03/06/2025
Anytime travelers are lucky enough to have time on the calendar for a scenic and refreshing getaway experience, taking time to unwind on Hatteras Island is an amazing choice. Here, there are always options to pick and choose between charming villages and towns to explore, but there’s something special about a Frisco vacation that brings visitors back time and again. This small, yet intriguing destination on the map is a great place to book a solo trip, a couple’s getaway, or a vacation with family and friends. No matter when you arrive or how long you stay, the following guide to Frisco is a great place to start when you want to make as much as you can of the experience from start to finish.
A Place to Relax in Scenic Style
Frisco is one of many small towns scattered across lovely Hatteras Island, but when you head this way, you’ll be treated to a tranquil escape from the hustle of life where there are 6 miles of shoreline at your fingertips at all times. It’s common to find fishing enthusiasts lining the beaches of Frisco, but the shorelines here are just as great of push off points for surfing, kiteboarding, paddleboarding, and boating too.
In total, Frisco only hosts around 200 year-round residents, providing those who call it home and visitors alike with an undeniably tranquil vibe to enjoy in just about every season. Frisco connects to other Hatteras Island communities along North Carolina 12 which makes getting around a straightforward and easy process whether it’s your first time here or you return every year to enjoy a well-deserved vacation.
Finding Your Way to Frisco
If you’re looking for a vacation destination to enjoy that’s relatively easy to reach, Frisco, North Carolina promises to please. On Hatteras Island, you’ll find Frisco located north of Buxton and South of Avon. If you’ve been spending time exploring Oregon Inlet during your stay, you’ll discover Frisco is just about an hour’s drive from the Bonner Bridge. Those who are driving into the area from further out will want to set their route for I-664 through Chesapeake, VA before transitioning to U.S. 264 East through Greenville and eventually Washington, North Carolina.
From here, US 64 will take you through destinations like Williamston, Columbia, and finally Manteo before you’ll cross the Alligator River Bridge followed by the Virginia Dare Bridge. This brings you up to NC 12 South in Nags Head and within easy reach of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Heading South from here, it won’t be long before you cross that Bonner Bridge and travel through Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, and Buxton before finding yourself in the heart of Frisco.
Enjoy an Area Where Past and Present Still Go Hand-in-Hand
History buffs will certainly find plenty of reasons to linger when they visit Frisco thanks to the area’s rich past packed with fascinating stories of time to tell. Long before European settlers ever arrived in the area, modern day Frisco was home to a variety of Hatteras tribes that thrived along the shorelines and in the nearby maritime forests. Today, remnants of these original cultures can still be found in the way of shell middens near the edges of Buxton Woods.
Many historians believe that Hatteras Island once hosted upward of 5,000 indigenous inhabitants. As settlers began to infiltrate the area, indigenous villages were replaced with small settlements. Post offices, schools, churches, and general stores followed and the area that was originally named Trent was eventually transitioned to Frisco. When you visit Frisco today, it’s worth your while to take time to visit the local Frisco Native American Museum. This fascinating stop shows how the past and present still go hand-in-hand in this area. Your visit is a chance to browse exhibits and displays that showcase thousands of artifacts from Native cultures across the area and the country.
A Picture-Perfect Destination for Beach Lovers
It’s fair to say that Frisco has a way with beautiful beaches that can be hard to top. If you’re someone who enjoys spending as much time on the shoreline as possible, Frisco is a place where you might find yourself wanting to linger longer than you originally planned with good reason. While the north end of the village of Frisco is primarily dominated by lush maritime forest, the south end is the place to be for beach access at its best. This is where you’ll find the vast majority of seasonal vacation homes and if you acquire a National Park Service permit in advance, you’ll have options to enjoy the beach here on a 4-wheel drive vehicle near Billy Mitchell Airport Ramp 49. While cruising around Frisco Beach in this style is a treat, it’s also a great place to dip your toes in the water.
The shoreline is shaped so that beach goers have options to walk out around 90 yards into the ocean! The shorelines that make up Frisco are popular places to enjoy shelling, building sandcastles with the kids, sunbathing, and bird watching as well. Depending on where you land, you’ll find that you can enjoy a day on the sand with easy access to changing rooms, restrooms, and showers too. It’s important to note that in Frisco, the beaches aren’t always manned by lifeguards so it’s extra important to check water conditions before you head out and be vigilant when you’re planning a day of sunbathing and swimming with the kids.
