The best place to paddle board in the Outer Banks is on the sound side, not the ocean. For a first paddle, launch at Duck Town Park on the Currituck Sound or the Jockey’s Ridge soundside access in Nags Head; for something wilder, paddle the creeks of Kitty Hawk Woods.
The Outer Banks works for paddling because every town has two coasts. The Atlantic side gets surf and strong currents, but the sounds behind the islands are wide, shallow and sheltered from ocean swell. The trade-off is wind. The same steady breeze that makes the Outer Banks famous for kiteboarding and windsurfing can turn a flat sound choppy by lunchtime.
Quick answer
- First time on a board: Duck Town Park, or the Jockey’s Ridge soundside access in Nags Head.
- Most scenic: the creeks of Kitty Hawk Woods, through marsh and maritime forest.
- Sunset paddle: anywhere on the sound side. The sun sets over the water here, not the ocean.
- Northern beaches: Historic Corolla Park, by the Whalehead Club.
- Hatteras Island: the shallow Pamlico Sound at the Salvo or Haulover day use areas.
The best places to paddle board in the Outer Banks
Kitty Hawk Woods and Kitty Hawk Bay
DirectionsBest for: nature lovers and paddlers who want shelter from the wind. Flat water in narrow creeks.
Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve protects about 1,890 acres of maritime forest, marsh and swamp, co-managed by the NC Coastal Reserve and the Town of Kitty Hawk. High Bridge Creek, also called Jean Guite Creek, winds through the middle of it. The trees and marsh block much of the wind, so this is often the best paddle on a breezy day. Look for herons, egrets and osprey, and sometimes river otters.
Where to launch: the public boat ramp at 4190 Bob Perry Road in Kitty Hawk. From there you can paddle north into the reserve, or south into the open water of Kitty Hawk Bay.
What to avoid: the open bay on windy afternoons. It’s much more exposed than the creek.
Rentals and tours: Kitty Hawk Kites runs guided kayak tours of the Kitty Hawk maritime forest.
Good to know: The reserve closes at sunset. Dogs must be leashed on land. Hunting is allowed in the reserve with permission, so wear bright colors in fall and winter.
Jockey’s Ridge soundside (Nags Head)
Directions
Best for: beginners and families. Flat, shallow water.
Most visitors know Jockey’s Ridge State Park for its giant sand dunes. Across the park, the soundside access sits on Roanoke Sound with a swim beach, marsh and paddling access. The water is shallow near shore, so you can walk your board out and step back on if you fall.
Where to launch: the soundside access at 330 W. Soundside Road. The gate is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. from March to October and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November to February, so you can’t launch here for sunrise in summer.
What to avoid: kiteboarders and windsurfers also use this stretch of the sound. Keep clear of their launch area and lines.
Rentals and lessons: Kitty Hawk Kites (3933 S. Croatan Highway, Nags Head), across the highway from the park, rents paddle boards. Its Whalebone location (7517 S. Virginia Dare Trail) also rents boards.
Good to know: In summer, the park runs ranger-led “Kayak the Sound” programs on Roanoke Sound. Check the NC State Parks events page.
Duck Town Park and the Currituck Sound
DirectionsBest for: beginners and anyone staying in Duck. Flat water.
Duck Town Park is an 11-acre soundside park in the middle of the village, with maritime forest trails and access to the Duck Boardwalk, which runs nearly a mile along the Currituck Sound. The town’s launch here is for canoes, kayaks and paddle boards only.
Where to launch: the public kayak and paddle board launch at Duck Town Park (1200 Duck Road). The park is open dawn to dusk.
What to avoid: the boat piers at the north and south ends of the boardwalk, which are used by visiting boats.
Rentals and lessons: Kitty Hawk Kites (1226 Duck Road) rents paddle boards in Duck.
Good to know: The sound is wide open to the wind here. Check the forecast, start into the wind, and turn around early so the breeze helps you home.
Historic Corolla Park (Corolla)
Directions
Best for: a quiet paddle in the northern beaches. Flat water.
Historic Corolla Park, also called Currituck Heritage Park, sits on the Currituck Sound next to the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. It’s home to the Whalehead Club, a restored 1920s mansion, and the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education. A boardwalk trail runs through the marsh along the sound.
Where to launch: Currituck County’s visitor guide says you can launch kayaks from the saltwater pond and boathouse in the center of the park and paddle out into the sound and marsh.
