What is the Best Island in Outer Banks? Certainly, that depends on what you are looking for. However, I’m going to assume that most people are looking where to stay for their vacation. Additionally, read below to learn more about the Outer Banks. Also, be sure to check out our Outer Banks 1 Week Itinerary!
Best Island in Outer Banks
Table of Contents (from north to south)
- Introduction
- Bodie Island
- Corolla
- Duck
- Kitty Hawk
- Kill Devil Hills
- Nags Head
- Whalebone
- Roanoke Island
- Manteo
- Wanchese
- Pea Island
- Hatteras Island
- Rodanthe
- Waves
- Salvo
- Avon
- Buxton
- Frisco
- Hatteras
- Ocracoke Island
- So what is the best island in the Outer Banks?
Introduction
The Outer Banks are a combination of a barrier peninsula and barrier islands. It is generally recognized as the northern part of North Carolina (on the border of North Carolina and Virginia), south to Ocracoke Island. Read below to learn more about each island and decide which might be best for your next vacation.
Bodie Island
Bodie Island is the most developed, and most touristy, “island” in the Outer Banks. I use island in parenthesis because it is actually a peninsula that stretches up to Virginia.
Additionally, this area is home to the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, where the first powered flight occurred. Also, there is the bustling Kill Devils Hills and Nags Head towns, as well as Duck and Corolla to the north. Finally, there are some famous lighthouses like the Currituck Beach Lighthouse to the north and Bodie Lighthouse to the south. Because it has a lot of sights and things to do, it is a good home base for your first visit to the Outer Banks.
Roanoke Island
Roanoke Island is the only Outer Banks island that isn’t technically “outer”, but instead sits protected just inside the barrier of Bodie Island. Additionally, Roanoke tends to feel a bit more residential and less touristy than the rest of the Outer Banks.
Roanoke also has an interesting history and in the summer has an outdoor drama, The Lost Colony. Also, when you drive into Roanoke you will see a sign marking the “First English person born in the Americas”, which is referring to Virginia Dare, who was part of the colony that mysteriously disappeared. Lastly, Roanoke also has the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, the Roanoke Island Festival Park and the North Carolina Aquarium.
Pea Island
Pea Island is the smallest of the main islands and is primarily a wildlife refuge without any commercial area. However, there is a wildlife center that has information, a gift shop and binoculars that you can use to watch wildlife. Additionally, there are some public beaches on Pea Island that are much less busy than those in the more commercial areas.
Hatteras Island
Hatteras Island is one of the longest islands in the lower 48 United States, measuring about 50 miles long! It is also home to the Cape Hatteras Light Station, which is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States. Unfortunately, in 2025 it is undergoing restoration, so we didn’t visit it.
Additionally, Hatteras is home to the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum as well. Also, the southern point is where you can catch the ferry to Ocracoke Island, which is next on the list.
Ocracoke Island
Ocracoke requires a ferry, and there are both vehicle ferries and passenger ferries (in the summer). However, it took us about 90 minutes waiting for a ferry each way and it is another hour on the ferry to get to and from Ocracoke. However, once you make it to the island, it has a nice, community vibe. Additionally, it is home to the Ocracoke Light Station and Springers Point Preserve.
So what is the best island in the outer banks?
For the purposes of choosing a vacation spot, the best/most options are on Bodie Island, which isn’t actually and island, but rather a peninsula that makes up the northern portion of the Outer Banks (OBX). Additionally, Hatteras further south has a lot of rental options. However, if you are looking to get away from the tourist areas, perhaps Roanoke or Ocracoke might be your best options. However, for a first time visit, I think that Bodie Island in Duck, Kill Devil Hills or Nags Head are great choice and central options to explore the Outer Banks!