Kill Devil Hills: local rooms, events and more

Photo: SaiP · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Town and around · North Carolina · 38k people

Kill Devil Hills

Locals say The Outer Banks · “OBX”, “The Banks”

Where the wind and waves write the story.

Atlantic BlueDune SandSunset Coral

Welcome to the Outer Banks, where the sand meets the sky and the sound is always calling. Whether you're here for the lighthouses or the hushpuppies, you'll find your rhythm with the tide.

Clubs for Kill Devil Hills

No clubs for Kill Devil Hills yet.

The room

Kill Devil Hills Quiet now Where the wind and waves write the story.

One room for everyone around Kill Devil Hills. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.

Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Kill Devil Hills. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

Wright Brothers National Memorial Site of the first powered flight
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Tallest brick lighthouse in the US
Bodie Island Lighthouse Striped lighthouse with a great climb
Jockey's Ridge State Park Tallest sand dune on the East Coast
Roanoke Island Festival Park Interactive history of the Lost Colony
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site Site of the first English settlement

Outdoors Hang gliding at Jockey's Ridge
Outdoors Kayaking in the Roanoke Sound
With kids Visit the Wright Brothers Memorial
With kids Explore the aquarium
Evenings Live music at waterfront bars
Evenings Sunset catamaran cruises
Locals love Beach bars
Locals love Seafood shacks

Through the year

Outer Banks Seafood Festival October Local seafood, cooking demos, and live music
Outer Banks Marathon November Scenic race through the beach towns
Wright Kite Festival April Kite flying and family fun at the memorial
Hang Gliding Spectacular May Demo flights and lessons at Jockey's Ridge
Outer Banks Pirate Festival October Pirate reenactments, crafts, and music

Humid subtropical with mild winters and hot, humid summers. Best: Spring and fall are ideal—mild temps and fewer crowds.

Talk like a local

“OBX”: Shorthand for Outer Banks
“Hatteras”: Used to refer to the whole island
“soundside”: The bay side of the barrier islands
“beachside”: The ocean side of the barrier islands

Getaways

Elizabeth City Historic waterfront town with shops and museums
Hampton Roads Beaches, naval history, and city life
Washington Small-town charm on the Pamlico River
New Bern Historic streets and riverfront dining

Local flavour

Teams

Outer Banks Daredevils Coastal Plain League

Eat and drink

Hatteras-style clam chowder Clear broth chowder, a local classic
Fresh seafood Shrimp, oysters, and fish caught daily
Hushpuppies Cornmeal fritters served with fried seafood
Duck Donuts Made-to-order donuts, a local chain that started on the Outer Banks

Where people go

Beaches Wide, sandy Atlantic beaches
Lighthouses Cape Hatteras and Bodie Island lighthouses
Sand dunes Jockey's Ridge State Park, the tallest natural sand dune on the East Coast
Historic waterfront towns
Fishing piers Long wooden piers for surf fishing and sunset strolls

Heritage and traditions

The Outer Banks is proud of its role as the birthplace of flight, its storied maritime and shipwreck history, and the resilient, independent spirit of its barrier-island communities.

This time of year in Kill Devil Hills

Fall fishing tournaments Fall Competitive fishing events for marlin and tuna.
Wings Over Water October A week-long celebration of the area's rich birdlife and natural habitats.

Say it like a local: “boid” — bird

Festivals

Outer Banks Taste of the Beach March A multi-day culinary celebration featuring local seafood and regional dishes.
Outer Banks Celtic Festival November A celebration of Celtic music, dance, and heritage in Manteo.
Wings Over Water October A week-long celebration of the area's rich birdlife and natural habitats.
The Lost Colony Summer The long-running outdoor drama about the Roanoke Colony, performed nightly in Manteo.

Landmarks with a story

Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse A reconstruction of an 1877 screw-pile lighthouse in Manteo.
Island Farm A living history farm in Manteo that recreates 19th-century coastal life.
The Lost Colony Outdoor Theater Home of the long-running outdoor drama about the Roanoke Colony.

Food traditions

Oyster roasts Community oyster roasts, where locals gather to steam oysters and share stories.
Blue crab feasts Freshly caught blue crabs steamed with Old Bay, a summer tradition.
Fish stews Hearty fish stews made with local catch, often served at church and community gatherings.

Music and arts

Decoy carving A traditional craft of carving wooden waterfowl decoys, still practiced by local artisans.
Maritime folk music Sea shanties and folk songs that tell the stories of shipwrecks and the sea.
The Lost Colony drama A theatrical tradition that has run for decades, showcasing local history.

A little history

1587 The Roanoke Colony is established; Virginia Dare is born, the first English child born in the Americas.
1903 The Wright Brothers make the first powered flight at Kill Devil Hills.
1862 The Battle of Roanoke Island takes place during the Civil War.
1870s The U.S. Life-Saving Service establishes stations along the Outer Banks to aid shipwrecked sailors.
1999 The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is moved inland to save it from erosion.

Rivalries

Nags Head vs. Kill Devil Hills Which beach access is the best?
Surfers vs. kiteboarders Who owns the waves?
Manteo vs. Wanchese Who brings in the better catch?
Hatteras vs. Ocracoke The best ferry ride and fishing

Game day Surfing competitions
Game day Fishing tournaments
Outdoors Beachcombing for shells and sea glass
Outdoors Crabbing in the sound
With kids The Lost Colony play
With kids Island Farm

Locals speak with a distinctive 'Hoi Toider' accent, with unique pronunciations like 'high tide' as 'hoi toid' and 'oil' as 'arl'. The dialect is a source of pride and identity.

Only here

The mystery of the Lost Colony, which disappeared without a trace.
The tradition of 'sounding' for clams with your feet.
The fact that the islands are so narrow that you can see the ocean from the sound.
The annual hang gliding competition at Jockey's Ridge.

New here? A few tips

Expect heavy traffic on Highway 12 during summer weekends; plan accordingly.
Learn the local dialect: 'hoi toid' means 'high tide'.
Check the weather and hurricane forecasts, especially in late summer.
The islands are narrow; you can often see both the ocean and the sound.
Try the fresh seafood, especially the Hatteras-style clam chowder.

Make this page better

Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.

Part of Virginia Beach area

Nearby

Every area

Elizabeth CityNorth CarolinaGateway to the Outer Banks, where the river meets the sound.EdentonNorth CarolinaQuiet waters, deep history.Hampton RoadsVirginiaWhere the bay meets the sea and the fleet comes home.Roanoke-ChowanNorth CarolinaWhere the rivers meet the fields Inner BanksNorth CarolinaWhere the rivers meet the sound FranklinVirginiaWhere the peanuts grow and the Nottoway flows.WashingtonNorth CarolinaRiverfront charm, southern soul.GreenvilleNorth CarolinaThe heart of Eastern Carolina

Kill Devil Hills, NC. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.