John's Drive In

John’s Drive-In is legendary in the Outer Banks. This little beach stand gets a lot of love by offering locals and tourists the best in beach food and milkshakes. 

The dolphin boat is one of the most talked about meals on the sandbar. Grab one to go and enjoy it for a scrumptious lunch on the beach. It might just be the best fish you taste on the Outer Banks. There’s also BBQ, hamburgers and sandwiches at this old-fashioned drive-in. You can smell the food frying as you approach the stand, which means it’s time to indulge in onion rings, hush puppies and fries.

Be sure to wash it all down with one of John’s famous thick milkshakes. The peanut butter chocolate banana milkshake and cherry chocolate shake are among the best. 

John's Drive-in is old school. Food is prepared in a tiny kitchen and served in paper bags for takeout. You can eat the food on picnic benches out front, but there’s likely to be a crowd. John’s is a dive with a lot of pride and people in the Outer Banks always go back for more.

John’s Drive-In is open seasonally and closed on Wednesdays. Hours are limited and vary. It’s well worth a drive out of your way to see if the stand is open. Lines can be long because the stand is so popular. However, you’ll receive friendly service and your food will be prepared on the spot rather quickly.

Is this your business? Update your listing by messaging us

Kitty Hawk
John's Drive In map location
Hours
*Off-season hours may vary*
Call 252-261-6227 for current hours.
Monday
11:00am-6:00pm
Tuesday
11:00am-6:00pm
Thursday
11:00am-6:00pm
Friday
11:00am-6:00pm
Saturday
11:00am-6:00pm
Sunday
11:00am-6:00pm
Categories
Restaurants
Outer Banks Map
Carova Corolla Duck Southern Shores Kitty Hawk Kill Devil Hills Manteo Nags Head Wanchese Rodanthe Waves Salvo Avon Buxton Frisco Hatteras Ocracoke
Whalehead in Historic Corolla

The prestigious Whalehead in Historic Corolla has been a dominant attraction to Corolla visitors since it was renovated and opened to the public in 2002. As part of the Historic Corolla Park, the Whalehead in Historic Corolla serves as a northern...

Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse

The Roanoke Marshes lighthouse is often one of the most overlooked of the Outer Banks lighthouses, simply because of its small stature, limited visibility and remote location tucked away at the quiet east end of the Manteo waterfront.

Best Surf Fishing Gear for 2026

Once you have your coastal recreational fishing license in hand, it’s time to start thinking about gear. Anglers will find tons of options when it comes to equipment for casting into the surf, from custom designed rods and reels at local...

BACI DEL SOLE

Overview Aptly named "Kisses of the Sun", this delightful 7-bedroom semi-oceanfront beach house has been refined with thoughtful details. Located in a tranquil oceanside neighborhood, just north of central Duck, Sea Tern is the ideal...

  • Duck
  • 7 Bedrooms
  • 7.5 Bathrooms