Cape Hatteras Lighthouse with a rocking chair in the foreground. A chair faces Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Credit: Chansak Joe / Getty Images
Hatteras Island, in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, is the perfect summer vacation destination.
By Lydia Mansel, Published on June 16, 2025
Stay in one of the residential-style suites at Edgecamp Pamlico Station.
Spend a day learning to kitesurf on the Pamlico Sound; Kitty Hawk Kites offers lessons.
Try the famous Apple Ugly from Orange Blossom Bakery & Cafe.
See the historic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in the U.S.
Plan your visit for the fall, when the temperatures are still mild and the summer tourists have left.
“There are things we just don’t have here,” Karla Jarvis, the president of the Hatteras Village Civic Association, tells Travel + Leisure. “There are no big-box stores, no McDonald’s, and you won’t be going to a theater to catch a movie.” But that’s the beauty of Hatteras Island, North Carolina—it’s wild, rustic, and laid-back, even in peak tourist season.
The southernmost of the Outer Banks’ main barrier islands, Hatteras Island and its seven villages—Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras Village—are all located within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, a 70-mile stretch of stunning sandy beaches, salt marshes, and maritime forests. The island is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Pamlico Sound on the other, leading to ideal conditions for kayakers, fishermen, and paddleboarders. This particular geography also creates a haven for kiteboarders; the reliable winds, shallow water, and flat sand have led Hatteras Island to become one of the most well-known kiteboarding destinations in the world.
Even if you’re not interested in harnessing the power of wind for sport, Hatteras Island is still worth a visit. Its storied history, classic charm, and calm, relaxed energy are all reasons to plan a beach trip to this part of the Outer Banks. If you aren’t careful, though, you may find you want to stay forever. “One week is never long enough,” says Shirley Wicker, director of Hatteras Island Ocean Center.
