Because the Outer Banks refers to different beach towns, it’s worth understanding the breakdown of the different villages and personalities of each. We’ve already covered the Northern Beach Towns (Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk/Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head), and the other primary conglomeration is known as the Hatteras Island Villages.
Hatteras Island Villages
For a vacation filled to the brim with natural beauty, the Hatteras Island Beaches are the way to go. They include: Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras.
While the beaches are generally similar to those of the Northern Beach Towns, Hatteras Island Villages are known for their proximity to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. This undeveloped and protected ecosystem is a natural wonder, with pristine sand dunes, beach grasses, and coastal wildlife.
Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo: These three are almost always lumped together because of their close proximity. Referred to as the “Tri-Villages,” Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo are some of the closest beaches you can get to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches and preservation.
Avon: More of a local’s area, Avon has the highest number of year-round residents on Hatteras Island. There are still great Outer Banks beaches here, but it’s more of a local’s vibe.
Buxton: If you want to be as close as possible to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches, Buxton is the spot for you. Buxton is also remarkable if you want to fish, as it features one of the best fishing holes in the area: Cape Point.
Frisco: For a beach camping experience, Frisco is one of the few areas in the Outer Banks that allows camping. Frisco is also the hub of four-wheeling in the Outer Banks, so it’s a good option for the adventurous beach goers.
Hatteras: Finally, Hatteras, the namesake of Cape Hatteras, is what you’d expect from a thriving beach town. For the best restaurants, shopping, and casual beaching, look no further than Hatteras for your vacation spot.
When it comes to any of the Outer Banks beaches, you really can’t go wrong. Just be sure to keep in mind the different idiosyncrasies of each beach as you choose where to vacation!
