Outer Banks Beach Access Guide

Planning the perfect beach day on the Outer Banks starts with knowing where to go. From Corolla to South Nags Head, the northern Outer Banks offers dozens of public beach accesses with amenities ranging from free parking and bath houses to outdoor showers, handicap-accessible walkways, and seasonal lifeguards.

Whether you're vacationing with young children, bringing beach gear for the day, or simply looking for the easiest access to the sand, this guide highlights some of the best public beach accesses on the northern Outer Banks.

Parking lots at popular accesses can fill quickly during peak summer weeks, especially between 10 a.m. and noon.

Lifeguards are typically on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day, but schedules can vary depending on weather and staffing.

Always use designated walkways and stay off protected dunes to help preserve the Outer Banks coastline.

Even beaches with bath houses and showers can become busy during summer, so it’s helpful to bring:

• Drinking water
• Sunscreen
• Beach umbrellas or tents
• Sandals or water shoes

Most Outer Banks beaches allow dogs, but leash requirements and seasonal restrictions vary by town.

From Corolla’s quiet beaches to the convenient family-friendly accesses in Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head, there’s a perfect beach access for every type of vacation. Whether you’re looking for easy parking, public bathrooms, outdoor showers, or lifeguarded beaches, planning ahead can help you enjoy a stress-free day on the Outer Banks.

Corolla beaches are known for their wide shoreline, clean beaches, and relaxed atmosphere. Public parking is more limited here than in the central Outer Banks towns, but several convenient access points are available.

• Access at Bonito Street & Lighthouse Drive
• Parking is 1 block west at Bonito Street & Whalehead Drive
• Wooden Walkway
• Lifeguard

• Access at Shad Street & Lighthouse Drive
• Parking is 1 block west at Shad Street & Whalehead Drive
• Wooden Walkway

• Access at Sturgeon & Lighthouse Drive
• Gravel public parking lot is 1 block west at Sturgeon & Whalehead Drive. Enter lot from Whalehead Drive
• Wooden Walkway
• Lifeguard

• Access is at Sailfish & Lighthouse Drive
• Parking is 1 block west at Sailfish & Whalehead Drive
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway

Located near Historic Corolla Park and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, this access is ideal for combining sightseeing with a beach day.

• Gravel Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Limited 4WD Parking
• Bath House
• Showers
• Lifeguard
• Sand Access
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags
• A fairly significant walk from the parking lot to the beach.

Important Note: Corolla has fewer public restrooms and bath houses than other Outer Banks towns, so plan ahead if you’re spending the full day on the beach.

Unlike many other Outer Banks towns, the Town of Duck does not provide public beach accesses with public parking facilities. Most beach access points in Duck are private neighborhood accesses reserved for property owners, renters, and their guests.

Throughout Duck, visitors staying in vacation rental communities will find numerous private wooden walkways and dune crossovers that provide convenient access to the beach.

If you’re vacationing in Duck, check with our expert reservationists for the nearest neighborhood beach access and parking information available for your stay. Many homes are located within walking distance of private community beach walkways, making beach access simple and convenient for guests.

Like Duck, Southern Shores does not offer traditional public beach accesses with large public parking lots or bath house facilities. Instead, the town maintains several neighborhood beach access locations and wooden dune walk-overs intended only for town residents, renters, and their guests with passes.

• Paved Parking (Across Rt. 12)
• Handicap Parking
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags
• Parking with resident town sticker only. Towing enforced.

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Porta Potty
• Lifeguard
• Volleyball Net
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags
• Parking with resident town sticker only. Towing enforced.

• Limited parking
• Lifeguard

• Limited parking
• Lifeguard

• Limited parking
• Lifeguard
• Handicap-accessible beach access

Kitty Hawk offers some of the best-equipped public beach accesses on the northern Outer Banks, making it a popular choice for families.

• Paved Parking – Large lot across the street
• Handicap Parking
• Porta Potty
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Sand Access
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Limited Gravel Parking Across the Street
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Limited Gravel Parking Across the Street
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Limited Gravel Parking across the street
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Limited Gravel Parking across the street
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Limited parking across the street
• Lifeguard
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Limited parking across the street
• Lifeguard
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Limited Gravel Parking across the street
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Limited Gravel Parking across the street
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Limited Gravel Parking across the street
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Large Parking Lot Across Street
• Handicap Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Wooden Walkway/Dune Deck
• Pet Waste Bags

• Large Parking Lot
• Handicap Parking
• Handicap Beach Access
• Bath House
• Showers & Bathrooms
• Lifeguard
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

Kill Devil Hills has numerous public beach accesses throughout town, many with parking and seasonal lifeguards.

