Neighborhood highlights
Located in Kill Devil Hills - but only three houses south of the Kitty Hawk line!
Many visitors remark on the unusual town names to be found on the Outer Banks, and one of the names that causes the most head-scratching is Kitty Hawk. A small but popular vacation town in the busy central Outer Banks, Kitty Hawk was originally deemed "Chickahawk" by its original Native American residents, meaning a "place to hunt geese." Over the generations, the name changed slightly, the area became more developed, and the town became the popular tourist destination it is today.
Outer Banks vacationers find that Kitty Hawk has a little something for everyone, including fantastic beaches, plenty of shops and restaurants, and even a large section of maritime forest where visitors can enjoy quiet nature trails, and spot all those geese that the original Native Americans were referring to.
Kitty Hawk offers a sample of everything that makes the Outer Banks a great vacation destination. Visitors will find nature preserves, great shopping and restaurants all located centrally.
Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve - The Kitty Hawk Coastal Reserve - Offers visitors over 1800 acres of forests and marshes to explore. As a result, nature lovers can explore virtually desolate trails and enjoy an afternoon of bird watching, and critter watching. Kitty Hawk Woods is an ideal locale to spot dozens if not hundreds of native Outer Banks species, including white-tailed deer, gray foxes, and even occasional otters, thriving in their natural habitat.
The Beach - The beach in Kitty Hawk is still the #1 attraction for visitors. Here are some things to know about Kitty Hawk beach policies:
Dogs are allowed on the beach year-round. From the Friday before Memorial Day until the day after Labor Day, they must be on a (maximum) 6ft leash between 10am and 6pm. All other times of the year, dogs must be on a (maximum) 12ft leash. Dogs may be taken off the leash during the off-season only if they are controlled by their owners and do not disturb others. Owners must be within 30feet of an unleashed dog, and have a leash with them at all times.
Fireworks and beach bonfires are not permitted in Kitty Hawk.
Beer is allowed on the beach. Wine and liquor are not officially permitted. Please drink responsibly.
Metal detecting is allowed.
Red flags = no swimming. When you see red flags flying, dangerous conditions are present and swimming is prohibited.
It is illegal to walk on dunes, and it is also illegal to pick live sea oats growing on the beaches.
Fill in any holes you dig. Holes in the sand can be a hazard.
Be mindful of Noise. Most communities consider a violation of the noise ordinance to be any sound that can be heard from inside a nearby residence, and any load noise after approximately 11:00 p.m.
No glass on the beach. Be mindful of glass bottles. Stick to cans and plastic to save future beach-goers from any bare foot injuries.
Surf fishing is allowed. A fishing license is required in North Carolina and can be obtained before your vacation via the NC Marine Fisheries and Wildlife website, or a fishing license can be purchased at most any tackle shop on the Outer Banks.
4x4 Driving on the Beach is not permitted in Kitty Hawk
Shopping - In addition to boutique shopping, Kitty Hawk boasts more big-box retail and grocery stores than any other town in the Outer Banks.
Dining - Options include all-you-can-eat fresh, local seafood buffets, steaks, outstanding BBQ, local donuts and ice cream. And the atmospheres range from flip-flop casual to upscale relaxed. There truly is something for every appetite in Kitty Hawk.
To the North
Duck's boutique shopping - Just a short drive North on NC 12, you'll find a cluster of cozy shopping centers in Duck. The Waterfront Shops, Scarborough Lane, Scarborough Faire, Osprey Landing and the Flip Flop Shops offer hours of shopping for upscale, unique, locally-crafted items and beach favorites. All within walking distance of each other.
Historic Corolla Park is a popular destination in Corolla. Visit the Whalehead in Historic Corolla, Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, or Currituck Beach Lighthouse.
Tour 4x4 beaches in Corolla - See the famous herd of Wild Mustangs or just park and enjoy a day at the beach.
To the South
Wright Brothers National Memorial - Learn about the Wright Brothers. See a replica of the Wright flyer. Visit the site of the first flight.
