The Outer Banks is famous for its beautiful beaches and stunning views. One of the best ways to experience the beauty of the Outer Banks is to wake up early and watch a stunning sunrise over the Atlantic ocean. With miles of pristine coastline, there are plenty of spots to catch a breathtaking sunrise. From Carova to Hatteras Village, here is our list of the best places to see a sunrise on the Outer Banks.

Sunrise on the beach in Carova, NC

Carova 4x4 Beach

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If you have a 4x4 vehicle and are up for a mini adventure, head to the northernmost beach on the Outer Banks. Carova 4x4 Beach can only be accessed by driving bwyond the northernmost paved point of NC12 and onto the sand. Parking anywhere along the remote beach, you’ll be rewarded with a stunning sunrise over the ocean, and with a little luck, views of Carova's herd of wild Spanish mustangs.

Corolla Beach Access Points

The town of Corolla has several beach access points that offer excellent sunrise views, along with amenities like parking, showers, and restrooms. Here's a list with map links:

With public parking, located on the following streets in Corolla:

Without parking, at the following locations:

Kitty Hawk Pier

Kitty Hawk Pier

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One of the most iconic piers on the Outer Banks, Kitty Hawk Pier is part of the Hilton Garden Inn Outer Banks property. Beach access is free, and there is a small fee to walk onto the pier. You’ll get a perfect view of the sun rising over the ocean, and you might even see some surfers catching early morning waves.

Sunrise in KDH NC

Avalon Pier

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Another great pier to watch the sunrise is Avalon Pier in Kill Devil Hills. The pier opens early between March and November, so you can catch the sunrise while standing out above the ocean surf.

Outer Banks Fishing Pier

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Outer Banks Fishing Pier is a popular spot for fishing and watching the sunrise. The pier is open before sunrise in season.

Jennette's Pier

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Located in Nags Head, Jennette's Pier is another great spot to watch the sunrise. This concrete pier offers several benches, a panoramic view of the ocean, and has a great atmosphere for a peaceful morning.

Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse in Manteo NC

Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse

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For a spectacular non-ocean sunrise view, head to the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse and boardwalk at the downtown Manteo waterfront. The lighthouse offers a stunning view of the sunrise over the Shallowbag Bay.

Bodie Island Lighthouse

Bodie Island Lighthouse

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Another lighthouse that offers a great sunrise view is the Bodie Island Lighthouse in South Nags Head. The lighthouse isn't open for climbing at sunrise, but you can catch a beautiful view from the park's marshfront gazebo and wooden walkway.

Bonner Bridge Pier

Bonner Bridge Pier

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If you’re willing to wake up early, head to the South end of Bonner Bridge and take an immediate left. The Bonner bridge pier is an old section of the Basnight bridge offers great views of the new Bonner Bridge, a stream of charter fishing boats leaving Oregon Inlet, and views of the old Oregon Inlet Lifesaving Station. It's open 24 hours per day and features plenty of parking.

Pea Island Wildlife Refuge

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

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One of the most picturesque spots on the Outer Banks, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is a great place to watch the sunrise. You can park at the Pea Island visitors center and walk along the beautiful, natural, secluded beach.

Sunrise at Rodanthe Fishing Pier

Rodanthe Pier

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Located in the heart of Rodanthe, the Rodanthe Pier offers a great view of the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean. The pier is open early, so you can catch the sunrise while sitting in a comfortable chair or strolling the length of the pier.

Donutz on a Stick

Stay, Play and Eat- Donuts, Ice Cream & Coffee Treats! Located on the Duck Boardwalk, behind Dockside Seafood, this breakfast & Dessert-Shop features treats you've never tasted before! Try the hot, made to order, donutz on a stick with more than 35 toppings! They'll melt in your mouth! Or try the Gluten-Free Donuts; limited quantities, daily. Plus, try any or all of the 9 flavors of homemade tastefully twisted soft serve. Frozen yogurt, sorbets, sherbet, hand dipped and homemade ice cream flavors.

 

Unique coffees, sodas and espresso that will satisfy the whole family. Mix-and-match nostalgic candies and much more. Bring the carnival to your mouth and eat it like nobody’s watchin’! Donutz-On-A-Stick- where visual stimulation meets taste bud overload!

