Sanderling Resort in Duck NC (+ 7 Things We Love About It!)

Published by Carl. Last Updated on August 8, 2024.

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We’ve stayed at a lot of interesting hotels in North Carolina and would be remiss if we didn’t share Sanderling Resort in Duck with you. This amazing Outer Banks hotel sits near the northern end of North Carolina’s most popular barrier islands, has an excellent selection of accommodations, and even more things that we love.

This guide mixes all of the above with our own Sanderling Resort pictures to give you a visual into your next place to stay on the NC coast. Here’s how we’ve organized the guide if you’re looking for specific information:

Where is the Sanderling Resort?
Accommodations (Rooms, Suites, and Vacation Homes)
More Things We Love About Sanderling Resort
Restaurant Options
Sanderling Resort Activities
Other Places to Go in OBX

You can skip ahead to any of the aforementioned sections or continue reading about Sanderling Resort’s location and accommodations.

Where is the Sanderling Resort? (Hint: Great Location!)

Address: 1461 Duck Rd, Duck, NC
Phone Number: 855-412-7866
Official Website

We should include Sanderling Resort’s location among the things we love, and you’ll see why.

Sanderling Resort is located in the Town of Duck on the Northern Outer Banks, just south of the Village of Corolla. If you look at a map, you’ll also notice that Duck is easier to access for visitors driving in from Virginia and other places to the North.

Speaking of maps, this Sanderling Resort map will put things into a more visual perspective.

It’s the best of all the Duck North Carolina resorts, offering relative seclusion but still a quick drive from the main drag of Duck Road and the nearby Village of Corolla. That great location opens up the doors of this family-friendly resort to a veritable playground on all sides.

Sanderling is perfect if you want a full day’s worth of sunshine on a private deck or quick drive to popular spots like Duck’s Donuts and more area attractions.

For visual travelers, our North Carolina Travel Map and Eastern North Carolina Map list Sanderling Resort.

Accommodations at The Sanderling Resort

Between thoughtfully outfitted Deluxe King rooms, Soundview and Oceanview suites, and entire private vacation homes, you’re bound to find the perfect space for any sized stay.

Here’s a breakdown of each option:

Rooms (Best for 1-2 People)

Make your vacation a full-fledged getaway with modern guest rooms that look out over the sound or the sea. Each room has a private balcony with two front-row seats for beach days.

Choose your preferred view or let fate take the wheel with the knowledge that each room at the resort brings tranquil settings set for relaxation.

Book early enough, and you may be able to nab one of the limited poolside Lanai Firepit rooms.

Suites (Best for 2-4 People)

Treat yourself to a splash of extra space on your next vacation with these one-bedroom options. Each suite has a king-size bed and pullout sofa, set with expansive windows and a watery backdrop.

They also include a valet service that starts the vacation precious seconds earlier.

Pro Tip: Take things a step further with the Sanderling Resort Presidential suite. This oversized home away from home utilizes two private balconies to view both the sea and the sound. You can take the morning coffee on one side and the sunset Margarita just across the way.

Homes (Fits up to 16!)

Sanderling Resort’s Onsite Vacation Homes rival any listings on the Outer Banks, all with full access to the resort’s arsenal of activities. They are stuffed full of everything you could need for a week at the beach and then a little extra to convince you to stick around for one more!

These decadent accommodations bring you closer to the water and further away from it all, allowing the entire family enough space to enjoy each moment together. The rental feels like some of our favorite vacation homes on the Outer Banks, all curated and attended by this professional resort group.

You see why when relaxing with a fully-stocked kitchen, sweeping deck spaces, and lush marble bathrooms.

More Things We Love About Sanderling Resort

Beyond an amazing location and accommodation choices, here are some more things we love about Sanderling Resort NC.

Beach Sunrises

While visiting Duck, you’ll notice that the town offers easy access to views of sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean and stunning sunsets across the Currituck Sound.

If you’re looking for the perfect start to the day, wake up early and head to the beach. From there, you’ll witness one of the most beautiful sunrises in North Carolina (and on the East Coast).

Sound Sunsets

Duck NC Outer Banks Sunsets — Sunset view from NC Coast Grill & Bar in Duck.

In the evening, the Currituck Sound becomes everyone’s focal point, whether you’re enjoying a nice meal or lucky enough to venture outside during the sunset. If you’ve visited Duck or hung out on the sound side of the Outer Banks, you know what we’re raving about.

Do you have a favorite sunrise or sunset spot on the North Carolina coast? Let us know about it!

Private Beach Access

Sanderling Resort Duck OBX Private Beach

While there’s plenty of action inside the resort, don’t forget it’s the mighty Atlantic Ocean that brought us all to the outer edges of the Eastern seaboard.

No beaches in North Carolina are technically private but there is no public parking around Sanderling Resort’s stretch of beach. That keeps the crowds down during the summer season, meaning you can easily carve out a space to settle into the vast sand dunes and deep, blue sea.

Every Sanderling guest has “private” beach access, and a daily resort fee takes care of beach chairs, umbrellas, beach games, and the like. Right out front, a beachfront bar and firepit mark the central point of the action.

