12 Best Hotels in The North Carolina Coast, North Carolina

Tasteful and modern decor adorns the rooms at this stately inn set directly on Taylor Creek, where the whinnies of wild horses at the Rachel Carson Reserve can be heard from your private balcony. Chandeliers in bathrooms, electric blinds, and leather headboards convey nautical-imbued luxury. There's an outdoor pool and hot tub, a sizeable gym, and a first-rate restaurant, 34° North, that draws locals for dinner and drinks as the sun sets over the water. Dinner reservations are essential on weekends, even for guests. Opt for the $15 valet parking—self-parking is free, but it's several hundred yards away.

The 32 houseboats docked in two rows at Port City Marina don't feel like boats on the inside—high ceilings, modern fixtures, quartzite counters, and classy furniture make it feel more like you've rented an elegant town house. Each two-story boat features an upstairs porch overlooking the Cape Fear River. The Cove is within easy walking distance of the Live Oak Bank Pavilion music venue, making it a popular booking for summer concerts. 

The seven-story, 1960s-vintage Blockade Runner is pure class, from the large, modern rooms (upper floors have terrific ocean views) to the sparkling lobby, where cool blue drapes create the feel of waves all around you. Although it hardly needs it, new ownership in 2023 promises upgrades and remodeled rooms in the coming years. The outdoor pool is adjacent to an inviting lawn, just behind the dunes from the beach. Approachable service extends to excursions offered by the resort, including kayak and boat tours. EAST Oceanfront restaurant is a destination in and of itself.  The Blockade Runner also offers a private Garden Suite and a two-story beach cottage for rent to families and groups, with 13 bedrooms and nine baths and access to all the hotel amenities.

At the confluence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers within the historic district, this comfortable hotel—with marina facilities—has rooms and suites with terrific views of the city and waterfront. Rooms offer plenty of space and a restful color scheme, and those on the fifth floor have a balcony overlooking the river. A fitness center, business center, Confluence restaurant, and an outdoor pool along the waterfront round out the amenities.

Nearly every inch of this reliable, seven-story mainstay received an overhaul in 2022, from remodeled bathrooms to all-new furniture in the spacious rooms, almost all of which have balconies. A full lobby makeover includes a coffee shop and a new restaurant, Solstice Oceanfront Kitchen. The beachfront location includes two pools (one is indoors and heated) and a hot tub, plus a grassy lawn, making it a favorite with families. A large deck on the third floor, lined with rocking chairs, is an inviting spot to spend an entire afternoon.

Directly on the beach in Buxton, this sprawling property includes traditional motel rooms, condos with full kitchens, and rental cottages. There's a pool, grills, and a hot tub that stays open all year.

New ownership in 2022 has made upgrades (remodeled bathrooms, new floors, and new TVs and furniture) to this classic option that sits conveniently between the beach and town, offering a range of room options, including top-floor two-bedroom suites with full kitchens. Many rooms have balconies, and there's a small outdoor social area with grills for your fresh catch. 

This luxury resort comprising three multistory buildings and six large rental homes spreads over 16 quiet acres of ocean-to-sound property that include two outdoor pools (one that's adults only), hot tubs, an indoor pool, firepits, and a bocce court. Grab a drink at the beachfront Sandbar, sign up for kayak tours and yoga classes, or just relax on your porch and watch the waves roll in. The elegant, dinner-only Kimball's Kitchen restaurant (open May to October) has a wall of windows overlooking Currituck Sound. The resort-casual Lifesaving Station, a restored 1899 former lifesaving station, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner year-round.

This oceanfront, family-owned hotel is a bargain hunter's dream (at least by Outer Banks standards), with spacious rooms sporting updated furniture, and a seaside aesthetic, plus microwaves and refrigerators. On-site activities include a family game room, indoor and outdoor pools, beachfront access, and cabana services.

This midsize resort near Jennette's Pier is Nags Head's best independent beachfront hotel; loyal customers return annually to unwind in the indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs or relax in the rocking chairs that overlook the ocean. Oceanfront rooms in the main five-story building and a two-story building have balconies with views up and down the beach, while south-facing ocean-view rooms have views of both the Atlantic Ocean and Albemarle Sound.