The 18 best parks and gardens in Kill Devil Hills

This park has it all, concerts, interactive play areas, cute gardens, barbecue, great picnic tables and benches to sit on, you name it. It. They are also public restrooms, and a decent amount of parking. It is right off the main Beach highway and easy to get to. We watched a great concert tonight and the band played under a covered pavilion. On weekdays during the summer, there are great farmers markets here with vendors, selling everything from arts and crafts to food and slushies.

Amazing 5+star park! This park should be the new gold standard. Something for anyone. Love that it's handicap friendly. Big field. Clearly used for the community and probably the encompassing school. Restroom looks legit too

Loved the accessibility with swing for wheelchair. Saucer swing. Transfer platforms and compact rubber matting for ease of movement. The Farmer's Market had a variety of vendors, both farmer and artesian. Held on Thursdays from 9-1.

Super nice playground. It was great to go after lunch to kill the hour we had to wait to check in to our house. The oldest kid was 10 and the youngest was 4. They all had a great time. Everything is brand new and well maintained.

Amazing park for kids of all ages!

Adorable little park! Easy to spot from the highway and there is lots of parking. There is almost no shade so we recommend coming in the evening hours. There is so much to do here for kids. Great place to come with a larger group of children because it is so much space and there's so much to do multiple slides multiple swings interesting things to climb turn and explore. We will be back

Fun free park in Kill Devil Hills to spend some time at. Large open field, a great jungle gym and several gandicap accessible pieces of equipment that do not require transfer. A few areas to sit that have shade but in general this is a full sun location so plan accordingly. There are bathroom facilities on the opposite end of where picnic tables are located. Smoke parking and easy access. Need a break from the beach try here.

Shade. Quiet. Awesome. Large climbing jym (5-12 yo). Bathrooms and water bottle filler.

This is a very nice quaint place. Tucked off the main road. Small hiking trail nearby. Also, playgrounds are a little on the advanced side. Still is a great quiet spot

My kids loved this playground, it is very different compared to the playgrounds back home. We were unable to check into our house and the Porta potty was extremely clean and the picnic area was phenomenal. Did not get a chance to use the trail. Will definitely come back.

Great shaded/woodsy play ground with public WiFi and restrooms

One of my favorite free peaceful places to go and let kids and dog run and play, or cook on the grill, But now and then a bunch of people flock in and it's time to go. Hiking trails are nice but need serious bug spray,biting flies mostly and occasional snake. Has bathrooms, not great but not bad.

Fantastic climbing structure that was shaded! That and 2 baby swings were the extent of the playground, but our boys played on it for a long time and really enjoyed it. Nice pavilion with picnic tables and bathrooms. We couldn't find the wooden structure that was pictured in some of the photos here in Google maps, and locals we asked said this climbing structure is all there is - so I'm guessing that one was replaced with this one. Nice trail to the sound as well, 1.6 miles - somewhat sandy, no bikes allowed.

Nice friendly place. Good family atmosphere.

This is a really nice area! If you have younger kids this might be a little boring for them. As someone who has always enjoyed aviation I thought it was awesome. You have to take time to get through the museum before going outside to understand what everything is. There is a nice gift shop here as well.

A must see attraction when in the area! Great for children! There's definitely a lot of walking and some climbing but you can still enjoy the memorial without the walking and climbing! The visitor's center has lots of information and things to see! The ranger program was fun and informative!

If you are into history and Aviation you will love this place. Adonis the guide that gave the presentation was amazing! He should be on stage in NYC or CLE! Standing and walking the flight line that the Wright Brothers used was a touching feeling. And the climb to the top of the National Memorial was exhilarating! Don't forget to get you passport stamped!

Awesome experience, fun and historical to see the monument, sculpture and barn. Due to the Government Shutdown the museum, tour and general parking is all closed off but you can still walk around the property and see the monument and stuff. I walked around while listening to a podcast and felt like I was getting pretty much the whole experience. Use the First Flight airport parking lot and walk in. The airport has no gate.

What a fun experience! We have all seen the first flight video and it was so cool to visit where it happened. There were even markers marking each milestone. The woman at the front gate today was the best human EVER! She was so informative and bubbly. The staff was very friendly and engaging, and the facility and property were beautiful. This was fun for the grandparents, parents, and kids!

Well, we drove a long way too get there and didn't realize that it was closed because of the government shutdown. We could still climb the hill to the memorial and the replica flyer but we were unable to go into the museum so that was a disappointment. Be aware that the memorial is a very steep climb and it's very windy, hence why they picked it.

Awesome memorial to the Wright Brothers and the first flight. Great little gift shop with good quality clothing made in U.S. you can bring your dog along for the walk up the sand dune to the outside memorial, too! Good clean facilities

Great little park, great little playground for the kids & a good place to bring the dog to get a break from the sun & the asphalt.

