Islander Motel
7001 S Virginia Dare Trl, Nags Head, NC 27959-9125
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Did you already book this hotel?
Tell us so we can help you plan.
About
#2 of 6 motels in Nags Head
Location
4.7
Rooms
3.9
Value
4.2
Cleanliness
4.4
Service
4.3
Sleep Quality
4.3
Islander Motel is an excellent choice for travelers visiting Nags Head, offering many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay.
Rooms at Islander Motel provide air conditioning, a kitchenette, and a refrigerator, and guests can stay connected with free wifi.
You can also enjoy a pool while staying at Islander Hotel. Need a place to park? Free parking is available at Islander Motel.
If you like steakhouses, Islander Motel is conveniently located near Outback Steakhouse.
Should time allow, Jennette's Pier is a popular attraction that is within walking distance.
Enjoy your stay in Nags Head!
Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Pool
Beach
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Non-smoking hotel
Self-serve laundry
Outdoor pool
Room features
Air conditioning
Private balcony
Kitchenette
Microwave
Refrigerator
Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Romantic
Mid-range
Location
7001 S Virginia Dare Trl, Nags Head, NC 27959-9125
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 63 out of 100
63
Norfolk Intl Airport
75.5 mi•
See all flights
Rental Cars
17 Restaurants
within 0.75 miles
Reviews
Traveler rating
- 39
- 36
- 8
- 7
- 2
Time of year
Traveler type
Language
Selected filters
- Filter
Popular mentions
Sort by:
Detailed Reviews
Well run, customer friendly attentive owner and right on the beach. Basic but all you need in Nags Head. Near to all Nags Head and OBX offer. Nice grounds. Walk out to the beach or sit by the pool. Clean rooms man with a view of the Ocean.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
this is the first time we have been to obx but there will be many more to come.We stayed four nights at the hotel it was clean beachfront and in the most perfect spot in nags head mile mark 16.This hotel is not new and rooms are somewhat dated it is not the Hilton but it is just the perfect place to stay when traveling to obx the front desk help was perfect helped with any questions you had.Right down the street from the dunes and 10 steps to the ocean.Make sure to skip making breakfast in the hotel room kitchen one day and go to bobs grill it is simply the best breakfast you will ever have
Read more
Date of stay: August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pros:
- Service was outstanding! The owner was very helpful, helped us with our bags, gave us some pointers and was just downright super-friendly. We felt very well-taken care of.
- Our 3rd floor room was clean, pretty spacious for one with 2 beds, and we had a nice view of the ocean. It's always nice to wake up to that kind of a sight.
- They have a private beach entrance, which doesn't involve walking in zig-zags.
- The outdoor pool is clean, plenty of seating on the deck, as well as some pool noodles and a beach ball.
- There's a space to have an outdoor barbeque and sit at a table, although I never used it.
- The value of the place, in my opinion, is excellent. You won't get an oceanfront room at Nags Head for this price with all the amenities, the cleanliness, and the outstanding service!
Cons:
- The TV was a bit small, and there were some issues with the channels once in a while.
- The pool is also a bit small. We went when a family of about 6-7 people were also there, and it felt like we were invading their private party. There's not much room to frolic in the pool when another group is also there.
Overall:
If you're looking for a quality oceanfront stay, definitely consider the Islander Motel. I would highly recommend it.
- Service was outstanding! The owner was very helpful, helped us with our bags, gave us some pointers and was just downright super-friendly. We felt very well-taken care of.
- Our 3rd floor room was clean, pretty spacious for one with 2 beds, and we had a nice view of the ocean. It's always nice to wake up to that kind of a sight.
- They have a private beach entrance, which doesn't involve walking in zig-zags.
- The outdoor pool is clean, plenty of seating on the deck, as well as some pool noodles and a beach ball.
- There's a space to have an outdoor barbeque and sit at a table, although I never used it.
- The value of the place, in my opinion, is excellent. You won't get an oceanfront room at Nags Head for this price with all the amenities, the cleanliness, and the outstanding service!
Cons:
- The TV was a bit small, and there were some issues with the channels once in a while.
- The pool is also a bit small. We went when a family of about 6-7 people were also there, and it felt like we were invading their private party. There's not much room to frolic in the pool when another group is also there.
Overall:
If you're looking for a quality oceanfront stay, definitely consider the Islander Motel. I would highly recommend it.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
After doing much research on line I picked the Islander for it's price and location - reasonably priced, on the beach and "mid-banks". The motel was home base for our trips north to Corolla and south to Cape Hatteras. We were very pleased with our room, the housekeeping and the staff. Lovely grounds, in-room coffee, micro-wave and fridge. I highly recommend the Islander Motel.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our family went to the Outer Banks/Nags Head earlier this month. We stayed at the Islander for 4 days and loved it. It had all the features of staying in a house (we had a room with a kitchen), but the towels and sheets were changed out everyday. It was perfect. The room was slightly dated, but beachy. It was also very clean, I felt comfortable letting our 1-year-old loose on the floor. It's also in a great location. It's within walking distance to numerous restaurants, market, etc., and right on the beach. Our room had a front and a rear door, which was very handy.
We also loved the pool and swings outside. It was a very relaxing and comfortable stay. I wish there were more motels like this one. There's nothing I would change about this place. We will be back in a year or two.
