Trip planning · North Carolina
Beaches near Outer Banks — grades and where to stay
38 beaches within 50 miles of Outer Banks, 38 with an A–F Beach Safety Grade (33 grade A). Compare water quality, then book hotels, condos and vacation rentals on the map.
Where to stay in Outer Banks
Live hotels, condos and vacation rentals in Outer Banks — pick a beach from the graded list, then book nearby.
Top-rated places to stay near Outer Banks
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a Outer Banks beach trip?
Water-quality updates and lodging deals for the beaches you care about.
Graded beaches within 50 miles
100 Yds Ene Of Little Bridge, Causeway, Nags Head
View 100 Yds Ene Of Little Bridge, Causeway, Nags Head →3.6 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Nags Head Bath House At Mile Post 15
View Nags Head Bath House At Mile Post 15 →4.2 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Drain Pipe At Mile Post 12.5
View Drain Pipe At Mile Post 12.5 →4.7 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Beach Access At Conch Street / Drain Pipe
View Beach Access At Conch Street / Drain Pipe →4.9 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Drain Pipe At Curlew Street
View Drain Pipe At Curlew Street →5.5 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Drain Pipe At S Nags Head/Federal Park Border
View Drain Pipe At S Nags Head/Federal Park Border →5.8 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Drain Pipe At Lake Dr Beach Access
View Drain Pipe At Lake Dr Beach Access →6.2 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Drain Pipe At Martin Street
View Drain Pipe At Martin Street →7 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Public Beach Access Near Drain Pipe At E. Baum Street In Kil
View Public Beach Access Near Drain Pipe At E. Baum Street In Kil →7.3 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Drain Pipe At Oregon St
View Drain Pipe At Oregon St →7.5 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Bath House At Ocean Bay Blvd
View Bath House At Ocean Bay Blvd →8.1 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Beach Access At 3rd St
View Beach Access At 3rd St →9 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Oregon Inlet Federal Campground
View Oregon Inlet Federal Campground →9.1 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Kill Devil Hills
View Kill Devil Hills →10.6 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Oregon Inlet Coastguard Station
View Oregon Inlet Coastguard Station →10.6 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Beach Access 1 1/2 Mile N Of Kitty Hawk Pier
View Beach Access 1 1/2 Mile N Of Kitty Hawk Pier →15.8 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Southern Shores Private Soundside Access
View Southern Shores Private Soundside Access →16.2 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Beach Access S Of Refuge Offices- Pea Island Along The Cape
View Beach Access S Of Refuge Offices- Pea Island Along The Cape →17.2 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
New Inlet Sound Access- Pea Island
View New Inlet Sound Access- Pea Island →19.4 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
750 Yds Off Ocean Bay Blvd.- Currituck Sd.
View 750 Yds Off Ocean Bay Blvd.- Currituck Sd. →20.6 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
1/4 Miles E Of Ems Station Along The Cape Hatteras National
View 1/4 Miles E Of Ems Station Along The Cape Hatteras National →24.6 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
100 Yds Offshore At North Holiday Rd. - Rodanthe
View 100 Yds Offshore At North Holiday Rd. - Rodanthe →25.6 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Currituck S Beach Access At Pine Island
View Currituck S Beach Access At Pine Island →28.2 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
100 Yds Offshore In Sound Near Intersection Of Hwy 12 And Al
View 100 Yds Offshore In Sound Near Intersection Of Hwy 12 And Al →30 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Ocean-Side Of Corolla Village Road Near The Lighthouse In Co
View Ocean-Side Of Corolla Village Road Near The Lighthouse In Co →34.1 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Ramp #34 And Access Along The Cape Hatteras National Seashor
View Ramp #34 And Access Along The Cape Hatteras National Seashor →36.2 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Corolla Ramp, End Of Paved Road
View Corolla Ramp, End Of Paved Road →36.2 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
100 Yds Offshore At Island Creek Ct. - Avon
View 100 Yds Offshore At Island Creek Ct. - Avon →38.6 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Ramp #38 And Access Along The Cape Hatteras National Seashor
View Ramp #38 And Access Along The Cape Hatteras National Seashor →39.7 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Buxton, Sound-Side Haulover Day Use
View Buxton, Sound-Side Haulover Day Use →43 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Frisco Bath House Along The Cape Hatteras National Seashore
View Frisco Bath House Along The Cape Hatteras National Seashore →47.1 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Frisco Federal Campground Along The Cape Hatteras National S
View Frisco Federal Campground Along The Cape Hatteras National S →47.4 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Hatteras Village Ramp #55 Access Along The Cape Hatteras Nat
View Hatteras Village Ramp #55 Access Along The Cape Hatteras Nat →47.9 mi · Grade A (Excellent)
Colington Harbour Swimming Beach
View Colington Harbour Swimming Beach →8.1 mi · Grade B (Good)
Sound Access Across From Ramp #23 Along The Cape Hatteras Na
View Sound Access Across From Ramp #23 Along The Cape Hatteras Na →28.1 mi · Grade B (Good)
The Swimming Hole
View The Swimming Hole →1.6 mi · Grade C (Fair)
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
33 of the 38 beaches within 50 miles of Outer Banks carry a Beach Safety Grade of A. Grades are multi-year bacteria exceedance from EPA monitoring, not a same-day clearance.
Hotels, condos and vacation rentals around Outer Banks, North Carolina are on the map below with live availability. Stay closer to an A- or B-grade beach if swimming is the point of the trip.
None of the listed beaches near Outer Banks currently show an active EPA BEACON advisory on this site. Always check local health-department notices the day you swim.
More beach towns
Lodging results are provided by Stay22 from Booking.com, Vrbo, and Expedia. BeachGrade may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you — it never changes the water-quality data.