My kids and I LOVE this park. Mainly because it is usually quiet with wide open spaces to run and play. Biggest reason we go: there are giant oaks that provide shade and climbing fun! Nice peaceful park.

Public fishing dock on sound side

Nice live oaks and a solid play set. Watch the littles to make sure they don't fall off the Lilly pads or the ladder

Sign says dogs must be leashed. Also no water. Info and photos inaccurate

The best part is the old, big trees that kids can climb. The swings were old and rusty. There was one thing to climb and slide down. Go to Dowdy Park if you want lots of activities for the kids.

It was a cute little park. A large circular field with a small mulch bed playground off to the side. There was one picnic table and one bench. Only down side was there were an awful lot of flies.

Well maintained trails and great for taking our dog on a little hike with us. We took trail 5 out to a little beach area. The paths were marked well and easy to follow. Only downside is that because it’s marshy, there are definitely bugs, so plan ahead and maybe try to go during cooler weather to avoid the buggies.

What an awesome place for hiking. Beautiful scenery, well marked trails. Highly recommend this place if you enjoy nature. The only issue is that the trail becomes a sand trap, very hard to walk through and the trail circled back to the sand and we had to go through it twice. Parking is also limited.

Hiking Trail Review Sweetgum Swamp to Blueberry Ridge Trail - 3.5 miles Trailhead was very easy to find with a large and extensive parking area. Parking was free. Little information area at the start of the trail. The trail itself was easy and shaded. Lots of mosquitoes and several snakes on the trail. Take it slow or you might step on one like I almost did. Great experience and very pretty views.

To those who love hiking and all things woodsy, this place is a hidden gem. The trails are not long so take your time near the ponds at the visitors center. You can easily find frogs, snakes, and fascinating insects. We were there on a weekday and not many other folks were there. We hiked trails 1 - 3. My advice is to bring lots of water and apply bug spray. Be warned; The tallest in the group will run into may spiderwebs. We hiked in 90 degree heat and were hot and sweaty at the end but the majority of the trails are shady.

A great hike with the east coast hiking group. A long sugar sand hill on one of the trails and the Tillett family homestead and family burial ground. A lot of fun with the group of hikers (and followed it up with lunch at Awful Arthur’s).

We just came across it while in town for my brothers baby shower. It was a cool find and we will be back when we have more time to explore.

We loved our time here. It is a beautiful place and few miles from the ocean, tucked in behind a neighborhood in Nags Head. Parking was a little tricky since it was quite busy when we went. Several trails, including paved, handicap accessible ones. Beautiful scenery, a great place to get into the woods and stretch your legs. Free. Highly recommend!

Not bad - lots of wide open sand dunes with a few scrub trees, and maritime forest bordering. Kind of like Jockeys Ridge without all the people. No marked trails, which you shouldn't expect in a natural area anyway, but it's easy to find your way through the dunes. If you stick to the edges near the forest, you'll have the benefit of some shade, well trodden paths, plus the opportunity to find wildlife trails down into the marsh. Be careful, hiking up and down dunes can be more strenuous than you expect.

Pretty, parking not clearly marked, seems like nobody really was here but is this particular day. Make sure the sand isn't hot if taking your pups out. I parked opposite side where the sign was. Definitely not a lots of traffic there.

Has a great layout for disc golf but needs new t- pads that aren't bunched up next to bushes and trees,and that aren't made out of carpet.

It's basically a good walk around sand dunes and eventually you reach a cliff and you see the water...you can see the Kitty Hawk monument while standing on a dune...

A great place to take a hike! If you're lucky, you'll find your very own man sun tanning in a banana hammock. Intriguing!

This park is a hidden gem on the Outer Banks.

Very neat frisbee golf course! Easy walking with access to a killer view of the sound from the southern most basket!

Pleasantly surprised by this location! Went on a cloudy day so it wasn’t hot, super windy and VERY cool. Like walking on the moon! The views are incredible, so much space, and not a too far walk. Loved it! The visitor center is also super nice and informative and they had free stickers :) AND DOG FRIENDLY

This is a really cool place. I have a few tips after being here. Bring some kinda shoes that are throw aways. Crocs and sandals are useless in sand. The sand is not smooth like the beach it’s more gritty and sharp in places. Absolutely beautiful views from on top. We flew kites from on top and what a blast it was. Definitely can see why the Wright Brothers got flight near by. It’s a lot of walking here and it’s on soft sand so it really slows you down.

The tallest sand dunes in Eastern US are a beautiful sight to see. Been coming to Jockey's Ridge since I've been grade school and it nice to see that this site is being well maintained. These dunes are not an easy feat but well worth the uphill climb. Definitely a place to visit for nature lovers, very serene. Great free adventure for solo, couple, or family trips!