 

Carnival Treats at the Beach—With Flavorful Creations and Allergy-Friendly Options, Donutz on a Stick Serves Up Sweet Treats for Everyone

 

David and Stephanie were not always in the business of carnival confections. In fact, Stephanie was a fitness instructor and David worked in the computer field. But he loved donuts and she loved ice cream, and when they saw an opportunity to bring their favorite treats to beachgoers, they jumped on it.

 

In 2014, the couple opened their first Donutz on a Stick—a family-run, family-friendly dessert shop on the boardwalk. They quickly realized that in order to serve everyone, they would need to get creative. “We had a family who would come in, and one of the little boys would have to wait by the door because of his gluten allergy,” David says. “That didn’t sit well with us. We wanted everyone to come under the same roof no matter what kind of allergies they had. And we continue to work towards that goal.”

 

The Williams’ daughter Desireé spent six weeks experimenting until she created a gluten-free donut that was totally safe and delicious. Gluten-free donuts are now a huge part of the business, with more than 1,000 being served each day, just out of the Duck location. But you will want to call or stop by to reserve them in advance.

 

The Williams’ other three children, David, Justin and Christian, have all invented menu items as well, such as Christian’s donut milkshake, which features hot and fresh cooked donuts blended into a milkshake with another donut on top making it picture perfect.

 

While all the Williams have created menu items, the most popular pick—the donut sundae—was actually a happy accident.

 

“We were being featured in a local magazine and we could only have one photo for the article,” David says. Since both ice cream and donuts were equally popular, “we built the donut sundae for the photo and we discovered after the photoshoot that it tasted amazing. It was completely serendipitous.”

 

The Williams family is constantly creating and improving upon their recipes. At the heart of it all is a desire to see everyone come in and enjoy an experience together. They want to bring the carnival to your mouth.

 

“No matter how busy we are—even if there’s a line down the boardwalk—every customer gets that engagement and service from us,” they say.

 

The family has since opened a second location in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area.

Ben Franklin

Stop by Nags Head's Ben Franklin at Mile Post 10 on the Bypass where you will find everything you need for the beach! From Clothing, T-shirts and Swimwear to Boards, Chairs, Umbrellas and Tackle. You'll find it all…and of course, we have the best selection of Souvenirs anywhere on the Outer Banks. Enjoy your vacation! Independently owned by a member of one of the Outer Banks’ oldest families, the Ben Franklin store is stocked with just about everything a visitor would need to go to the beach.

 

Ben Franklin stores were once part of a five-and-dime retail empire, with about 2,500 locations across the country in its heyday. As decades passed and the times and customers began to change, many closed their doors, leading to fewer than 150 of these nostalgic shops. Nags Head Ben Franklin, however, has withstood the test of time and adapted to the needs of its customers to provide a memorable shopping experience on the Outer Banks.

 

Debbie Terry Tolson, manager of the Ben Franklin location in Nags Head, recalls working with former owner Tommie Daniels. Daniels’ father, Moncie Daniels, started the business in downtown Manteo in the early 1900s. The Daniels family has been a longstanding fixture in the Outer Banks business community—Moncie even sold gas to the Wright brothers in 1903.

 

Tommie, with an excellent business mind, saw the opportunity the new Bypass presented and, in 1977, he opened the Nags Head location of Ben Franklin. He was one of the first businesses on the Bypass,” Tolson says.In addition to a new location, the Ben Franklin store saw a new group of customers.

 

“People would come from all around because Tommie had a little bit of everything—it was more like a five and 10 then,” Tolson explains. “As he went to the beach, he began to get more tourists, so he started catering more and more to visitors.”

 

Today, the 21,000-square-foot souvenir shop quickly catches the attention of anyone driving by thanks to the ocean-themed mural that decorates the façade of the building, painted by local artist Rob Snyder. This Ben Franklin location has become the must-stop shop for both first-time visitors to the area and generations of families who escape to the Outer Banks annually.

 

Tolson credits the great prices and friendly customer service to the success of the location, which keeps families returning.“People come in all the time and tell me, ‘my grandmother or my grandfather used to bring me here and now I’m bringing my children,’” she shares. “One of my favorite parts about working here is seeing the people come back year after year.”

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