Discover Dog-Friendly OBX: Unleash Adventure in the Outer Banks with Your Furry Friend

OBX stands for Outer Banks, NC, and is a fantastic choice for a dog-friendly getaway. It offers beautiful, pristine beaches, abundant outdoor activities, and historical attractions such as the Wright Brothers National Memorial and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. So whether you want to relax and soak up the sun or seek adventure, OBX has something for everyone.
A getaway with your dog in OBX can be a great way to bond with your furry friend and create lasting memories. OBX offers many dog-friendly beaches, parks, and outdoor activities to enjoy together.

Additionally, many of the vacation rental properties in OBX are pet-friendly, so you can bring your dog along and enjoy a comfortable and stress-free stay. I recommend time to go before Memorial Day or after Labor Day since you will have more freedom with your pup. However, any time is possible, and I will give you more details in the following text.

This is the itinerary for four days. I recommend staying in Kitty Hawk or Devil Hill since you won’t have too long a ride in any of the directions for the following four days’ itinerary.

Four-day dog-friendly itinerary

Day 1: Carova Beach and Ducks

Carova Beach is a remote and secluded beach located on the northernmost tip of the Outer Banks in North Carolina. It is only accessible by a four-wheel-drive vehicle, as no paved roads lead to the beach. The area is home to a herd of wild horses that roam freely, adding to the allure of this unique and beautiful beach. Visitors to Carova Beach can enjoy a vast stretch of pristine, sandy beaches, dunes, and rolling waves. It’s a popular spot for fishing, surfing, kayaking, and observing the wild horses in their natural habitat. Overall, Carova Beach offers a peaceful and unspoiled natural setting for those looking to escape the crowds and enjoy a dog-friendly OBX.

If you don’t have a 4×4, you have to rent one. Unfortunately, few rental companies allow dogs, but you can find one on Turo.com. Check if they provide a parking pass to enable you to park and enjoy yourself on the beach. If they don’t, you have to buy one. The value is $50, but the number is limited.

You can find a spot and enjoy yourself with your pup all day.

WARNING: Many wild drivers don’t follow regulations and drive near the waterline, so watch out for oncoming vehicles.

On the way back, you can stop in Ducks, a charming town with Duck Town Park Boardwalk. Most shops are dog-friendly, and you can enjoy the beautiful view.

The Blue Point is an excellent choice for dinner because it is in an open area with a view and great food. There are a couple more restaurants around.

Day 2: Kitty Hawk, The Wright Brothers Memorial, and Jockey’s Ridge State Park

You can hang out locally around Kitty Hawk. It includes The Wright Brothers National Memorial, a historical site in Kill Devil Hills commemorating their first successful airplane flight. It features a 60-foot-tall granite monument, and you can walk around with your pup, except at the visitors’ center.

After a history lesson, you can go to a beach. Most beaches around OBX are dog-friendly, sometimes depending on the time of day and time of the year. I would recommend Kitty Hawk Beach. It is north of Kill Devils Hill Beach, although I am not sure where the exact border between them is. However, Kitty Hawk Beach allows dogs without leashes before Memorial Day and after Labor Day (if the handler controls them and will not disturb other people); other times, dogs are allowed on leashes.

Afterward, you can walk to Avalon Fishing Pier, a popular fishing destination in Kill Devil Hills. It offers various fishing opportunities for anglers of all skill levels. The historic pier has been around since 1958 and offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to fishing, visitors to Avalon Fishing Pier can enjoy a snack bar, a gift shop, and a game room.

Another sandy option is to visit Jockey’s Ridge State Park, a popular outdoor recreational area in Nags Head. The park is renowned for its massive dunes, the largest natural dunes on the East Coast, and it attracts visitors from around the world to activities such as hang gliding, kite flying, and sandboarding.

Restaurants

The best food option is Art’s Place. I have not been too lucky to find something unique, but I can recommend AVOIDING the following:

Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint has two open areas, but only one allows dogs and is the same as the smokers’ area. I have nothing against smokers, but the ground was covered with butts.

Black Pelican Oceanfront, listed on BringFido, is not pet-friendly because it has no open area for dogs.

Day 3: Drive to Cape Hatteras

To continue your OBX getaway, drive to the south to visit dog-friendly Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is famous on Hatteras Island in Buxton. It is 198 feet tall and is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States. It was first lit in 1870 and is still in operation today, warning mariners of the dangerous Diamond Shoals.

A great dining option near Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is Froggy Dog, which has a covered outdoor area and great food.

On the way back from the lighthouse, you pass the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, a beautiful, protected area located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, stretching over 70 miles from Bodie Island to Ocracoke Island. The seashore features pristine beaches, rolling dunes, and stunning ocean vistas. It is a popular destination for beachgoers, nature enthusiasts, and outdoor adventurers. Dogs are allowed on beaches on leashes unless you come out of season and find your spot far from others and let them run freely.

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge doesn’t allow dogs on their trails, so we decided not to go.

Day 4. Fort Raleigh City, Manteo, and Alligator River National Wildlife

Drive to Fort Raleigh City, a historic site located on Roanoke Island. It commemorates the first English settlement in the New World, which mysteriously disappeared in the late 16th century. The site features a constructed fort and the Elizabethan Gardens, a beautiful and tranquil garden featuring a variety of native and exotic plants. Entrance to the Elizabethan Garden for a pup is $3, but it is worth visiting.

After that, you can visit Manteo, a charming small town on Roanoke Island. Don’t miss its historic downtown, waterfront views, and cultural attractions. More than a fantastic lunch option is Lost Colony Tavern, a very dog-friendly British tavern with a lovely outside area and delicious food with the flavors of the Old World.

The last thing I recommend is the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, a protected area just a 30-minute drive from Kitty Hawk. It encompasses over 152,000 acres of wetlands and uplands. The refuge was established in 1984 to protect and preserve the habitat of the American alligator. In addition to alligators, the sanctuary is home to a diverse array of wildlife species, such as black bears, red wolves, and migratory birds.

The area stays open until 30 minutes after dusk. I suggest visiting one hour before sunset when animals are most active. You can drive along the trail, which is unpaved but doesn’t require a 4×4. It’s best to stay in your vehicle. During our 60-minute drive, we saw a couple of owls and two black bears. With more patience, you can see even more wildlife.

I hope you found some helpful information here. If you want to continue a coastal road trip to the North, check out our East Coast Road Trip.

Otherwise, check out other DESTINATIONS.

I would appreciate any comments or suggestions below.