The town where the Wright Brothers made history in 1903, Kitty Hawk stretches from the sound to the ocean and mixes residential neighborhoods with a solid lineup of restaurants and shops along the beach road. A central location makes it an easy base for exploring the whole OBX.
45 things to do in Kitty Hawk
Bottlenose dolphins are year-round OBX residents and surprisingly easy to spot — surf line, sound side, from a pier, fro…
Fishing on the OBX is as varied as the waters surrounding it. Cast from the beach. Wade into the shallow, calm sounds. C…
The OBX wind is legendary — the Wright Brothers chose this exact stretch of barrier island because of it. Flying a kite …
The OBX is surrounded by water on every side — and kayaking gives you access to parts of it that most visitors never see…
The OBX has surprisingly low light pollution for the East Coast — even in the busier towns you'll see more stars than yo…
The OBX has been a legitimate East Coast surf destination since the 1960s with waves more consistent and varied than mos…
+ 4 more activities
The OBX sits on a narrow barrier island with the Atlantic Ocean to the east — which means you can watch the sun rise dir…
The OBX is a narrow barrier island with inland sounds to the west — which means sunsets here happen over open water too,…
The whole reason you're here. 100 miles of largely undeveloped Atlantic coastline, largely protected by Cape Hatteras Na…
A genuine OBX institution since 1975 — Capt'n Franks has been serving legendary hot dogs in Kill Devil Hills for fifty y…
Street legal golf cart rentals delivered directly to your vacation rental, hotel, or resort across the northern OBX. Fou…
A poke bowl shop and Asian grill in Kitty Hawk with a remarkably deep menu. Build your own poke bowl with fresh tuna, sa…
A tiny, beloved Kitty Hawk restaurant famous for its hand-patted burgers and hand-cut fries. Art's Place has a loyal fol…
Bad Bean Baja Grill brings Latin American and Baja California flavors to Kitty Hawk in a way that genuinely stands out o…
Barefoot Bernie's Tropical Grill
A casual tropical-themed grill and bar in Kill Devil Hills with a genuinely creative menu that pulls from Caribbean, Asi…
A beloved Kitty Hawk bagel shop voted Best Brunch on the Beach. Homemade bagels in 15+ varieties, all toasted to order, …
A family-owned breakfast and lunch café on the OBX serving sandwiches, burritos, and comfort food in a laid-back setting…
+ 18 more restaurants
Ashley's Espresso Parlour & All-Time Roasting Co
A family-owned specialty coffee roaster on the OBX, roasting small-batch Fair Trade beans by hand on-site at Ashley's Es…
Big Buck's has been scooping homemade ice cream on the OBX since 1994 — the owner literally traveled to Italy to study g…
An OBX institution since 1977 — you drive your car through the building while staff loads cold beer, wine, snacks, and i…
TW's Bait and Tackle has been locally owned and operated for forty years at locations in Kitty Hawk and Nags Head. They …
Wave Riding Vehicles has been on the beach since 1980 and their iconic wave of porpoises logo has made their surfboards …
A little Beach Road bar in Kitty Hawk serving cold beer, bourbon, tequila, and cigars in a simple, honest setting. No pr…
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