About Currituck National Wildlife Refuge
Currituck NWR, located on the northern end of North Carolina's Outer Banks, was established in 1984 to preserve and protect the coastal barrier island ecosystem. Refuge lands are managed to provide wintering habitat for waterfowl and to protect endangered species such as piping plover, sea turtles, and sea beach amaranth. Habitat types common to most barrier islands are found on the refuge. Moving westward from the Atlantic Ocean to Currituck Sound, these habitats include sandy beaches, grassy dunes, interdunal wetlands (flats), maritime forests and shrub thickets. Currituck Sound's shoreline is comprised of brackish water marshes and occasionally, mud flats that have been exposed by wind tides. A few forested islands also exist on the refuge. Monkey Island, a noted bird rookery, provides nesting habitat to several species of wading birds. Vegetation within these diverse habitat types include various types of beach grasses, live oak, loblolly pine, wax myrtle, cattails, sedges and rushes, black needlerush and giant cordgrass. Various types of wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, mammals (including feral horses), reptiles, and amphibians common to the eastern United States, are found on the refuge. The endangered piping plover and loggerhead sea turtle sometimes nest on refuge beaches and dunes.
How to Get There
The refuge is located on the northern end of the Outer Banks, and consists of six separate units located between Corolla, NC and the NC/VA state line. To access the refuge, follow NC Route 12 north to its terminus in Corolla; traffic is then diverted to the beach (four-wheel drive is required) The first refuge tract is approximately ¾ mile north.
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to Currituck National Wildlife Refuge
Heading to Currituck National Wildlife Refuge? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for Currituck National Wildlife Refuge?
No central reservation system listed for Currituck National Wildlife Refuge. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/recarea/1367) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to Currituck National Wildlife Refuge?
The refuge is located on the northern end of the Outer Banks, and consists of six separate units located between Corolla, NC and the NC/VA state line. To access the refuge, follow NC Route 12 north to its terminus in Corolla; traffic is then diverted to the beach (four-wheel drive is required) The first refuge tract is approximately ¾ mile north.
How do I contact Currituck National Wildlife Refuge?
You can reach the park at phone: 252-429-3100 or email: mackayisland@fws.gov.
References & Official Resources