Rentals and lessons: Kitty Hawk Kites rents paddle boards in Corolla, at Monterey Plaza (794 Sunset Boulevard) and Timbuck II (819 Ocean Trail).
Good to know: Spring and fall bring migrating ducks, geese, herons and egrets. Give birds in the marsh room and don’t land on the marsh grass.
Pamlico Sound at Salvo and Haulover (Hatteras Island)
Directions
Best for: families on calm days; experienced paddlers when it’s windy. Very shallow, open water.
The Pamlico Sound behind Hatteras Island is huge and, near the shore, very shallow. At the Haulover Day Use Area, halfway between Avon and Buxton, the National Park Service says the water averages 1 to 2 feet deep near the shoreline with a gradual slope. The Salvo Day Use Area, just south of Salvo village, is the main public access to the sound on Hatteras Island, with marshy inlets to explore to the south.
Where to launch: the Haulover Day Use Area or the Salvo Day Use Area, both in Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Haulover has a canoe and kayak launch, restrooms and showers. The park also lists a dedicated kayak launch at Oregon Inlet, and the Pea Island launch, farther north.
What to avoid: The park says Haulover is known for kiteboarding and windsurfing, especially in the windy spring and fall. On windy days, the water fills with kites; paddle elsewhere. The park also warns about strong currents, waves and fishing-boat wakes on the sound.
Rentals and lessons: Kitty Hawk Kites rents paddle boards at Avon (39432 NC Highway 12) and Rodanthe (24502 NC Highway 12, Waves Village).
Good to know: Cape Hatteras National Seashore runs free ranger-led kayak tours in summer.
When to go
The sound-side season runs from late spring to early fall. NOAA’s long-term averages at the Oregon Inlet Marina, on the sound side, put the water at about 45°F in January, 69°F in May and around 80°F in July and August. The ocean at Duck is cooler, averaging 74°F in August and 75°F in September.
- Summer (June–August): warmest water, but also the busiest season, and afternoon thunderstorms are common. Get off the water at the first sign of lightning.
- Spring and fall: fewer people and still-warm water in September, but more wind. Our wetsuit check uses water and air temperature to tell you what to wear.
- Time of day: go early. The breeze usually builds through the day, and the shallow sounds get choppy fast. A light-wind morning is the best time to cross open water.
Planning a longer paddle up a creek or along the sound? Our Trip time calculator estimates how long it will take at your pace. For more on wind and weather, see the best conditions for paddle boarding.
Rules and safety in the Outer Banks
North Carolina treats a paddle board as a vessel. According to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission:
- Life jacket: carry a US Coast Guard–approved life jacket for each person on board. Anyone under 13 must wear one while the board is underway. See our pick of the best PFDs for SUP.
- After dark: you need a white light, such as a flashlight, between sunset and sunrise.
A few local rules and habits on top of that:
- Wear a leash. On the sounds, a leash keeps your board from blowing away from you if you fall.
- Carry a whistle and a phone in a waterproof case. The National Park Service recommends both for paddling the Pamlico Sound.
- Watch the wind direction. If you paddle downwind on the way out, the trip back will be much harder.
- Respect launch hours. Jockey’s Ridge’s soundside gate and Duck Town Park both close in the evening, and Kitty Hawk Woods closes at sunset.
- Leave the ocean to experienced paddlers. The Atlantic side has shore break and rip currents. If you want to try it, read how to paddle board in the ocean first.
FAQ
Where can beginners paddle board in the Outer Banks?
The sound side at Duck Town Park or the Jockey’s Ridge soundside access in Nags Head. Both are shallow, sheltered and close to paddle board rentals.
Is it better to paddle board on the ocean or the sound in the Outer Banks?
The sound, for almost everyone. It’s flat and shallow, with no surf. The ocean side has waves and rip currents and is best left to experienced paddlers on calm days.
Do I need a permit to paddle board in the Outer Banks?
No. Paddle boards don’t need registration in North Carolina, and you don’t need a permit to launch at the parks in this guide. Just follow each park’s hours.
Can I bring my dog paddle boarding in the Outer Banks?
Check each park’s pet rules before you go. Kitty Hawk Woods, for example, requires dogs to be leashed at all times. Read how to paddle board with a dog before you go.
Is there anywhere similar nearby?
Heading north, see our guide to where to paddle board in Virginia Beach. Heading down the coast, see Wilmington. Need a board for the sound? Try our Board Fitter.
