We’ve been going to the Outer Banks for years, and we love it for the fresh seafood, convenient location on the East Coast, and its dog-friendly beaches. Our recommendations have big dogs in mind but can apply to smaller ones too 🙂
General advice: consider your budget and figure out trip goals
We’ve only stayed in the northern parts of the Outer Banks, and the vibe of each town differs. Looking for something more upscale, and focused on dining? Duck would be our pick. Searching for something remote and centered around beach access? The 4×4 beaches are an excellent spot to post up for the week. If you’re aiming for something more budget-friendly, Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills have great options, though they feel more busy given the wider, faster thoroughfare through these towns.
It also depends a little bit on time of year. If you’re going during the off-season, driving from Kill Devil Hills up to Corolla might not be too bad. During peak periods in summer, we’d suggest sticking to one town primarily since traffic can get very backed up (especially on Saturdays and Sundays, the main check-in/check-out days for the major vacation rental companies).
Most homes available on Twiddy and Sun Realty will cap the number of dogs that can stay at a house to 2, but you may be able to find some exceptions. (If we find any, we’ll be sure to share them here.)
Factor your pup into your OBX plans
Each town in Currituck County has different laws and regulations around dogs’ access to beaches and leash requirements. We’ve gathered the below information as of January 2024, but be sure to click the links for specific towns for the most up-to-date information.
Dog-friendly OBX towns and beaches
The following OBX areas allow dogs on beach all year-round:
| Area | Leashes Required on Beach? | Leash Required in Town? |
| 4×4 | Yes – no length specified * 4×4 vehicles are permitted to drive on the beach so leashing up is important for your dog’s safety! * Wild horses also roam Corolla and neither you nor your dog can get within 50 feet of them under county law | Yes – though there isn’t really a town per se |
| Corolla | Yes – no length specified | Yes – no length specified |
| Duck | No, but must be under close supervision * Please note that Duck does not have public beach access, so you will need to stay at a property in Duck with community access to get to the beach | Yes – leash not to exceed 10 feet |
| Kitty Hawk | “From the Friday before Memorial Day until the day after Labor Day between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., dogs must be on a leash not exceeding 6 feet. At all other times during the year, dogs must be restrained on a leash retractable to 12 feet. Dogs may be taken off leash only if they will not disturb other people on the beach.” (Dare County Animal Shelter) | Yes – leash not to exceed 12 feet |
| Nags Head | Yes – leashes must not exceed 10 feet in length (Dare County Animal Shelter) | Not specified (as far as we could find) |
OBX beaches with seasonal dog restrictions
| Area | Restricted Hours + Season | Leash Requirements |
| Kill Devil Hills | Dogs not allowed on beach from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Memorial Day to Labor Day | Not specified (as far as we could find) |
| Southern Shores | Dogs not allowed on beach from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., between May 15 through September 15 | Yes, “dogs must be on a leash having a stretched length of no more than 10 feet” |
Emergency veterinary care in the Outer Banks
If your dog has ongoing health issues, you may want to factor this into your planning. There is no 24-hour emergency animal hospital in the Outer Banks. If you encounter an emergency after hours at the Outer Banks, there are a few options:
- Roanoke Island Animal Clinic in Manteo, NC – approximately 1 hour from Corolla
- Bay Beach Veterinary Hospital in Virginia Beach, VA (Nimmo Bay location only) – approximately 1 hour and 57 minutes from Corolla
- The COVE in Suffolk, VA – approximately 2 hours and 4 minutes from Corolla
If you plan to stay in the 4×4 beach area, you may need to add anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to that estimated time due to tides, sand conditions, and needing to air up when you get back to paved roads.
Author’s note: We almost had to seek out the emergency vet on a previous OBX trip when our friend’s dog ate some seaweed and drank salt water, though fortunately the sickness passed. As you can imagine, that evening was extremely nerve-racking and stressful. While covering emergency vet care is something that we hate to have to mention at all, it’s an important factor to keep in mind when you’re planning to visit this region.
Our favorite things to do in the Outer Banks
On our last two trips, we mixed it up and got out and about. A few of our new favorites:
Shopping
- Outer Barks in Duck is a must! They have an in-house bakery and various things like toys, poop bags, leashes, bandanas, etc. for dogs, plus hats, t-shirts, and household decor for the people that love them. They also partner with Coastal Cravings Tap Shack for “Yappy Hour” once a week during peak season. (We missed it during our most recent trip, but it includes drink deals for humans plus some doggy art activities and refreshments.)
Food + Coffee
- Ashley’s Espresso Parlour in Kill Devil Hills is a hip, quirky coffee shop open 7 days a week. They have parking out front and behind the shop, with a grassy area and chairs for hanging out with your dog while someone goes in to order.
- Waveriders in Nags Head made for a great stop on our way out of OBX. It has plentiful outdoor seating with tables spaced out to make it more comfortable for larger dogs. The northern side (more plaza-facing than street-facing) has shaded seating during breakfast hours.
- Without a doubt, Woo Casa Kitchen in Nags Head has become a favorite of ours. We stumbled on it in 2022 while trying to find a place to eat on our way into town, and it caught our eye because of its really high Yelp rating. Trust us and stop here for lunch. Their staff members were delighted to meet the dogs and since their outdoor seating faces east, it makes for a nicely shaded lunchtime spot.
OBX dog parks
We recommend Mary’s Paws Park in Kill Devil Hills since it has separate enclosures for big and small dogs, plus a third for senior dogs and dogs with special needs. Each enclosure has obstacles, toys, and shrubbery for dogs to explore plus benches for the humans to relax. Unfortunately tree coverage and shade are a bit dependent on the enclosure, so if you’re going on an especially bright and humid day, be sure to come prepared with fresh water, hats, etc.!
Thanks for reading our dog-focused guide to OBX! We hope this is helpful as you get started planning a trip.
If there’s anything you think we left out or should consider checking out in the future, feel free to leave us a comment!