10 Best Hotels in The North Carolina Coast, North Carolina

The rooms at this downtown newcomer—built within three retrofitted historic buildings, including a former convent and a dye factory—appear lifted from a design magazine. Pink tile, gold fixtures, marble tables, wooden king-sized beds, and muted paint colors work toward a cohesive whole. Communal spaces are all outdoors (apart from the popular restaurant that draws weekend crowds), including several fire pits and fireplaces, plus a small lawn with cornhole boards.

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.

This small, yellow inn is perched right on Silver Lake, within walking distance of most restaurants, bars, and the lighthouse. Owned by a ninth-generation Ocracoker, the inn has eight one-bedroom, 1½-bath waterfront suites, all with full kitchens; there's also a cottage and a penthouse suite. Amenities include boat slips and bikes for rent. Discounted weekly rates are available.

Small and charming, this cedar-shingled inn is new construction, but it blends perfectly into the Corolla aesthetic—you'll feel like a local sitting in a rocker on a screened-in porch, and like a special guest in rooms with 13-foot ceilings and thoughtful, coastal decor.

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.

The nine-story Hotel Ballast, part of Hilton's Tapestry Collection, aptly contains features of both a boutique hotel and a corporate chain. It has direct access to the riverfront boardwalk and it's just a few blocks from the heart of the historic district. Half the rooms have terrific views of the river and the USS North Carolina—the rest have views of the city. There's a trendy outdoor dining and lounge area with a small pool, a restaurant, and a coffee shop.

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.

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.