Public access sound front beaches near Kill Devil Hills? (Nags Head: rent, houses)

[TechieMommy]

Hello,

My family is planning a vacation to Outer Banks (Kill Devil hills) this summer. We are trying to decide between renting an ocean-front home and a sound-front home (that is not quite as fitting to our needs as the ocean front rental).

The one time that I went to OBX before, I saw several public access beaches to the ocean, but I am not sure if there are sound-front beaches also that are open to public access??

The kids want to experience both, and I am trying to find a way to make it work

Thanks much for all your answers!

-AJ

[Richard Martin]

I don't think there are any? The Sound side is swampier. The wave action that created the beaches on the Ocean side just isn't present on the Sound side.

[Elwyn]

The only public beach access on the sound that I know of is behind Jockey's Ridge. It is at the end of W. Soundside Rd in Nags Head. The water is shallow a long ways out. But not much parking. It is easy to find on yahoo maps or google maps.

[J. Pederman]

There's public boat ramps soundside but most of those areas are residential neighborhoods; I can't think of any houses there which rent weekly to tourists. Also, you don't want to go swimming out by Jockey's Ridge, even if there aren't any advisories up the water there is disgusting. Further down toward Buxton there's access areas soundside for kite surfing, kayaks, and the like, but in the summer there's too much going on in those areas for swimming. You can go to the swimming hole on Roanoke Island down by the aquarium if you're really gung ho on swimming out in the sound. But it's nowhere near as fun as the ocean.

[runnerguy45]

Kill Devil Hills is not the best place for that. Avon is perfect for both ocean and sound. The Canadian Hole is where many go to enjoy the sound for peaceful safer water and right across the road is a beautiful rough and wild ocean.