger. But my absolute favorite item on the menu is their hush puppies. These are made without jalapenos and served with a warm honey butter. Some nights, we’ve just gotten a large order of hush puppies to-go and made a fresh salad at home!
Where to Explore
Go to the beach! Many rental homes have direct beach access, or there are many public beach accesses along the shore!
Visit the Wright Brothers National Monument and see where the Wright Brothers flew the first airplane. Admission is free if you have an America the Beautiful pass, and dogs are allowed on the grounds.
Take a Kayak Tour with Coastal Kayak Touring Company - I loved the Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary tour. (We normally book this the week of our vacation to choose a good weather day.)
Go on an open-air wild horse tour with Wild Horse Adventure Tours (recommend booking in advance).
Go birdwatching at the Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Preserve (Sandy Run Park Loop).
Visit a lighthouse! Corolla, Bodie, and Hatteras Lighthouses make a wonderful partial-day excursion if you need a break from the beach. These lighthouses are dog-friendly on the grounds, but only service dogs are permitted to enter of the buildings on-site.
Take a hang gliding lesson.
Spend some time shopping along The Duck Boardwalk and Scarborough Faire Shopping Village (I love the duck shirts at Grays). My family also collects an ornament from The Christmas Shop every year - it’s a great way to remember our travels!
Visit the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. On a rainy day (or a day when you need a break from the sun), head to the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. The aquarium sits on 16 acres overlooking the Croatan Sound and houses over 2,200 animals, with a mission to “inspire appreciation and conservation of our aquatic environments.” I loved visiting this aquarium as a kid, and it was great as an adult as well! If you are a member at your home zoo, you can check here to see if you are eligible for discounted admission. This is one of my favorite rainy day activities, but it is also everyone else’s! If possible, plan to arrive early in the day and prepare yourself for a line at the admission gate. I’ve found that the line to get in is the most crowded part, and that the foot traffic really calms down once you get inside.
Other Tips
If you prefer to rent beach equipment (such as chairs, umbrellas, coolerts, etc.), Ocean Atlantic Rentals has so many options and packages to choose from. You can pick your rentals up yourself, or have them delivered to your rental house at the beginning of your trip. They even offer daily beach set ups, which can be a great option if you have a large group or a lot of small children.
Outer Banks is extremely dog-friendly, so don’t leave your pup at home! Just make sure you book a dog-friendly vacation rental, and your dog will be ready for the best trip ever. Dogs are allowed on the beach in the mornings and evenings, which is perfect for their paws on the cool sand. (A good rule of thumb - if the sand is too hot for you, then it’s too hot for your dog!) Many of the restaurant patios are dog-friendly as well. We have brought Elliot with us to Treehouse Cafe & Coffee, Eventide, and the Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Preserve.
Make a plan, but don’t plan too much. I think the key to a beach vacation is to pick 2-3 must-do activities or restaurants, and then allow yourself to relax into the week.
And there you have it!
For even more information on visiting the Outer Banks, click here to get my Duck/Southern Shores/Kitty Hawk Visitor’s Guide delivered straight to your inbox.
This handy two-page guide has locations and hours of the best shopping and restaurants in the area, as well as practical information like the nearest grocery and pharmacy - perfect to hang on your fridge and use throughout your trip!