The Outer Banks in North Carolina, also just known as OBX, feels like a world away from the hustle and bustle. In the relaxing setting, you find stunning beaches and proud lighthouses. But where to stay in the Outer Banks for the best experience?
Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills & Nags Head are the best places to stay in the Outer Banks if you want a central location. Add to that a fun vibe and a wide array of restaurants, shops and bars.
However, further north and south you find more secluded options for where to stay when visiting the Outer Banks. Consider Corolla, Hatteras Island or Ocracoke Island if you look for that really quiet escape.
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Table of contents
- Corolla – Secluded in the north
- Duck – Best of both worlds
- Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills & Nags Head – OBX’s heart
- Hatteras Island – Town-dotted island
- Ocracoke Island – A boat trip away
Corolla
If you want to get away from it all, it’s easy to like what Corolla offers. Far away from mainland distractions, Corolla is the northernmost option for where to stay in the Outer Banks.
In Corolla, pronounced KA-RAH-LA, you find mile after mile of beautiful and uncrowded beaches to enjoy.
Above all, it’s the peacefulness that makes Corolla such a popular place to stay in the Outer Banks. At Outer Banks hotels and vacation rentals up north it’s easier than ever to unwind.
A good way to enjoy both the quintessential ambience and iconic Outer Banks attractions is to walk the cozy Corolla Park.
Most eye-catching is the park’s red-brick Currituck Beach Lighthouse, proudly extending towards the North Carolina sky. There’s truly something special about the (5) lighthouses in the Outer Banks.
Another highlight in the park during an Outer Banks stay is the historic Whalehead mansion. Once home to a rich New England couple, a mansion tour offers an interesting glimpse into the past.
On the Corolla beaches further north, you find the legendary Outer Banks horses. In the Corova Beach area, only accessible by four-wheel drive, the unlikely animals descended from Spanish mustangs roam freely.
In the appreciated Corolla setting, you also find great Outer Banks places to stay, down-to-earth restaurants and cute shops. It’s not hard to see why Corolla is an Outer Banks area that easily lure travelers in.
In short, Corolla is the northernmost option for where to stay in the Outer Banks. Up here, you find a rare peacefulness, appreciated attractions and all the comfort you need including top Outer Banks places to stay.
Pick Corolla for: Secluded Outer Banks lodging.
Recommended hotels in Corolla
Hampton Inn & Suites Corolla
The beach is the best part of the Outer Banks, and at Corolla’s Hampton Inn, you stay right on it. If you book a room with ocean view, you even can hear the crashing waves from your own balcony at the beachfront Outer Banks hotel.
The Inn at Corolla Lighthouse
When it comes to location, it’s certainly hard to beat the Inn at Corolla Lighthouse. On the Currituck Sound, the Outer Banks inn offers both easy access to Corolla Park and some of the best sunsets on the East Coast.
Duck
The town Duck is located south of Corolla but north of the center of the Outer Banks. It’s an alternative for where to stay in the Outer Banks that offers a great compromise between tranquility and convenience.
Once famous for its bird hunting scene, Duck was named for the area’s many ducks. Although you still find ducks in the Outer Banks surroundings, most visitors today come for other reasons.
With its long beach and calm ambience, Duck is an excellent North Carolina destination for travelers who need to recharge. In the untroubled setting, Duck is the kind of beach town where visitors often feel at home within days.
An appreciated feature in the heart of Duck is its homey park and boardwalk. There, in the front row for sunsets on the Currituck Sound, the town also offers tasty eateries and fun shops to browse.
But if you’re after more things to see and do, you have much more action within easy reach.
From Duck, you effortlessly get further south to the busier towns of Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head. It’s less than 10 miles (16 km) from Duck to Kitty Hawk, where you always find something going on.
You also easily get from Duck to the northernmost town Corolla. From Duck it’s 15 miles (24 km) up to the historic Corolla Park.
In conclusion, Duck is an option for where to stay in the Outer Banks that offers the best of both worlds. The quiet town is a gorgeous destination on its own but also offers easy access to other popular Outer Banks towns and attractions.
