Natural wonders top the list for attractions in Nags Head, NC. The beach is the main entree with soundside bathing and treks to Jockey's Ridge as exciting side dishes. Portions of Nags Head Woods are also here and provide a chance to explore one of the most varied and rich maritime forests on the East Coast. Explore Nags Head attractions by foot, bicycle or watercraft for a complete view of the fragile ecosystem. Or, if you’re on the adventuresome side, fly high above the narrow strip of land on a hang glider or in a plane.
Whether you're snorkeling for shells, kiting on the ridge, biking or walking the town bike path, traveling a wooded trail, hang gliding, sailing, kayaking or surfing, attractions in Nags Head, NC, offer many inroads to nature. And, for wonder of another sort, spark your creativity with a visit to Gallery Row or tour the town's public art collection. Or pick up a copy of the Nags Head Walking Tour at local bookstores and explore the original Nags Head cottages known as the Unpainted Aristocracy. State of the art beauty exists in all forms -- natural and manmade -- in this little Outer Banks seaside habitat. Most of it is free for the asking.
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Nags Head Attractions
7223 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 16.5, Nags Head
The place to be in Nags Head during the summer season, Jennette’s Pier offers anglers a wide variety of fish to target while sightseers can watch brown pelicans overhead and bottlenose dolphins swimming in the sea. The pier is surrounded by wide, clean public beaches, free parking and a bathhouse, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from near and far. Owned and operated by the N.C. Aquariums, this state-of-the-art facility includes large aquariums in its pier house alongside educational exhibits, restrooms and a remodeled Pier Shop. There, visitors can find Jennette’s Pier t-shirts, hats, visors and plushies. Anglers can also find everything they need for a day of fishing, including different types of rod and reel combos, bait and tackle. Ice-cold drinks, snacks and souvenir items are also available in the gift shop.
The Pier property serves as a frequent venue for community events, and the upstairs Oceanview Hall is available to book for wedding receptions.
Education is a strong suit of Jennette’s Pier. The pier has emerged as a must-see place for schools to visit on the coast. In the past decade, they’ve averaged around 8,000 to 10,000 North Carolina students a year. They host school groups on field trips, offer week-long summer camps and teach Family Fishing – a rundown on the angling essentials – for $20. Check out the Surfside Classroom, or sign up for Family Fishing offered weekdays all summer at 9 a.m. Pier staff also keep busy with two important conservation organizations – the OBX Marine Mammal Stranding Network and the Responsible Pier Initiative, which promises to help protect sea turtles.
The pier has a blanket license for all anglers, so if you don’t have a fishing license, you’re covered. A daily fishing pass costs $14 for adults and $7 for children ages 12 and younger. A three-day pass costs $36, and a seven-day pass is $80 (children pay half on passes). Walk-on passes cost $2 for adults and $1 for children. Rods can be rented by the day for $12 (photo ID required). Ask about prices for annual passes, family passes and pin rig passes.
For more information about their events and pier programs, call or see their social media pages. Jennette’s is open year-round except on Thanksgiving and Christmas days. In season, from May through October, their hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Off-season hours vary, so call ahead.
The place to be in Nags Head during the summer season, Jennette’s Pier offers anglers a wide variety of fish to target while sightseers can watch brown pelicans overhead and bottlenose dolphins swimming in the sea. The pier is surrounded by wide, clean public beaches, free parking and a bathhouse, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from near and far. Owned and operated by the N.C....read more
The place to be in Nags Head during the summer season, Jennette’s Pier offers anglers...read more
Nags Head Attractions
Pronounced “body,” this horizontally striped lighthouse is on the soundside at the southern end of Bodie Island in Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It re-opened from a major renovation project in April 2013, and visitors can climb to the top of the 156-foot-tall lighthouse from late April through Columbus Day in October. During the lighthouse climbing season, reservations to climb the lighthouse must be made at...read more
The first national seashore in the country, Cape Hatteras National Seashore stretches more than 70 miles along parts of three islands: Bodie Island (just south of Nags Head), Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island. It is a place for recreation, immersion in nature and inspiration for humans as well as a safe haven for a variety of wildlife. The beautiful barrier island environment is a place...read more
Nags Head Attractions
The 5-acre Dowdy Park is a popular place for relaxation, play and entertainment. The park includes an amphitheater, green space, restrooms, a fitness trail, basketball and pickleball courts, a bocce area and an unusual playscape/playground for kids, and it's the site of local events, festivals and live music. You'll find it on the Bypass in Nags Head, next to Nags Head Elementary School on the...read more
Nags Head Attractions
If you or your family are looking for a new aerial adventure, this is it. First Flight Adventure Park is a multi-level, self-guided ropes course for all ages and skill levels. The aerial park is designed for ages 6 and older and thrill seekers of varying abilities. With 48 elements ranging from 12 to 50 feet above the ground, the course is designed to test...read more
Nags Head Attractions
Nags Head is home to the tallest natural sand dune on the East Coast. Jockey’s Ridge, currently a series of five dunes, is a natural wonder that’s continually changing in shape and height. With the highest dune varying from 62 to 80 feet tall, this system of sand is a haven for adventure. Colorful kites waver over its majesty regularly, and hang gliders climb to its summit to swoop...read more
Kill Devil Hills Attractions
A beautiful place for hiking, trail running and birding, Nags Head Woods Preserve is one of the best remaining examples of a mid-Atlantic maritime forest. The 8 miles of hiking trails in the 1,200-acre preserve are open and free to the public every day from dawn until dusk. There are lushly wooded dunes, peaceful ponds, brackish marsh and an upland maritime forest complete with live oaks...read more
Nags Head Attractions
Over the last 70 years, Oregon Inlet Fishing Center has earned legendary status for its celebrated charter fishing fleet and proximity to the best fishing grounds. It earned this reputation as a no-frills facility, but big changes in 2024 have brought modernizations and upgrades to match its iconic status. A beautiful new, climate-resistant, two-story building elevated 11 feet above ground is now home to a...read more
Nags Head Attractions
Designated in 1991 as North Carolina’s first Historic Shipwreck Preserve, the USS Huron lies 250 yards from the beach. During the summer, buoys may mark her bow and stern. A myriad of sea life and remaining portions of the wreck, including boilers, propeller, rudder and cannonball storage racks, make this an interesting destination for divers and snorkelers. Erosion has taken its toll and marine growth covers the...read more
Nags Head Attractions
Whalebone Welcome Center is at the northern entrance to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in Nags Head. There you will find information on all there is to see and do on the Outer Banks, with plenty of local publications and pamphlets to take with you. It is an excellent stop for planning your vacation activities, particularly as you head toward the southern villages. The center...read more
