2025 Surf Shops Guide

17th Street Surf Shop is where you’ll find the latest beach, skate park and nightlife fashion trends.  This Outer Banks favorite gets its name from the flagship store's address, which opened at the nearby Virginia Beach oceanfront in 1970.

One of the original surf shops on the Outer Banks, if not in the state of North Carolina, the quaint and friendly Cavalier has been at the same Beach Road location for more than 50 years. It’s been owned and operated by the same local family for close to 30 years, so you know this is the real deal.  Not only does the shop have a lot of customers who come back every year, now they’re seeing children of the repeat customers coming back every season.  At 1,300 square feet, the shop is a simple square building built right at ground level across from the beach. It’s had some close calls, but somehow it has survived numerous hurricanes and nor’easters. A photograph taken after the infamous Ash Wednesday Storm in 1962 shows the devastation on the oceanfront, and there’s the Cavalier sitting intact in the midst of the mayhem. Despite its compact size, the shop is stuffed top to bottom with all a surfer would want: top brand surf clothing and footwear; surf gear and accessories; boards, beach chairs and umbrellas for sale or rent. Surfing lessons are also available, and loyal customers and lovers of Outer Banks heritage can pick up Cavalier T-shirts.  

A fll service surf shop offering lessons, new equipment, clothing and rentals. 

As everyone can see just walking past this store, many of the mild-weather recreational activities that can be done outdoors are covered here. Racks in front of the store are filled with fat tire beach cruisers, kayaks and surfboards. Inside, surf gear and beach wear ---bathing suits, shorts, shirts and dresses, pants and hoodies ---fill racks and shelves.

Hatteras Island's #1 shop for men's, women's, & kid's, beach lifestyle apparel, swimwear, equipment sales/rentals, surf lessons, & so much more!

In The Eye Surfboards is located along with the Natural Art Surf Shop about a mile from Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in Buxton. Founded in 1977, it is one of the area’s original surf shops and one of the few that’s still run by surfers.Scott Busbey, a glasser originally from Florida, now works with Curtis in supplying visiting and local surfers with high quality custom surfboards, skim boards and body boards. The shop, which started out in a small What’s a Burger with only a dozen surfboards and leashes, a case of wax and two-dozen t-shirts, silk screened on site, now offers a full line of surfing accessories, along with Scott’s custom boards and Carol’s handmade shirts she’s been making since the shop opened. The team also does board repairs.Having recently celebrated 30 years in business, Scott and Curtis say they try to get in the water as much as they can and they’re “still stoked after all these years.”In The Eye ustom surfboards can be ordered by calling or stopping by the shop or by filling out an online form and either faxing or emailing it to Scott.

A branch of Kitty Hawk Kites, here’s a place where you can catch a boat to go watch dolphins, learn how to do various watersports, or just rent the equipment to go  have some fun in the water. The big dog of outdoor recreation on the Outer Banks, Kitty Hawk Kites knows how to help people make the most of the beautiful Outer Banks environment. Located right on the edge of Roanoke Sound off the Nags Head-Manteo causeway, this outlet offers kayak tours from sunrise to sunset in Manteo and Bodie Island, including a bioluminescence tour where you can paddle through green glowing water at night.  Experienced tour guides provide tips on proper paddling techniques for the easy-to-operate boats, and share fascinating details about wildlife, history and natural resources in the area. Make sure you slather on the sunblock, and bring a hat, water and snacks! The location also offers kiteboarding, wake boarding and surfing lessons. Kayaks, jet skis and standup paddleboards are available to rent,  and the shop sells Outer Banks souvenirs, pirate-themed items and stunt and family kites. The two-hour dolphin tours are held on a real research vessel and conducted by a dolphin scientist. 

A full-service surf shop.

Load up on everything you’ll need for a long day on the Outer Banks shoreline with a visit to this Kill Devil Hills store that has everything beach-worthy under the sun. The OBX Beach Shop is stocked with swimwear, sunscreen, gifts, souvenirs, and more, which makes it a great place to fill up a beach bag or two before heading to the oceanfront.

Discover the answers to your wind and water sports dreams at Ocean Air Sports. 

An independent family-owned surf shop in Nags Head, the Outer Banks Boarding Company is a friendly place that local and out-of-town surfers depend on for inside tips on the best local surf spots and conditions.  The store’s knowledgeable team boasts several world-class professional surfers and bodyboarders, including Noah Syder, Jesse Hines and Chris McDonald, as well as amateur men and women surfers, skimmers, skaters and snowboarders.

From kiteboarding rentals and equipment, to unique summer camps and some of the biggest events on Hatteras Island, there’s certainly a lot for water lovers to discover at Real Watersports. This tri-villages landmark that is world famous with the kiteboarding community has everything that newcomers and boarding pros alike could need to enjoy endless time on the miles-wide waters of the Pamlico Sound.

From surfing lessons and kayak tours to all the gear you’ll need to stay active on the Ocracoke beaches, Ride the Wind Surf Shop has everything under the sun for island visitors who want to uncover all the on-the-water fun that the Outer Banks has to offer. Featuring beach gear, watersports equipment sales and rentals, lessons, tours, and a host of other unique items for sale, this destination is miles beyond your typical surf shop, and is a must-stop for anyone who wants to enjoy an active Ocracoke vacation to the fullest.

One of the oldest authentic surf shops on the Outer Banks, Secret Spot has been surfer-owned at the same location since the early 1980s.  Store founder Steve Hess started board shaping in 1971, and his world-renowned boards have been ridden by many of the Outer Banks’ best surfers, and by many others from Hawaii to California to Australia. With its ceiling covered with surfboards, the shop offers custom made Secret Spot Surf Boards and used boards, body boards, skim boards, as well as skate gear.  Board rentals and surf lessons are also available. A wide range of designer surfwear can be found here, including Rip Curl, Sanuk, Roxy, Rainbow, Lost, Oakley, Electric and O’Neill.  Bathing suits, hats, shoes, shorts, sunglasses, watches and T-shirts are available in a variety of sizes and styles for the entire family.  There’s even cool infant and baby clothes, and tropical gifts and surf art in stock.

Grab all the gear you’ll need for a sunny Outer Banks vacation at this apparel and gift shop that has an inherent coastal vibe. The Vitamin Sea Beach Shop is stocked with a wealth of goodies that can be enjoyed on the coast and at home, making it a great destination to pick up souvenirs as well as all of the equipment required to enjoy the Outer Banks shoreline.

Wave Riding Vehicles is a water sporter’s dream. The store offers gear that any beach goer would love and use. From pro surfers to pro sandcastle builders, Wave Riding Vehicles is sure to please.

Owners Jim and April Vaughn operate a surfer’s surf shop, with a great selection of wetsuits, sportswear, swimwear and accessories for men, women and youth from all major surf brands. Upstairs, there’s an exceptional range of surfboards to choose from. Whalebone Surf Shop specializes in bringing in the best board shapers from around the world. The shop also offers surfboard rentals and surfing lessons in the summer months.