You will have to find your direction from South Carolina on the internet. Once you get to Nags Head, NC follow Hwy 12 to Pea Island. Nice Visitors Center and gift shop. They have walking paths on sound side, bird tours and volunteers are very helpful. You can walk across Hwy 12 to the beach from the Visitors center. On a good morning you can find shells. There are other beach accesses along hwy 12 coming from Nags Head. No restaurants in Pea Island. Must pic nic or find restaurants before leaving Nags Head or continue to Hatteras & look for restaurants on the way. Atlantic Coast Cafe is in Rodanthe. There are a few other restaurants, but I’ve been to Atlantic. Beware of off season lots of places close.

I think leetl319 has Pea Island, which has no wolves or bears, with Alligator Refuge over on Roanoke Island, which indeed does have red wolves and black bears.

Pea Island is a wildlife refuge and it has beach access across the street. Theres no lodging,camping,or dinning within 15-20 minutes. They do sell snacks and refreshments in the gift shop though. you can keep the shells when you go to the beach across the street. Fishing is permitting at the ocean as well with a NC fishing license. Basically I'd pack a picnic and stay all day walking. They also have clean restrooms.

You can stay at Rodanthe where there are restaurants, etc. many people make this a day trip and stay in the Nage Head area or in one of the other villages on Hatteras Island. We prefer Hatteras and stayed there on our boat for about twenty years. Picking up shells is a favorite pastime. If you go, you might want to try clamming. Several places offer this in Hatteras village; you rent a boat with guide and go into Pamlica Sound to clam.

Yes, there are no barriers. I went in the winter.