The Beginner's Guide to The Outer Banks

Where We Stay, Our Favorite Things to Do, & How to Explore This Little Slice of Heaven

There is truly nowhere in the world I love more than the Outer Banks, a dreamy stretch of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. It’s a place my family has been visiting every summer for nearly 60 years—a tradition passed down through generations. We’ve explored beaches around the world with clearer water, prettier shells, and more pristine stretches of sand, but somehow the Outer Banks remains our favorite slice of earth. Perhaps it’s the nostalgia of a place that has hardly changed since my early childhood permanently skewing my view—but there is simply nowhere I love more.

I’m often asked for recommendations on where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in the Outer Banks. It’s a tricky guide to write because, to be honest, our weeks there have almost always been spent lounging on the beach all day and ending the evenings with dinner back at the house. If you’re looking for nonstop adventure, you can find it—but for us, the beauty of the Outer Banks is how it forces us to slow down, disconnect, and reconnect with the people we love most.

If you’ve never been, here’s a beginner’s guide to the Outer Banks:

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How to Get to the Outer Banks

The Outer Banks are about a 4–4.5 hour drive from Raleigh, NC (depending on which town you’re headed to). If you’re flying, Raleigh-Durham International Airport usually has the most options for direct flights, and it’s where we usually flew into when we lived in Arizona.

The airport in Norfolk, Virginia, is closer—about a 2.5-hour drive to the Outer Banks—but typically has fewer flight options.

For reference, our drive from Greenville, SC, to Hatteras takes about 8 hours.

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Where to Stay on the Outer Banks

It really depends on the vibe you’re after.

When I was little, we stayed in Nags Head. In my teenage years, we shifted south to Avon, and for the past decade, we’ve been in Hatteras. We were married in Corolla and spent our wedding week in Carova—so we’ve experienced a bit of it all.

Nags Head
A more commercial area with plenty of shopping, fast food, and local restaurants. Because it’s where you first enter the Outer Banks, it has the shortest drive time and sits right in the middle of the islands. It can get busy, and the beaches here aren’t my personal favorite, but we spent one Christmas here, and it had a completely different, cozy feel.

Duck
The bougie-er side of the Outer Banks, with beautiful sidewalks, a neighborhood atmosphere, and the popular Sanderling Resort.

Corolla
Past Duck, you’ll reach Corolla, a quaint beach town with a picturesque lighthouse, a little historic district, and larger communities of homes. We were married in the tiny white chapel here, so it holds many special memories.

Avon, Salvo, and Rodanthe
These three towns share a similar laid-back beach vibe. Rentals here tend to be more affordable and a little less crowded than the central and northern parts of the Outer Banks.

Ocracoke
A secluded island frequently named one of the best beaches in the United States. It’s about a one-hour ferry ride from Hatteras. There aren’t many places to stay, but the town is charming, and the cute lighthouse is worth a visit. Ocracoke makes a perfect day trip if you’re staying elsewhere in the Outer Banks.

Hatteras
This is where we usually stay. Even in the height of summer, the beaches here never feel crowded. There’s great access to the sound (where you’ll catch jaw-dropping sunsets) and just enough little shops and amenities to cover you for the week.

Here are my favorite things to do when we’re in Hatteras:

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Things to Do in Hatteras

Mostly, let yourself just enjoy the beach. But if you feel like exploring, here are a few recommendations:

Food

• Happy Belly: The best ice cream spot on the island.

• Risky Business Seafood: For fresh peel-and-eat shrimp. We love the spicy ones with their cocktail sauce.

• Isola: Our go-to takeout pizza.

• The Dancing Turtle: The local coffee shop.

• Hatteras Sol: Our favorite restaurant in Hatteras. The outdoor bar has epic sunset views. A great date night spot.

Shops

• Kitty Hawk Kites: The best toy and gift shop (lots of locations around the Outer Banks).

• Lee Robinson’s General Store: Gourmet grocery items, gifts, and delicious fudge.

• Village Market Red & White: The local grocery store dating back to 1866!

Day Trips & Activities

• Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum: Located in Hatteras, this small museum is a fun place to learn about the area’s shipwrecks. They have a scavenger hunt for kids.

• Cape Hatteras Lighthouse: My favorite lighthouse (currently under reconstruction). When open, you can climb to the top for beautiful views.

• Ferry to Ocracoke: The perfect day trip. You can reserve a spot on the passenger ferry and rent a golf cart (or take a free golf cart taxi) when you arrive. If you prefer, drive on the car ferry—just be prepared to wait during busy season.

• Watch the sunset and play in the sound (park in this parking lot for our fav spot).

• Climb the sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge: These massive dunes are so much fun to explore. You’ll often see people paragliding.

• Visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial: Check out the spot where the Wright brothers took their first flight.

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Where We’ve Stayed

Below are links and reviews of the houses we’ve rented over the years—a little perk for my paid subscribers. Thanks for supporting us!