Home of the Outer Banks˙s first resort, the town of Nags Head was founded in 1961 but has been a popular vacation destination for more than 150 years still attracting families today. In fact, the entire Outer Banks is sometimes mistakenly called Nags Head due to the fact that at one time it was the only true OBX destination.
With traditional old-style beach cottages lined up on the oceanfront and many luxurious vacation homes springing up along the coastline every year, Nags Head is a busy seaside resort offering unparalleled recreational opportunities on the Outer Banks: mini-golf galore, a variety of watersports, dolphin tours, boat rentals, jetski rentals, airboat rides, go-kart tracks, kiteboarding, windsurfing and sailing, as well as YMCA, a bowling alley, and a paved bike path running almost the entire length of the town. Golf enthusiasts will enjoy the beautiful and challenging Scottish links-style golf courses of the Villages at Nags Head Gold Links, stretching along the Roanoke Sound.
Nags Head is home to some of the best shopping and dining establishments, with Tanger Outlet Mall, and several strip malls located within its boundaries, as well as unique boutiques and art galleries. Coffee shops, restaurants, nightspots abound here, drawing people in from neighboring Kill Devil Hills, South Nags Head and Manteo.
Nags Head Woods Preserve spanning both Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills attracts bird-watchers and nature-lovers year-round, as well as the Jockey˙s Ridge State Park, the largest sand dune on the east coast offering unbelievable ocean and sound views and the best kite flying and hang gliding on the beach.
The unique character of Nags Head and its central convenient location to almost anything makes it a great spot for a primary residence, with almost 3,000 locals living here year-round.
South Nags Head, stretching from MP 17 to MP 21, is an exclusively residential area with no commercial development and offers great privacy and seclusion. Many vacationers love this part of Nags Head because it combines the best of the two worlds: the tranquility of island beach living and convenient location to all the major attractions of the Outer Banks.
