Made famous by the Wright Brothers, whose celebrated flight put the area on the map in 1903, Kitty Hawk’s place in history often precedes its reputation as a quiet beach town. For the 3,500 people who live here, and those who’ve made the visit, it’s so much more than a landmark. As one of North Carolina’s barrier islands known collectively as the Outer Banks (or OBX), Kitty Hawk is a traditional seaside village with generous beach access, a small residential community supporting mom-and-pop businesses, and a vast forest reserve. The reasons the Wrights chose the area for their flight experiments — soft, sandy beaches; gentle hills; frequent breezes — make Kitty Hawk ideal for taking in the natural scenery, and welcome visitors to experience its local culture year-round.

The town of Kitty Hawk and the rest of the Outer Banks area are served primarily by Norfolk International Airport (ORF), about an 90-minute drive north of town. Raleigh/Durham International Airport (RDU) is a 3.5-hour drive, but offers many more flight options beyond the region. Visitors arriving by car on summer weekends should be aware of major traffic delays entering the area from the north. Alternate routes approaching from the south may add mileage to a trip, but can save time and be quite scenic. You’ll need a rental car for exploring neighboring towns such as Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills, but traveling by foot or bicycle is sufficient for getting around Kitty Hawk and its beaches. Some taxis and rideshare services are available, though not as many as in larger resort areas.

Kitty Hawk experiences a humid subtropical climate due to its position along the Gulf Stream. This means that there is little variance in precipitation from season to season, with hot, humid summers and mild winters. During the summer, the heat index can push temperatures to 88 degrees Fahrenheit, though Kitty Hawk’s naturally breezy air brings some welcome relief. During winter, temperatures seldom drop below the upper 30s, and typically hover in the 50s. The entire Outer Banks region is susceptible to hurricanes during tropical storm season (midsummer to early fall), so if you’re planning to book one of the area’s vacation rentals during this time, pay especially close attention to local weather forecasts, and keep a close eye on storm systems developing in the Gulf.

Southern Shores

For decades, this area — which blends into Kitty Hawk’s northern border — was considered part of Kitty Hawk. It wasn’t until a land-parcel purchase in the 1940s that Southern Shores began to develop an identity of its own. These days, it’s a popular stopover thanks to its wonderfully quiet beaches, and quaint restaurants and shops.

Kill Devil Hills

Just south of Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills is a lively beach town lauded for its sandy beach, wealth of watersports (surfing and kiteboarding are particularly popular, given the wind), and nightlife. Most famously, Kill Devil Hills marks the spot where Orville and Wilbur Wright took their first successful flight, commemorated by the large Wright Brothers National Memorial in the heart of town.

Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve

More than half of Kitty Hawk’s geographical area comprises the Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve, an 1,890-acre maritime forest along the western border of the town. The topography varies from deciduous forest to freshwater wetlands, with plenty of critters — racoons, owls, river otters — to spot in between.