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Jockey's Ridge State Park

4.7 (201 reviews)

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Kitty Hawk Kites gift shop
Starlite C.

A must see state park inNags Head. Absolutely swing by next time you're in the Outer Banks around Kitty Hawk or the Nags Head. There are amazing sand dunes, where you can literally go fly a kite! Not for the faint of heart or the tired of legs, be ready for the weather and to climb dunes. There is a lookout at the end of a boardwalk area if you just want to take a few quick pictures. If you need a kite, Kitty Hawk Kites has a small shop at the park to grab some essentials. You can also skate down the dunes if you're adventurous. We had so much sand covering us once we got back in the car but it was 100% worth it. They do have a rinse off spot next to the welcome center/restrooms. Pro tip: baby powder will help you brush off sand once you're ready to head home

MST trail terminus.
Stephen R.

This is a great day hike location to check out the sand dunes. If you are taking dogs please check the sand temp before going too far.

Greg G.

I'm ashamed to say I've lived in NC for 45yrs and just now made it to Kitty Hawk OBX. Some might say this is just a giant sand pile but it was quite fascinating and gave you a small glimpse into what it might be like to hike through one of the world's major deserts. It was fun hiking to the top of the tallest dune which I approximate was probably 140 ft high. There were some hang gliders at the top and I tried to get video but unfortunately the one person wasn't able to get airborne. This is also the Eastern most terminus of the mountain to see trail. Well worth the trip over if you are in the area and I would definitely recommend hiking around but bring lots of water.

Trail to the dunes
Grace D.

There aren't a great many places where you can be in a scenic city by the sea, then walk up a sand dune and feel like you're on the surface of another planet entirely! The dune offers a panoramic view of the ocean, sound, and Nag's Head. Sunrise or sunset, both are gorgeous from the top. You can go to Hang gliding school and learn how to soar over the sands in the famous winds that also make this area popular for kite surfing. Flight based activities are rather popular here.... For some reason... ;) Entry to the park is free, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail ends here, and don't forget to checkout the sound side access a block south of the park to get a boardwalk to the beach and a nature trail!

Hand gliding
Joe L.

For kids, adults, couples and the whole family this is a must visit! There are good walking trails, sand surfing, hand gliding, kite flying, remote control planes and relaxing. Climb the biggest dune and yell "Arrakis!" Make sure you stop by the visitor, where the staff is super friendly and helpful. They also have indoor restrooms and water fountains. They have beverage machines outside the visitor center too. Eat before hand or pack something to eat if you plan to make it an all day thing. Also, there are no entrance fees!

Brian M.

I went here to get some hiking in and to experience the tallest dunes on the east coast. To start off the park is free to enter, park, visit - nice! I'd never been here so I went inside to ask where to go. The person I interacted with was very friendly and helpful. I made my way down the boardwalk and onto the sand. A little hike from there and I could see the dunes. I spent my time hiking up and down the dunes, taking in the views and made it to the water. On the way back I took a detour into the wooded area - where it felt 20 degrees cooler! Overall I hiked only about two miles. Short, but fun and a good time. If I did it again, I'd bring a kite. It's a popular thing to do at the dunes!

Jockeys ridge sand dunes
Sheila G.

Beautiful sandy area that is free. You can enter from the main road or opt to park at kitty hawk kites and walk across the main road. Best to pick a day after rain or go on a cooler morning so you don't burn your feet. Get ready for step forward, half a step back hiking up and down hills and views of the ocean and sound. You might also see hang gliding school in action. If you walk or opt to park in the state park lot, there is a museum center and boardwalk area to guide you to the dunes. We have had some success with boogie boards or something to slide on the sand but this does not always work.

Courtney K.

Bottom Line: A big sand dune offering recreation and a nice little visitors center. I've had many fun adventures at Jockey's Ridge over the decades including rolling down the dune as a kid (yuk), taking a hang gliding lesson in my 20s and more recently, enjoying the sound side beach and kayaking behind the dunes. Perhaps one of the most popular activities at Jockey's Ridge is hiking to the top to watch the sun dip below the sound but this state park offers many more recreational opportunities. There are hiking trails, ranger led programs and in the right season unique sports like sandboarding. In 2023 Jockey's Ridge State Park opened a new visitors center which has some great exhibits. I really enjoyed seeing a pelican (taxidermy mount) close up. Did you know that they can hold two gallons of water in their mouths? I also enjoyed an exhibit that gave an overview of the wildlife that lives in the dune system. Near the visitors center there are some picnic tables in the shade, a few vending machines and a boardwalk that overlooks the dunes. Parking options at Jockey's Ridge include a large lot near the visitors center and a small lot near the sound side beach. The latter fills up quickly during prime times. Visitors may also park across the bypass (hwy 158) at the Kitty Hawk Kites shopping center and then take the pedestrian walkway across the highway to the base of the dune.

