Points of InterestKill Devil Hills
Bay of Bay Cliff
A quiet soundside pocket of Kill Devil Hills, away from the Beach Road crowds
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North Carolina
Your Guide to theOuter Banks130 Miles of Coast
Discover the best dining, lodging, experiences, beaches, and fishing across North Carolina's Outer Banks, from Corolla to Ocracoke.
🚨Park ClosurePark AlertPartial Beach Closures in Place in Front of Buxton Village
Park ClosurePark Alert
Partial Beach Closures in Place in Front of Buxton Village
The beachfront in front of Buxton Village is temporarily closed due to the presence of threatened oceanfront structures and Dare County's beach nourishment project. Renourished sections of beach will open to the public immediately after construction activities conclude in the areas, generally within 24 hours.
Explore the Outer Banks
Everything you need for your perfect Outer Banks trip, all in one place.
Featured Listings
Handpicked favorites from up and down the Outer Banks.
Vacation RentalKitty Hawk
Beach Haven Retreat
A week-long stay on Kitty Hawk's quieter stretch of the Beach Road
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Kitty Hawk
Black Flag Galley
Casual Croatan Highway fare in Kitty Hawk, open five days a week for lunch through early dinner
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Buxton
Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve
The maritime forest holding Hatteras Island's dunes and drinking water together
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Points of InterestBuxton
Canadian Hole
One of the East Coast's premier windsurfing and kiteboarding spots, soundside in Buxton
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Current Weather
Real-time conditions at Cape Hatteras National Seashore
⛅
71°
Feels like 75°F
Partly cloudy
💨5 mph SW
💧Humidity 84%
☀️UV 0 Low
🌅6:10 AM · 8:07 PM
83°
71°
Updated just nowToday
☁️
83° 71°
💧 1%
Sun
🌦️
83° 75°
💧 43%
Mon
⛈️
79° 74°
💧 68%
Tue
🌦️
76° 73°
💧 48%
Wed
⛈️
87° 75°
💧 22%
Plan Your Visit
Tips and insights for making the most of your time on the Outer Banks.
Weather & Seasons
The Outer Banks has a distinct season: summer (June-August) is peak beach season, warm and busy. Hurricane season runs June through November, peaking August-October - most years pass without a direct hit, but it's worth watching the forecast during that window. Spring and fall offer milder weather and thinner crowds, widely considered the best all-around time to visit. Winter is quiet, cool, and popular with anglers and anyone chasing an empty beach.
View forecast →Getting There
The Outer Banks is a chain of barrier islands off the North Carolina coast, reached via US-158 or US-64 from the mainland. The core beach towns (Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head) sit close together on paved NC-12; Hatteras Island's villages string out further south along the same highway. Ocracoke Island is reachable only by ferry - free from Hatteras village, or a longer paid crossing from the mainland at Cedar Island or Swan Quarter.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and fall bring the best balance of good weather and manageable crowds - book lodging early for these shoulder-season weeks, since locals know them well too. Summer is the busiest and most reliably warm stretch, ideal if crowds don't bother you. If you want the islands to yourself, winter is quiet and popular with anglers, though some seasonal businesses close for the off-season.
Recent News Articles
The latest Outer Banks travel guides and updates from our newsroom.
