Paddling near Rodanthe, NC

Rodanthe sits on Hatteras Island in Dare County, on a narrow barrier island strip between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pamlico Sound. The sound side is the main draw for paddlers — warm, shallow, and calm enough for beginners on kayaks and SUPs — while the ocean side adds a wave challenge for those seeking it. The Salvo day-use area just south of the Rodanthe–Waves–Salvo tri-villages provides easy soundfront access, and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge to the north puts miles of undisturbed marshes within reach.