Pick Duck for: Convenient yet tranquil Outer Banks lodging.
Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills & Nags Head
Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head are the three adjacent towns that make up the heart of the Outer Banks. The area is the most central option for where to stay in the Outer Banks.
One bridge directly connects Kitty Hawk with the mainland. Further south, two bridges connect Nags Head to the mainland via Roanoke Island. These are the only mainland connections in the Outer Banks.
Although Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head are different towns, they over time have grown together. Where one of the central Outer Banks towns ends, the next one begins.
In the concentrated area, you find a bigger selection of Outer Banks hotels, restaurants, bars and shops. The vibe is relaxed all over the Outer Banks, but its central towns are certainly busier than the more remote areas.
A favorite Outer Banks attraction in Kill Devil Hills is the Wright Brothers National Memorial. The extensive memorial commemorates the Wright brothers and their historic first flight, which took place in the Outer Banks in 1903.
Another highlight in the central Outer Banks area is Jockey’s Ridge State Park. In Nags Head, the park offers the tallest living dune on the Atlantic coast of the US. It’s also one of the best sunset spots in the Outer Banks.
All in all, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head constitute the undisputed heart of the Outer Banks. On top of the area’s convenient location, it’s the best place to stay in the Outer Banks if you prefer liveliness over seclusion.
Pick Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills & Nags Head for: Central Outer Banks accommodation.
Recommended hotels in central Outer Banks
First Colony Inn Nags Head
Southern hospitality is real. Come to Nags Head’s First Colony Inn and experience it for yourself, with private beach access, delightful common areas (don’t miss the library) and comfy rockers, of course.
Surf Side Hotel
Sleep like a baby in your spotless room, start the day with a complimentary breakfast and then unfurl the towel on the adjacent dunes — the beachfront Surf Side Hotel knows how to make guest get into vacation mode. If it’s a special occasion, opt for an ocean view room with balcony.
Marriott KDH
Sure, this is a “boring” big-chain hotel. However, the comfort of the Marriott in Kill Devil Hills is undeniable.
Hatteras Island
Hatteras Island is by a margin the longest island in the Outer Banks. At roughly 50 miles (80 km), this option for where to stay in the Outer Banks even is one of the longer islands in the entire continental United States.
Spread out over Hatteras Island, you find several different towns with Outer Banks lodging. The towns that call Hatteras Island their home are Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and, of course, Hatteras.
Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo are the charming northernmost towns on Hatteras Island. Deeper down Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras are other delightful Outer Banks places to stay.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore has protected the island from development. So no matter where on Hatteras Island you base yourself, you find an untouched setting to enjoy during your Outer Banks stay.
But pay attention to that the distances between the Hatteras Island towns are significant. From Outer Banks hotels in Rodanthe, it takes roughly an hour to get to the island’s southernmost town Hatteras.
This means that the northern Hatteras Island towns offer good access to the livelier heart of the Outer Banks, while the southern communities are situated further away from the buzz.
In conclusion, Hatteras Island is not only a long island but also a great alternative for where to stay in the Outer Banks. Regardless of where on the island you look, you find Outer Banks places to stay where it’s easy to relax.
Pick Hatteras Island for: Unwinding Outer Banks lodging.
Recommended hotels on Hatteras Island
Cape Hatteras Motel
While Cape Hatteras Motel is low key, it offers luxurious ocean views. Prepare for a quintessential Outer Banks experience with Hatteras Islands’ seemingly endless sand dunes right on your doorstep.
Ocracoke Island
Want to be wowed by the sheltered environment that only a non-road-connected island can provide? Then hop onto the Ocracoke Island ferry either from Hatteras Island (northeast), Cedar Island (southwest) or Swan Quarter (mainland).
Ocracoke Island has a population of under 1,000 people, and it really feels like time stands still here. Because of its isolation, the distinctive English Hoi Toider accent has managed to survive and can be heard on Ocracoke Island to this day.