Jockey's Ridge State Park - Climb 90 feet to the top of the park's giant sand dune. Take a hang gliding lesson. Hike through the adjoining Nags Head Woods.
Bodie Island Lighthouse - Climb to the top of the 170 feet tall tower and view the Outer Banks from above. Open during the Summer months.
Jenette's Pier - Bring (or rent) a fishing rod and catch your dinner on this extra-sturdy 750 foot deck.
Downtown Manteo - Shop, eat and see some history. Don't miss the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse and small Roanoke Island Maritime Museum.
Elizabethan Gardens - Tour the beautiful, meticulously-maintained grounds and formal garden with labeled plant species.
The Lost Colony Outdoor Drama - See the longest-running outdoor production about the first English settlement in the New World, on Roanoke Island.
N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island - Learn about local wildlife, fish, and see sharks swimming in a 285,000 gallon tank.
Upcoming Kitty Hawk Events
OBX Arts & Crafts Festival
September 4th, 2019 - September 5th, 2019 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Check out the OBX Arts & Crafts Festival in early September at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kitty Hawk with 25 local artists featuring painting, pottery, jewelry, photography...more
Oink N' Oyster Roast
October 5th, 2019 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Saddle Up to a hearty plate of Eastern North Carolina's favorite fare at the annual Oink N' Oyster Roast. Held at the Longboards Island Grill in Kitty Hawk, and sponsored by the First...more
History of Kitty Hawk
Kitty Hawk has been attractive to visitors for a long time. Two brothers from Ohio chose the area as an ideal spot to launch a series of glider tests from 1900-1903. The first flight took off from Kill Devil Hills, but the Wright Brothers selected Kitty Hawk as their place to reside and test, and even to announce their final success. After the triumphant launch of the first powered flight in December 1903, the Wrights walked to the Weather Bureau office in neighboring Kitty Hawk where they sent out a telegram announcing the news. (As expected with an accomplishment of this magnitude, the first person they telegrammed was their father, who was reportedly and understandably very proud.)
Today, Kitty Hawk is a mixture of accommodations including a luxury resort and hotel, a collection of small motels, and a number of both oceanside and soundside vacation rental homes and unimposing condos. Vacationers can opt to stay near the action on the beach, where the beach road features a small number of shops, restaurants and night spots, or closer to the Currituck Sound, bordering the Kitty Hawk Woods and miles of open sound waters.
On the oceanside, vacationers will find 7 public beach accesses, including three that are lifeguarded from Memorial Day to Labor Day, along with a roving lifeguard ATV patrol that covers the town in the busy summer season. Visitors are free to explore the miles of open beaches, but are advised to follow the local town beach ordinances, including no glass on the beach, no beach bonfires, and no swimming when the red "Dangerous Conditions" flags are waving. All of these rules are in place for visitors' safety, and to ensure everyone on the shore enjoys a great time.
Take a stroll up the beach to check out the Kitty Hawk Pier. Damaged by Hurricane Isabel in 2003, the pier has since been remodeled and revitalized and serves as a venue for special events and lunching guests of the nearby resort. Kitty Hawk is also home to the Aycock Brown Visitors' Center, the main visitors' center for vacationers entering the Outer Banks from the north, and a fantastic resource for newcomers to the OBX with plenty of publications, pamphlets, and local experts on hand to answer questions.
On the outskirts of town, a couple miles from the beach, visitors will even find several large chain stores, including grocery stores, shopping centers, and a soundside watersports center for waterfront adventures of all mediums, such as kayaking, parasailing, sailing, and even kiteboarding. Mariners will also find a handful of public boat ramps on the soundside of town, as well as a collection of every-day services, including banks, a post office, and even an Urgent Care medical center.
In short, for vacationers and residents alike, Kitty Hawk has a sample of everything Outer Banks. From charming shops to large shopping plazas, beach-side dives to more formal restaurants, and water in all directions, Kitty Hawk can easily accommodate all tastes. The first beach town that northern vacationers encounter after the Wright Memorial Bridge is also, clearly, a perfect sample of what the Outer Banks is all about: Fun, sun, and plenty of nature and history.