View
Amanda R.

Walking up the dunes was fun. Sand is so soft and cool. Weather was great in June. Also, exploring around is free, which is nice!

Deserted putt-putt castle
Brittany M.

Beautiful state park, pet friendly, but they must be on a leash at all times. Great place to get your steps in. Yes there are public toilets, and a small Museum. Also drink machines at the boardwalk before you actually enter the dunes. Again wonderful place just to get out there, and beautiful views of the sound and the sea. One of the few places you can spend and view both.

Dede C.

Always a great stop when you are at the outer banks. If you plan to do the Parasailing be sure to make a reservation ahead of time. We opted for sand boarding which was an absolute blast. Takes some getting used to but one board for three people for four hours is plenty. Just walking up the dunes is exhausting but the trip down in the board- whether standing or sitting- is loads of fun.

Gerald S.

The largest naturally occurring sand dunes on the East Coast are on the Outer Banks, Dune County, North Carolina. They are in constant movement. With each nor'easters sands blows in from the surrounding beaches and piles up on the existing dunes. From our home in South Nags Head, we were minutes away, and often drove or biked there to watch spectacular sunsets from the rims, or see a morning sky fresh after a storm flash its panoply of colors. It is easy to understand why the Wright Brothers chose the sand dunes just to the north in Kitty Hawk to attempt the first manned flight of an aircraft. They succeeded, as do the many windsurfers who rake flight from Jockey Ridge to defy gravity of only for a few seconds and celebrate their exhilarating freedom. It is equally easy to understand how the forces of nature keep these dunes in slow and perpetual motion, so much so that these sands have buried a hotel built in the 19th Century, and many homes constructed too close to the shifting sands. Today, you can rent a windsurfer and a guide to teach you how to fly. When you're done, there are great taverns nearby to tell a tall tale about your defying gravity and almost reaching the beach. Everyone will listen. Everyone wants to believe you are telling the truth. These dunes have been in this area for over 5,000 years. With some luck and conservation, they will continue their sway over this little corner of the Outer Banks for another 5,000.

Sand. This is as good as this place gets, folks.
Robb M.

I've never felt compelled to review a natural site but good lord...I don't get the hype at this place. It's just a big hill and field of sand. Not exotic red sand or a hill the size of things you've seen in pictures or videos (or in person) in actual desserts. Just regular sand at an unimpressive height. To be fair, the views of the nearby rental properties, the sound from 158, and the litter *almost* make up for this being the most boring natural landmark I've ever been to, but not quite. You also have four choices when it comes to footwear: barefoot, but I understand it's too hot for that in the summer; flip-flops, but they aren't good for climbing the inclines; shoes/boots, but they fill with sand; or Keen-type sandals, but not everyone has those. This place does not hit the mark for enjoyable sand (desserts, beaches), nor natural beauty (surrounded by houses and roads), nor solitude (too many people), nor education (the visitor center was closed when we visited). I. Just. Don't. Get. It.

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I hate sand. It's coarse. Rough. Irritating. And it gets everywhere. We met a lady from England though. She was cool. 5 stars

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8 months ago

Great place to hike and climb the dunes fantastic views in all directions. Lots of fun if you like kite flying.

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Ask the Community - Jockey's Ridge State Park

How long does it take you to get to the top of the dunes?

It depends on your physical ability. I would say from the parking lot of the state park or Kitty hawk kites you should allow 30 minutes. From the state park, there is a boardwalk up to a point. Once you get across the sand to climb the hill… Read more

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Review Highlights - Jockey's Ridge State Park

Hang gliding with Ryan was such an amazing experience, we actually came back two months later to fly with him again!

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Harvey Public Sound Access - The pavilion.

Harvey Public Sound Access

5.0(1 review)
3.9 mi

Bottom Line: One of Nags Head's best kept secret and a great place for adventures and spectators…read morealike. Harvey Public Sound Access, aka Harvey Sound Access or Harvey Soundside Park, is one of those places that you debate yelping because you kinda want to keep it a secret. But, Harvey Public Sound Access is a public park and information about it is already in the public domain so here we go . . . As the name implies, this narrow public space is located on the sound at Mile Post 16 and gives locals and tourists alike access to the sound. There is a launch here for small waterctaft like kayaks, jet skis, kite boards and windsurfing whatchamagigs. For those trailering their water toys there are several long parking spaces to accommodate that set up. If watersports isn't your thing this is a terrific spot for spectating! There are several picnic tables under a pavilion offering spectacular views of all the action on the sound. Unless you are wanting to reserve the park for a private event, picnic tables are first come, first served. It's not uncommon to see locals relaxing here while on their break from work. Amenities at the park includes the pavilion, bathrooms and a water fountain. I think there might be a grill and power outlet too. If you're looking for a place to swim in the sound this isn't it because there's not a beach per se. (For sound side swimming I recommend the beach on the south side of Jockey's Ridge State Park.) Overall, this is a wonderfully serene and entertaining spot in Nags Head.

