Visit Beautiful Kill Devil Hills, NC

Kill Devil Hills is the oldest official town on the Outer Banks. A popular destination located in the middle of central Outer Banks, Kitty Hawk and Nags Head sandwich Kill Devil Hills on either side. Families and individuals come to enjoy local attractions, shopping, dining, and the famous Wright Brothers National Memorial. The ocean is a playground for people of all ages, entertaining guests who enjoy surfing, swimming, or just enjoying a beautiful vacation to the Outer Banks.

Beach & Ocean Conditions

Kill Devil Hills

Kill Devil Hills is the center point of Outer Banks. The largest town on the Outer Banks still maintains a small-town feel. Beach hotels, restaurants and shopping fill up with visitors in the summer months but most people enjoy several seasons in Kill Devil Hills. The Wright Brothers famously took their first flight here, memorialized by the Wright Brothers National monument standing high on a hill. Fresh seafood is popular in Kill Devil Hills with an abundance of fresh fish available at local grocers, fish markets, and restaurants. Avalon Fishing Pier offers anglers a chance to fish for their supper. Beaches have public access points with hotels and motels offering private boardwalks to the beach. Rescue patrols and lifeguards are stationed around the beaches. Explore dunes in Run Hill State Natural Area or do some hiking and wandering through the dunes where the Wright Brothers set foot. Don’t forget to visit the banks of Roanoke Sound to see a sunrise or sunset. Day and night (basically anytime) are great for exploring Kill Devil Hills.

Kill Devil Hills

Kill Devil Hills is located in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. The population is around 7,000 but soars in the busier season with tourists. The most populous town in the Outer Banks, Kill Devil Hills was founded and developed as the site of the Wright Brothers’ first controlled flight on December 17, 1903. Kill Devil Hills is situated between Nags Head and Kitty Hawk.

Attractions

Wright Brothers National Memorial

Visiting this memorial is one of the main reasons to come to Kill Devil Hills. Many tourists and locals spend hours learning about the first flight Wright Brothers made right here on the Outer Banks. Open year-round from 9 am to 5 pm, visitors can explore a 1903 camp building where the Wright Brothers had the machinery to fuss and fiddle with planes. Stop by the visitor’s center and museum for a replica of the first airplane and pavilion which looks at achievements in flight since. The National Park Service runs the memorial, a ‘must-see attraction for visitors to the Outer Banks.

Beach and Watersports

Visitors to Kill Devil Hills can add this must-see attraction to their list when they visit. Avalon Fishing Pier is 700 feet long and features a snack bar, beer, tackle shop, and bait and tackle shop. Parking is offered for visitors with a daily rate of $10 per adult or $5 per child under age 12 to fish off the pier. It is good for an entire day. Flounder, trout, croakers, and more fill buckets every day for fishermen, women, and children. The pier is also a common stop for surfers and bodyboarders looking to surf waves in Kill Devil Hills.

Kill Devil Hills Beach

Absolutely the number one attraction for visitors to Outer Banks is the beach. Central to the Outer Banks, Kill Devil Hills has its own rules and regulations about use. No dogs can be on the beaches during high season (Memorial Day to Labor Day) from 9 am to 6 pm Glasses and bonfires are not permitted and driving is restricted to low or off-peak times of October through March. The rules help everyone stay safe and not put people at risk on the sand. There is no big boardwalk but just over the dunes, the beach road has soda, ice cream, and lots of beachside shops. Stop by for a refreshing beverage of choice or to check out the boutiques.

Run Hill State Nature Preserve

The Outer Banks offers one of the most beautiful natural areas, Run Hill State Nature Preserve. Run Hill is a state natural area with no visitor center, entrance, or public parking. Parking can be seen nearby or on the streets surrounding the preserve. Essentially, Run Hill is a series of dune clusters along the barrier islands of the Outer Banks, near the 420-acre Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Run Hill is mostly empty of tourists compared to Jockey’s Ridge but it still compels people to come to see the dunes and visit it for the historic past and a sense of how the region used to look before development.

Shopping & Dining

Come to Kill Devil Hills and check out the dining and shopping options. Choose from fast food to fine dining. Local restaurants and cafes to national chains all offer their best fare for tourists and locals to enjoy. Stop into town or meander the beach road for some grub. Along the way, stop by the beachy shopping center and modern plazas to pick up some souvenirs or memorabilia. Most amenities are within walking distance so visitors won’t have to travel too far for the best of what Kill Devil Hills has to offer.

Kill Devil Hills F.A.Q.

Beach driving is allowed from October 1-April 30. The off-season has less beach traffic but a driving permit is required before driving on the beach. Permits are good for both Kill Devil Hills and the beach in Nags Head.

Though there is not 100% certainty on the name, it supposedly comes from a comment made about the quality of the rum coming from New England, dubbed ‘Kill Devil.” Another theory is that David Stick referenced early sailors reporting the rum was ‘strong enough to kill the devil.’

The most popular season is summer due to the warm weather and great beaches. Summertime in Outer Banks can be crowded with tourists. Spring and fall are not as busy but just as nice even if not as warm as mid-summer. Beaches are less used in winter and some hotels and accommodations close for the colder winter months From January through February or March to rest and prepare for the upcoming spring, summer, and fall seasons.

Kill Devil Hills is in the middle of the Outer Banks. Situated near Kitty Hawk and Nags Head, many people take advantage of visiting both places when staying in Kill Devil Hills. Almost all businesses in Kill Devil Hills are located on NC 12 (Beach Road) or the Bypass (US 158). Visitors can enjoy