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Semi-Oceanfront Classic: rare find perfect for couples and small families

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Sand Crab cottage.
Beach across from cottage.
Living Room.
Kitchen
Kitchen/Dining Area

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 455.7 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Avon, NC
  • Hatteras Island Boardsports
    ‪20 min walk‬
  • Avon Fishing Pier
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Surf's Up
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Hatteras, NC (HNC)
    ‪29 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Semi-Oceanfront Classic: rare find perfect for couples and small families

Welcome! We are now accepting reservations for 2025...
Sand Crab is an original small beach box raised to meet higher tides...The cottage is semi-oceanfront with limited views from the front deck and screened porch. Ideal for small families and couples. We are 75 footsteps from our north beach access and 100 footsteps from our south beach access-fabulous, open beaches with famous surf fishing and boarding opportunities! New and expanded porch this year. Bedrooms fully renovated this year.

Amenities include:
* Linens provided
* Unlimited WiFi
* "starter kit" of paper goods and cleaners
* 24 hour maintenance and emergency assistance available

The cottage offers two newly renovated bedrooms (new queen mattresses in both), a full bathroom, and a combination living/kitchen and dining area. The kitchen provides upgraded appliances and all basic cooking needs. Our living area includes a large screen TV w/ DVD, radio/CD player, and DVD and book libraries. Multiple board games in house.

The cottage boasts beautiful hardwood floors throughout, an upgraded kitchen, comfortable furnishings, and quality linens (provided).

The screened porch offers (limited) ocean view and bug-free lounging. Dining for four is included. Additional and enlarged outdoor seating and lounging is available on the side deck (new deck furniture) and back yard patio--which includes a fishing cleaning station, charcoal grill, and chairs.

The ground level includes a large outdoor shower with hot and cold water and changing and sittings areas, laundry room with washer and dryer and storage, and under-home parking for two. Extras include beach gear: umbrella, chairs, beach cart and boogie boards.

Located at the north end of Avon, Sand Crab is within walking/biking/driving distance to many local amenities and attractions. Avon also boasts an excellent biking trail along Route 12 to make 2-wheel adventures easy. Travelers with 4x4 vehicles can access beach roads at open ramps with purchase of park vehicle permits (at Bodie Island or Hatteras Lighthouse).

Note: Rental week is Saturday to Saturday. Check-in by 4-6PM. Guests are welcome to park and enjoy the beach while waiting for check-in. Check-out is 10AM.

For beach-lovers, swimmers, boarders, and shell-seekers: Enjoy a quick walk over the dune to the gorgeous Avon beach for miles of beach leisure and activities.

For Fishers: The island offers a variety of world famous fishing options and we love them all! Owners are happy to provide guests with local tips, info about license needs and tours, and fishing updates on request. Whether you prefer surf fishing (across the dune from house), pier fishing, head boat or charter fishing ("Wicked Tuna" hails from Oregon Inlet), Hatteras Island offers it all. (See "Distances to Attractions below for access info) All seasons are great fishing seasons!

For the Adventure-Seeker: Guests love local opportunities to rent kayaks, paddleboards, surfboards, SUPs, and canoes; participate in guided nature and water tours; horse back through the woods to the beach; climb the Hatteras Lighthouse; parasail; and daytrip to Ocracoke, Nags Head, and Corova.

For the Family: Beyond the beach, take a ferry ride to Ocracoke; sail a kite or two; go mini-golfing (Frisco); eat ice-cream; run a go-kart (Frisco); craft at the local workshops; let kids play on our screened, lockable porch. Consider a memorable daytrip for any interests. New waterpark in Powell's Point is about 1-1 and 1/2 hours from cottage.

For the Romantics: Light a beach bonfire (permit required, but can do online); take in a concert at Koru Village; savor a unique seafood dinner; relax with a massage; sit on our porch and watch the stars.

