r/obx

We're coming this summer and rented a house in Corolla. We're trying to determine what time we should leave on the last day (Saturday) to avoid the worst of the traffic. Any locals or return renters who have experience with this?

Edited to add: we've only been to the OBX once before and that year, my husband made us get up and leave at 4. I swear he giggled the entire time across the bridge because we were the only car on the road! 😂 I'm trying to convince him that isn't necessary this time!

Looking at properties all over the banks and i can't figure out if the location within obx actually matters that much or if it's all roughly the same experience. I keep reading that corolla is more "remote" and kill devil hills is more "central" but i don't know what that actually means for day-to-day life on the trip. We're a group of 6, mix of ages, want beach time but also want to actually eat decent food and not feel completely cut off. What actually changes based on where you stay and what would you pick for that kind of group?

My family is booking an OBX vacation this summer and my mom/sister and family are coming in From Texas. However, we live in Asheville and would like to bring our dogs. We have an (obviously) dog friendly home in South Asheville and were wondering if anyone might have an interest in visiting Asheville and trading places for the week of July 4th. We also have a cat that would need sitting and you can feel free to water the garden. Super easy access to the Mountains to Seas trail right from the front door. 10-15 minutes from everything in AVL.

We would be looking for an (obviously) dog friendly place in the north OBX - Corolla is where mom's rental is.

hi! Looking to go shelling for bigger shells (really hoping to get a conch shell😛) and sand dollars. Any recommendations? Planning to go to hatteras but not sure if there are any better areas like Frisco.

Hi! I’m flying into Norfolk International Airport this Friday at 10:30 AM (so Friday of Memorial Day weekend) and then driving my rental car to Kitty Hawk. I was just wondering how bad is traffic usually on a Friday late morning getting down? It says right now it would only take 1 hr 40 min, however, but should I prepare myself for a lot longer of a drive?

Also, are there any cool spots to see on the way down?

Thank you!!

just curious if its going to cause damage to keep them down around 20ish or so all week, if going between say hatteras and the ramps around buxton/south avon daily? max speed limit is 45 through there but it is several miles of course.

Getting close to retirement and I would love to rent a small beach bungalow/house on or very close to the beach. Do a lot of spots shut down for the season? I realize weather is a gamble, but I have no issues with that. Ideally, I need a grocery store and watering hole to get me through and that would be perfect. My wife would probably come down for a week (she will still be working). Ultimately, I don’t need much. Decent but small place, place to buy cold beer, and Wi-Fi to play tunes. Would the Waves/Salvo area fit the bill? Or do I need to stay further north where it’s more populated? Early thanks for anyone’s advice/opinions.

Headed to hatteras island soon. I plan to take the ferry to Ocracoke. What are some fun things I can do there that y’all have loved?

Just wondering what is in the salvo area I have never stayed that far down normally I'm in the Kitty hawk area. So does anyone have any suggestions of cute shops in the salvo spot or even places to eat food stores things like that? Thanks for your time 😊

If you’re visiting the Outer Banks this summer and plan to visit any of our amazing restaurants please take into account that below average gratuity makes a big difference for the locals. With a large percentage of our year round residents, tips make up our primary source of income in the service industry. If you go out to eat and receive good-above average service and are still tipping 10-12% know that it makes a significant impact on that server. I understand times may be tough for a lot of visitors with our economy in its current state, but take that into account before you go to a restaurant versus going to the grocery store or eating at home. I’m sure most of you with corporate jobs or steady income paychecks would also notice if a percentage was taken out of or missing from your check during your pay period. I feel like this shouldn’t need to be voiced but with Memorial Day weekend approaching, it’s already been noticed quite frequently in many establishments leading up to the holiday. To end the rant, take care of the people who are taking care of you on your vacation. Please and thanks.

*I may receive some backlash for such a blatant post but I’m sure all the fellow servers and bartenders will appreciate the reminder.

We are heading to the obx and want to spend one of our beach days driving out on the beach and posting up for the day. Where is the best place to do this? Want something more lively with other people around. We are next to jockeys ridge

Planning my first trip out to OBX for a week by myself to do some surf fishing. I grew doing it in Florida and it brought me a lot of peace and happiness, moved to Virginia and tried areas around Virginia Beach and a complete flop. No catches and a culture misread, felt like not a lot of fisherman up there more tourists.

I bought a Swell Pro FD3 drone to help with the “not getting the bait far enough” thing, these northern beaches are much different than Florida in terms of distance to depth.

I want to make sure I’m not misreading culture again (or laws), so feedback please -

My understanding is I’m ok to drive on and drone fish from the Corolla exit up to the Virginia line like Carova and Swan beach. I plan on hitting the sand like noon-ish, and being out until the sharks stop biting around 1am ish.

I’m planning on:

- avoiding other fisherman and families
- not being directly in front of someone’s house etc
- already purchased my parking permit
- already purchased my fishing license

Any other tips? I just want to fish and be left alone, but I don’t want to be an issue to someone else.

Unpopular opinion: Their pasta to me is very mid i only ever go there for the bread and pesto and will order extras

Are you able to walk there? Last time we tried it was all closed off only accessible to vehicles. We tried from the light house area parking. Is it different coming from the south?

Its an amazing summer destination with great sights and beaches but food ain't it here so don't expect too much there

Just curious to learn more about having a day at the beach some where on Pea Island. Anyone have insights to share? Any dos or don’ts? Advice on parking? Areas to avoid? Sometimes I love the crowd of my Virginia Beach oceanfront / boardwalk but sometimes I want a more remote (but not completely desolate) beach.

I heard a rumor a year ago that Shibumi shades have been banned from all the OBX beaches. Is this true? Which beaches are affected? Why?