Home Blog The Hatteras Village Guide

01/28/2025

Having some quality time to spare in life for a well-deserved vacation is always something to look forward to on the calendar. The next time you’re lucky enough to enjoy time away from the hustle and bustle of just about everything, consider making your way to scenic Hatteras Island! This endlessly beautiful vacation destination is part of the alluring Outer Banks of North Carolina, and is a place where you’ll find activities, attractions, and events designed to inspire visitors year-round.

On Hatteras Island, coastal culture is celebrated at every turn whether you’re admiring stunning landscapes, checking out the one-of-a-kind shops and eateries, or making time for adventures on the water. Hatteras Island is also home to rich historic landmarks to explore that are situated across a variety of local villages that each has its own unique charm.

Whether you’re looking to relax, adventure, or make the most of both options during your next trip this way, the following overview of Hatteras Island villages is a great place to start when you want to be sure you get settled into luxury and style in a place that keep you close to the customized fun you’re after on Hatteras Island.

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Avon

Travelers who are looking to enjoy a Hatteras Island stay where they can pair thrills with chill moments alike will love every day they spend in a vacation rental booked in Avon through Midgett Realty. Avon is a beautiful local village that hosts many miles of pristine shorelines and an iconic pier that beckons to anglers looking to cast a line during their stay.

In Avon, you’re invited to slow things down and take vacation life at your preferred pace whether that means a day of swimming, soaking up the sun from the sand, or enjoying live music at a relaxed beach bar in the evening hours. Avon has a variety of unique eateries for food enthusiasts looking to savor everything from Southern fare to fresh catch of the day.

If retail therapy would go a long way toward the fun of your stay, you’ll love that Avon hosts so many boutique storefronts to explore. While you may hear Avon referred to as Kinnakeet, these places are in fact one in the same. Here, the Atlantic Ocean is always at your fingertips and surf shops are abundant too. For those who are heading this way with a passion for windsurfing, there’s no better place to be. Avon has a history of providing pristine waves for windsurfers and it’s a great place to learn for the first time if you’re new to the sport and excited to try.

Buxton

History buffs heading to Hatteras Island to make the most of some time away from the daily grind will certainly want to set their sights on a vacation rental in Buxton. That’s because booking a stay here means you’re always within proximity to the area’s iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse! This lighthouse enjoys the title of the tallest brick structure of its type in the country stretching 208 feet into the air, and it’s a once-stop-resource in the area for not only bringing the local maritime past to life but savoring some truly spectacular views out over the water from the observation deck. There’s also a museum next to the lighthouse to explore when you’re excited to learn even more during your visit.

Yet another highlight of making Buxton your homebase during your Hatteras Island getaway is proximity to the Buxton Woods. If you and your traveling crew are always looking for opportunities to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature, this barrier island maritime forest is sure to thrill. In total, it spans nearly 3,000 acres of terrain and 1,000 acres of that landscape belong to the North Caroline Coastal Reserve & National Estuarine Research Reserve. When you visit, you’ll be able to explore a variety of scenic hiking trails on-site which put you in a great place to observe local wildlife too.

Once you re-emerge from the lush Buxton Woods, you can spend some quality time on the waves here as well. Buxton has earned a reputation for excellence in the windsurfing community with one of the most popular destinations in the area to enjoy this activity fondly referred to as Canadian Hole. Buxton is also a place where you’ll find visitors enjoying afternoons of traditional surfing as well thanks to powerful local waves.

Frisco

Before settlers ever arrived on Hatteras Island, it was home to several indigenous tribes. Today, visitors who book a stay in the charming village of Frisco have options to learn more about the original inhabitants at places like the Frisco Native American Museum. This informative and insightful stop is a great place to browse exhibits and displays that showcase native tribes of the region complete with artifacts and highlights of local tribal members.

In addition to its rich history, Frisco is known for its beautiful beaches where guests can spend endless hours soaking up the sun at a leisurely pace. The beaches of Frisco are great for sunbathing and swimming thanks to clear and calm waters.

From Frisco, you can also access the Buxton Woods mentioned above, and if you’re looking to switch things up, you might consider booking your place on a guided horseback ride through the protected terrain. Those who are looking to pursue the past further during their time in Frisco will want to set aside an afternoon to tour the iconic Frisco airstrip in town as well. When you’re planning your time in Frisco, it’s good to note that the southern end of the village is primarily made up of seasonal vacation homes while the northern end is dominated by lush maritime forest.

Hatteras Village

On the southernmost point of Hatteras Island, guests can book a stay in Hatteras Village. This is a scenic and historic fishing community that’s often praised by guests for its undeniably relaxed atmosphere, stunning scenery, and easy access to outdoor adventures of all kinds. Your stay in Hatteras Village should definitely include a stop at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum where you’ll have opportunities to browse exhibits that highlight the many shipwrecks that have occurred off the shorelines of Hatteras Island as the result of storms and treacherous Diamond Shoals.