Distance to Attractions/Favorite Sites:
* Beach Access= 75 footsteps
* Dining/Restaurants= 1/8 mile (easy walk to ice cream shop, new muffin/bagel shop, restaurant/bar)
* Kayak/board rentals= 1/8 mile (easy walk)
* Wine shop and gift stores= 1/8 mile (easy walk)
* Avon Pier = 1 mile
* Grocery (full service Food Lion)=2 miles
* Off Road Driving (closet ramp north to Ramp 34)=1 mile
* Haulover (world class kiteboarding plus swimming and clamming on the soundside)= 4 miles
* Oregon Inlet Fishing Center (charter fishing, head boats, off-road access for fishing/swimming/clamming)=40 miles
* Infamous "the Point" fishing Buxton fishing area=10 miles
* Hatteras Ferry (to Ocracoke Island)= 20 miles
* Nags Head, NC (shopping, entertainment, restaurants)= 45 miles
* Manteo (NC Aquarium, Lost Colony, Elizabethan Gardens, pirate cruises, Island Farm)=50 miles
* OBX Winery/Outer Banks Brewery= one hour drive
* H2OBX (new waterpark)=one 1/2 hour drive

Policies:
DEPOSIT/PAYMENT: A deposit of 50% of the rental rate is required at the time of booking (guests are welcome to pay in full at time of reservation). The remaining balance must be paid no less than 30 days prior to check-in. Guests that do not pay the remainder balance on time will have reservations canceled and will not be refunded initial deposit. For reservations within 30 days of booking, full payment is required at booking.
30 DAY CANCELLATION POLICY: Deposits are fully refundable up to 30 days before the start of your reservation. Travelers who cancel between 14 and 30 days before their reservation will receive a 50% refund. Within 14 days of the start of your reservation, you are responsible for the full cost of the reservation. While we understand that emergencies happen, the reason for the cancellation does not change our refund policy. There are NO weather related refunds. If you are concerned that you may not be able to keep your reservation, we recommend travel insurance. Please look online for the best travel insurance for you.
RATES: All listed rates are based on a maximum 4 person occupancy. Rental week is Saturday to Saturday.
DAMAGE PROTECTION: Applicable refunds are issued within 7 days of checkout.
AGE REQUIREMENTS: Guests of all ages are welcome at our cottage. However, the responsible party must be a minimum of 25 years of age. This person must be the one to assume responsibility for the property and staying at the property for the duration of the rental period.
FIREWORKS POLICY: While on vacation you may see or hear other visitors setting off fireworks; however, please note that ALL fireworks are illegal in our (Dare) county. If caught, you will receive a substantial county fine. This is an important law that protects us from home and brush fires that are occur easily during the dry months. Any use of fireworks on Sand Crab property will result in immediate eviction with No Refund.
PETS are NOT allowed.

Property manager

Maggie

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Single floor design is perfect for little ones.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking on the screened porch or outdoors only.

Important information

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Avon

Located in Avon, this cottage is by the sea. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Outer Banks Beaches and Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Ocean Air Sports and Hatteras Island Boardsports are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Avon, NC

What's nearby

  • Studio 12 - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Hatteras Island Boardsports - 20 min walk - 1.7 km
  • Avon Fishing Pier - 3 min drive - 1.8 km
  • Surf's Up - 4 min drive - 3.0 km
  • Cape Hatteras National Seashore - 41 min drive - 47.1 km

Getting around

  • Greenville, NC (PGV-Pitt-Greenville) - 173 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Oceana’s Bistro - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪The Froggy Dog - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Bros Sandwich Shack - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Cups and Cones - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Mugs Coffee House - ‬10 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Semi-Oceanfront Classic: rare find perfect for couples and small families pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Semi-Oceanfront Classic: rare find perfect for couples and small families?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Semi-Oceanfront Classic: rare find perfect for couples and small families?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Semi-Oceanfront Classic: rare find perfect for couples and small families located?

Situated by the sea, this cottage is within a 10-minute walk of Outer Banks Beaches and Studio 12. Ocean Air Sports and Kinnakeet Clay Works are also within 1 mile (2 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 66 out of 77 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 77 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 77 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 77 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 77 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.4/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Scott W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming Cottage

The clapboard cottage was a special retreat across the dunes from the beach. The location was fantastic as were the screened-in porch and deck. The outdoor shower was a big plus too. We stayed for a week and will stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Serena T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great little get away!

Cute little cottage short walk to the beach. Perfect for beach and lighthouses!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

marco jo m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Matejka’s

Wow how perfect very short walk to beach. It was perfect
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jean-Yves P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic vacations!!!

