Outer Banks in June

There aren't a million hotels in the Outer Banks. Most of the accommodations are rental homes, and they rent for a full week at a time.

I'm just telling you that so that if you try to do the trip in 2 weeks, you'll make a hotel reservation SOON.

I think you could do DC, NYC and the OBX in 2 weeks, but how you would fit in college tours is a mystery to me. (Personally I'd skip DC and just do NYC. Way more fun!)

Can you give me some advice about where it would be best to base in the Outer Banks for 3-4 days ?

If you look at a map, http://www.outerbanks.org/location_maps/interactive/index.asp
you'll see there are two bridges from the mainland over to the OBX - at the end of Rt. 148 near Southern Shores or the end of Rt 64 at Manteo. (Or the long way is to come up from the south combining ferries with Rte. 12).

Most of the places you'd be likely to stay for less than a week would be between those two bridges (Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head). Be prepared for rather dense/congested typical resort town stuff in that stretch, but the pretty drive through the National Seashore is south of Nags Head - so it might make sense to stay slightly southward in Nags Head - although I don't know about motels there that would consider short stays.

Two howevers: 1. timing is everything in getting to and from the OBX - distances from the interstates are much further than you'd expect and the traffic TO the OBX on Fri. and Sat. and FROM the OBX on Sunday will be frightful. (Also, traffic on I-95 between Richmond and DC on summer weekends is horrific and slow - triple your normal travel time - be advised).

2. You might want to consider staying at The Sanderling well north of Southern Shores and north of Duck - pricey but possible to get a room for less than a week and a spectacular setting - on the beach with more space than most of the "between the bridges" places.

About motels in Nags Head - I just googled "Nags Head" with "motel" and there were 6 or 7 listed. FYI addresses there are milepost numbers - and the higher the number the further south the address. "Milepost 7" would be closer to Kitty Hawk/Kill Devil Hills; "Milespost 19" is closer to the beginning of the Nat'l Seashore.

HKP

Thanks for your input.

I should mention that we will be coming from Winston-Salem where my sister lives. We plan to drive to OBX together after we fly in from Honolulu.

She is not native to NC and not too familiar with the OBX either.

After our stay she will return to Winston while my family plan to continue up to DC and NYC from where we will return home.

It would be wonderful to be near the National Seashore. We would love to see several lighthouses.

I do appreciate your advice about the traffic- will try to steer clear of weekend traffic.

I am hoping to find lodging in a fairly quiet area with reasonable access to sites, with less than a week minimum stay.

I too would heartily recommend Sanderling Inn.

Another option (although I HATE the idea that they built this hotel in this location because it is obnoxious) is the newish Hampton Inn in Corolla.

Other than those tow places, the advice of "between the bridges" is an excellent way of looking it at.

Thank you both. You are giving me such helpful information.

The Sandling does look beautiful.

I found a modest site called JP's Cottages in south Nags Head near the fishing pier. Would this put us within striking distance for day trips to Hatterras and Ocracoke, as well as the eateries/sites further north ?

Location is fine. You'll enjoy Ocracoke - be sure to see the British cemetary.

Thanks for the re-affirmation regarding south Nags Head.

Does one need a 4-wheel drive to get to most places on the beach or can we walk the dunes ?

You walk to the beach - in some cases it comes right up to the road. Please don't use 4W drive vehicle (unless you are visiting someone up toward VA border beyond end of paved roads). And some dunes are protected from any travel - foot or vehicle.

That makes sense.

We don't like to see dirt bikes and big wheels on our beaches either.

Thanks.

My preference is Nags Head and south.

There are tons of hotels from Kitty Hawk on...of varying quality and style. When I was first familiarizing myself of the area, I would make a reservation and then scope out the area and cancel if I found another I liked better.

Just a note, in the summer and especially long weekends, the travel to the outer banks is HORRIBLE and backed up for miles upon miles upon miles.

Having been caught once in this, if I were to be going there on a long weekend I would guarantee my reservation, and drive late at night to the outer banks, or leave very very early in the day.

Thanks.

Do you think early summer ie the second week of June will see big crowds in OBX ? Hoping it is early enough to not be peak season yet.

The first two weeks in June isn't peak season but it's not offseason either. Let's just say you won't be alone!

Your location is fine though most prefer the northern or southern beaches which tend to be less congested and commercial. South Nags Head is a residential enclave of new and old places.

Your accommodations look fine, pretty modest. They will almost certainly have unit a/c.

As you're coming from Winston Salem, if you happen to be arriving on a Saturday you'll be spared the miserable traffic travelling from the north. It looks like you're headed in that direction when you leave so hopefully it will be on a non weekend day.

Saturday is a check-in day for many rentals, and June is the upswing month for the season (schools are out in May and it doesn't get quite as sizzling hot as it will be in July and August).

I repeat: avoid Fri, Sat., Sun. if you can.

Thanks for your advice. Sounds like you're serious about the traffic.

What areas do you mean when you say northern and southern beaches are the nicest ?

obxgirl can answer for herself, but I interpreted what she meant as beaches north of the northern bridge (to Southern Shores) and south of the southern bridge (Manteo) - e.g, beaches from Duck north and from Rodanthe south. And I would agree, but they're less accessible - it's kind of circular - nicer because less accessible.

I agree with HKP.

Would Ocracoke be too "remote" for a 3 day 4 night stay ?

I should clarify that would we want to see Cape Hatteras while there ,which I know would be a ferry ride and back.

Ocracoke is a charming small place, with unspoiled beaches (and therefore no accommodations on the beach) - but it is something of a hike to or from there relative to the rest of the OB.

It's about 85 miles from Manteo/Nags Head to Ocracoke and about 3 hrs. slow drive (but pretty, up the spine of the islands) not including waiting time for the little ferry between Hatteras Island and Ocracoke. The Hatteras light is about an hour and a half from Ocracoke, again not including waiting time.

I'd consider spending 2 nights there and then maybe another further up the OBX, but you may have trouble finding short-term accommodations to do that.

Thanks for all the good advice. I have no doubt we will enjoy our stay.

I would stay at a new resort in Nags Head called Croatan Surf Club. It's near the main highway into the Outer Banks so that will save you a LOT of time in traffic. It has a pool and is on the beach, so it's a great, family-friendly place to stay. I think they have some short-term options, too.