There’s just one town on Ocracoke Island, the aptly named town of Ocracoke. Dotted with a few delightful restaurants and hotels, it has just the right size for a relaxing, walkable Outer Banks vacation.
Be sure to check out the 1823 Ocracoke Island Lighthouse, North Carolina’s oldest operating lighthouse and one of America’s oldest. Although the white structure may feel like a landscape decoration nowadays, it still fills an important function keeping the treacherous waters of the Outer Banks safe for seafarers.
Any horse lovers out there? Ocracoke Island is the home of an irresistible herd of Ocracoke banker ponies, descendants of Spanish mustangs believed to have been left behind by 16th-century explorers.
All in all, Ocracoke’s Island number one drawcard is its seclusion. Pick this option for where to stay in the Outer Banks if you crave for unmatched solitude, as far away from mainland distractions as possible.
Pick Ocracoke Island for: Outer Banks isolation.
Recommended hotels on Ocracoke Island
The Ocracoke Harbor Inn
The Ocracoke Harbor Inn offers passionately refined rooms and suites overlooking Silver Lake, functioning as Ocracoke’s harbor. From the water views to the friendly ambience, this Outer Banks hotel is a great place to be.
Pony Island Inn
Just off North Carolina Highway 12, Pony Island Inn takes pride in offering top convenience. Walk to the harbor in under 10 minutes, or hit the highway north for an endless spectacle of pristine beaches (and happy ponies).
Final words about where to stay in the Outer Banks, OBX
The appealing alternatives for where to stay in the Outer Banks are many. Locals call it paradise on earth, and after your visit — you most likely will too.
If you prefer to be in the heart of the region, check in at an Outer Banks hotel in Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills or Nags Head. Otherwise bed down at Outer Banks lodging either to the north or south.
For day trips, have the extensiveness of the Outer Banks in mind. It takes over two hours to go by car from Corolla in the north to the southern tip of Hatteras Island, where ferries run to Ocracoke Island.
Where to stay in the Outer Banks FAQ
Here you find the answers to some frequently asked questions about where to stay in the Outer Banks, North Carolina.
There are several great options for where to stay when visiting the Outer Banks. Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head make up the lively heart of the area. The further north or south you go from there, the more seclusion you find; go for Corolla, Hatteras Island or Ocracoke Island if you really want to get away from it all.
The best place to stay in the Outer Banks for liveliness is the central area, encompassing Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head. However, look either north or south — towards Corolla, Duck, Hatteras Island or Ocracoke Island — if you prefer quieter options for where to stay in the Outer Banks.
Both Corolla and Duck are popular places to stay in the Outer Banks. Corolla is located further north and with that comes increased seclusion. Duck is, in contrast, situated closer to the area’s busy heart, offering better access to central and southern attractions.
Picture yourself listening to crashing Outer Banks waves, from your very own balcony. To experience just that, check in at Cape Hatteras Motel, offering dramatic ocean views that leave you in awe. As appreciated oceanfront hotels with balcony in the Outer Banks, Nags Head’s Surf Side Hotel and Corolla’s Hampton Inn put you in a tough yet thankful spot to be in.
With spacious rooms and top access to Outer Banks ponies, Ocracoke Island’s Pony Island Inn is one of the best places to stay in the Outer Banks with family. A strong contender, the delightful Marriott in Kill Devil Hills provides large family rooms and splashing swimming pools.
Steeped in history, First Colony Inn (on the National Register of Historic Places) sets an unmatched scene for history-interested couples. Other romantic places to stay in the Outer Banks include the oceanfront Cape Hatteras Motel and Surf Side Hotel, both allowing you to listen to the ocean sounds from your room together.
The wild Outer Banks horses are famed and to see them adds a dimension to an Outer Banks stay. Even though you find the unlikely animals in several places along the coastline, Corolla is an unbeatable option for where to stay in the Outer Banks to see wild horses. On the remote northern Corolla beaches, accessible only by four-wheel drive, the wild horses roam freely.
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