The property was amazing and clean. Really like the outside showers. Very close to the beach and had wonderful weather. Thanks for sharing your house. We had a wonderful time! JYP
Stayed 13 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mark B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sand Crab

Avon has a beautiful beach and you can walk to it and multiple restaurants from the cottage.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jean-Yves P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Two great weeks in Avon

This house is very clean and perfect for a vacation near the beach. We just love the external shower as it is very intimate and perfect to remove all that sand. We did not even used the in-house shower. Laundry room is very practical for long stays. Only improvement I would suggest is to cut some branches behing the house that tens to make noise against the house when windy. We will surely come again. Thanks!!!
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Location - Space for Small Family

This place is just as described. It was perfect for our small family - 2 adults with a toddler. The location can’t be beat and the house has everything that’s needed for a vacation. The kitchen is well equipped. Beds were super comfortable. We can’t wait to come back again! Maggie is a great host and responds quickly. Thank you for a wonderful vacation!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bill C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic, Safe Stay

My wife and I visited for our 10th anniversary and had a wonderful time. The property is great for a socially distanced location spot. We loved being able to walk to the beach between cups of coffee each morning. So close! And we saw the crabs that led to the name!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

8/10 Good

Jeania B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing

Property well cared for but cleaning crew may need some attention to detaiil
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Brittney C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect spot for a week away with the family!

This was exactly what we were looking for when we booked our week in Avon. Although the spot is a little small, it never felt cramped and had everything we needed!! Maggie was a dream to work with! The outdoor shower wasn’t working our first day there and she had someone out to fix it the very same day! We will definitely be back next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Gail R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely Place

The Sand Crab was perfect for our small group. My daughter and two granddaughters. Very nicely appointed in a beach theme but not over the top. The beds were very comfortable, and the outside shower was great! It is a short walk to the beach by going either left or right. The hike over the dunes was a bit arduous but that’s a small price to pay for dune preservation I definitely recommend the Sand Crab! G.Rusby
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great little cottage!

The cottage was perfect! Small space, but great for our family of four. It had the best outdoor shower layout of any of the beach houses we’ve rented over the years. The cottage was cute with nice, comfortable furniture and decor. Lots of good use of space with storage shelving and hooks. The only thing missing was a mirror in each bedroom, which would have been helpful since there’s only one bathroom. The screened in porch offered great additional space to hang out. The location in Avon is perfect as well - steps from beach access to the wide beach north of the pier. We absolutely loved our time here!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bonnie D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

25th Anniversary getaway

This cute cottage was the perfect size for my husband and I on our first vacation alone in 25 years! If you have more than 1 or 2 children it’s probably not for you but it was perfect for us! The location was also great! Loved the fact that the area is not crazy busy and most of the shops are locally owned businesses. Corporate America has not taken over. The home was the perfect fit for us and would recommend it to couples and small families. Thanks Maggie!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jeff S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Phenomenal beach is worth the drive!

If you crave a wide beach with a nice gentle break and a sandbar (at least this summer) that are ideal for body surfing and boogie boarding, you've found a slice of heaven. Wide dunes and wide beach create a short walk that reminds us of long ago times when all the houses were set back in the dunes. The house itself is exactly a short driveway off the dunes and only a few steps further away than the 'beach front' homes. It's nicely equipped with great beds, good kitchen, and great parking underneath. There's a terrific old-timey Hershey's ice cream store a couple five min away. Our family of three was very happy here.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Michelle B.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sufficient but basic

Cute and basic. Very small bedrooms with no dressers, beds are only doubles so for two larger adults it’s somewhat cramped. Well equipped for the size of the kitchen. Not much pantry space so don’t bring a lot of food. This place is really small so it’s good for one or two people in separate bedrooms. Or if you’re just needing someplace to sleep and not planning to be there much. We were two adults and an adult child so it was cramped for the three of us. overall it was ok. Luckily we weren’t there much.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022

6/10 Okay

Linda B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Urine mattress

The house needs a new mattress where is obviously had a huge urine stain. The long walk to the water was very long in lose sand which I could only manage once. Not senior friendly. The washer and dryer were full of sand and my husband cleaned the dryer vent to the outside. It was completely clogged with lint. Fire hazard. No curtains in the living area so at night we felt like we were living in a fish bowl. Refrigerator handle on the wrong side. Air intake super dusty. Crumbs and dirt where pots and pans are stored. House construction out front. Beating and banging all day. Just so disappointing.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Abby B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Overall good trip with some inaccuracies in listing

