Things to do on the Outer Banks with kids
Kites on giant dunes, sharks at the aquarium, the world’s first airplane and ice cream after dinner — 17 kid-approved ideas near Kitty Hawk.
The best things to do with kids near Kitty Hawk are flying kites on Jockey’s Ridge (free, 18 min), the Wright Brothers National Memorial (kids 15 and under free, 12 min) and the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island (30 min) — plus mini golf at Lost Treasure and ice cream at Big Buck’s.
- Free: Jockey’s Ridge, Sandy Run Park playground, Duck Town Park, the beach
- Rainy day: NC Aquarium, Wright Brothers visitor center
- Older kids: beginner hang gliding at Kitty Hawk Kites, wild horse 4×4 tours (age 5+ and 45 lb+)
Family fun, mapped from the house
0.4 mi · 2 minKitty Hawk Bath House Beach Access
The town’s best-equipped public beach access, a short hop south on the Beach Road, with a bathhouse and a guarded stretch of sand in summer.
Good to know
Restrooms with showers and about 50 parking spaces (2 ADA). A lifeguard stand is here Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10am-6pm. Free parking fills early on summer weekends.
Big Buck’s Homemade Ice Cream
Local chain churning small-batch ice cream in creative flavors, a go-to after-dinner stop for families.
John’s Drive-In
Walk-up Beach Road institution famous for fried tuna and dolphin boats and thick hand-spun milkshakes eaten at picnic tables.
Sandy Run Park
A free town park where a wide, accessible boardwalk loops about half a mile through maritime forest and ponds, with picnic gazebos, a playground and fitness stations.
Good to know
Open daily 7am-8pm. Catch-and-release pond fishing needs an NC fishing license. There is a kayak launch. Good for strollers and wheelchairs.
3 mi · 7 minAvalon Pier
A classic wooden fishing pier with a tackle shop and snack bar, and a pier cam that surfers check before paddling out.
Good to know
Opens 6am daily. Fall hours run to 10pm Sunday-Thursday and midnight Friday-Saturday. Fishing is half price for ages 17 and under. A small walk-on fee applies for non-anglers.
Lost Treasure Golf
A themed adventure mini-golf course with a jungle-explorer storyline and a little train ride to the first hole, a reliable rainy-evening or after-beach pick for kids.
Good to know
Seasonal hours that are longest in summer, so check before going in the off-season.
5.5 mi · 12 minWright Brothers National Memorial
The National Park Service site where the Wrights made the first powered flights in 1903, with a reproduction of the 1903 Flyer, the marked flight path and a granite monument atop Big Kill Devil Hill.
Good to know
Open daily 9am-5pm. $10 per person age 16+ (15 and under free); the park’s own annual pass is $35. Card only (cashless), or buy ahead on recreation.gov. Free on Aug 19 and Dec 17.
Duck Town Park & Soundside Boardwalk
An 11-acre wooded park and town green connected to a boardwalk of nearly a mile along Currituck Sound that links Duck’s shops and restaurants, with famous sunsets.
Good to know
Free. Playground, kayak/canoe launch, crabbing area and amphitheater with free summer events. Dog-friendly. Duck Jazz Festival is in October. Parking at the park; NC 12 through Duck is slow on summer afternoons.
H2OBX Waterpark
The region’s big outdoor waterpark just over the Wright Memorial Bridge, with slides, a wave pool, a lazy river and a kids’ splash zone.
Good to know
Summer-only. The 2026 season is over; the site says it reopens in 2027, and 2027 season passes go on sale in November. Buy tickets online in advance.
10.5 mi · 18 minJockey’s Ridge State Park
The tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic coast, a free state park where you can climb the dunes for sunset, fly kites, or wade on the shallow soundside beach.
Good to know
Free. Main access opens 8am and closes 6-9pm depending on month (9pm May-Sept). Visitor center 9am-4pm. Sand is very hot by midday in summer, so bring shoes and water. Navigate to the street address — map apps can mis-route.
