Duck Donuts

Duck Donuts was born on the Outer Banks in 2006 when the founders wanted a donut shop that served warm, made-to-order donuts with customizable coatings and toppings. The original shop in the village of Duck has since become an OBX institution, spawning a national franchise with hundreds of locations — but the original Duck shop remains the definitive experience.

The concept is simple and brilliant: warm cake donuts come off the fryer, and customers choose their own combination of coating (vanilla icing, chocolate, maple, strawberry, peanut butter, lemon), topping (sprinkles, coconut, bacon, Oreo, peanuts), and drizzle (chocolate, caramel, raspberry). The result is a warm, personalized donut that's exactly what you want — and the fact that it's made right in front of you makes it taste even better.

For families, the made-to-order process is entertaining in itself. Kids watch the donuts travel on a small conveyor, drop into warm glaze, and get decorated with their chosen toppings. The staff are fast and friendly, and the anticipation of a warm donut builds with every step of the process.

The original Duck location has a small, casual interior with limited seating — most families grab their box and eat in the car, on the nearby Duck Town boardwalk, or back at their rental house. The shop is located in the heart of Duck village, a charming, walkable community with boutique shops, restaurants, and a scenic boardwalk along the Currituck Sound.

Duck Donuts has become such a beloved OBX tradition that many families schedule their first morning around a donut run. The line during peak summer can be long, but it moves quickly and the warm donut reward is universally considered worth the wait.