Ranking Each Outer Banks Town

We have put together a countdown of our favorite towns on North Carolina's Outer Banks. Feel free to let us know if we're spot on or missed the mark with the countdown in the comments section below. This is just our opinion!

1. Nags Head

Pros:

• Most accessible beaches with plenty of public accesses to choose from, many of which have a lifeguard on duty during the summer months.
• There are a few piers in Nags head to visit including the impressive Jennette's Pier at milepost 16.
• Plenty of local shops and restaurants to try for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Many grocery stores to choose from, including Food Lion, Harris Teeter and The Fresh Market.
• Beaches have undergone several rounds of nourishment and are larger than many other portions of the Outer Banks.

Cons:

• Can be crowded during the summer months of June, July and August.

2. Corolla

Pros: 

• Chance of seeing a wild Spanish mustang wandering around the subdivision you are staying at.
• Currituck Beach Lighthouse and The Whalehead are both located in Corolla.
• Beach is very well-kept in Corolla and most spots have an ample amount of space between the dunes and the shore break.
• A beautiful and most untouched place to see natural wildlife and enjoy a peaceful stroll under the shade of many native trees. Currituck Banks Coastal Estuarine Reserve is not to be overlooked!
• Plenty of vacation rental homes to choose from, everything from cozy three bedroom cottages to 20+ bedroom mansions.
• Very secluded and although there are shops and restaurants, its very quiet in must portions of Corolla.

Cons: 

• It can take awhile to finally get to your vacation rental home on a Saturday during the summer, there is only one road in and one road out!
• Can be pricy to stay in Corolla, many of the rental homes are newer.

3. Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

Pros:

• Untouched as it is a protected shoreline.
• Haven for sea turtles and many species of shorebirds.
• You can find your own slice of the beach and not see anyone else all day.

Cons:

• Parking at the visitors center but other than that, you have to park alongside the road and hike over the sand dunes.
• No restaurants, shops or bathrooms.
• There is a grand total of zero rental homes and condos to rent on Pea Island.

4. Ocracoke Island

Pros:

• Sand is a beautiful white color
• Very remote and the beaches are not crowded

Cons:

• Only accessible by ferry and it'll take a good 1.5 to 2 hours to get to the island from the central beaches.

5. Kill Devil Hills

Pros: 

• The most commercialized stretch of beach on the Outer Banks.
• Plenty of vacation rental homes and condos to select from.
• More year-round residents live in Kill Devil Hills than any other Outer Banks town.
• Home to Kill Devil Grill which is quite possibly the best restaurant along the barrier islands.
• An array of putt-putt golf courses and more souvenir shops than you'll ever need to visit in one vacation.
• Avalon Fishing Pier is located here.
• In the heart of the central islands of the Outer Banks.
• There are a number of different lifeguarded beaches and many public beach accesses and a few with substantial bath houses.
• Home to the Wright Brothers National Memorial and the site of the "First Flight" in 1903.

Cons: 

• The most commercialized stretch of beach on the Outer Banks.
• Traffic can be tricky during the summer. Like the rest of the central Banks, there are two roads to travel along; NC 12 or "beach road" and the bypass.

6. Kitty Hawk

Pros: 

• Easiest to get in and out of, Kitty Hawk is the first town once you cross over the Wright Memorial Bridge that connects the Outer Banks to mainland NC.
• Hilton Garden Inn is a really nice oceanfront hotel for visitors who just want to stay a few nights as opposed to a week instead of an entire week.
• A small collection of oceanfront cottages with plenty of character are available for rent. Be warned that availability is limited!
• Plenty of shops and restaurants to check out.

Cons: 

• Selection of rental homes and condos is limited.
• Roads can be congested during the summer.
• Some portions of the beach are not very wide and can be crowded at times.

7. Duck

Pros: 

• Where Duck Donuts was founded! A rapidly growing franchise that may be or already has a location in a town near you.
• Duck Town Boardwalk is nearly a mile long and right along the sound waters. Enjoy shopping, dining and activities.
• There are an array of extravagant vacation homes that you can book a week-long stay at.

Cons: 

• One of the more expensive towns on the Outer Banks to stay in.
• Traffic during June, July and August can be a pain in the neck.
• Limited number of restaurants in comparison to the number of vacationers.

8. Southern Shores

Pros: 

• Lots of mature trees and a selection of well-appointed and well-secluded homes.
• It's very quiet with few commercial establishments.

Cons: 

• There are almost no public beach accesses and if you park alongside the road you're asking to have your vehicle towed.
• The beach really isn't accessible unless you walk to it from your rental property.

9. Hatteras Island

We've bundled Waves, Frisco, Rodanthe and Salvo into Hatteras Island.

Pros:

• Some of the best surfing spots are found along Hatteras Island.
• Beaches are not crowded whatsoever, even during the summer.
• Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton is the tallest all-brick lighthouse in the United States.
• Plenty of shoreline which is ideal for surf fisherman.

Cons:

• Limited shops and restaurants to choose from.
• Beach parking is often limited to wherever you can fit alongside NC 12.
• There's not a wide-array of rental homes to choose from and even fewer condos and hotels.

Each Outer Banks Town Ranked

1. Nags Head
2. Corolla
3. Pea Island
4. Ocracoke Island
5. Kill Devil Hills
6. Kitty Hawk
7. Duck
8. Southern Shores
9. Hatteras Island

Honestly you are almost guaranteed to have a memorable and relaxing vacation, regardless of which town you decide to stay in! Looking for more in-depth comparisons between two different Outer Banks towns? We invite you to visit one of the posts below.

• Nags Head vs Corolla Side-by-Side Comparison
• Corolla vs Duck - Which Outer Banks Town is Better?