It’s true that the majority of people think of summer as the ideal time to get away to Cape Hatteras, wanting that summer beach life and knowing it will be as dreamy as they imagined, but we at Lighthouse View want to tell you that there is another season, just as wonderful that will surprise you and delight you. Fall might be our favorite season, offering mild temps early in the season and allowing you to extend your summer adventures. Cool days and crisp nights follow later in the season, reminding you of all the ways this beautiful season is certain to be one of your favorites as well. Knowing that our Lighthouse View seasonal sanctuaries will be a soft place to land at the end of every autumn day will make this vacation even more special. This guide to planning a perfect Cape Hatteras fall getaway will help you do it right!
First, Let’s Discuss the Benefits of a Fall Journey to Cape Hatteras
Once the last of the Labor Day travelers have exited the island, the vibe of Cape Hatteras changes, softens, relaxes. In real life, September is the start of back to school, the holiday season, and all the chaotic craziness that is pretty much standard in all our lives, but in Cape Hatteras, it is the start of the off-season. The beaches are empty of crowds, the restaurants offer shorter wait times, and the residents come out to play.
As we mentioned above, the early part of the season is still quite summery, offering the opportunity to deepen your summer tan, recharge your soul with all the serenity of the sea, and splash in the surf as much as you want, you’ll just have less people around to get in the way of all the fun you are having. At the restaurants, the tables will be filled with residents, the prices on the menus may be lower, and your server may have the time to offer up some hints and tips on all the best places to see! It truly is a more relaxed time and on an island that is known to be carefree and laidback, that is really saying something!
Exploring the Fall Festivals of the Outer Banks
As the days grow cooler, some of our favorite festivals and events begin to appear, and if you are flexible on your fall vacation time, you may want to plan your days around the events we have listed below. These events will be found all over the Outer Banks, giving you the opportunity to see more of our personal paradise and perhaps fall deeper in love with the region. And even if you tend to be a fly by the seat of your pants type of traveler, the events listed below will surely convince you of the importance of doing some planning ahead of time!
Hatteras Island Surf Fishing Challenge, End of September on Hatteras Island
We’re sticking close to your Lighthouse View retreat for this first fall event, the Hatteras Island Surf Fishing Challenge. Our island home is world renowned for being one of the top surf fishing spots, and the opportunity to do so may bring substantial cash benefits if you choose to enter this fantastic competition. Starting at 11:59 PM on Friday, participants will fish around the clock until noon on Sunday, and during those hours all you have to do is reel in the heaviest fish of these four species: bluefish, black drum, sea mullet, and pompano. The five heaviest of each of the four species will earn their place on the leaderboard, as well as bring home a quite substantial “paycheck!” A complimentary award dinner will be enjoyed by all, prepared, served, and cleared away by Hatteras Island Meals, a local food charity group.
Duck Jazz Festival, Mid-October in Duck
Generally held the second weekend in October, the Duck Jazz Festival is everything you expect it to be and so much more. For two full days, Town Park in Duck is the site of cool jazz, happy people, and yes, even happy kids as they offer a Children’s Story Time, Rhythm and Play, as well as a Movie on the Green. Unlike other festivals, you can bring chairs, coolers, and your well-behaved dogs, but there will be food and drink vendors if you want to enjoy a taste of the town. And although the festival is technically only two days long, special events will take place throughout the town starting on Thursday night, so be sure to explore the Duck Jazz Festival website to see what interests you if you are in town that entire week!
Outer Banks Seafood Festival, Mid-October in Nags Head
If you like to “eat like a local and drink like a fish,” (Yes, that’s the theme of this delicious festival!) you need to plan your visit to Cape Hatteras for the middle of October (October 18th in 2025). Local restaurants will be serving the most delicious seafood in the world, all sourced from the waters that surround us, as local breweries and wineries provide the best in libations. Also offering a bit of education, there will be talks presented about water safety, the importance of keeping our waters unpolluted, and why we must worry about the endangered sea turtles throughout the day, as well as many more topics. Do you like to shop? The list of vendors include local beach shops, artists, and crafts people, and we are sure you will find something to bring home with you. Finally, live music will be playing throughout the day, so you can sing along and dance with your favorite tunes as you shop, drink, and eat!
Welcome Home to Lighthouse View
So now that you have an idea of why planning ahead is a good idea for your fall journey to Cape Hatteras, let’s take a closer look at your home for the duration of your Outer Banks vacation. Lighthouse View has been the place to stay for nearly 75 years, although we looked a bit more humble back in those days. Known as Lighthouse View Court, there were just three small rentals on the ocean, giving visitors a place to rest and relax in between their beachy adventures. Today, we have expanded dramatically, offering hotel rooms, spacious suites, and charming cottages that reflect the magic of the Outer Banks while welcoming tired travelers who fly in from all over the world.