Our family (2 adults, 2 young kids) had an overall great trip together in this home and found the small size to be perfect for what we were looking for since we spend most of our time at the beach. However, our biggest complaint is related to the accuracy of the listing. We found the property by searching by amenities and although it is listed as having a hot tub, it does not have one. This was not known until after we checked in and arrived at the property and confirmed with the property manager that there was not one despite it being included in the listing. We think it is important to highlight this in case others are looking for a hot tub and see it listed in the amenities, as it was definitely one of the factors we considered in choosing. The walk to the beach was easy with kids, but I would not say it is even semi-ocean view. The dunes are very tall and there are other properties blocking any view or sounds of the ocean from the beach. Overall, this was a cute house that was clean and met our overall needs for the trip with the exception of our expectation of amenities that were incorrectly advertised in the listing.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gina K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous Avon cottage. My new favorite beach house!

This was my first trip to obx, so i had no idea of the best locations on the island. The avon/hatteras area is MUCH nicer than crowded nags head/ kitty hawk. There are a million points of public beach access so you can always find a place that's not crowded. This house is perfectly situated in the middle of avon. Avon has EVERYTHING you need: multiple excellent restaurants, grocery, beach stores, etc. The house is an Easy walk to muffins and scones (and delicious bagels) breakfast spot as well as the Froggy Dog. It's an easy walk to the beach. It is soooooo nice to be able to walk back and forth to the beach during the day. Even on the hottest days, there was a nice breeze (unlike the murderously hot summer Florida beaches). The waves are huge! The kitchen is adequately stocked with cookware. The front screened porch is where we spent most of our time... Perfect ocean breeze, and you can hear the waves. We enjoyed walks on the beach at night, running and biking through town. As described, be sure to bring your own supplies (shampoo, soap, dishwasher detergent, towels, laundry supplies, spices for cooking and olive oil, etc....), which i always do anyway so it's not a problem. Overall, this was one of my very very favorite beach trips ever! And I've been around! Thank you Maggie, i absolutely want to come back soon!!!!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mark M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice getaway

Very nice place. Easy to get to. Maggie was easy to deal with. Would definitely go back!!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gregory K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great small house

We were really pleased to find this small affordable property since it was just two of us. One full bath but great outdoor shower and large screened porch makes property feel larger.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Samantha W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Siblings vacation

This was a nice sibling vacation to the beach. The location to the beach was nice, very short walk, would not recommend bring a wagon due to the entrances to the beach being stairs, unless you have someone to help carry it up and down. But overall the stay and house was nice.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Gregory Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nor Easter

Property is fine, picked a lousy week for a vacation 7 days of wind, rain and bad weather overall.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Adorable cottage with all the amenities

The place is small but well set up. Nice size kitchen table for added cooking space. Comfortable couch and bed. Clean and cared for with lovely screened in front porch. Full size new washer and dryer. I would definitely stay here again. Everything you need in a cozy space.
Stayed 14 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sand Crab at Avon NC

Very cute little beach house, 2nd house in from the ocean. Short walk to the beach access over the dunes. It had everything we needed, was perfect for our first time in OBX. Hoping we can go back sometime soon.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Donald B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The Sand Crab

What a great updated old school beach bungalow for the perfect getaway!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021

About the host

Hosted by Maggie

Host profile image
Our family has enjoyed Hatteras for many years and consider it our true home (maybe someday!) In the meantime, we live in central NC and are happy to share this home and its incredible vacation promises with you. We are happy to provide you with any planning information: restaurants, fishing spots, etc. and are available throughout your stay to better your OBX experience.

Why they chose this property

Hatteras boasts many huge houses, but few affordable spots for couples and small families to relax...Sand Crab is semi-oceanfront and an island original with all the loved extras. Our exceptional service team provides elite cleaning services and 24 hour assistance with any problems. This is a loved and well maintained cottage!

What makes this property unique

Incredible location with two easy beach accesses--

Languages:

English