Things To Do in Nags Head, NC
The heart of the Outer Banks. Nags Head has the most listings, the most history, and the widest variety of things to do of any town on the OBX. From Jockey's Ridge — the tallest natural sand dune on the East Coast — to iconic seafood restaurants that have been feeding families for decades, this is the essential OBX town.
82 things to do in Nags Head
Activities in Nags Head
See all Activities in Nags Head →A beach bonfire on the OBX is one of those simple experiences that becomes a vacation highlight every single time. Permi…
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…
+ 9 more activities
Attractions in Nags Head
See all Attractions in Nags Head →Cape Hatteras National Seashore
The first national seashore in the country, stretching more than 70 miles along three barrier islands. Cape Hatteras Nat…
The tallest natural sand dune system on the East Coast, right in Nags Head. Free to visit, stunning at sunset, and one o…
One of the finest remaining examples of a mid-Atlantic maritime forest in existence, Nags Head Woods Preserve covers 1,3…
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…
+ 6 more attractions
Restaurants in Nags Head
See all Restaurants in Nags Head →
Open-air bar right on the pier with the Atlantic Ocean practically at your feet. Cold drinks, good food, and one of the …
Two classically trained chefs ended up opening a restaurant on the Outer Banks — and the result is a sandwich shop that …
A waterfront OBX institution since 1996, Lone Cedar Café is about as local as it gets. Seafood is caught in local NC wat…
A breakfast spot inside a gas station on the OBX serving buttery, made-from-scratch biscuits with sausage, fried chicken…
A beloved Nags Head institution that opened as a cozy 32-seat spot in 2009 and grew into a custom-built destination know…
A beloved Outer Banks seafood institution with multiple locations, specializing in fresh crab legs and steamed seafood. …
+ 21 more restaurants
Marina & Fishing in Nags Head
See all Marina & Fishing in Nags Head →Jennette's Pier in Nags Head is the place to be during the summer season. The 1,000-foot concrete pier offers some of th…
Afishionado Sportfishing Charters
A 50-foot custom Carolina charter boat out of Oregon Inlet, built for speed and serious offshore fishing. The Afishionad…
Fishing Unlimited Bait and Tackle Shop
A Nags Head bait and tackle shop and boat rental operation on the Roanoke Sound. Rent a 17-foot outboard or pontoon boat…
Miss Oregon Inlet II Head Boat
A 60-foot head boat operating out of the famous Oregon Inlet Fishing Center with up to 65 passengers and three fishing t…
The popular Nags Head Fishing Pier is 750 feet of classic OBX pier fishing, plus a bait and tackle shop, the Pier House …
The largest and most modern charter boat fishing fleet on the entire East Coast, right at Oregon Inlet on the northern e…
+ 1 more marina & fishing
Cafés & Coffee in Nags Head
See all Cafés & Coffee in Nags Head →A charming tea shop and gift boutique brought to the OBX by a local who left a digital marketing career, opened a belove…
Booty Treats Ice Cream & Shave Ice
A beloved Nags Head dessert institution with two locations and a menu that goes way beyond shave ice. Hawaiian shave ice…
Fatboyz Ice Cream & Sweet Treats
A Nags Head Beach Road institution for over 30 years, right across from Jennette's Pier. Hand-scooped and soft-serve ice…
A locally owned small-batch coffee roastery and café in the OBX roasting fresh beans in-house for exceptional espresso d…
A beloved Nags Head frozen yogurt and ice cream sandwich shop with a genuinely great backstory — opened in a historic bu…
Shopping in Nags Head
See all Shopping in Nags Head →A family-owned seafood market in Nags Head, next to Jockey's Ridge, with over 50 years of history and one of the most co…
Ben Franklin is a one-stop shop for all your Outer Banks needs, from beach gear and swimwear to fishing gear and souveni…
An OBX institution since 1977 — you drive your car through the building while staff loads cold beer, wine, snacks, and i…
A Nags Head institution since 1962, right next to Jennette's Pier at Whalebone Junction. Cahoon's Market is a full-servi…
The original surf shop on the Outer Banks, open since the early 1960s and still going strong at Milepost 13 on the Beach…
A beloved Christmas shop with two OBX locations — 8,000 square feet in Nags Head and a nautical-focused store in Duck's …
+ 7 more shopping
Watersports in Nags Head
See all Watersports in Nags Head →A full-service watersports operation on the Manteo Causeway in Nags Head with over 15 years of OBX experience. Jet ski r…
Bars & Nightlife in Nags Head
See all Bars & Nightlife in Nags Head →Lost Colony Brewery Waterfront
A craft brewery with a genuinely great backstory — born in a 300 square foot pub in Manteo, grown into a 10,000 square f…
Golf in Nags Head
See all Golf in Nags Head →A Scottish links-style course along the Roanoke Sound in Nags Head, ranked among the most beautiful in the eastern US by…
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