Taking an afternoon to book a chartered fishing outing is also a top activity enjoyed by visitors who make Hatteras Village their homebase on vacation. Whether you’re looking to experience an inshore fishing excursion or a deep-sea outing alongside a Hatteras Island guide, this type of experience comes with everything you need in place to be successful on the water.

Over at Hatteras Inlet, Hatteras Village visitors can hop on the ferry to Ocracoke Island or simply spend some quality time making the most of wildlife watching too. For those travelers who decide to stay here and want to get out on the water their own way, Hatteras Village is packed with marinas where boat rentals are easily accessible. The fishing culture that’s long defined Hatteras Village makes it an amazing place for seafood enthusiasts to find top-rated restaurants to enjoy while they’re in town.

Rodanthe

The welcoming village of Rodanthe marks the northernmost destination of its kind on Hatteras Island and is a place that’s as beloved by locals and visitors for its scenery and beaches as it is for its prime access to water. Rodanthe is home to iconic landmarks like the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station Historic Site and Museum which is well worth a visit when you book a stay here. When you spend time at the lifesaving station, you’ll gain insight into the lives of those who risked everything to keep mariners safe well before the Coast Guard was officially formed.

Rodanthe sits just 10 miles from the Oregon Inlet and is a great place to wildlife enthusiasts to enjoy thanks to its proximity to the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge too. If you’re an angler at heart, your stay in Rodanthe will certainly need to include time casting a line from the historic Rodanthe Pier. Even if you’re not reeling anything in, this landmark is worth checking out and savoring ocean views from. When the surrounding waters are just right, Rodanthe is the perfect place to be for a day of windsurfing, kiteboarding, and surfing alike.

Salvo

Spending your time in the village of Salvo is a treat for those travelers who are looking for a tranquil and serene Hatteras Island stay. Here, things move refreshingly more slowly than they likely do back home, and guests can make the most of their time lingering on quiet shorelines, watching the waves roll in without any large crowds to contend with. The shorelines of Salvo are great for beachcombing and the gentle waves lend themselves to afternoons of swimming in the open water too.

When you book your vacation rental in Salvo through Midgett Realty, you’ll find you’re never far from opportunities to include fishing and kayaking into your stay due to the village’s nearness to the inviting Pamlico Sound. If you happen to have a passion for landscape photography, Salvo is a great place to set up the camera and capture sky, sand, and sea coming together in picture-perfect balance.

If you’re someone who loves birding, the beaches of Salvo are great places to watch a variety of species enjoy time on the shoreline. Salvo is part of an area known as the “Tri Villages,” which also includes Waves and Rodanthe. When you stay here, you’ll be able to reach these other destinations with ease, further expanding your convenient options for fun and adventure in the area to match your interests. For those travelers who are certified divers, Salvo is a great place to stay and plan for time underwater exploring local shipwrecks that are sure to thrill.

Waves

The village of Waves sits just south of Rodanthe and is another terrific option for travelers heading to Hatteras Island longing to embrace the best of a serene vacation experience from start to finish. The ambiance in Waves is laid-back year-round and it hosts a variety of family-friendly resorts and campgrounds to explore. Waves is known and loved for its top-notch dining scene where visitors can enjoy fantastic seafood restaurants and cafes that showcase local cuisine at its finest.

Much like Rodanthe, Waves is a popular place to stay among those who are enthusiastic about paddleboarding, kiteboarding and windsurfing alike. This “Tri-Villages” destination has been referred to as “South Rodanthe” in the past but is decidedly its own destination packed with its own activities, attractions, and endless charm for guests. What began as a small fishing village has grown to be a popular vacation destination for on-the-water enthusiasts. It’s a place where it’s worth your while to book a kiteboarding lesson alongside a pro or settle into the sand and watch the experts put their skills to work.

Book a Fully Customized Trip to Hatteras Island Today

No matter what Hatteras Island village speaks to you, booking your vacation accommodations through the team of property professionals at Midgett Realty is a sure way to infuse elevated standards of quality, comfort, and style into your stay. Our portfolio of property options across all the villages here are vast and varied, giving our guests access to the choices they deserve and the customized amenities that make all the difference in the guest experience too. From cozy abodes by the water to sprawling retreats near the beach, we can help you get settled into a property option that not only meets your needs while you’re in town but exceeds your expectations at every turn.

Whether you’re traveling to Hatteras Island on your own, as a couple on a romantic getaway for two, or you’re spending time with a group of family members and friends, we have just the right rental for you in the place that most closely matches your unique travel style. Reach out to our team of experts today to learn more about our inviting and exciting property options across Hatteras Island’s beautiful villages and how we can help you plan a trip that’s unforgettable from start to finish. We can’t wait to see you on Hatteras Island soon!

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