Motels
| Route 66 | Cities | Beaches |
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Motels |
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| The next step up from camping is a motel. Hatteras doesn't have chains but classic family owned 1950s style motels which have been constantly updated. Almost all have been seriously damaged by hurricanes so have had to rebuild, often two or three times. The Avon Motel shown above was burned to the ground and rebuilt. The Sea Gull and Tower Circle were destroyed by Isabella and could only afford to rebuild half of the original. This is sad, but it does mean you'll stay in very new facilities. Most motels here have double rooms, kitchenettes and suites, so it's like you're renting an apartment or condominium. The Avon and Sea Gull are right on the beach, the Tower Circle and Offshore Beach Club are one block from the beach, and the Swell is right on the Sound with boat launching areas. However, many families have maintained reservations at these motels for 60 years, rolling each reservation over to the next year before they leave. So to grab one of the few remaining spots, you must reserve early. Fall is ideal, but January is the latest possible. Beyond that, you need luck. Due to cancellations someone might just drive up and get a room, but don't count on it. |  |
| Lodging | Camping | Motels | Bed & Breakfasts | Small Family Houses | Large Group Houses |
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The Avon Motel, here since 1954, has its own loyal customers who wouldn't stay anywhere else. They like its direct access to the broad Avon Beach, ranked in the top 10 nationally, and its central location to the fishing pier, miniature golf, bike rentals, shops, restaurants, windsurfing, kiteboarding and kayaking. Remodelling has kept the 45 rooms up to date. There are basic rooms, efficiencies and apartments. The photo at left shows the entrance off Highway 12 in the center of town, and the very top photo shows a row of rooms. WiFi is available on the premises. A 2015 fire forced a total rebuild of the wing shown at top. Everything considered, the Avon is probably the best motel on the island right now. |
If Buxton Beach is your priority, you want the Off Shore Beach Club, one block from Route 12 on Old Lighthouse Road in Buxton They have eight rooms and a condo. which would be suitable for a large family or small group. Each room has a private bath, cable tv, small refrigerator, coffee pot, and in some a microwave. Amenities include a sundeck, gas grille, outdoor showers, surfboard and windsurfing rig closets, bikes, beach chairs, coolers, and beach bags. One block from Dillons Corner Store, the best gift shop on the island, Diamond Shoals Restaurant, the best restaurant on the island, and half a mile from Red Drum Fishing Outfitters, the finest fishing center on the island. Within earshot of the surf. Buxton Beach, long rated the #1 beach on the East Coast, is a one block walk down a quiet side street. Lighthouse Beach, with the best surfing on the East Coast, is 100 yards down the beach. The lighthouse itself is visible to the South, and is within a pleasant walk or short drive. From chairs on the terrace you can see the ocean and lighthouse. Recently updated under new owner Dan Wu. 800-237-1138. |
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The Tower Circle is a 1953 brick motel, run for 60 years by the Gray family before its 2012 sale to Earl and Gayle Johnson and 2023 sale to Olivia Cohen. Today's motel is a fraction of what it was . The section across the road was levelled by a hurricane in 1993, and somehow the two sections along the street (built in 1965 and 1972) were sold separately. Ms. Cohen is totally updating the remaining rooms. It is THE motel on the island for surfers, body boarders, beach lovers, tubers and surfcasters, because it is only steps from Buxton Beach, long rated the #1 beach on the Atlantic Coast with its trough & bar configuration. It is 100 yards from Lighthouse Beach, the #1 surfing spot on the Eaat Coast, one block from Dillons Corner Store, the best gift shop on the island, Diamond Shoals Restaurant, the #1 restaurant on the island, and half a mile from Red Drum Outfitters, the $1 fishing center on the island. 252-655-1852. towercircleOBX@gmail.com. |
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The iconic Falcon Motel is on the way back. Now owned by Robert and Laura Handlow and managed by Wanda Magness, it has been renamed the Swell Motel. They've redone the motel rooms and are working on the swimming pool and art gallery, but this is still a 1950s style one story pastel brick building. If your interests lay soundside, the rear yard leads down to a launching area on Pamlico Sound for kayaks, windsurfing rigs or your inshore fishing boat. This is the closest launching area for the famous Canadian Hole, the world's greatest windsurfing water. Kayaks and bicycles are free for guests to use. Uncle Eddy's, a miniature golf course and ice cream stand, is next door. Three excellent restaurants are within a one block walk, and the Red Drum Tackle Shop is just up the street. Dillon's Corner, Buxton's best gift shop, is across the parking lot. A fish cleaning table and outdoor grille are on the lawn. Buxton Beach, the Atlantic Coast's #1 beach and #1 surfing strip, is a two block walk. Swellmotel.com, 252-489-4484, swellmotel@gmail. com. |