• No Parking
• Lifeguard
• Sand Access

• Ample Paved Parking (Across Street)
• Handicap Parking (Across Street)
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags
• Porta Potty

• Gravel Parking (Private – for Avalon Beach Assoc)
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Sand Access
• Next to Avalon Pier
• Pet Waste Bags
• Permit parking only. Towing enforced without a permit

• Paved Parking
• Lifeguard
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• No Parking
• Partial Walkway
• Sand Access

• No Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Dune Deck
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Porta-potty
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

This access features a Little Free Library, as well as a Little Red Mailbox. Inside this little red mailbox is a bound journal and two pens – an invitation to anyone who wants to share their thoughts.

• Ample Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Ample Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Sand Access
• Porta Potty
• Pet Waste Bags

• Plenty of Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Porta Potty
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Bike Rack
• Pet Waste Bags

• Ample Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Handicap Access/Ramps
• Stabilizing Sand Mats
• Outdoor Showers
• Bath House
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Bike Racks
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Sand Access

• Paved Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Outdoor Showers
• Porta-potty
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Stabilizing Beach Mat for Wheelchairs
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

Nags Head offers some of the most visitor-friendly public beach accesses on the Outer Banks, with multiple bath houses, large parking areas, and lifeguarded beaches.

• Paved Parking
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Porta-potty
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking (limited additional parking across street)
• Handicap Parking
• Porta-potty
• Outdoor Showers
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Outdoor Shower
• Porta-potty
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking (additional parking across street)
• Handicap Parking
• Porta-potty
• Outdoor Shower
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Stabilizing Beach Mat for Wheelchairs
• Bath House
• Lifeguard
• Sand Access
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags
• Picnic Tables
• Volleyball Net

• Paved Parking
• Outdoor Shower
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Porta-potty
• Outdor Showers
• Sand Access
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Wooden Walkway
• Next to Nags Head Fishing Pier

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Porta-potty
• Outdoor Shower
• Sand Access
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Outdoor Shower
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Sand Access
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Porta-potty
• Outdoor Shower
• Lifeguard
• Sand Access
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Outdoor Shower
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking Across Street
• Handicap Parking Across Street
• Porta-potty Across Street
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking (Additional parking across street)
• Handicapped Parking
• Bath House
• Outdoor Shower
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Porta-potty
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Showers
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Porta-potty
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags
• This beach access is next to Jennette’s Pier on the north side.

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Stabilizing Beach Mat for Wheelchairs
• Bath House
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Sand Access
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags
• The modern, 1,000 ft. pier not only offers beach access, but an aquarium, gift shop, snacks and fishing.

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Porta-potty
• Outdoor Shower
• Lifeguard
• Sand Access
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags
• This beach access is next to Jennette’s Pier on the south side.

• Paved Parking
• Porta-potty
• Sand Access
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Porta-potty
• Sand Access
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Bath House
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Sand Access
• Wooden Walkway
• Stabilizing Mat
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved & Gravel Parking
• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Limited Paved & Gravel Parking
• Sand Access
• This beach access is next to Outer Banks Fishing Pier on the north side.

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Porta-potty
• Outdoor Showers
• Lifeguard
• Bike Rack
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Porta-potty
• Outdoor Shower
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags

• Paved Parking
• Handicap Parking
• Porta-potty
• Outdoor Shower
• Lifeguard
• Sand Access
• Wooden Walkway
• Beach Driving Access (seasonal w/ permit)
• Pet Waste Bags

• Lifeguard
• Wooden Walkway
• Pet Waste Bags
• On Residential Street

• Large Parking Lot
• Handicap Parking
• Lifeguard
• Bath House
• Changing Rooms
• Outdoor Showers
• Water Bottle Filling Station
• Wooden Walkway/Dune Deck
• Bike Rack
• Pet Waste Bags
• Entrance to ORV Ramp 2