Winter On The OBX, Should I Visit? -

We bet you never thought about spending the winter on the OBX have you? Most people think of visiting the Outer Banks during the spring or summer. Why wouldn’t you? With warm weather and endless beach days, it’s truly paradise on Earth. What about visiting the Outer Banks in the winter, though? It’s honestly still just as great!

A Time To Reset

Winter on the Outer Banks is s-l-o-w, but that’s not a bad thing. An Outer Banks winter to locals means a time to catch our breaths from the busy summer season. Some businesses close for the season while others stay open with modified hours. The bustling traffic of visitors has stopped and there’s a much slower pace you can actually feel. So what would an OBX winter to a visitor look like? Well…the same, really. Winter on the OBX brings a time for you to rest and truly reset. It’s a time to surrender yourself to the slowness and take advantage of the beauty of the beach that surrounds you.

A Chance to Explore

While everything on the Outer Banks is slow, it’s the perfect time to get out and explore. Weather on the Outer Banks during the winter ranges from a high of about 55º and a low of around 40º. While that is a little chilly to just sit on the beach, it’s great weather to get out and stroll. Beachcombing during the winter is the best. You’ll get a chance to find seashells and sea glass that you wouldn’t typically find during the summer months. It’s also a great opportunity to explore local history. The Wright Brothers Memorial is open for you to learn about the history of flight. While the Bodie Island and Hatteras Island lighthouses only offer climbs during the summer months, the outdoor areas and museums are typically open during the winter; allowing you to learn more about the importance of their lights to our coastline.

Shopping Opportunities

As we mentioned before, many businesses close during the winter months, but a lot also stay open and work on limited hours. This is the perfect opportunity to shop at those small businesses and discover something new! From local boutiques and surf shops to coffee shops and restaurants, these small businesses on the OBX will be happy to see your smiling face during the off-season of winter.

Cheap Rental Rates

Winter is home to arguably the lowest rental rates of the season. While a two-bedroom oceanfront condo during the summer can cost you about $3,000 for the week, that same condo can cost you about $1,700 during the winter. Plus, you’ll be able to take advantage of partial week rentals during the winter too, perfect for a long weekend getaway. Resort Realty also offers extended stays as well so you can truly decide to live like a local for a while.

No matter what season you choose, you can’t go wrong with visiting the Outer Banks!