11 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.

Experience front-porch hospitality and mix with lively locals in this elegant 1830s home, complete with original details, such as the wood plank flooring. With only three remodeled guest rooms, each with some period furniture and two with whirlpool baths, you'll never feel crowded. The owners also rent out a bungalow across the street, and its inviting pool is available to Inn guests. 

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.

This 19th-century Queen Anne–style B&B, with fascinating turrets and period details, is a companionable sister to the family of architectural beauties in Wilmington's 230-block historic district, putting it within easy walking distance of the city's riverfront shopping and dining. New owners in 2022 undertook a complete remodel of rooms and shared spaces, balancing the home's history with modern amenities, new beds, and stylish decor. Convenient off-street parking, huge porches, and strategically placed outdoor accent lighting make it a safe, welcoming property, even after dark.

From the outside, this classy B&B is a beautifully restored 19th-century Queen Anne–style home with an immaculately kept garden, but inside, the neon lights, artistic fixtures, modern furniture, and the aroma of essential oil diffusers feel more like stepping into a Bohemian spa experience. Wellness is at the forefront, and breakfast (and private dinners, by request) is entirely vegan. 

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.

Several of this comfortable, well-kept B&B's seven rooms include pencil-post canopy beds and bay windows, offering a historic, authentic base for exploring. The decor blends antique pieces with modern fixtures, an approach also evidenced in the pleasant sitting garden and patio adjacent to the Tesla chargers in the parking lot. Before it became a B&B, this 1860s house saw duty as a Masonic Lodge, schoolhouse, tearoom, and a doctor’s office.

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.

This charming 19th-century-style waterfront inn would look perfectly in place on Martha's Vineyard and is just steps from shops, restaurants, and Roanoke Island Festival Park. Individually decorated rooms were updated in 2022 and sport clean, classic lines and muted colors.