A Dog-Friendly Outer Banks Adventure

By Navy Corgi
Mar. 26, 2023

There’s nothing quite like soft warm sand, refreshing ocean waves, bright blue skies, and your favorite pup along for the ride. Last month, we brought Navy on her very first beach vacation. Mom and Dad both grew up spending summers by the shore, but Navy was too little last summer to come along. So, naturally, everyone was very excited for her first beach getaway.

If the Outer Banks, or OBX, is new to you, it is a 200-mile-long (320 km) chain of barrier islands that separates from the coast of North Carolina and southeastern Virginia along the east coast of the United States. On this summer trip, we spent time in the more visitor-friendly beach towns of Duck, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, and Kill Devil Hills.

This guide is grouped into 3 parts: outdoor adventures, places to eat, and where to stay. We’re sharing the pet-friendly spots Navy got to enjoy, along with some favorites from our new friend and OBX seasoned vacationer, Oliver the Dood.

Outdoor Adventures

One of the biggest highlights of the Outer Banks is how welcoming the beaches can be for dogs. Every beach town has its own rules and pet policies, so the Outer Banks official website is the place to review details before you go. We picked Nags Head beach for Navy, where pets are allowed at all times as long as they are on a leash not exceeding 10 feet.

Oliver suggests making time for Jockey's Ridge State Park. Each summer, he visits with his mom so he can race up and down the dunes. Jockey's Ridge is the largest natural sand dune on the east coast. Pets are allowed in the park, however Jockey's Ridge asks that pets be on a leash no longer than 6 feet and to clean up after your pet.

Kayaking is one of our favorite beach activities. Last summer, Mom and Dad rented stand up paddle boards from Kitty Hawk Watersports, and Dad was not exactly a natural. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that Kitty Hawk Watersports welcomes dogs. Navy was unsure at the beginning, but after a little time she started loving the chance to hop from Mom’s kayak and swim over to Dad’s. Her little life jacket made the whole thing even cuter.

Later in the trip, Google Maps helped us discover a lovely shaded, fenced-in dog park. Satterfield Landing Road Dog Park in Nags Head has separate play spaces for large and small dogs. Water and waste bags are provided, and the surface is a mix of sand and mulch, which means no muddy pup to bring home.

Kitty Hawk, NC is also home to Wright Brothers National Memorial Park. Yes, those Wright Brothers — the same ones who relocated from Dayton, Ohio to Kitty Hawk in 1990 after finding the area’s coastal conditions ideal for testing their gliders. Guests visiting with pets can walk the outdoor trail areas. We did not make it there this summer, but it is definitely on the list for next year.

Food

Mulligan's Grille

4005 S Croatan Highway
Nags Head, NC 27959

Nearly every restaurant or bar in OBX seems to have an outdoor patio, and many welcome dogs. But once I notice a dog menu, that place has my full attention. Before checking into our house, we stopped at Mulligan's Grille for lunch. Human guests can enjoy fresh local seafood and burgers, while this relaxed beach spot offers two separate patios for diners with pets. Dogs get complimentary water bowls and can order grilled hamburger + brown rice, grilled chicken breast + brown rice, or plain brown rice. Navy rates the chicken + rice a 10/10.

Booty Treats

2600 S. Virginia Dare Trail
Nags Head, NC 27959

1209 S. Croatan Hwy
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948

For dessert, Oliver and his mom suggest Booty Treats Ice Cream & Shave Ice when you need something sweet. The outdoor patio welcomes dogs, and there are treats near the register that you can take outside for your pup.

Lodging

Dad’s parents have a beautiful home in Nags Head, NC, and we are fortunate enough to spend time there every summer. OBX also has plenty of rental homes that allow pets. Our family’s home is rented through Village Realty OBX.

Have you vacationed in or visited the Outer Banks before? We would love to know your favorite places.

About Navy Corgi

Navy Corgi is the author behind Yapp'd, a blog created with help from her parents as an extension of her Instagram page. The blog shares experiences and lessons from raising a young puppy while also helping pet parents understand social media for their fur-babies.

Navy is a purebred Cardigan Welsh Corgi. If you’re wondering why she does not look like a typical Corgi, Navy carries both the recessive fluffy gene and the recessive blue merle pattern coat, making her a truly special pup. Navy was born in April 2017, and Mom and Dad brought her home to Arlington, Virginia in June 2017.

Navy is sassy, feisty, and happiest when she is getting belly rubs, butt scratches, playing fetch, or carrying as many sticks as her little mouth can hold. You can follow along as Navy keeps growing and exploring this strange new world on Instagram @Navycorgi and at http://www.navycorgi.com/