Points of Interest

Avon Beach

Open Atlantic beach at Avon, where Hatteras Island's dunes still do the talking

(128)

Avon, NC

About

Avon Beach is the ocean side of Avon village, one of the string of Hatteras Island communities inside Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It's reached off NC-12, the single road that ties Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, and Hatteras village together — and that, on this stretch of barrier island, occasionally floods or closes during bad weather. What you get at the beach itself is straightforward: a dune line, open sand, and the Atlantic without a boardwalk or high-rise in sight. Hatteras Island runs narrower and more exposed than the beaches to the north, and it shows here in the wind and the surf.

Swimming, surfing, and surf fishing are the main draws, with plenty of open sand to spread out even in season.
Much of Hatteras Island permits 4x4/ORV beach driving with an NPS ORV permit, unlike the core beaches further north — check current access points and conditions before driving on the sand.
Peak season runs Memorial Day through Labor Day; April–May and September–October are quieter and often more comfortable.
Hurricane season (June–November, with the real risk window August–October) can affect NC-12 access and beach conditions — worth checking before a Hatteras Island trip more than almost anywhere else on the Outer Banks.

Reviews (128)

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4.8

128 reviews

Google Reviews

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Megan Eash

3 years ago

Beautiful Beach! Uncrowded and clean. We stayed oceanfront and had access to this beach. This beach was nice because you could walk to the Avon pier. The water was really nice and blue when we went, minus when it was stormy. A great family-friendly beach for sure! Lots of space to roam around and set up umbrellas and tents for a day full of soaking up the sun and playing in the sand and the sea.

Merge K

2 years ago

Quiet, clean, and great for families but not handicapped friendly. The only access from Rouge Wave building to the beach was several flights of stairs. We brought a rolling cart to haul umbrellas, chairs, cooler, and other things but ended up not using it because of the stairs.

Sheyla Smith

4 years ago

It’s a very beautiful place and there isn’t much people like in other beaches, you can collect shells, go crab hunting at night and swim a lot, just be extra careful with the RIP currents because they can be deadly if you don’t know how to swim. The little city of Avon has nice restaurants and beautiful views! I recommend it💕

Tyler T

2 years ago

Beautiful beach located in the midde of the outer banks. Short dunes and well maintained beach. Very short walk from the last row of houses to the ocean. Definitely will have to visit again soon!

Craig Simon

3 years ago

This is one of the most beautiful beaches I have been to. So clean and just amazing sunrises.