Kill Devil Hills

Kill Devil Hills is a colorfully-named town on the coast of North Carolina. It is part of the Outer Banks, and is best known for its association with the Wright Brothers' historic flights in the first airplane in 1903. The flights are usually associated with Kitty Hawk, but actually took place here. A national monument and museum marks the site.

Get in

By plane

• 1 First Flight airport (FFA  ^IATA) (just southwest of the Wright Memorial). Private pilots will want to make a visit here where on December 17 1903 the first successful powered heavier-than-air aircraft flight occurred here, conducted by the Wright brothers.  

See

There is a large monument to the Wright Brothers on a giant sand dune near the beach. It is, to say the least, difficult to miss.

• 1 Wright Brothers National Memorial, 1000 North Croatan Highway (Follow US Highway 158 to mile 7.5, turn west into Memorial), ☏ +1-252-441-7430. Daily 9AM–5PM (closed on Dec 25). Celebrates and explains the first successful controlled, sustained, powered, heavier-than-air flights, which the Wright brothers performed here in 1903. The visitors center has a model of the original aircraft, and interpretive talks. Outside, stone markers show the start and ending points of the first four flights. The adjacent First Flight Airport (KFFA) offers a 3,000 ft (910 m) runway for day use, with tie-downs but no fuel or other services. Compared to the time of the first flight, Kill Devil Hill has shifted south a short distance due to wind, and is planted with grass to keep it in place. It is topped by an art deco monument to the Wright brothers, and Orville attended its dedication. $7/adult, children 15 years or younger free, free with passes.  

Do

You are at the beach. Have fun!

Eat

• Pigman's BBQ, 1606 S. Croatan Highway, ☏ +1 252 441-6803. 11AM-9PM. The biggest barbecue joint on the beach. The food is generally good and reasonably priced. Stick to the basics, though, such as the five types of barbecue and the ribs and chicken. Though past its heyday, the new owners are working hard to bring the place back to its glory days of the 90s. 

Sleep

Hotels

• Ramada Southeast Hotels, 1701 S. Virginia Dare Trail, toll-free: +1-866-790-8512. 
• John Yancey Oceanfront Inn, 2009 S Virginia Dare Trail (beach road), ☏ +1 252-441-7141, toll-free: +1-800-367-5941, info@outerbanksnchotel.com. Oceanfront hotel. Prime location. Outdoor pool, free breakfast, Wi-Fi. Pet-friendly. 
• 1 Holiday Inn Express Nags Head Oceanfront, 4701 S Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head, ☏ +1 252 441-0454. (updated Sep 2022)

Go next

Routes through Kill Devil Hills

Roanoke Rapids ← Kitty Hawk ←	W  E	→ Nags Head → END
Corolla ← Kitty Hawk ←	N  S	→ Nags Head → Jct W