It is a barrier island afterall...
So how about the beaches near our Outer Banks Vacation rental property? There are over 100 miles of shoreline in Dare County. The beaches of the Northern beach towns of Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head are situated among civilization. Here you will find free paved parking at beach access points, modern bath houses and convenience stores all around you. Here you can easily make a quick walk or short drive to the closest beach access from where you are staying.
Further South, you will find the beach towns such as Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras. Here accommodations are more spread out and you may typically find yourself needing a 4 wheel drive vehicle to gain beach access. They’re a bit off the beaten path and you will not find the conveniences that the Northern beaches afford you.
Please note: Duck does not have any public beaches. Only residents have access to beaches there. Southern Shores has great public beaches, but there is no public beach parking. Keep in mind, there is not “one” beach that everyone goes to. Beaches are similar, as they are really all the same shoreline.
All of this being said, there are special things to see if you venture up to the beaches of Currituck County to the North. Here is where the pavement ends and Hwy 12 becomes sand. You will absolutely need a 4×4 to access this area. However, if you do decide to visit there, you will probably be met by one of the famous locals. Many wild horses, descendants of Spanish Mustangs call this part of the beach home.