Rooms with a View
The somewhat cooler weather in the early fall and substantially cooler weather later in the season may have you wanting to open the windows and let in salt air and the sounds of the surf, especially as you will have the most stunning views of sand and sea. Salt air breezes will give your room the scent of serenity and Adirondack chairs on the deck just outside the window will become your greatest obsession. Sitting out here, day or night, with your favorite beverage in hand and the ever changing seascape in front of you will give you moments of such total and complete peace, you will want to hold on tightly to each memory made.
When you finally can tear yourself away from the view, barely able to keep your eyes open, climbing into our cloud-soft beds won’t bring the end of the views; they will just reappear in the form of happy dreams every night of your stay. Our rooms are comfortable and convenient, offering full baths, microwaves, mini-fridges, and coffee makers, but will you remember much more than the feelings you felt and the views you captured in your memory banks and does it really matter if you don’t?
Home Suite Home
Our suites crank up the comfort and convenience to the next level of perfection, offering those same views (although a few of our rooms and suites do offer pool views with glimpses of the sea), similar decks, and of course, similar dreams. The differences lie in the size; more space, more beds, equals more guests living it up at the beach, and more amenities such as fully equipped kitchens, dining areas, and full living room areas furnished with sofas and chairs, not just the chairs found in our rooms.
The suites may cost a little more, but when you look at how much money you can save cooking your own meals, (Because really, can you bear to leave this paradise?) you may find yourself saving money while vacationing with a larger, merrier group. Start each day with your own version of pumpkin spice coffee (the stores in the area often sell pumpkin spice creamer that you can add to your favorite brew) and sit out on the deck watching the world come awake around you, cool sea breezes warming the higher the sun rises.
Peaceful Cottages
Your traveling group may be a little larger than what can fit in our rooms and suites or your dreams about beach vacations have always included a stay in a cottage with weathered shingles standing tall against the elements. Whatever the reason, choosing our oceanfront cottages for your Cape Hatteras stay will never be a bad idea! Rent two or more and celebrate family with a beach family reunion and discover what paradise truly is
Even in the cooler months, your days will be spent building sandcastles, searching for seashells, and enjoying long walks along shore’s edge, the surf’s roar providing a peaceful accompaniment to your bonding time with cousins you haven’t seen in years. There isn’t much change in the color of the leaves on Cape Hatteras—most of our trees are evergreens—but the spirit of fall will be alive as you relax, play, and explore all the cozy comforts and modern conveniences that make our cottages our most popular rentals!
Our round cottages offer a unique lifestyle, featuring wraparound decks and panoramic views as well as a fun floorplan you have to experience to believe, but our standard cottages offer their own charms as well; there’s just no wrong choice to be made with Lighthouse View!
Seasons of Fun and Fancy
Finding joy is simple at the beach and even easier during your Cape Hatteras fall getaway, because even if you are doing nothing more than building sandcastles with your toddlers, enjoying moonlit walks with your favorite human, or relaxing on our wood decks letting the serenity of the sea work its magic on your soul, life is better in Cape Hatteras. And before we leave you with the thought of those wonderful fall moments in paradise, we know you won’t want to cook every meal (Are there chores in paradise?), and so below we have provided a peek at some of our favorite restaurants for your dining pleasure.
Orange Blossom Bakery & Café, 47206 NC Highway 12 in Buxton
Located inside a former motel, the Orange Blossom Bakery & Café is one of our favorite spots for fall breakfast. Offering breakfast sandwiches on homemade bread, their Apple Uglies are what they are famous for, and if you are turned off by the name, relax; apple uglies are simply delicious apple fritters!
The Wreck Tiki Bar, 58848 Marina Way in Hatteras
Sometimes you just want nachos, beer, and views of the sea during your beach vacation, and The Wreck Tiki Bar checks all the boxes, plus a few more! Known for their paninis, which are fabulous, we find ourselves ordering their Blackbeard Nachos every time we visit. We can’t help it, they are addictive, offering a Southern twist to traditional nachos made with pulled pork, beer cheese, and barbecue sauce.
Hatteras Sol Waterfront Grill, 58646 NC Highway 12 in Hatteras
Offering sunset views of the sea, locally sourced seafood meals, and a romantic vibe, this reasonably priced restaurant is a great spot to celebrate a milestone anniversary. If you are traveling with children, however, you will be relieved to know that their kids’ menu is quite extensive, offering all the faves, including chicken fingers, mac & cheese, and a kids’ version of alfredo.
Plan Your Fall Getaway
Take your fall journey to Cape Hatteras and choose Lighthouse View for your seasonal sanctuary today!