Photos
Harvey Public Sound Access - Watching dolphins or porpoises close to sunset.

Watching dolphins or porpoises close to sunset.

Harvey Public Sound Access - A nice view for breakfast in the gazebo on a Fall day.

A nice view for breakfast in the gazebo on a Fall day.

Harvey Public Sound Access - One of the many views I enjoyed.

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One of the many views I enjoyed.

Oregon Inlet National Park Campground - Garbage collection on the way out

Oregon Inlet National Park Campground

3.8(26 reviews)
12.6 mi

We had a wonderful week of camping here. We fell asleep listening to the waves and the coastal…read morewind. We had a breathtaking view of the stars ! The dunes offered beautiful sunset views from the top. We also had the beach pretty much completely to ourselves to watch the gorgeous sunrise . It was also great for shelling ! I would highly recommend staying here ! The campground was so nice and quiet. The only thing that would be nice to change , is to add some lights in the shower area and some shelves in the restrooms .

Absolutely horrifying experience…read more It started with the camp hosts allowing primitive campers in when the bathrooms and showers were closed and nailed shut. This promoted grown men urinating and defecating in full view, just feet from our Airstream - which was facing the nailed shut bath house. Knowing it would be obvious who reported them, we remained silent, as we were there for a week. THEN, *supposedly" some senior male Karen (again, supposedly) claimed we put our trained K9 out at 6am (we don't even wake up until 9am-10am) and allowed him to bark for 2 hours (never happened- again, trained K9 who was happily snoring in bed when this blatant lie was formulated). When we realised it was provably a lie, because we have security cameras (4) inside and out. Cameras showed we awoke and didn't open the doors the first time until 9.38am on the day in question (even later the morning before). the ranger's wife was almost revelling in repeatedly telling me that if the SUPPOSED male Karen complained (lied) again, she would *have to* call the sheriff on us??? Oh, but we should keep the camera footage that she didn't want to see, as proof. Sure. Riiight. We spent the remainder of our non-refundable week with the shades drawn and recording and saving every time we stepped out with our innocent dog should a false police report be filed by the ranger's wife. Hellish week that we couldn't enjoy because of lying, old Karens/Kevins and disgusting, exhibitionist men.

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Oregon Inlet National Park Campground
Oregon Inlet National Park Campground
Oregon Inlet National Park Campground - Typical campsite with electric and water.

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Typical campsite with electric and water.

Bodie Island Lighthouse

Bodie Island Lighthouse

4.4(128 reviews)
10.9 mi

I've been obsessed with lighthouses since I was a child (an English thing, I guess?). Bodie…read more(Bow-dee NOT "body", I wish carpetbaggers would stop changing the pronunciations-two generations are now mispronouncing it) is not only beautiful, but has the additional museum and boardwalk to a scenic observation deck overlooking wetlands. I'm deathly afraid of heights so I can never go up, but I can appreciate the beauty and history from the ground.

After visiting the Hatteras Lighthouse and finding it all wrapped up in scaffolding, I was super…read moreexcited to get here to Bodie Island to find this one ready to photograph and visit. The Bodie Island Lighthouse is a striking black-and-white banded tower that has stood sentinel over the Outer Banks since 1872. This lighthouse is the third built in the area--the first, constructed in 1847, was abandoned due to a poor foundation, and the second, built in 1859, was destroyed during the Civil War by retreating Confederate troops. The current structure rises 156 feet and houses an original first-order Fresnel lens, casting light visible for up to 19 nautical miles. It was automated in 1940 and later transferred to the National Park Service in 1953. After extensive restoration, it opened to the public for climbing in 2013. Visitors can ascend its 219 steps for panoramic views of the surrounding marshes and Roanoke Sound. The lighthouse is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and remains one of the few tall brick lighthouses in the U.S. still equipped with its original lens. It was way too hot today to try climbing anything let alone that. I took my pictures and was more than satisfied. [Round number review 800 of 2025 - 4232 in North Carolina - 24360 overall]

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Bodie Island Lighthouse - Love the black and white effect

Love the black and white effect

Bodie Island Lighthouse - Bodie ("Body") Lighthouse

Bodie ("Body") Lighthouse

Bodie Island Lighthouse - Bodie Island Lighthouse

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Bodie Island Lighthouse

Jockey's Ridge State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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