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Tar Heel Motel

2.5 star property
Unwind with BBQs by the poolside or enjoy some fresh air on your private patio.

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Photo gallery for Tar Heel Motel

A hotel room with a bed, bedside table, lamp, and a painting on the wall. - Tar Heel Motel (Nags Head)
Single Room, 1 King Bed | In-room safe, WiFi (free), individually decorated, bed sheets - Tar Heel Motel (Nags Head)
A covered outdoor area with a bench and a row of windows. - 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)
A fenced outdoor area with a grassy lawn, trees, and a wooden post with a rope. - Tar Heel Motel (Nags Head)
Located near Nags Head Golf Links, Tar Heel Motel offers a refreshing retreat with a seasonal outdoor pool and free in-room WiFi. Unwind on the terrace or by the barbecue grills, and take advantage of express check-in and luggage storage.

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Pet friendly
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 2 of 2 rooms

View all photos for Single Room, 1 King Bed

Single Room, 1 King Bed | Bathroom | Free toiletries, towels

Single Room, 1 King Bed

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(12 reviews)
  • 20 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free WiFi

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

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(34 reviews)
  • 25 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds
  • Free WiFi

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 extending into the ocean at sunset with wind turbines in the background.
    beach near Old Nags Head Cove
    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
  • A go-kart track with a clear sky and green surroundings.
    Full Throttle Speedway
    15 min walk - 0.8 miles
  • Whalebone Junction
    15 min walk - 0.8 miles

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • Blue Moon Beach Grill
    5 min drive
  • Sonic Drive-In
    3 min drive
  • Miller's Waterfront Restaurant
    7 min walk
  • KFC
    13 min walk
  • Sam & Omie's
    9 min walk

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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

  • Bedsheets 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
  • Individual decor
  • 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

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

8.6

Excellent

9.0

Cleanliness

9.2

Location

8.6

Staff & service

8.6

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 197 out of 401 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 138 out of 401 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 42 out of 401 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 11 out of 401 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 13 out of 401 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kari

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

10/10 Excellent

lisa renee

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

Anne

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

8/10 Good

Cari

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

4/10 Poor

Belinda

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
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Amie

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I never received my room number and door code. Fortunately a staff member called the office for me which is not on site. There is an office, but no one was attending it. The rooms are not exactly how the pictures portrayed them. The rooms are very small. What makes up for that is the close proximity to the beach access. I was overall satisfied with the room, but was unhappy with the size of it.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

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

4/10 Poor

Janet

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Our room was pretty good. The bed linens and beds seemed to be okay. But if you walked across the floor barefooted, the bottom of your feet were black. The hot water took forever to become warm and never got really hot. The ice machine is open for people to get the ice out with their hands if they wanted or whatever (not a sanitary ice machine.) However, we were only going to be there one night so we were able to sleep and shower w/o problem. The cleaning staff the morning we were leaving was very pleasant and helpful as we had left some stuff in the room and she flagged us down as we were leaving to come back and check to make sure we had everything.
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jessica

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

10/10 Excellent

Julianna

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

8/10 Good

Jason

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

DIANE

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

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
They did a great job renovating the Tar Heel motel. Clean, comfortable rooms. Bring K-cups with you if you are a big coffee drinker and don’t pack heavy. This is the best of old school Outer Banks, reminds me of when my parents would take us to OBX in the 70’s staying at the Beacon.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Les

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

8/10 Good

Nina

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

10/10 Excellent

Travis

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

JAMES

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

8/10 Good

Jack

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

Angela

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Had a great stay. The staff was nice and friendly. Love that it’s a mom and pop not corporate. It was very nice.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024
Verified review

8/10 Good

Nicole

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I loved the basic kitchen set up and the same of the room was perfect for our family of three.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan

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

LOVED It!

Stayed for one night, loved the check in process, the room was super clean, bed super comfy! I do wish the parking lot was a little bigger, but regardless, I will definitely be staying here again!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Rooms are bright and clean. Easy walk to the beach. Relaxing atmosphere
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Amanda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely renovations and nice room. Super friendly and attentive staff available to help with ninor issues, like a missing remote, etc. Definitely plan to stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Heather

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

Great!

Everything was great - communication through email made check in easy
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Brent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Well maintained older hotel. Retro style feeling. In pretty good condition to be an older property.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024