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Tar Heel Motel

Property class: 2.5

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Photo gallery for Tar Heel Motel

A bedroom with a bed, a dresser, a television, and a door leading to a bathroom. - Tar Heel Motel (Nags Head)
A bathroom with a wooden vanity, a mounted television, and a decorative fish sculpture. - Tar Heel Motel (Nags Head)
A covered outdoor area with a bench and a row of windows. - Tar Heel Motel (Nags Head)
A fenced outdoor area with a grassy lawn, trees, and a wooden post with a rope. - Tar Heel Motel (Nags Head)
A compact hotel room with a kitchenette, a bed with striped bedding, a teal table, and a colorful abstract painting on the wall. - Tar Heel Motel (Nags Head)
Located close to Jennette's Pier and Nags Head Golf Links, Tar Heel Motel provides a terrace. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Pet friendly
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 2 of 2 rooms

View all photos for Single Room, 1 King Bed

A bathroom with a shower, a sink with a marble countertop, and a towel rack.

Single Room, 1 King Bed

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(15 reviews)
  • 20 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Single Room, 2 Queen Beds

A hotel room with two beds, a mirror, a sign reading "Trunks & Bikinis", and a wall clock.

Single Room, 2 Queen Beds

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(38 reviews)
  • 25 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

About the neighborhood

Located on the beach, Tar Heel Motel is in Whalebone, a neighborhood in Nags Head. Nags Head Golf Links and Pirate's Cove Marina are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Jockey's Ridge State Park and Festival Park. Don't miss out on a visit to North Carolina Aquarium at Roanoke Island. Take an opportunity to explore the area for water adventures such as fishing. Visit our Nags Head travel guide
View more Motels in Nags Head
Map
7010 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head, NC, 27959

What's nearby

  • A pier with a building on stilts, a fish logo, and a sign reading "Jennette's Pier".
    Nags Head Beach
    4 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • A road sign for the IANGER OUTLET CENTER and a sign for the FACTORY MERCHANTS OUTLETS.
    Outlets Nags Head
    6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • A pier with a building on stilts, a fish logo, and a sign reading "Jennette's Pier".
    Jennette's Pier
    12 min walk - 0.7 miles
  • Whalebone Junction
    15 min walk - 0.8 miles
  • Whalebone Junction Information Center
    18 min walk - 1.0 mile

Getting around

  • Manteo, NC (MEO-Dare County Regional)
    12 min drive

Restaurants

  • Blue Moon Beach Grill
    5 min drive
  • Miller's Waterfront Restaurant
    7 min walk
  • Fish Heads Bar & Grill
    5 min drive
  • Mulligan's Grille in Historic Cottage Row
    5 min drive
  • Sonic Drive-In
    3 min drive

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking available only on request
  • Free self parking on site

Things to do

  • Seasonal outdoor pool

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator
  • Seasonal outdoor pool

Conveniences

  • Luggage storage
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (on request)

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • On the beach
  • Picnic area
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • No elevator

More

  • 1 floor
  • 3 buildings
  • Built in 1952
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bed sheets provided

Bathroom

  • Bathtub or shower
  • Free toiletries
  • Private bathroom
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with cable channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Access via exterior corridors
  • Air conditioning
  • Individually decorated
  • Laptop-compatible safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours will receive an email with special check-in instructions and an access code; access will be through a private entrance
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Access code, private entrance

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 50 per accommodation, per day
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

  • American Express
  • Discover
  • Mastercard
  • Visa

Important information

Optional extras

  • Pet fee: USD 50 per accommodation, per day
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve onsite parking
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
The seasonal pool will be open from May to October

Frequently asked questions

Does Tar Heel Motel have a pool?

Yes, this property has a seasonal outdoor pool.

Is Tar Heel Motel pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property. There's a fee of USD 50 per accommodation, per day. Service animals are exempt from fees.

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Tar Heel Motel?

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Tar Heel Motel?

Check-out is at 11 AM.

Where is Tar Heel Motel located?

Located in Whalebone, this motel is 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from Nags Head Golf Links and within 6 mi (10 km) of Jennette's Pier and Pirate's Cove Marina. Jockey's Ridge State Park and Nags Head Fishing Pier are also within 6 mi (10 km).

