Beach Hotels in Kitty Hawk, NC

Making up the Outer Banks off the coast of North Carolina is the quaint town of Kitty Hawk, which lies on Bodie Island, a narrow sand barrier facing the Atlantic. This seaside strip of the Island harbors a wealth of wildlife, nature trails, a boardwalk, mouth-watering seafood restaurants, and an impressive history to discover. Kitty Hawk’s coastal setting offers so many fun attractions and landmarks, like the Kitty Hawk Pier, the hands-on Outer Banks Children at Play Museum, and of course, the beach— making it an ideal place for family-friendly vacations while staying at the best beach hotels in Kitty Hawk.

If you’re itching to get your blood pumping on an outdoor adventure, you’ve come to the right place! This coastal town boasts some beautiful coastal trails from which to soak in some sun while getting your step in, plus there’s a perk: the wealth of local wildlife. On a bike ride or walk through nature trails in Kitty Hawk, you might enjoy some fascinating wildlife sightings, including the gray fox, raccoon, white-tailed deer, warblers, woodpeckers, hawks, wrens, and other songbirds. And if you find yourself in the marshier areas of the town, such as the Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve, you might encounter muskrats, river otters, turtles, and a high density of reptiles and amphibians like alligators!

For a nice picnic or bike ride through nature, head to Sandy Run Park, a scenic 16-acre park that is also home to a great boardwalk, a range of wildlife, picnic areas, creekside trails, and a Wright Brothers memorial. Then, for a deeper dive into the area’s incredible aviation history, head to the nearby town of Kill Devil Hills to spend an afternoon touring the Wright Brothers National Memorial, which explores the world-famous history of the Wright brothers making the first controlled powered airplane flights at Kill Devil Hills on December 17, 1903. Tour the grounds and enjoy an up-close look at the towering granite structure that commemorates this historical event.

Wondering what food to expect to find while touring town? Outerbanks fare leans into its seaside setting with a smattering of beach bar and grills, and New American bistros. But before you skip town, you must try a Kitty Hawk clambake! For anyone unfamiliar, the clambake is a traditional method of cooking seafood, such as lobster, mussels, crabs, scallops, soft-shell clams, and quahogs by steaming the ingredients over layers of seaweed in a pit oven. One thing is for certain: this dish will not disappoint.

Bring your beach towel and plenty of sunscreen for your seaside escape to Kitty Hawk, and don’t forget to check out our top beach hotels nearby in Deerfield Beach, West Palm Beach, and Virginia Beach.