An undeveloped wildlife-refuge beach on Hatteras Island's north end, better known for its birds than its crowds
Pea Island Beach runs along the Atlantic side of the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, the stretch of Hatteras Island between the Marc Basnight Bridge over Oregon Inlet and the village of Rodanthe. Unlike the beaches inside Cape Hatteras National Seashore just to the south, this shoreline is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the priority here is habitat, not amenities — there's no lifeguard, no bathhouse, no snack stand, just sand, surf, and open sky.
Established in 1938 to protect wintering greater snow geese, Pea Island has grown into one of the East Coast's best-known stops for migratory waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds. The refuge's ponds and marsh sit just across NC-12 from the ocean, so a morning spent birding often ends with a walk on a nearly empty beach a few minutes later.
57 reviews
a year ago
This is such an amazing beach! If you want to ditch the crowds and have your own little slice of paradise, this is the place for you. Super wide sandy beach, beautiful surf, lots of wildlife, and completely serene. There is a bit of a hike over the dunes to get there, so if you have anyone who is challenged with walking, this might not be your spot, but other than that, this is my favorite beach spot in the OBX.
2 years ago
When nearly the entire stretch of Rodanthe beaches are eroded and littered with house debris and tree stumps (except for the public access at Rye Beach), this is where you should go. You’ll likely have the whole place to yourself. Astonishing the amount of hazardous waste that has been left on the 2.5 mile stretch of beaches just south of here. Swim at your own risk. Or step on one of the many septic tanks with rusty metal sticking out, old gas lines, electric and cable wires, etc. And you probably won’t see 1/2 of it. What you can see one day, is covered with a small layer of sand the next.
3 years ago
Breathtaking beauty, to the maximum level of solitude, found on any beach I ever been to! So peaceful, and you're sure to find some shells here. Parking is no problem, being your allowed to park right on the side of the road! Careful bc we had to push our car out of the sand, when we left lol. You will walk over some sand dunes, to be greeted with a magnificent view!! Definitely worth the visit A+
3 months ago
Not as crowded as some other beaches in the area. But the sand is full of broken shells that make it painful to go barefoot.
a year ago
The hike up the dunes are not great but worth it! The most beautiful beach I’ve ever been to!