Visit The Outer Banks

Discover Avon on Hatteras Island

The Hatteras Island village of Avon is presented as the best surf fishing spot in North Carolina, with more to learn about this township in The Outer Banks, NC.

Avon sits south of the Tri-Villages along NC12, where Hatteras Island’s communities gather near the Cape, the Outer Banks bend westward, and Cape Hatteras Lighthouse watches over the shoreline. The Lighthouse is not visible from Avon, but other Hatteras Island landmarks stand out here, including the Avon Fishing Pier, the “Kinnakeet” water tower, and the island’s biggest grocery store.

Kinnakeet was Avon’s earlier name, and it comes from an Algonquin word meaning “that which is mixed.” That idea of “mixing” referred to Native Tribes and English settlers coming together in this place, a meaningful part of the settlement story of the Outer Banks and the colony of North Carolina. The name became official in 1873 when the Kinnakeet Post Office opened, then changed to Avon in 1883. Even so, residents continue to value that history, and Kinnakeet remains in informal use today.

As in nearby villages, life in Avon depended on the ocean and Sound, though boat building—not fishing—became the central trade. Around Avon, Hatteras Island broadens slightly, and cedar and live oak forests appear. From the Colonial days through the decades following the Civil War, those trees supplied essential material for boat construction. Avon served as the island’s economic center until Hatteras Inlet created easier access between the Pamlico Sound and Atlantic Ocean, helping Hatteras Village grow in significance.

Avon’s cedar-based boat-building roots remain part of its identity, and even after modern materials and methods arrived, the village still functions as a practical anchor for Hatteras Island because of its location and amenities. Visitors will find a relaxed blend of beach food, seafood spots, and non-seafood choices among the dozen or so local eateries. The village also has a hardware store, multiple tackle shops, and retail stores offering souvenirs and beach supplies. If your stay is on Hatteras Island, Avon is likely where you will go for groceries, lunch, dinner, supplies, and shopping.

The Avon Fishing Pier, one of two wooden fishing piers on Hatteras Island, welcomes tens of thousands of anglers and sightseers from spring into late fall. The surf breaks draw surfers, and the wide beach becomes a roomy warm-weather place to play.

Guests staying in Avon can choose rental homes in separate neighborhoods as well as homes mixed among full-time residents. Avon Pier & RV Resort also offers access to amenities such as a beach club and pool, restaurants, and a range of activities for kids and adults. Avon’s dining options run from fine dining to food trucks, making it highly likely that anyone staying on Hatteras Island will come through the village for at least a meal or two.

Discover More Around Avon

Places To Stay

Outer Banks accommodations come in many forms, and travelers looking for extra space have a wide range of options to consider.

Restaurants

Avon dining covers breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, and more filling plates such as prime rib or a generous entrée.

More Hatteras Island Villages

Visit the Avon, NC | Hatteras Island Village History, Info & Things to Do page →