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Swell Motel

2.0 star property
Motel near Outer Banks Beaches in Buxton

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Photo gallery for Swell Motel

Beach nearby, white sand
Reception
Beach nearby, white sand
Exterior
Exterior

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Room service
  • Gym
  • Air conditioning
  • Parking included

Explore the area

View in a map
46854 NC-12, Buxton, NC, 27953
  • Outer Banks Beaches
    ‪4 min walk‬
  • Buxton Woods Nature Trail
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
    ‪5 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Classic Room, 2 Queen Beds No Pets

Classic Room, 2 Queen Beds No Pets | 1 bedroom, desk, laptop workspace, free WiFi

Classic Room, 2 Queen Beds No Pets

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(27 reviews)
  • 300 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Classic Room, 1 King Bed No Pets

1 bedroom, desk, laptop workspace, free WiFi

Classic Room, 1 King Bed No Pets

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(21 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Studio, 1 Queen Bed No Pets

Studio, 1 Queen Bed No Pets | Private kitchen | Mini-fridge, microwave, coffee/tea maker

Studio, 1 Queen Bed No Pets

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Classic Double Room No Pets

Classic Double Room No Pets | 1 bedroom, desk, laptop workspace, free WiFi

Classic Double Room No Pets

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(8 reviews)
  • 285 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Comfort Room (2 Queen Pet)

Comfort Room (2 Queen Pet) | 1 bedroom, desk, laptop workspace, free WiFi

Comfort Room (2 Queen Pet)

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(12 reviews)
  • 300 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Comfort Room (1 King Pet)

1 bedroom, desk, laptop workspace, free WiFi

Comfort Room (1 King Pet)

  • 300 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed

About the neighborhood

Buxton

Walk to the beach.At this motel, you'll be steps from Uncle Eddy's Frozen Custard and 18-Hole Mini Golf and within a 10-minute walk of Outer Banks Beaches. Also, Buxton Woods Nature Trail is within half a mile (1 km) and Lighthouse Beach is within 2 miles (3 km).
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What's nearby

  • Uncle Eddy's Frozen Custard and 18-Hole Mini Golf - 1 min walk - 0.0 miles
  • Outer Banks Beaches - 4 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Lighthouse Beach - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Buxton Woods Nature Trail - 10 min walk - 0.6 miles
  • Cape Hatteras Lighthouse - 5 min drive - 1.5 miles

Getting around

  • Norfolk Intl. Airport (ORF) - 162 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Tavern on 12 - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Angelo's Pizza - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Diamond Shoals Restaurant - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Orange Blossom Bakery & Cafe - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Oceana’s Bistro - ‬10 min drive

About this property

Swell Motel

Motel near Outer Banks Beaches in Buxton
Swell Motel offers its guests a fitness center and a seasonal outdoor pool. WiFi is free in public spaces. Swell Motel also features barbecue grills, a picnic area, and complimentary use of a nearby fitness facility. Self parking is free.

This Buxton motel is smoke free.

  • 31 guestrooms or units
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • BBQ grill(s)
  • Outdoor picnic space
  • No smoking on site
Swell Motel offers 31 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers. Rooms open to balconies or patios. Flat-screen televisions are featured in guestrooms.

Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations. This Buxton motel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Housekeeping is provided on request.

Similar properties

Seasonal outdoor pool

Hatteras Island Inn

  • Pool
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
4.3 out of 5, Excellent, 1,018 reviews
$79 nightly
The price is $89
Sep 28 - Sep 29
Total with taxes and fees
Hatteras Island Inn

Property amenities

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • Mini-fridge
  • Playground
  • Seasonal outdoor pool

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site

Things to do

  • Art gallery
  • Gym
  • Playground
  • Seasonal outdoor pool

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Hardwood flooring in room
  • No elevator (single-level property)

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Private bathroom
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Mini-fridge
  • Room service

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Laptop workspace

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 8:00 PM
Early check-in subject to availability
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 7:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation

Renovations and closures

The property is closed between November 13 and February 8.

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

  • Pets: USD 20.00 per accommodation, per day
  • An off-leash area is available
  • Certain rooms only
  • You can request a pet-friendly room by reaching out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
  • Service animals are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 20.0 per stay.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are available for USD 20.0 per stay.

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Pet fee: USD 20.00 per accommodation, per day
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Crib (infant bed) fee: USD 20.0 per stay
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 20.0 per stay

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

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
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
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
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. 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. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and debit cards. Cash is not accepted. 

We should mention

  • Pool access available from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
  • Pets are welcome in specific rooms only, which can be requested by contacting the property directly at the number on your booking confirmation (please see the Fees section for related charges).