Activities to Add to Your itinerary That Are Sure to Boost Your Frisco Vacation Fun
While the water and sand have a way of understandably being a highlight for many Frisco-bound travelers on their way to Hatteras Island, this destination has much more to offer in the way of local fun beyond the waves. Frisco is a great place to try sightseeing on horseback as there are several local companies offering guided tours through the surrounding maritime forests that take you out on picturesque trails. Here, you’re never far from scenic stops like the Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve where hiking and admiring local fauna and flora could end up being the best part of your journey! Those with a passion for wildlife will love their time visiting The Cora Tree is in the middle of Brigand’s Bay, which is a residential area in Frisco. If you happen to be someone who enjoys leaning into the paranormal, The Cora Tree also comes with a spooky backstory and is a popular place to visit in Frisco around Halloween.
Travelers who are planning on spending time in Frisco with the entire family in tow won’t want to miss out on the all-ages fun that awaits over at Frisco Mini Golf & Go Karts. This Trent Lake Lane fan-favorite stop is a great place for guests of all ages to put their short game skills to work before checking out the go-karts on-site and enjoying some friendly competition on the track as well. The mini golf course is set up with whimsical décor and the cost to play is just $8 per person with children 6 and under making the most of the experience for free. If you’re in the mood to get out on the water as a family, you’ll want to consider booking a guided fishing experience in the area through the team at Hallelujah Charters. This company has been serving Hatteras Island for nearly 30 years and is happy to customize your outing according to preferences and skill levels of participating passengers upon request.
Local and Delicious Dining Options to Enjoy During Your Stay
No matter what you end up enjoying during your getaway to Frisco, North Carolina, at some point you and your traveling crew are bound to have appetites to attend to. Fortunately, Frisco is a place where it’s never difficult to find delicious options to enjoy whether you’re in the mood for seafood, sweets, Southern fare, or something in between. Make your way to Café Pamlico when a three course meal featuring local seafood is what would hit the spot. This inviting eatery is located at 49684 NC 12 and as the name indicates, its Pamlico Sound location means you can count on pairing a delicious dish with a great view too. Tavern on 12 at 53060 NC 12 is another terrific Frisco restaurant to check out when you’re up to enjoy everything from pulled pork sandwiches and pizza to seafood in a casual and inviting setting by the sand.
The Frisco Sandwich Co at 53674 NC 12 is a great stop for lunch when a sandwich paired with potato salad or coleslaw sounds sensational and you’re looking forward to dining by the waves. Gingerbread House Bakery in town is a must-visit when you can’t wait to enjoy homemade pastries in good company that are baked from scratch daily while the team over at Hatteras Snow Balls serves up ice cream and other sweets in abundance when it’s time to treat yourself to something extra special in Frisco.
You’ll Always Be Within Easy Reach of Even More Options for Exploration
The beauty of booking a trip to Frisco, North Carolina is that no matter when you arrive, you’ll have inviting options to either settle in and savor your peaceful surroundings, or head out and explore surrounding attractions and destinations with ease. By car, it’s only about a 15 minute drive from Frisco to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton where you can spend time taking photos and admiring the view.
If you want to dedicate an afternoon to an on-the-water tour, you can reach the Ocracoke ferry in just about 5 minutes from Frisco. Lighthouse enthusiasts can expand their sightseeing in Frisco by setting aside an hour of their time to reach the Bodie Island Lighthouse, and Oregon Inlet is just an hour away as well. Looking to add a stop at the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla to your Frisco-bound adventure? It’s a 2 hour journey and a completely feasible day trip to add to your schedule.
Book a Stay in Frisco That Emphasizes Customized Space, Style, and Luxury
Your journey to Frisco deserves to be a one-of-a-kind experience no matter when you happen to arrive here, how long you have to spare in the name of vacation fun, or how many other fellow travelers you’re adventuring alongside. At Midgett Realty, we’re proud to be a team of property professionals committed to making sure every guest we work with has an amazing stay on Hatteras Island and for us, that begins with providing them with incredible vacation rental accommodation options to enjoy while they’re in the area.
Room for Everyone to Feel Right at Home
Whether you’re traveling to Frisco as part of a small or large group, you’re sure to find a vacation rental through Midgett Realty that not only meets your travel needs but exceeds your expectations too. We have cozy abodes near the water that are great for small immediate family trips and sprawling multi-level retreats by the sand that are ideal for a full family reunion! Whether you’re looking for a place to stay that comes with a fully equipped kitchen on-site, a dedicated parking space, custom-built master suites and guest rooms, impressive entertainment setups or a game room for the kids, we have it covered.
