Nags Head—The Popular Vacation Town of The Outer Banks
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Nags Head is a famous town located in the Dare County of North Carolina, United States. Thanks to its beaches and sand dunes of Jockey’s Ridge, Nags Head is a busy vacation spot with a population of just over 2,750 people.
The Jockey’s Ridge State Park is the largest sand dune on the East Coast that has migrated throughout the years due to coastal winds’ energy. The spot has been popular among hang-gliders ever since its advent and is home to one of the world’s largest hand gliding schools. Kite-flyers are also frequent visitors here.
One of the most exciting things about Nags Head is its capriciousness—the ephemeral pools can spring up, sand can shift, and fresh new experiences are always guaranteed. Like in any other beach town, the ocean and the shoreline are major attractions here, providing ample opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and various other water sports.
Education in Nags Head
Nags Head is home to the Nags Head Elementary School, which is a highly rated public school in North Carolina. The school currently serves 581 students in grades PK, K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1.
Other schools located in the Outer Banks, outside Nags Head, include Kitty Hawk Elementary School, First Flight High School, and Manteo High School.
Homes for Sale in Nags Head
Climate in Nags Head
Nags Head features a subtropical climate with high summer temperatures averaging 87 degrees and lowest winter temperatures ranging at 34 degrees. The most pleasant months in the town are April, May, and October.
Public Transportation in Nags Head
The ideal option to get around Nags Head is by car. In fact, a car or bike is essential to get around all across the Outer Banks as traffic can be brutal, especially during peak season.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation runs a ferry service for residents across the Outer Banks. But with attractions spread out, ferries will almost always be crowded. The major airport closest to Nags Head is Norfolk International Airport, about 120 miles north of the Outer Banks.
Living in Nags Head
Nags Head was originally a vacation destination. In the early 20th century, wealthy farmers from Edenton came here and built large homes on the oceanfront, creating what became popularly known as the Old Nags Head Style—wide porches with built-in benches, cedar shakes, lots of windows to catch the ocean breezes, and steeply pitched roof with dormers. While many of these ancient marvels still exist, homebuyers currently have a massive range of options to choose from.
The oceanfront in Nags Head features everything from larger rental homes to co-ownerships and two-and three-bedroom condos. Additionally, the town offers some great deals in oceanfront condos like The Quay, Dune Lantern, The Oceans, and the Heron Cove.
Homebuyers looking for options at a lower price point should look at ‘between the highways.’ Communities here are decently built and offer easy access to the beach. The Old Nags Head Place also features many newer homes built in the old Nags Head style.
On the Roanoke Sound, west of the bypass, Nags Head boasts miles of shoreline that hold year-round communities, second homes, and vacation rentals. The Nags Head Golf Links is located here with the communities of the village clustered around the fairways. Nags Head Cove offers deep water canals for the boaters, while communities north of Jockey’s Ridge rest among loblolly pines and live oaks.
South Nags Head, situated on the oceanside of the park, is an entirely residential community except for the Outer Banks Pier. The multi-purpose trail that runs an entire length of four-mile is ideal for both walkers and bikers.
Things to Do in Nags Head
Nags Head is primarily valued for its great outdoors. The town holds the northern Outer Banks’ most extensive collection of miniature golf courses and go-cart tracks. It also offers plenty of public beach access. Nags Head Woods is ecologically diverse and features a world of high ridges, forest critters, cemeteries, freshwater, flora, and the remains of old houses and trails.
Perhaps, the primary attraction in Nags Head besides the Atlantic Ocean is the Jockey’s Ridge State Park. The largest of its kind on the East Coast, watching the sunset from atop this sand mountain is a must when you are in Nags Head.
The panoramic views of the surrounding towns, the ocean, and the Sound Side are truly breathtaking. The town holds three traditional Outer Banks fishing piers—Nags Head Pier, Outer Banks Pier, and the North Carolina Aquarium’s remarkable Jennette’s Pier. Nags Head beaches also continue to lure visitors who come here to take full advantage of the ocean by surfing, beachcombing, swimming, and sunbathing.