Property is also known as

Swell Motel Buxton
Swell Buxton
Motel Swell Motel Buxton
Buxton Swell Motel Motel
Swell
Motel Swell Motel
Swell Motel Motel
Swell Motel Buxton
Swell Motel Motel Buxton

Frequently asked questions

How close is Swell Motel to the airport?

Swell Motel is 171.4 mi (182-min drive) away from the Greenville, NC (PGV-Pitt-Greenville) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

How much does it cost to stay at Swell Motel?

As of Sep 25, 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Swell Motel on Oct 4, 2025 start from $125.0, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Does Swell Motel have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at Swell Motel.

How close is Swell Motel to the beach?

This motel is a short 6-minute walk from Outer Banks Beaches and 0.4 mi (1-min drive) from Lighthouse Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does Swell Motel offer free breakfast?

Swell Motel does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at Swell Motel?

No, there is no casino at this motel.

What time is check-in at Swell Motel?

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 8:00 PM.

Is there free parking at Swell Motel?

This motel offers free self parking.

Does Swell Motel have a pool?

Swell Motel features a seasonal outdoor pool. Guests can enjoy pool access from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Does Swell Motel have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this motel.

How close is Swell Motel to downtown Buxton?

Swell Motel is 1 mi away from Buxton.

Swell Motel Reviews

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 325 out of 477 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 116 out of 477 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 20 out of 477 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 8 out of 477 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 8 out of 477 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Staff & service

8.8/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

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

Swell little spot!

Amazing little motel. The room was very nice. Staff were very helpful!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Brian

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Cute little motel on island, just what you Would expect. Friendly staff, offer free kayaks and bicycles to get around town, although we were Just here for One night as we headed down the outer banks. Clean inside and freshly remodeled.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Barry

Traveled with pets, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This place is amazing. We have stayed there a few time, the amenities they have on hand is by far the best on the island.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Todd

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The owner was super nice and she was very easy to talk to. She seemed to really care about her property.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lara

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Absolutely love it. This was our second time staying at the Swell and we were impressed with how they seem to be constantly improving the property for their guests. Love the fact that they offer to switch out the towels every day and you can even have them do a quick room refresh (beds and bathroom, sweeping...) every day if you wish. That is the kind of thing you usually only find in places that cost a lot more money.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Clare

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
TL; DR: Quiet rooms, friendly but not intrusive people, affordable, very pet-friendly, would be great for fishermen and women. Will be back! The Swell is a classic motor lodge with friendly staff and helpful amenities for folks planning to stay for a while. There are fish cleaning stations, a grassy and shaded picnic area, two (!!) big gas grills, cornhole boards and bikes to borrow. The room was surprisingly quiet at night given how many people were around! Only drawback (to me) is that the bathroom could have used a bit of a refresh as the tub was dingy, but it seemed clean enough. We were just there for a couple of days so didn’t use all of the amenities, but we appreciated the central location for using the Ocracoke ferry and visiting my favorite beach ramps. I also liked talking with the friendly staff and people who come every year — I didn’t grow up going to the Outer Banks so it’s fun to be able to learn about the place from people who did!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Erika

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jordan

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great place
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jordan

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Everything was great
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Raven

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Amazing!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cristen

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This place was adorable. It feels retro but has adorably updated rooms. Kayaks, paddle boats, and bikes to borrow. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

DANIEL

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

8/10 Good

Jessie

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Cute location and friendly staff
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Excellent place to stay. The room was clean and comfortable, the staff is very friendly.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Louis

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Everything
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jann

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was very nice and and clean beads were comfortable
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lyndsi

Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

John, Casselton

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brian

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

Great Motel. Friendly Staff. Very Clean

Very clean Motel. Friendly staff. Rooms are super clean and very functional. Love the layout. Comfortable beds. Pet friendly. Great outside barbecue areas. Nice fish cleaning stations. Beautiful area to use provided kyaks. Nice restaurants close by. I would definitely stay again. Highly recommend! Thanks for a wonderful stay.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeri

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dale

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cheryle

Traveled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was very clean and comfortable. Spacious and amenities were very nice. Hoping pool will be open for next stay. Conveniant location
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Janis L

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Fun and really a swell motel! It’s been recently updated and the room is large and comfortable.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brian

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

Always a great time at the swell!

I’m a 3x repeat guest & I love it so much that I like to say the bills are just my time share dues haha! My room had an updated shower this time, & the friendly & hardworking staff were busy renovating & touching up for the season, & it already looks great. Can’t wait to be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Theresa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very clean, very friendly, easy check-in, will be staying again!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025