I am working my way through the 42 state parks in Nc and we went to Jockeys Ridge yesterday and the evening before. The best time to go is about 30 minutes before the sun sets. It has amazing views with a 360 degree view of Nags Head. The trail is all sand so as recommended I walked barefoot. It says it takes about 30 mins to 1 hour to get to the very top…I think it took us about 25. We went back yesterday morning to find out how to find the buried castle. We parked at the kite shop and crossed the crosswalk and the castle (which is no longer buried) was just a few yards from the road. Pretty neat and worth the stop!

This is a really fun and unique thing to do in the area. Theres a board walk through trees from the visitor center to the dunes. It isn’t a far walk up the dunes. It’s beautiful to see the ocean on one side and the sound on the other at the top of the dunes. It’s quite windy at the top, I saw many kites. I went in October and it was a perfect temperature and I was able to walk barefoot on the dunes.

Such a massive sand dune! The climb to the top wasn't bad. If you're able to do it, I would definitely try! There is an observation deck, where you can see part of the dune. This is a great option for those with mobility issues. I also would not be bringing a stroller. We brought a boogie board and a saucer sled to try and sled down but we didn't have any luck with those.

If you love hiking through a barren desert full of loose sand 5/5 stars. Your family will argue and you will need to pee halfway there. Hang gliding school is super friendly and rad!

Came out today to exercise our boys after the rain. Nice dog park. One area for smaller breeds and another for larger breeds. Nice to be able to let them off leash to explore. We are staying in a hotel nearby and there aren't to many areas they can go.

This dog park is kinda hidden on the far side of the park. The park itself also is hidden except for a sign that's says dog park this way. GPS will tell you to go straight just look for the Blue Dog park sign. They do provide water plus doggie bags. Dog park is mostly sand. Do have a Large and Small dog park side.

Great size for dogs to run, both sides are shaded and there is a water fountain near the entrance. I just wish the fence was taller. I know my dog could jump it, and she's not very tall. It's about a 4 foot fence. Also it could use more benches throughout the area.

Too many trees and pine cones for dogs to run fast safely. Only 1 small bench for humans so be prepared to stand while out there. Good enough if you need to get your dog out to release some energy.

Great place to take your pets! We discovered this park while riding around, waiting to check into our cottage. What a wonderful find! Lots of room for them to run. Very shady. Fresh water supply with bowls! Picnic tables for pet parents to sit! Our 2 Chihuahuas were thankful they could finally get out of the truck and run around without a leash! 😀 🐶 🐾

Lots of trees and shade which we loved. Slow..no other dogs! Maybe they were all on the beach. Cold water💙

Nice spot, right off the highway, tucked in the trees for shade on a hot day. They have 2 separate areas for different size dogs. They have all the water and poop bags you could need for your pup! Both sides are spacious with plenty of room for your pups to run and play. The days we went the other folks and pups were friendly and there was not pup drama. Guess being at the beach it’s quite the relaxed atmosphere. Take your pup to the beach and stop by the park to get out some energy.

I nice place to play. Plenty of natural flora and fauna. Surprisingly little wind for this region. Also tightly wooded which isn’t common on the outer banks. Weekly leagues in spring and summer.

Great course. Mostly wooded, but a few beach/desert holes next to the dunes. Yellow and red pads and baskets on every hole which makes it fairly easy, or quite challenging. Decent signage kept me on the right track on my first round though.

Great course, short and technical. Not to many roughs to be concerned with, but a little bit of hole overlap so watch your head. Would definitely recommend with the nice views and varying pad and tee placement!

Great place to throw a few discs and let the dogs run. Very quiet, rarely busy. Nice course tucked into the woods

Came to OBX for vacation from Ohio. Got to play this course a handful of times and wish we had one back home

it was fun. imma ramble to get points for a detailed review. i kinda suck at disc golf but i had a really fun time.

It's like a boring Putt-putt without the windmill or dinosaur. While standing in one place a semi novice player could easily hit 7 of the 9 baskets... Not recommended, especially when on vacation and looking to make the most of your day

A very Clean beach that is never crowded and there is plenty of room to spread out. The beaches are mend by lifeguards at certain stations and are controlled by lifeguards who occasionally ride through on four wheelers. The beaches are located in a place where the water is shallow enough for younger swimmers and is calm enough for swimmers to enjoy swimming out a little ways and then someplace is even has a sandbar. Wildlife here varies so you might have a day where there are no visible sea creatures or you might see dolphins and on occasions there are invasive critters such as the butterfly or jellyfish but will typically move out after a day or so. I highly recommend this is a place for families to vacation or simply take a weekend to enjoy the sun and sand.