| The Cape Pine Motel on Route 12 across from Connor's Market is a quiet retreat away from the crowded waterfront areas. You're only 10 minutes from the beaches, the Sound and the Lighthouse and 20 minutes from Hatteras Harbor and the ferry docks. In exchange for this distance, you get much lower rates, a very nice pool and beautiful rooms. You can reserve a basic double, an efficiency with kitchenette, or a suite. Cape Pine has its own loyal customer base which returns year after year for decades. It sits far from the water up on a ridge, so has not been battered by the storm damage which has caused so much expensive rebuilding at the other motels. Therefore, the Cape Pine has been able to keep investing its money in modernizing and refining the units. This is a very classy place to stay, as long as you can accept not being right at the beach. You're in walking distance of two good restaurants, the best surf shop out here, and, of course, Connor's, the island's longtime grocery, is across the street. Most Cape Pine loyalists use the pool in the morning and evening and go to the beach in the afternoon. This is the best motel pool on the island. The grounds are beautifully landscaped. |  |
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The Burris Motor Court, the oldest motel in Hatteras Village (1952) and one of the oldest on the entire island, is currently closed and for sale. It was a fisherman's motel. Hard core fishermen brought their families here, right across Highway 12 from the marinas where they could anchor their own boats, or take one of the charter boats. The motel suffered severe storm damage, the long time owner died, the property has been declared unsafe, and a new owner will face major repairs to bring the building up to code. |
| The Sea Gull Motel is at the entrance to Hatteras Village. It was severely damaged by Huricane Isabella in 1993 and, in fact, lost half its area as a new channel was temporarily cut through the island. At the time this was disastrous, but now that rooms have been totally rebuilt, it has given the Sea Gull brand new state of the art facilities. The photo at right is taken from Highway 12. The other end of the motel fronts directly on the dunes and the beach, and a few steps up the sand is the lifeguarded beach with showers and restrooms. The Sound is across the road, with its kayaking, windsurfing and the island's best crabbing. Four restaurants are a short walk. |  |
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Hatteras Landing Villas, as the name implies, offers all suites. It's right next to the Ocracoke Ferry docks so expect to be awakened at dawn by the loud horn. A basic villa features a fully equipped kitchen, a queen bed and pullout sofa and sleeps four. Balconies offer views of Pamlico Sound, the beach or the pool. Both nightly and weekly rates are available. Just next door is a complex of shops. Across the parking lot is the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. The beach is across the road. If you have a four wheel drive vehicle, the sand road out to the point, Hatteras Island's southwestern extreme, is just past the museum. At the point, which looks out across the channel connecting Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean, is some of the best fishing on the island. It's also a good place to gather sea shells. You're just around the bend from three major marinas, which include ramps for smaller boats. There are three excellent restaurants within walking distance. These units are actually privately held condos which sell for around $82,500. |
| If you're a fisherman, two or three or a group of fishermen, a husband and son or husband and daughter coming to Hatteras to fish, or a couple coming to fish, you don't care about beaches, surfing, windsurfing or any of the island's other attractions. You just want to fish. Then you want to look at these two motels. They are at Hatteras Harbor. You are just steps away from the famous Hatteras charter fishing fleet. You can sit on your patio or look out your window and watch the boats coming and going. You're also steps away from two of the island's finest restaurants, the Breakwater and Dinky's. There's a professional fish fileting and frozen fish storage service across the parking lot. And, since these are motels, not houses, you can rent rooms for one, two, three or four day stays. Truly, staying here puts you in Fisherman's Paradise for however many days you're here..... |
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The Breakwater Inn is the larger of the two. Built in 1952 and updated in 2016, it includes two buildings. The original one story brick motel has been remodelled and is now called the Fishermen's Quarters. All rooms are handicapped accessible, and all are at ground level. They run $105 a night. There are rooms with one king bed or two double beds. Remember no amount of remodelling can change the fact these are 1950s rooms; the bedrooms and bathrooms are small by today's standards. But if you're going to get up at dawn and get back in at 5 pm, the size of the room is not important. The larger building, shown at left, features rooms queen bed rooms, small fridges, microwaves, coffee makers and a lift to haul your luggage up to the second or third floors. These rooms rent for $160 a night. There are also King Suites for $190 a night whiuch feature king beds, full kitchens, living rooms and a sofa. All Breakwater rooms have full wifi and accesss to the outdoor pool. |
The Hatteras Harbor Inn offers second story units with private balconies looking right down on the charter boat fleet. The photo at right shows three units directly over the office. Around the corner, other rooms face the rest of the marina and out across Pamlico Sound. Rooms have either queens or twin beds. All have full size kitchens, free wifi, alarm clocks, cable TV and coffee makers. Depending on when, rooms are $90 - $130 per night for two people. If you're travelling with your boat, Hatteras Harbor offers dockage up to 60 ft. and all related services : electric, water, diesel fuel, showers, oil disposal, laundromat, ice, fish cleaning, store, deli, post office down the street, and two restaurants next door. For those with trailered boats there is a ramp around the corner and parking for vehicles and tailers. For those wanting to do their own cooking, there is a grocery just up the street. |
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