The Outer Banks Beaches | Hatteras Island

Unspoiled Sand & Surf...
The beaches of Hatteras Island NC are known for their soft sand, blue waters, rolling waves, and tranquility. You'll Surf fishing near Hatteras Island rentalsoften enjoy a stretch of beach all to yourself, with only the occasional sea gull or frolicking dolphin for company. Hatteras Island's beaches offer terrific fishing, beachcombing, bird watching, sunning, surfing, kite boarding, and of course, relaxation. This long stretch of coastline offers miles of serenity and natural beauty.

On Hatteras Island, there are basically two ways to enjoy the beach: 1)Parking at a public beach access and walking to the beach, or
2) Using designated ORV (off-road vehicle) ramps to drive directly onto the beach.

Public Beach Accesses
These public accesses are for beachgoers who'd like to park their cars and take a short walk to the beach. During the summer months, these access areas are usually busy, but you can easily walk a bit down the beach to find a more secluded spot. You'll find a mix of families, water sports enthusiasts, and anglers at these public beach accesses. It's a fun and convenient way to experience the beautiful beaches of Hatteras Island. 

• South of Avon, Hwy 12: The Avon public beach access offers handicap parking spaces, a paved parking area, bathrooms, and showers.
• Cape Vacationers relaxing on Hatteras Island NCHatteras Lighthouse, Buxton: This public beach access is located at the original Cape Hatteras Lighthouse location. It offers porta-potties, a paved parking area, and handicap parking spaces.
• South of Frisco, Hwy 12: The Frisco public beach access offers a bath house with restrooms and showers.

Beach Driving - ORV Ramps
Numerous ORV (off-road vehicle) ramps are available on Hatteras Island. These designated access roads allow 4-wheel drive vehicles to drive directly onto the beach. Please visit the Cape Hatteras National Seashore website for ramp locations and a full list of beach driving regulations. 

So What's This I Hear About Beach Driving?
Beach driving, or off-road vehicle (ORV) use, is one of the many great things about Hatteras Island. Fishermen, surfers, families, and beach bums of all sorts love to get in a 4-wheel drive and experience the beautiful coastline. You've likely heard that beach driving, or ORV use, has been restricted in certain areas. It's true that some ORV ramp on Hatteras Island North Carolinaareas of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore may experience temporary closures due to mandated bird and wildlife protection. These temporary closures vary from day to day based on wildlife activity.

Now for the good news... There's still plenty of shoreline available for beach driving! Here's an example: According to the National Park Service website, on July 8, 2008, more than 29 miles of coastline was open for beach driving and another 25 miles of beach was open to pedestrian beachgoers! Only 15 miles of beach was temporarily closed for wildlife protection. We're happy to report that your Hatteras Island vacation can go on as planned. Conveniently monitor beach driving/ORV accessibility on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore website - it includes helpful FAQs, as well as an interactive Google Earth map of ORV ramps. The Hatteras Island you know and love is awaits! Come see us soon!

Visit Buxton, NC - A "Top 10" Beach!Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton North Carolina
Buxton Beach, on Hatteras Island, at the southern end of North Carolina's Outer Banks, took the number eight spot on Dr. Beaches' 2008 Top 10 Beaches List! This was the second year in a row that an Outer Banks beach has earned a place on this distinguished list.  Ocracoke was at the top of the 2007 ranking.

This annual ranking of US beaches is compiled by Dr. Stephen Leatherman, Ph.D., Director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research. Dr. Leatherman has over 30 years of research experience and is an internationally recognized expert on beaches and coastal regions. Over 650 US beaches are judged each year on factors such as water color and quality, wave size and number, softness of the sand, wildlife and natural features, facilities, lifeguard protection, views and traffic. Buxton's beautiful beaches met all the standards for Dr. Beaches' stringent criteria, making it on the 2008 prestigious Top 10 Beaches List.

The beauty and fun of a Hatteras Island vacation is just a few clicks away! Search our wide selection of Hatteras Island vacation rentals to find the perfect accommodations for your family.