Great place to enjoy the beach. Loved it! 🏖🌊

Clean beach with warm water and not very crowded. Only reason for not having a 5 star is because we got jelly fish when we visit it a month ago (July 2020). Parking could also be easier, as close to the public entrances, there aren’t many spots.

Recommend bringing snorkel gear to sea the small fish and crabs swimming along the shoreline!

Absolutely beautiful 😍

Clean, waves were beautiful, but not that strong for 4 - 8 year old kids. Waves are too strong for little babies under 3 years old though.

I mean, it’s the beach and it’s awesome

This park has just recently been updated (and still a work in progress). The splash pad is open from 10-7, and there is a playground, climbing structure, swings, gazebo area with picnic tables, tennis courts & big field (soon to be soccer/multipurpose).

We love the splash pad! One of the few that actually have shade around it. The playground was getting new mulch when we were there, but it looks like a nice playground as well. You could tell they take good care of the area. We went three days in a row during our vacation and there was always someone working there or the grounds being maintained.

Wonderful day playing! Great playground! So many challenging obstacles for the children! They had a blast!

Great playground for all ages! In the summer, the splash pad is alot of fun! Great addition to Kill Devil Hills! The restrooms are nice and convenient! Great area for a small birthday party too!

Stopped in here to play pickleball while on vacation. Courts are great, the park and bathrooms were clean. Easy to get to location, lots of families there enjoying the park!

Glad finally putting up nets after years of waiting. Should put up baseball backstop, not just soccer field. Local kids around this community would like it to include this also.

Place your wagers folks , this is gonna be a good one . Advanced playground , soccer field and pickle ballers(with gold chains) splash park is amazing and it's all free . Best kept secret in the valley!!

This is by far the BEST dog park we have ever visited. It's kept clean, there's great parking and fresh water on hand. Not to mention, the dog owners are super friendly, warm, and welcoming. This was the highlight of my vacation, and I will definitely be back.

My dogs needed a break to stretch their legs. Very nice dog park and very clean.

Wonderful Dog park. Well kept and multiple different areas to take your dog. Small dog gates, puppy gates and one for bigger older dogs. Very impressed.

3 areas for pups to enjoy. All the people I met at the park were amazing, friendly and took good to care of their dogs.

While on vacation we found this awesome dog park. Clean, safe and spacious for all types of dogs. They have 3 separate gated areas depending on the size and age of your pet. Our boy had a blast meeting and playing with new friends! We meet other pet owners to chat with while they played. Everyone was aware of their pets as they played as well. Great park and would go again if we are ever back in town!

Nice dog park. Our pups had a blast and made new friends.

Wonderful dog park! We stopped here on our trip. The dog park has several options depending on your dog’s size and age. Great amenities and wonderfully maintained. There was also a playground next to it that my husband and daughter visited while I was with the dogs. It was a great place to break up the trip.

Great pickle ball and tennis courts, well maintained.

Nice place to go with the whole family.

This is our favorite park in Kill Devil Hills

Easy fitness/walking trail around the pond. Convenient location by municipal center. Bathrooms near the skate and dog parks.

I have been coming here for many years with my family, the turtle pond is such a relaxing nature walk. The turtles are very friendly and love approaching people on the dock, sunbathing on rocks and trees. There is however an odd vibe created by the speakers recently installed throughout the park playing popular music. The background music definitely distracts from the nature and scenery, but this park is still a favorite location for my family.

Unique place hidden away on the outer banks. Bright green water, tall pine trees, trails throughout. You can hike out to the sound and maybe catch a sunset, we came in the middle of the day and it was a nice view of the sound. Definitely worth a trip if you are looking to spend some time off the beach or waiting for your rental to be available.

Great place to get out for a hike. There are a bunch of well maintained trails for the novice hiker. There are benches along the way that are perfect for a break or picnic. If you want some peace and quiet hit this place for a short hike. The visitors center has an outdoor water fountain for a refreshing drink after your hike.

You’re probably going to feel like you’re lost driving in because it’s through a neighborhood, but just keep going. Very cool place, wandering trails with labeled plants and lots to see. They have ADA trails too, as well as those on which you can take a leashed dog. Bathrooms and a water fountain, and a bowl for dogs too. Definitely wear bug spray, the mosquitoes are impressively large. Keep an eye out on the swamp for frogs and turtles, and there are a lot of differently colored butterflies and dragonflies to see as well.

A gem! Fascinating to get up close to the marsh terrain that you drive by continuously. We learned a lot about the environment of these barrier islands on easy, well sign-posted walks. Great with kids.

The trials were very used and poorly marked. I saw two turtles but not a single bird. A lot of development is ruining this place. Too sad.

Great hike through native sand dunes. Well marked and maintained trails... Thanks for preserving this wonderful site.

Such a serene place. Trail options for just the right hike.