Pick your direction and wander off left or right for some of the area’s most uncombed shelling corners and private ocean views.

Pools at Sanderling Resort

Three separate pools set the stage for a splash, no matter the conditions. You’ll find indoor and outdoor pools at Sanderling with enough going on at the water’s edge to spend an entire day unwinding poolside.

Sanderling’s adult-only pool is equally fit for aquatic fitness and pleasure. Open from 7-10, you can get a workout in the 75-foot lap pool before grabbing a snack at the onsite Sandbar and unwinding in poolside hot tubs.

Thanks to the zero-foot entry point, the resort pool often serves as the family’s epicenter for vacations with toddlers. Every foot of this pool is optimized for family fun, and chaise lounges and umbrellas are close enough for parents to sit back and relax while the kids make a splash.

The Spa at Sanderling

While Duck boasts year-round sunshine, there are bound to be some rainy days if you stick around long enough. Amongst the endless resort options for foul weather is this gem; a heated indoor pool right in the middle of the Sanderling Resort Spa.

Alongside the edge of the Tranquility and resort pools are oversized hot tubs that give everyone an instant boost of relaxation. Perfect for wintertime trips to Duck, these hot tubs are best used after a trip to the steam room!

The centerpiece of award-winning The Spa at Sanderling are two significant gender-specific steam rooms. Stop off before or after a treatment appointment or sweat it out after the drive-in and leave the outside world behind.

Fitness Centers

You may have come to Sanderling Resort North Carolina to relax but you can also break a sweat and keep your heart pumping. The curated fitness center starts early with daily yoga offerings and stays open until sunset to fill in any gaps in your routine.

You’re sure to find everything you need to keep on top of your fitness across the state-of-the-art free weights, multipurpose cable machines, and stationary cardio options.

The Sanderling Resort Restaurant Options

Another thing we love about Sanderling Resort is that you really don’t have to leave. On-site restaurants The Lifesaving Station, Kimball’s Kitchen, and Sandbar help with that.

Here’s a look at both.

Lifesaving Station

Because there’s no point in saving life if we don’t enjoy it, this resort casual restaurant offers delicious food three meals a day. Sanderling set this dining hall inside the walls of the renovated Caffey’s inlet lifesaving station #5.

The Lifesaving Station blends local foods with international excellence to serve up the best breakfast in the Outer Banks.

Kimball’s Kitchen

The Lifesaving Station is old reliable, but Kimball’s kitchen is where the Sanderling really steps up to the plate. You’ll find everything on the menu comes with a human touch, from the rich dishes of pasta made in-house down to the fresh catch that highlights the offerings.

If you’re looking for a place to wind down and wind up after a great day’s vacation, rinse off, spruce up, and head to Kimball’s for fine dining with southern charm. Peruse the award-winning wine list and take your choice of certified Angus beach with ocean and Soundview backdrops.

Sandbar

Weather permitting, Sandbar is a great spot to grab small plates and lighter fare, sandwiches, tacos, wings, and more. Don’t forget to let go and enjoy a cocktails, frozen drinks, house wine, or a local beer here.

The Sandbar serves Sanderling Resort’s Beach House deck and the pools. They also offer take-out if you’d like to eat in your room or on the go.

Sanderling Resort Events

Any week at the Sanderling is subject to live music and wine tastings, but no matter when you’re heading to Duck, there’s bound to be something special going on at Sanderling.

Book soon and you might line up your stay with OBX Shred fest in May or any of the OBX’s other fun annual events!

Sanderling Resort Activities

Sanderling Resort reviews consistently talk about how they take care of all the details at the resort, all the way down to the daily itinerary.

The list of options is staggering. You’ll have to book an extra week just to get through half of these:

Wine tasting tours via private boat at Sanctuary Vineyard
OBX spearfishing sessions
Deep sea fishing charters
Dolphin tours
Kayak tours
Water sport rentals
Surf lessons
Sailing rentals
Stand-up paddleboards
Beachside activity kiosks with all sorts of sandy toys

Off-site, you can soar through the sky with Kitty Hawk Kites or enjoy a real Corolla Outback Adventure.

Believe it or not, there are even more cultivated experiences that start from the resort, so start mapping out the days as soon as your booking is confirmed.

Ready to Stay at the Sanderling Resort?

We’re smitten with Sanderling Resort for more than a few reasons and can’t wait for our next stay there. Hopefully, you’ll be lucky enough to spend a vacation at this wonderful OBX resort.

When you do make it up to Sanderling, we’d love to know about your experiences. Please feel free to share with us in the comments section or by email.

You can also take advantage of the Sanderling Resort Day Pass even if you are not staying at the resort, which includes the pools, hot tubs, outdoor showers, and private beach for $50 per person.

Don’t forget to share your Outer Banks adventures in our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group!

Beyond Sanderling Resort (OBX Travel Guides)

Staying at Sanderling Resort is one of our favorite experiences, but did you know that we’ve created even more Outer Banks travel guides? You can start with our guides covering things to do and restaurants before moving on to specific activities like Jockey’s Ridge State Park and Bodie Island Lighthouse.

Here are some more OBX NC travel guides (from Corolla to Ocracoke Island) to help you plan an amazing vacation!