The Town of Kitty Hawk prides itself on providing a public beach for the enjoyment of full-time residents and visitors alike.
Public Beach Access
There are many public beach accesses with parking available. All spaces on streets are parallel parking and marked spaces in the paved parking lots.
All spaces are gravel except for Byrd, Lillian and the Bathhouse.
Beach Parking in Kitty Hawk, NC
Below is a list of parking in Kitty Hawk, going from North to South:
Byrd Street
East Side – 4 spaces with 1 Handicapped space; West Side – 60 spaces with 2 handicapped
Fonck Street
South side street parking only – 6 spaces
Maynard Street
Both sides of street. North side-8 spaces; South side – 8 spaces
Bennett Street
North side street parking only – 7 spaces
Luke Street (seasonal port-o-potty)
North Side street parking only -13 spaces
Bleriot Street (seasonal port-o-potty)
Both sides of the the street. North side – 14 spaces; South side – 12 spaces
Wilkins Street
Both sides of the street. North side – 4 spaces; South side – 5 spaces
Hawks Street
Both sides of the street. North side – 6 spaces; South side – 5 spaces
Balchen Street
Both sides of the street; North side – 11 spaces; South side – 10 spaces
Lillian Street
Marked diagonal – 35 spaces with 3 handicapped
Kitty Hawk Bath House (3840 N. VA Dare Trail)
50 spaces with 2 handicapped.
In total there are 266 spaces including 8 handicapped spaces.
Public Restrooms & Showers
In addition to parking, there is a public restroom with showers at the Kitty Hawk Bath House, located at 3840 N Virginia Dare Trail. There is a port-o-potty at Byrd Street located just south of the intersection of Kitty Hawk Road and NC 12 and at the Bleriot and Luke Street beach accesses.
Lifeguard and ocean rescue
Visitors to Kitty Hawk’s beaches are protected by our Ocean Rescue personnel, a division of the Fire Department. Ocean Rescue performs lifeguard and ocean safety duties from Memorial Day until Labor Day, and it works to inform the public on ocean safety year round.
There are fixed lifeguard stands at the Byrd Street access, the Eckner Street access, Bleriot Street access, Lillian St access, and the Kitty Hawk Bath House access, as well as roving lifeguards on ATV’s. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the Ocean Rescue personnel are on duty from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Between Labor Day and September 30, Ocean Rescue Staff will be on duty from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Town also has a handicap accessible public sound access at Windgrass Circle. It has parking and is open from sunrise to thirty minutes past sunset.
Beach Safety
Beach Safety Tips
- Swim near a Lifeguard
- Do not fight the Rip Current – learn to “Break the Grip”
- Supervise your children and watch the hazards at all times.
- Do not float where you cannot swim
- Lightning – “Hear It or See it – Flee it”
- “Protect Your Neck” – enter feet first every time and watch the waves.
- Carry your cell phone and know where you are on the beach. If you think someone needs help DIAL 911.
Visit Dare County’s comprehensive website on Beach Safety
Rip Current Education
Download Rip Current Education PDF
Rules of the Beach
Leave Only Footprints
Please remove all personal items when leaving the beach including:
- Umbrellas
- Beach canopies
- Chairs
- Volleyball nets and games
Please fill in holes dug in the sand. Items left overnight present a safety hazard for our emergency personnel and other beachgoers.
Town Ordinances for the Beach
- No driving on the beach
- No glass on the beach
- No fires on the beach
- Follow rules for dogs on the beaches of Kitty Hawk
- Motorized watercraft cannot be launched from the Atlantic Ocean beach
- Surfers must attach a surfing leash from themselves to their surfboards
- Swimming in the ocean is prohibited when the red “No Swimming” flags are posted. Violation can result in a $250.00 fine.
- Beach goers are prohibited from leaving unattended personal equipment such as chairs, umbrellas, canopies and coolers on the beach overnight.
- Digging holes and mounding sound on the beach is not allowed as it is unsafe to beach goers, rescue personnel and sea life.