12/30/2024
The opportunity to head out in pursuit of a well-deserved vacation is something made even more enjoyable for those who make Hatteras Island their destination of choice. Now is the absolute perfect time to begin turning travel plans into a solid reality for your journey to Hatteras Island in 2025. Upon arrival, you’re sure to find there’s a lot to look forward to in the upcoming year. As part of the greater Outer Banks region of North Carolina, Hatteras Island is a destination on the map that never fails to impress its guests with its scenic natural beauty, easy access to outdoor adventures, and rich history that offers unique stories to tell at every turn.
When you make your way to Hatteras Island in 2025, you can feel free to slow things down and savor time on the sand because here, the beaches have long been an integral part of life for locals and visitors alike. Between the unspoiled beauty of the coastline, the clear blue waters and the wildlife that inhabit the area too, it’s easy to see why first-time visitors to Hatteras Island have a habit of heading this way time and again. Hatteras Island is a picture-perfect destination for those who enjoy everything from kiteboarding and fishing to kayaking and surfing alike. When you’re not out discovering more about the area’s many historical stops, you can just as easily fill your time exploring a local wildlife refuge, hiking island trails, or grabbing the binoculars and seeing one of the many species of birds that occupy the skies overhead here.
Hatteras Island is a wonderful place for solo travelers to embrace the idea of an independent adventure in 2025, but its friendly and laid-back atmosphere also makes it ideal for family getaways. Traveling with friends in the upcoming year or looking forward to a romantic escape for two? Those trips are wonderful to enjoy on Hatteras Island as well. No matter when you arrive, how long you stay, or who you’re venturing alongside, Hatteras Island is worth experiencing for yourself, and in 2025, the options for enjoying incredible moments here are sure to be endless.
Upcoming Events to Add to Your List in 2025
Many travelers will be heading to Hatteras Island in 2025 to enjoy slowing down, relaxing, and unwinding under the sun and on the sand at their own preferred pace. While this is certainly a wonderful way to pass the time, Hatteras Island is also a destination where you can look forward to filling your itinerary with exciting local events and festivities no matter what season you travel this way. If you’ve decided to make your way in this direction in the spring, you’ll be right on time to attend the annual Rock The Cape event. This gathering is a great place to enjoy live music, browse art, try an array of local foods, and take time to experience a local gallery tour or two while you’re in town. Local artists love meeting with event guests at Rock The Cape and offering up more insight to their work as well as live demonstrations and workshops. Dare Days also happen in the spring and are a fan-favorite experience for many on nearby Roanoke Island. This long-running celebration celebrates the Outer Banks way of life and includes fun events like pie-eating competitions, a kid’s zone to check out, and a ton of live entertainment and fantastic food too.
Summer 2025 is sure to bring travelers to Hatteras Island in droves once again and if your plans are to be here this time of year as well, you’ll want to make sure to enjoy fantastic local 4th of July celebrations. On Independence Day, Hatteras Village will once again host its annual golf cart parade which raises money to support the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation and is fun to participate in and watch alike. Typically, around 60 golf carts are involved with each decked out top to bottom in patriotic décor. Over in Avon, a big 4th of July event will be underway as well that includes an impressive fireworks display near the pier when the sun goes down. July and August on Hatteras Island also see kiteboarding camps getting underway in impressive numbers. The Zero to Hero Kiteboarding Camp at Cape Hatteras is a particularly popular experience among little ones and is a great way to get introduced to kiteboarding in the area alongside the professionals.
Fall travelers heading to Hatteras Island in 2025 will enjoy pairing cooler temperatures with events like Day at the Docks. This is typically hosted in the middle of September in Hatteras Village and is designed as a celebration of the islands’ working watermen. It’s an event where attendees can savor seafood, listen to live music, check out kid-friendly activities, admire boat displays, and celebrate in good company. There’s also a Blessing of the Fleet ceremony at sunset that’s always memorable.
A winter getaway to Hatteras Island in 2025 is equally appealing and travelers making their way in this direction this time of year have many events to add to the lineup. The annual Shuck Hatteras Oyster Festival comes to town in the middle of December and often includes an oyster cook-off challenge as well as live music, artwork, tastings, and horseshoe competitions too. The annual holiday parade on Hatteras Island is a fantastic family-friendly event to be sure to attend when you want to get in on a festive atmosphere while New Year’s Eve is best spent on the streets of downtown Manteo where a waterfront party will be in full swing on the last day of the year with games, giveaways, music and fireworks too.
