Quiet, beach-road lodging in the south end of Nags Head
Surf Side Hotel sits on South Virginia Dare Trail at the south end of Nags Head, in the stretch of beach road that runs down toward Whalebone Junction — well south of the busier, more central part of town where Jockey's Ridge and the Nags Head fishing piers draw the crowds. This is a quieter slice of the Nags Head oceanfront, several miles removed from the town's main hub of shops and restaurants.
As beach-road lodging, it puts you close to the sand without putting you in the middle of the action, which suits travelers who'd rather skip the congestion around central Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills. Jockey's Ridge State Park and the Nags Head piers are still reachable, just a drive up South Virginia Dare Trail rather than a walk. The trade-off is a calmer stretch of beach and easier parking, with the rest of the Outer Banks' northern beach towns within a short drive north. The hotel operates year-round, a straightforward option for peak summer or the area's quieter shoulder-season stretch.
990 reviews
a month ago
A clean, family friendly hotel! My husband and I stayed for a romantic getaway and it did not disappoint. The room was spacious with a balcony view of the ocean. The pool area was clean and well kept. Beach access is very convenient. The hotels location is close to local restaurants and a grocery store. It was perfect for what we were looking for!
a month ago
First time staying here. Absolutely loved it. 100% will be back in the future. I dealt with 3 different front desk employees and every single one was so nice. Special shout out to the front desk associate Jason who was super cool and friendly, I had great conversations with, and he even recommended a phenomenal place to eat close to Manteo. Thank you Jason!!The lady working the breakfast buffett each morning was incredibly nice, the housekeeping employees was super friendly. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better first experience. Thank you forever Surf Side Hotel for a vacation I will never forget!!! ❤️ ⛱️
2 months ago
Surf side hotel is the best hotel to stay at in nags head. All the staff was polite and respectful when we arrived. It was my first time in nags head and surf side made us feel comfortable there. I was pleased on how everything was. The breakfast was amazing, the front desk staff was amazing as well but I had to call them about getting some more extra towels in my room for a family of 5 and they were on it in getting me extra towels. The room had a perfect ocean view. I believe nags head is going to be my go to beach for vacation. I’m very happy, pleased and thankful on how Surf side treated me and my family! They get a 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you so much on everything and will be seeing you surf side staff next year in 2027.
a month ago
What a delightful hotel! The location is amazing, right on the beach with an indoor and outdoor pool. I was very impressed by the friendly hotel staff, especially their breakfast service staff. We only stayed for 2 nights and the breakfast was exceptional and delicious both times. Our room was cozy and spacious with comfortable beds. This is random but the water pressure was fantastic in the bathroom. I would absolutely stay here again!
2 months ago
Our family and friends booked several rooms here for the long Fourth of July weekend, and overall we had a great stay. The location is perfect, and the breakfast was delicious with plenty of options each morning. We also loved taking evening walks to Booty Treats for ice cream—definitely recommend stopping by! My only complaint was that beach nourishment construction was taking place directly at the hotel's beach access when we arrived. For the first two days, we had to use a public beach access instead, which was a bit inconvenient. I understand the construction was completely outside of the hotel's control, but I do wish guests had been notified before arrival. A simple email or courtesy notice would have allowed us to make an informed decision, especially since holiday weekend rates are so expensive. Without direct beach access, it was definitely frustrating for our group. Thankfully, by the Fourth of July, the construction had moved farther down the beach, and we were able to enjoy the convenience of walking straight from the hotel to the beach for the rest of our stay. Despite that inconvenience, we still had a wonderful time overall.