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Things To Do in Rodanthe, NC

The first town you hit heading south into Hatteras Island, Rodanthe is a small, laid-back surf town with a loyal following and some of the most exposed, powerful waves on the East Coast. If you're into fishing, surfing, or just getting away from the northern crowds, this is where the OBX starts to feel genuinely remote.

19 things to do in Rodanthe

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Beach Bonfire

A beach bonfire on the OBX is one of those simple experiences that becomes a vacation highlight every single time. Permi…

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Dolphin Watching

Bottlenose dolphins are year-round OBX residents and surprisingly easy to spot — surf line, sound side, from a pier, fro…

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Fishing

Fishing on the OBX is as varied as the waters surrounding it. Cast from the beach. Wade into the shallow, calm sounds. C…

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Fly a Kite

The OBX wind is legendary — the Wright Brothers chose this exact stretch of barrier island because of it. Flying a kite …

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Kayaking

The OBX is surrounded by water on every side — and kayaking gives you access to parts of it that most visitors never see…

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Stargazing

The OBX has surprisingly low light pollution for the East Coast — even in the busier towns you'll see more stars than yo…

+ 4 more activities

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Cape Hatteras National Seashore

The first national seashore in the country, stretching more than 70 miles along three barrier islands. Cape Hatteras Nat…

Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station

The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station in Rodanthe is one of the most historically significant sites on the entire OBX — …

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Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

A National Wildlife Refuge on the northern end of Hatteras Island established in 1938, covering beach, dunes, brackish p…

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Sunrise

The OBX sits on a narrow barrier island with the Atlantic Ocean to the east — which means you can watch the sun rise dir…

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Sunset

The OBX is a narrow barrier island with inland sounds to the west — which means sunsets here happen over open water too,…

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The Beach

The whole reason you're here. 100 miles of largely undeveloped Atlantic coastline, largely protected by Cape Hatteras Na…

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Charlies Trivillage Watersports

A friendly family-owned watersports operation on Hatteras Island since 2005 with two Tri-Villages locations. Jet skis, k…

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Lisa's Pizzeria

A Hatteras Island institution since 1986, serving the Tri-Villages for 41 years from a casual soundside spot in Rodanthe…

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Rodanthe Surf Shop

A Hatteras Island surf institution since 1989, built entirely around a love of surfing and still operating that way. Rod…

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