Must-Try Activities
In between those fan-favorite annual events that you’re sure to love in 2025, your trip should also include a variety of local activities that boost the fun of your stay at every turn. You won’t want to leave your getaway behind without setting aside a little time to visit the iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse while you’re here. You won’t have any trouble spotting this eye-catching structure which required over one million bricks to build and stretches high into the sky overlooking the sand and sea. The black-and-white façade makes this historic stop a great backdrop for your 2025 vacation photo. If you want to enhance the view further, you’ll need to conquer the more than 200 stairs up to the observation deck where you can take in panoramic views of your surroundings as a reward for your effort. The lighthouse is open for climbing in the spring, summer, and fall so you’ll want to be sure to plan your visit accordingly.
Time on the sand on Hatteras Island is always time well spent when you vacation here and 2025 is no exception to that rule. The natural beauty of Hatteras Island is often best enjoyed while soaking up the sun from a beach chair in the warmest weather months of the year and when you’re not enjoying this activity, you can just as easily spend time bird watching or shelling on the shoreline. There’s no cost to visit the beach here, only the will to embrace island life at its best and that’s something worth investing in!
If you’re a traveler who loves to learn more and dive deeper into the history of the places you set out to explore, your 2025 journey to Hatteras Island is going to need to include time at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. There’s no cost to visit this one-of-a-kind stop which is found near the ferry docks that lead to Ocracoke Island. When you drop by, you’ll be treated to time browsing exhibits and displays that tell the story of the more than 600 shipwrecks sitting just off the coast of Hatteras Island. The surrounding Diamond Shoals have proved devastating to ships over the centuries, and the museum preserves the stories of those vessels and sailors through an impressive collection of artifacts. Here, you can even get up close to the 12-foot tall lens that was designed for the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in 1854.
Travelers who have set their sights on a trip to Hatteras Island in 2025 and are excited to get out on the waters here themselves will want to consider booking a guided kayak adventure during their stay. Hatteras Island’s watery coves have long made it a popular place among kayaking enthusiasts who come to explore the waterways and make the most of wildlife watching or casting a line. The team over at Kitty Hawk Kites is a great resource for travelers in 2025 who are looking to rent a kayak when they’re in town, or even purchase a new one for their own collection.
Another great place to get into nature and immerse yourself in natural beauty during your 2025 Hatteras Island Getaway is the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. Located south of the Oregon Inlet, the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is an impressive place to spend time as it’s home to more than 400 species of birds. Visitors can take time to stroll the sound side boardwalk with binoculars in hand when they want to spot as many as possible. Afterward, swing by the refuge Visitor Center to learn more about the diverse wildlife and plant life here as well as the fascinating ecosystems in place to support it all.
Restaurants Open in the Off-Season in 2025
No matter when you arrive on Hatteras Island, your itinerary is likely to be packed with activities, attractions, and experiences you don’t want to miss in 2025. That means that you’re going to need to fuel up well for those adventures from time to time. The warm weather seasons of the year are marked by nearly every restaurant opening its doors to the public here, but when the colder weather rolls in, there are many local eateries that shutter for the season. Having a heads up on places that will likely remain open when you’re traveling during the off-season can be helpful in planning a successful, smooth, and decidedly delicious getaway. When you have off-season travel plans in place in the upcoming year local restaurants like Boardwok South Restaurant, Angelo’s Pizzeria, Bros Sandwich Shack and Café Pamlico are typically open all year long. Additionally, you’ll very likely be able to swing by Kat’s Deli, Muffins & Scones, Oceana’s Bistro, and Orange Blossom Bakery & Café when cravings come calling. In years past, The Froggy Dog Restaurant and Bar as well as the Lighthouse Sports Bar & Grill have remained open too.
Book Your Hatteras Island Getaway in Comfort, Luxury, and Style
The first step to ensuring your 2025 getaway to Hatteras Island is truly one-of-a-kind and an experience that’s tailored to your preferences every step of the way is to book a beautiful vacation rental through the team of property professionals at Midgett Realty. We’re local experts who are committed to helping our guests make more of their Hatteras Island experiences by providing them with exceptional property options to choose from across Hatteras Island’s most appealing communities. We have rental options for your 2025 getaway in Rodanthe, Avon, Frisco, Buxton, Waves, and Salvo alike. Whether you’re looking forward to booking a stay with oceanfront views included, you can’t wait to settle in sound side, or you want to make the most of a canal front getaway, we have you covered. Our rental options are ideal for small and large groups alike and always emphasize a great view and a great location too. If you’re planning a trip that includes your favorite canine companion, we have a wide variety of property options designed for the best of pet friendly living so people and pets alike will feel right at home from the moment they step foot through the front door.
Reach out to our team today to learn more about our exciting lineup of rental options available in 2025 and how we can help you take your trip to the next level of excellence. We look forward to being a part of your amazing getaway in the upcoming year and can’t wait to welcome you to scenic Hatteras Island soon!