We also loved the pool and swings outside. It was a very relaxing and comfortable stay. I wish there were more motels like this one. There's nothing I would change about this place. We will be back in a year or two.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Islander Motel is a very peaceful and relaxing location. The rooms are very clean, the staff is great and the view of the ocean spectacular. If you just need to get away to unwind, this is the place.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a great experience from the first moment we walked into the lobby. The lady at the front desk was super nice and made us feel welcome. She recommended a couple of local (and affordable) restaurants for us to try. The room was a little out dated, but suited our needs perfectly. Our room had 2 double beds, a sitting area, a microwave & fridge, and a balcony with a view of the ocean- oh yeah and WiFi. The cleaning staff did a great job as everything was spotless! This quaint little motel is located right on the ocean. Their pool was a little small, but served its purpose. There were grills for the guests to use and plenty of picnic areas sprawled around the motel yard. We wish we could have stayed longer and cannot wait to return.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you like quick access to the beach and aren't too fussy about accommodations, this is the place to make your reservation.
I came to Nags Head with no reservations and had a hard to time finding a room anywhere in the area. Luckily The Islander Motel had a room. The only catch: they required a two-night minimum stay (and I only needed a room for one night). I gave in and booked for two nights.
The lady at the front desk was very nice and friendly. I came there at 1 pm on a Saturday and she told me that the room would be ready in an hour. I got my room (104) right on time.
Normally I hate having a first floor room because of the noise created by upstairs neighbors, but I never heard a peep out of anyone the whole time I stayed there (and the motel was full). The only outside sounds I heard were those of cicadas.
The room was very clean and had plenty of space. Accesses to the main living area and the bathroom are through the kitchenette (two burner stove, under-counter refrigerator, sink combo opposite the dining table near the front door). The soft, pastel colored room furnishings were in good working order (no signs of wear) and were comfortable. The bed and pillows were very comfortable and the A/C and ceiling fan worked perfectly. The flat-screen TV worked great although a limited number of channels. Internet access was decent. The bathroom had a reasonable amount of space and was very clean--save for a few human hairs around the base of the toilet. I love a shower/tub with nice, really hot, water--this one had it. The motel did provide bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion. Also, from room 104, I had one the closest accesses to the beach from the back door as well as the front door.
I came to Nags Head with no reservations and had a hard to time finding a room anywhere in the area. Luckily The Islander Motel had a room. The only catch: they required a two-night minimum stay (and I only needed a room for one night). I gave in and booked for two nights.
The lady at the front desk was very nice and friendly. I came there at 1 pm on a Saturday and she told me that the room would be ready in an hour. I got my room (104) right on time.
Normally I hate having a first floor room because of the noise created by upstairs neighbors, but I never heard a peep out of anyone the whole time I stayed there (and the motel was full). The only outside sounds I heard were those of cicadas.
The room was very clean and had plenty of space. Accesses to the main living area and the bathroom are through the kitchenette (two burner stove, under-counter refrigerator, sink combo opposite the dining table near the front door). The soft, pastel colored room furnishings were in good working order (no signs of wear) and were comfortable. The bed and pillows were very comfortable and the A/C and ceiling fan worked perfectly. The flat-screen TV worked great although a limited number of channels. Internet access was decent. The bathroom had a reasonable amount of space and was very clean--save for a few human hairs around the base of the toilet. I love a shower/tub with nice, really hot, water--this one had it. The motel did provide bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion. Also, from room 104, I had one the closest accesses to the beach from the back door as well as the front door.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I just spent three nights at the Islander Motel. Perfect for those seeking a clean, economical place to stay at Nags Head. At the south end of the area, it is away from the hoopla of this vacation mecca. The motel is quiet and well managed. Delightful property with lovely plantings and wooden walkways to the beach. Also a pool that is open off season...small but with comfortable chaises and umbrelled tables and chairs. Plenty of tables outside and hammock chairs for reading and relaxing. I stayed in a ground floor room...small kitchen but perfect for me who makes all my meals while on vacation. Cable TV and wi-fi...everything necessary to stay connected if needed. Less than 1/2 mile to entrance to Cape Hatteras Island National Seashore and Hatteras Island. This is a small, lovely property with all the necessities for the well-seasoned traveler who doesn't want a highrise hotel atmosphere. Perfect for a single traveler...well managed office and nice staff...slightly off the road with no noise or foot traffic on property.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Very disappointed in this place. My oceanfront balcony was mostly glassed in, with only a small window that could be opened. With the air conditioning unit venting out to the balcony it was like a sauna - could not even sit out there! They only provide you with soap, no shampoo or any extras. They dont even supply coffee for the in-room coffee makers. There are much nicer places in Nags Head for about the same price, so avoid the Islander.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm sorry, they do not.
"The ground floor may have a sand dune blocking the view from the back window. There's a wood walkway that takes you over the dunes."Read full review
"Even though there was no elevator in the 3 story motel, there was a luggage lift if it was needed. Parking was easy."Read full review
ALSO KNOWN AS
islander hotel nags head
LOCATION
United StatesNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina CoastOuter BanksNags Head
NUMBER OF ROOMS
24
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Listing