Best Outer Banks Towns | Atlantic Realty Outer Banks (2024)

FAQs

What is the nicest area of the Outer Banks? ›

Kitty Hawk is arguably one of the best places to live in the Outer Banks. This year-round location is known for its first flight namesake, kiteboarding, surfing, boating, kayaking, golf, and maritime forests.

Laid Back Like the Outer Banks of Old

Salvo, NC, is the quietest of the three villages of Rodanthe/Waves/Salvo, known locally as the Tri-Villages. Salvo is predominantly residential and perfect for a quiet vacation.

Least Crowded Beach in the Outer Banks

For solitude seekers, Hatteras Island is genuinely an Outer Banks Island. It stands out as the least crowded beach, providing ample space for relaxation without the interference of bustling crowds.

KILL DEVIL HILLS

This town is the center of the Outer Banks and the hub of the majority of restaurants, shops and activities.

Of the three towns that make our list, you could say that Corolla is the “fanciest” of the trio. Known locally for its trendy, upscale shopping and dining, Corolla is a great fit for people and families who enjoy the best of both worlds.

Study shows that Dare & Currituck County are among the wealthiest in North Carolina - OBX Today.

The south side, also called the Cut, is where lower income people live; it's where John B (Chase Stokes), JJ (Rudy Pankow) and Pope (Jonathan Daviss) live. This is where you'll find people called Pogues. Simply put, a Pogue is someone who lives in the Cut.

The Perfect Place for Retirees

As compared to the northern East Coast beaches, the Outer Banks beaches have much more to offer. The pleasant breeze that blows all day long compensates during hot summers. Winters are rarely freezing with temperatures around 50 degrees.

The best time to visit the Outer Banks is between March and May or September and November, when lodging rates drop and crowds dissipate. Most mainland North Carolina residents and out-of-towners arrive during the summer months, when humidity is high and average temperatures consistently hit the upper 80s.

What is the thinnest part of the Outer Banks? ›

8. At its narrowest, the Outer Banks is only 150 yards wide. One of the thinnest stretches of land along the Outer Banks is located between Buxton and Avon. At the Haulover, otherwise known as the Canadian Hole, approximately 150 yards separates the Pamlico Sound from the Atlantic Ocean.

Outer Banks is set in a coastal town along the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where there is a stark social divide between wealthy seasonal residents and working-class locals, nicknamed the "Kooks" and "Pogues", respectively.

If you are traveling with a big group, Kitty Hawk is your one-stop for everyone. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, beach accesses and more. Kitty hawk will offer your family plenty of activities from watersports to quiet nature trails in Kitty Hawk Woods if you find yourself craving a little bit of seclusion.

Many people dream of living on the oceanfront and for good reason, nothing, in my opinion, can beat eating breakfast watching the surf break, but the reality is the overwhelming majority of Outer Banks full-time residents live on the west side of the island.

The moon's gravitational pull, the Earth's rotation, and temperature changes between the equator and the poles keeps these waters constantly churning. The area off the Outer Banks is especially turbulent because of how the Gulf Stream collides with colder waters flowing down from the Arctic.

The Outer Banks is ideal for those seeking a more relaxed, natural beach experience with easy public access and ample family-friendly rental homes, whereas Myrtle Beach offers a lively, urban environment with numerous entertainment options, high-rise hotels, and convenient access.