10.5 mi · 18 minKitty Hawk Kites – Jockey’s Ridge Crossing & Hang Gliding School
The Outer Banks’ best-known adventure outfitter, offering beginner hang gliding on the Jockey’s Ridge dunes, plus kayak, SUP, surf, kiteboarding and e-foil lessons and a large kite store.
Good to know
Dune hang gliding lessons from about $149 and tandem flights from about $199; reserve online. Despite the name, there is no store in Kitty Hawk — the closest locations are Nags Head and Duck (1226 Duck Rd).
14 mi · 25 minJennette’s Pier
A 1,000-foot concrete pier run by the NC Aquariums, combining serious fishing with ocean-education exhibits and a guarded beach next door.
Good to know
Hours: May-Oct 6am-10pm; Nov and Apr 7am-9pm; Dec-Mar 9am-5pm. Walk-on $2. Fishing $15 adults, $10 ages 12 and under. Rod rental $12. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Island Farm
A living-history farm that recreates 1850s Roanoke Island life, with costumed interpreters, heritage animals, a working garden and period buildings.
Good to know
Season April-November. Open Tuesday-Saturday 9am-3pm. Adults $11, ages 3 and under free.
16.5 mi · 28 minRoanoke Island Festival Park
A state historic site across from the Manteo waterfront, centered on the Elizabeth II, a recreated 16th-century sailing ship, plus costumed interpreters, an American Indian town and a settlement site.
Good to know
2026 season runs Mar 17-Dec 31. Open Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm; last tickets 4:30pm. Adults $15, ages 3-12 $13. The boardwalk closes from Oct 26, 2026 for replacement.
17.5 mi · 30 minNorth Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
A state aquarium with a large shark tank, river otters and a sea turtle rehab center, an easy rainy-day outing for all ages.
Good to know
Open daily 9am-5pm except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Buy timed tickets online in summer. There is usually a short maintenance closure in January.
23 mi · 40 minCorolla Outback Adventures (wild horse tours)
Long-running guided 4×4 tours onto the beaches and back trails north of Corolla, where the wild horses roam and paved road ends.
Good to know
Tours last about 1:45-2 hours. Book online and reserve early for summer. Children must be 5+ and over 45 lb (seat-belt law). Other tour operators also run from Corolla.
23 mi · 40 minCurrituck Beach Lighthouse
An unpainted red-brick lighthouse from 1875 whose 220 steps reward climbers with sweeping views of Currituck Sound and the northern beaches.
Good to know
2026 climbing season Mar 21-Nov 30. Daily 9am-5pm, plus Wed/Thu until 8pm in June-August. $13 per climber age 4+, paid on site (no advance tickets). Grounds and parking are free. Closed in thunderstorms and on Thanksgiving.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kitty Hawk good for families with young kids?
Yes. The Beach Road area is quiet and residential, lifeguards staff several stands in summer, and playgrounds, mini golf, ice cream and the aquarium are all within a short drive.
What is free to do with kids on the Outer Banks?
Jockey’s Ridge State Park, the beach, Sandy Run Park, Kitty Hawk Woods, Duck Town Park and the Monument to a Century of Flight are free. The Wright Brothers Memorial is free for kids 15 and under.
Are wild horse tours OK for small children?
Most 4×4 tours require children to be at least 5 years old and over 45 pounds because of seat-belt laws. Check with the tour operator when booking.
Our oceanfront homes in Kitty Hawk
Two neighboring dog-friendly oceanfront homes at Milepost 3¾, with a third home nearby. Book one, or book all three for the same dates for up to 29 guests.
Crab House
Single-level living and an extra-large oceanfront deck, steps from the sand.
Mermaid
A 500 sq ft oceanfront deck, gourmet three-oven kitchen, wet bar and a king suite with a jetted tub.
A Carolina Conch
Classic two-story Outer Banks cottage with wraparound ocean views, carport parking and baby gear on hand.