Soundside water shuttle and charter service based in Kill Devil Hills
Island Water Shuttle is based in Kill Devil Hills, on the west side of town toward Roanoke Sound rather than the open Atlantic a few blocks east. Listed as a tour operator, it's built around water transport — getting people and gear across the sound rather than anchoring a single fixed attraction — which makes it a practical call for anyone trying to reach a spot on this stretch of the northern Outer Banks that's easier to hit by boat than by car.
Specific routes, trip lengths, and pricing aren't listed here, so the best move is to call ahead or check the business website before you build a day around it. That's true of most small water-based operators on this part of the Outer Banks — schedules can shift with tides, weather, and time of year.
Worth timing around the season: Memorial Day through Labor Day is the busiest stretch on the water, April-May and September-October tend to be quieter and more comfortable, and the real hurricane risk window runs August through October — check marine conditions before planning a day out on the sound.
22 reviews
4 months ago
Me and my friends booked the sunset tiki boat cruise and had so much fun! Captain Dave was super accommodating and helpful in prepping us and communicating before our trip. There were 9 of us and we all fit perfectly and enjoyed the bar and umbrella on the back of the boat! Overall would totally recommend this to anyone looking for a sunset tiki boat in OBX!!!
a year ago
A fabulous experience and would totally recommend. We as a family of four went out with Earl last Thursday evening and had the most magical time. Pretty much as soon as we left the dock we had come across a large pod of dolphins who came within almost touching distance of the boat, there were so many in the sound at one time it was impossible to know where to look. We were able to capture some excellent photos and enjoy the spectacle of the dolphins playing around in the water. We continued our tour with some fun and fast cruising around the sound, Earl was very knowledgable and interesting too and we made it to an opening at the North side of Roanoke Island just in time to witness a beautiful sunset on the over the water, probably one of the best we have ever seen.
2 years ago
We had a great time on our evening cruise. We got to see a little bit of everything. Dave knows a lot about the area and includes a good tour of the Sound, the boat yard, a lighthouse, festival park, and others. We ended the evening with a great sunset and many dolphins swimming around our boat.
a year ago
My wife and I went out on a dolphin tour with friends and Captain Dave today and had a really amazing time. We saw so many dolphins! He was informative and knowledgeable about the area and made sure to point out everything of interest. The boat was immaculate as well. We highly recommend Island Water Shuttle and Captain Dave!
2 years ago
We went out with my family and best friends- kids and adults and everyone had a an awesome time!! Captain Dave took us to see the dolphins, the sunset was amazing and just being able to hang out in the sound was so much fun!!! Highly recommend for a great OBX experience!!!