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Reviews

Tar Heel Motel Reviews

8.4

Very Good

8.8

Cleanliness

9.2

Location

8.4

Staff & service

8.4

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 215 out of 449 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 154 out of 449 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 50 out of 449 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 14 out of 449 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 16 out of 449 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay. Very nice rooms and very convenient to many attractions.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Had a nice time staff was very nice and friendly
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
looks a little rough on the outside but very cute and clean inside! AC was great and walkable to the beach!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Contactless check-in was a breeze. Great location! Plenty to shop, see, eat and do just minutes away. Staff was friendly and accommodating. Our only complaint were the beds being a little on the old side. Would definitely stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Right across from the beach and perfect for just a short stay
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place. Very clean with beachy decor. Very small bathroom if traveling with a companion - perfectly fine as a solo guest.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean and close to the beach. Check in after hours was pretty easy, considering no one was there. Access code to the room takes a little getting used to and parking is odd, but overall a good stay. Would stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I couldn't have picked a sweeter motel for my first trip to the Outer Banks. This quaint little motel provided all of our basic needs and less than 1 block from beach access. Walking distance to shops, ice cream and restaurants. Be courteous with parking at your unit and no issues. Just an awesome place with a retro feel.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Clean room. Pool was nice. Needed more towels.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The room was clean and a/c worked wonderfully! Easy access with keypad. Great location.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very peaceful and older motel. Everything seems to be upgraded and nicely decorated, The bed was comfortable and the towels were plentiful/thick. The pool had plenty of chairs and was very clean. Early access was a great surprise as well
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We love staying here. The tar heel rates are very reasonable, especially compared to other places. Its very clean. Pool area is very clean and a nice setup. I love the location. Pulblic beach access is directly across the road in front of property. Its close walking distance to the pier. There's a restaurant right beside property thats delicious. The outlet mall, Wings and a very nice miniature golf place are right across street behind the property. The location is awesome! Very convenient to alot of things. You wont regret staying here!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

6/10 Okay

The pictures show a cleaner, brighter, and more updated motel than the current condition. Check in is a texted keypad number for your room which was great and seamless. They do not offer housekeeping during your stay but the cleaning ladies were friendly and offered fresh towels each day when we saw them. There's no fans in the bathroom so things didn't dry overnight so the fresh towels were appreciated. The AC unit kept the room cool but was incredibly noisy and would make a loud noise every time it cycled on which was about every 15 mins making it hard to sleep without earplugs. Beds were average. Everything was a bit worn and tired. Location was great! A 2 min walk had you on a great beach with awesome shelling. Parking is wonky but we never had a problem finding a spot by our room. It worked for our 3 night stay but we wouldn't stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
The room was clean but the use of a high fragrance cleaner gave us a headache. Thankfully we were able to air it out a little. We never came in contact with staff. The property was well maintained for being beach side and the rooms being newly renovated was pleasant. For the price and what we got it was very fair.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Room was very clean and the location was great!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very clean and great location.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Thank you for such great accommodations and service.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Easy place to get to and close to a lot of restaurants to walk to.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great little beach spot!

Excellent location! Great price and adequate comfort.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Pet friendly and conveniently located
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stay was satisfaction, it is convenient to beach access, it is an older 1 level motel But was competively priced and had a nice pool.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great motel, we try to get a couple days here every year. Very clean room and pool was great, kids loved it. I highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Weekend getaway

Great little place for a weekend getaway that did not break the bank. Room was very clean with solid amenities. Really enjoyed the boutique hotel experience the Tar Heel offered.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean and quiet property. Walking distance to several restaurants and a short drive to others. Easy beech access and close to Jeanette's pier.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was clean, no one at front desk had to call a number, was there 3 days room never got cleaned while staying. The outdoor shower at pool to rinse sand off feet was broke. So had sand tracked in our room and room never got cleaned while we was out. Asked staff for extra towels and she didn’t speak English. But let me get 2 towels off her cart. Very convenient to beach right across from public beach access. Cute older motel worked perfect for just sleeping. Didn’t know there was quite time and couldn’t sit outside to talk on phone after 11 pm
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026