Nags Head Things To Do

Nags Head things to do are endless. It's a recreation wonderland that stretches from beneath the sea into the heavens. Whether you’re an amateur or professional adventurer, you’ll discover plenty of Nags Head things to do to satisfy you and the experts and equipment to make your pick a pleasurable and safe one.

For Nags Head recreation, try snorkeling famous shipwrecks, sailing sound waters, surfing rolling seas or soaring over Jockey’s Ridge in a hang glider. Witness wildlife through dolphin watches or by wetting a fishing line. Nags Head has a stem to stern bike path that runs along the Beach Road (N.C. Highway 12) from MP 10 to MP 21. Nags Head recreation might also be taking the Nags Head Walking Tour and learning about the original 13 cottages built for summering over.

Natural wonders top the list for Nags Head things to do. The beach is the main entree with soundside bathing and treks to Jockey's Ridge as exciting side dishes. Explore Nags Head by foot, bicycle, watercraft or plane for a complete view of the fragile ecosystem.

Family fun and kiddy thrills range from arcade extravaganzas, a summer carnival, climbing adventure park and disco bowling blasts to go-kart races and rounds of golf or mini-golf. Enjoy an outdoor family movie on the soundside or become a karaoke star. Inside fun or outdoor Nags Head recreation adventures await in this vacation haven.

Remember: Locals refer to N.C. Highway 12 (aka Virginia Dare Trail) as the Beach Road and U.S. Highway 158 (aka Croatan Highway) as The Bypass.
 

Things To Do by Location

All of Nags Head Area | Kill Devil Hills Things To Do | Kitty Hawk Things To Do

Nags Head Things To Do by Category

Causeway Watersports

Nags Head Thing To Do
7649 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, Nags Head
(252) 441-8875

Whether you enjoy the thrill of parasailing or the excitement of a Waverunner, it's waiting for you at Causeway Watersports. This adventure mecca is on the Nags Head/Manteo Causeway (look for the 30-foot observation tower near Basnight’s Lone Cedar Cafe). They offer Jet Ski rentals and tours and pontoon boat rentals so you can be your own captain of a dolphin tour. For a great deal...read more

Whether you enjoy the thrill of parasailing or the excitement of a Waverunner, it's waiting...read more

Crystal Dawn Head Boat

Pirate's Cove Yacht Club & Marina
2000 Sailfish Drive, Docks at Pirate's Cove Marina, Manteo
(252) 473-5577

Looking to get out on the water? Docked at Pirate's Cove Marina on the Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, this comfortable, 65-foot, double-decker party boat /head boat offers fishing in the sounds and around Oregon Inlet as well as a variety of fun cruises around Roanoke Island. On one of their head boat fishing trips you'll catch fish such as flounder, croaker, spot, trout, sea mullet, sea bass...read more

Looking to get out on the water? Docked at Pirate's Cove Marina on the Nags...read more

Fishing Unlimited

Nags Head Thing To Do
7665 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, Nags Head
(252) 441-5028

Fishing Unlimited has everything you need for a great fishing trip on the sound – boat rentals, rods and reel rentals, bait and tackle and ice. If you're looking to catch fresh crabs, come try it here; they have the gear to rent or buy, plus a crabbing pier. The boats they rent are 23-foot or 26-foot pontoon boats, and they'll tell you everything you...read more

Fishing Unlimited has everything you need for a great fishing trip on the sound –...read more

Jennette's Pier

Nags Head Thing To Do
7223 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 16.5, Nags Head
(252) 255-1501

In 2021 Jennette’s Pier celebrates its 10-year anniversary since reopening in 2011 as part of the North Carolina Aquariums division. Known as “the place to be” in Nags Head during the summer season, anglers catch a wide variety of fish 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...read more

In 2021 Jennette’s Pier celebrates its 10-year anniversary since reopening in 2011 as part of...read more

Kitty Hawk Kites

Nags Head Thing To Do
7517 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Whalebone Watersports Center, Nags Head
(252) 441-4124
3933 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 12.5, Jockey's Ridge Crossing, Nags Head
(252) 449-2210
794 Sunset Boulevard, TimBuck II Shopping Village, Corolla
(252) 453-8845
819 Ocean Trail, Monterey Plaza, Corolla
(252) 453-3685
1216 Duck Road, Wee Winks Square, Duck
(252) 261-4450
307 Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Manteo
(252) 473-2357
24502 N.C. Highway 12, Waves Village, Rodanthe
(252) 987-2297
39432 N.C. Highway 12, Island Shops, Avon
(252) 995-6060
58848 Hatteras Landing, Hatteras Landing, Hatteras
(252) 986-1446
Community Square, 270 Irvin Garrish Highway, Ocracoke
(252) 928-4563
(877) 359-8447

Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching the world to fly since 1974. With 10 retail locations from Corolla to Ocracoke, Kitty Hawk Kites boasts an impressive selection of kites, flags and spinners, toys, apparel, gifts and games on the Outer Banks. Kitty Hawk Kites specializes in kites, from the single-lines for kids to high-tech stunt varieties. The stores also sell fun outdoor goodies such as...read more

Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching the world to fly since 1974. With 10 retail...read more

Kitty Hawk Kites Whalebone Watersports

Nags Head Thing To Do
7517 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, Nags Head
(252) 441-4124
(877) 359-8447

Kitty Hawk Kites' Whalebone Watersports location offers dolphin tours, kiteboarding, Jet Ski rentals and standup paddleboard rentals – some of the most sought-after Outer Banks activities. In addition, kayak eco-tours and rentals are available, including a bioluminescence tour. If you’ve never seen these glowing organisms, you owe yourself this experience!read more

Kitty Hawk Kites' Whalebone Watersports location offers dolphin tours, kiteboarding, Jet Ski rentals and standup...read more

Kitty Hawk Surf Co.

Nags Head Thing To Do
3933 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 12.5, Jockey's Ridge Crossing, Nags Head
(252) 441-6800
819 Ocean Trail, Montery Plaza, Corolla
(252) 453-3685
790 Ocean Trail, TimBuck II Shopping Village, Corolla
(252) 453-4999
1216 Duck Road, Wee Winks Square, Duck
(252) 261-8787
24502 N.C. Highway 12, Waves Village, Rodanthe
(252) 987-2297
58848 Hatteras Landing, Hatteras
(252) 986-1446

Ready for some action? Kitty Hawk Surf Co. has everything you need to enjoy all the Outer Banks has to offer, from the wind and waves to flat water adventures. At Kitty Hawk Surf Co., you can find a huge selection of new and used kayaks, kayaking gear and equipment, standup paddleboards, surfboards, Zap skim boards, wetsuits and more. You can also find top selections...read more

Ready for some action? Kitty Hawk Surf Co. has everything you need to enjoy all...read more

Miss Oregon Inlet II Head Boat

Oregon Inlet Fishing Center
Nags Head Thing To Do
8770 Oregon Inlet Road, just off N.C. Highway 12, Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, Nags Head
(252) 251-4314
Reservations
(877) 359-8447

Looking to get out of the house and on the water? Take a fishing trip on the Miss Oregon Inlet II head boat. With the shortest drive time to fishing grounds around Oregon Inlet, they catch many different species of fish, such as spot, croaker, trout, bluefish, puppy drum, sea mullet and more, and they’re known as the “flounder pounder.” They have everything you need to fish,...read more

Looking to get out of the house and on the water? Take a fishing trip...read more

OBX Bowling

Nags Head Thing To Do
200 Satterfield Landing Road, The Bypass, MP 10.5, Nags Head
(252) 255-1187

Bowl, rent shoes, book parties and play billiards at OBX Bowling. Enjoy their arcade with classic games like skee ball, air hockey, Deal or No Deal and much more. There are automatic bumpers on the bowling lanes for the kids age 11 and younger. Try your hand at glowing disco bowling under neon lights on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Group rates are available upon...read more

Bowl, rent shoes, book parties and play billiards at OBX Bowling. Enjoy their arcade with...read more

Oregon Inlet Fishing Center

Nags Head Thing To Do
8770 Oregon Inlet Road, off N.C. Highway 12, Nags Head
(252) 441-6301

It's all about making fishing memories at this legendary Outer Banks marina. A fleet of 48 boats offers a variety of fishing excursions at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center year round (weather permitting). Nearshore, inshore vessels offer half-day or full-day trips, while the headboat offers a choice of morning or afternoon inlet/sound fishing. Offshore vessels travel to the Gulf Stream, where anglers enjoy a full day on...read more

It's all about making fishing memories at this legendary Outer Banks marina. A fleet of...read more

Outer Banks Sporting Events

Kill Devil Hills Thing To Do
P.O. Box 265, Kill Devil Hills
(252) 599-6997

Outer Banks Sporting Events is an event-planning nonprofit that organizes multiple fitness events throughout the year. One hundred percent of the net proceeds of these events supports two Outer Banks nonprofits – Outer Banks Relief Foundation and Dare Education Foundation – and this is why the slogan of Outer Banks Sporting Events is Run for a Reason. This organization hosts races like Running of the...read more

Outer Banks Sporting Events is an event-planning nonprofit that organizes multiple fitness events throughout the...read more