Where to Stay on Oahu’s North Shore

The Oahu North Shore is perhaps the most iconic place in all of Hawaii, yet it can be difficult to find a place to stay here since there are very few hotel options and short-term Airbnb isn’t allowed on the island anymore.

However, there are a diversity of unique places to stay on the North Shore of Oahu if you know where to look. For instance, on my recent trip to Oahu we stayed in a small waterfront room we booked on Hipcamp (which means we didn’t pay extra hotel fees!) There are also locally owned B&B’s, hostels, and of course a few hotels, too!

But you don’t have to go searching for unique stays and hotels on the North Shore of Oahu yourself, I’m outlining all your best options in this article. Plus, I have some options for longterm stays if you’re looking to spend a good amount of time here on the gorgeous Oahu North Shore.

Best Oahu North Shore Hotels, B&B’s Hostels, and More

If you’re thinking about booking a hotel on the North Shore of Oahu, you’re in for a treat! This part of Oahu is home to world famous surf breaks, the island’s the best acai bowls, breathtaking beaches, and so many hidden gems. It’s also where you’ll find some of the best beaches for snorkeling and seeing majestic sea turtles!

But before we can immerse in the beauty and magic of this Pacific paradise, let’s book your Oahu North Shore resort, hotel, B&Bs, hostel, or even campsite! These are the best places to stay on North Shore in Oahu:

Turtle Bay Resort, one of the best North Shore Oahu hotels | Photo by TripAdvisor

1. Turtle Bay Resort by Ritz Carlton

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 9.2/10 from 500+ reviews on Booking.com | $700+/night | Check current nightly rates

Turtle Bay Resort is the place to stay on the North Shore of Oahu if you’re looking for luxury! This gorgeous North Shore resort is one of the island’s oldest hotels (it has been updated beautifully!) and was recently acquired by Ritz Carlton. You’ll also recognize it from a handful of movies like The Hunger Games, Blue Crush, Pirates of the Caribbean, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and more.

The resort is situated right on the turquoise Turtle Bay, which is an excellent spot for snorkeling (and seeing sea turtles). The property also features four beautiful pools, six restaurants and bars, a world class spa, golf course, tennis/pickleball courts, and so much more.

Beyond being the best place to stay on the North Shore, Turtle Bay is one of the best places to stay on the entire island. There are seven different beaches within walking distance, and its a short drive from everything else the North Shore has to offer.

Mokulē‘ia Army Beach near Owen’s Retreat, one of the best places to stay on Oahu’s North Shore

2. Mokulē’ia Beach Houses at Owen’s Retreat

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 8.1/10 from 97+ reviews on Booking.com | $500+/night | Check current nightly rates

At Owen’s Retreat you can stay in a beachfront studio, one bedroom, two bedroom, or even four bedroom bungalow equipped with a full kitchen. While I love the luxury of resorts like Turtle Bay, I honestly usually prefer booking a place with a kitchen so I can cook a little and save on dining out!

But the best part of Owen’s Retreat is that is located on one of my favorite (lesser known) beaches on Oahu, Mokulē‘ia Beach. On my recent trip we stayed at a Hipcamp just down the road from here and we LOVED the area! It’s a quiet part of the North Shore with gorgeous lush mountains, minimal development, and almost no traffic. If I were ever to move to Oahu this is the area I’d love to live (a girl can dream??)

Owen’s Retreat feels secluded but is only 15 minutes from the heart of the North Shore (Haleiwa town). You’re also close to Kaʻena Point State Park which is where you can hike along the ocean to northwest most point of Oahu — and see Hawaiian monk seals along the way!

Oahu’s North Shore Marriott Courtyard Hotel is steps from the beach | Photo by TripAdvisor

3. Courtyard by Marriott Oahu North Shore

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 8.2/10 from 400+ reviews on Booking.com | $300+/night | Check current nightly rates

The Courtyard by Marriott in Laie on Oahu’s Northeast side is another good option if you want to be close to the North Shore in a clean, modern hotel. It’s more affordable than Turtle Bay and Owen’s Retreat, but it is worth mentioning that it is a bit further to the main attractions of the North Shore.

That said, it’s one of the only hotels on this part of the island and by far the most affordable in the area, and just steps from gorgeous ‘Ōnini Beach and the popular Polynesian Cultural Center.

The hotel features an outdoor pools, clean and spacious rooms, and friendly staff who will happily tell you about all their favorite things to do in Laie and around the North Shore area.

Ke Iki Beach Bunaglows, one of the best places to stay on the North Shore of Oahu | Photo by TripAdvisor

4. Ke Iki Beach Bungalows

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5/5 from 600+ reviews on TripAdvisor.com | $800+/night | Check current nightly rates

Situated right on Ke Iki Beach, just a short walk or drive from the famous Banzai Pipeline and Shark’s Cove (my favorite place to snorkel), these beautiful bungalows are another wonderful places to stay on the North Shore of Oahu.

This property specifically is popular amongst surfers who are visiting for a competition or just to get a chance to ride the famous North Shore waves at the Banzai Pipeline. But it’s also a lovely place to stay if you’re a regular Hawaii vacationer who wants to enjoy one some of the most iconic beaches in the world.

Ke Iki Beach is centrally located so you can easily get anywhere on the North Shore (even if you don’t have a car), and the property itself is worth enjoying too. The various bungalows sleep between 2 and 10 people and all feature spacious layouts with kitchens and pristine ocean views. They also offer yoga several times a week!

5. Backpackers Vacation Inn (Oahu North Shore Hostel)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 8/10 from 177+ reviews on HostelWorld.com | $42+/night | Check current nightly rates

This hostel is situated right across the road from the beach, and just steps from some of the best snorkel spots on the North Shore. It’s the most budget-friendly place to stay on the North Shore and is wildly popular amongst backpacking surfers (for good reason!)

You can stay in a dorm bed for around $42 a night or pay more for a private room with its own kitchen. Since its such a walkable location, you can easily stay at Backpacker’s without a car, making this the best way to visit the North Shore on an extreme budget.

You can either book Backpacker’s on Booking.com or Hostelworld. Booking is my go-to hotel platform because of their generous rewards, but Hostelworld is specifically for hostels, so go with whichever price is best!

6. Mangrove Lounge North Shore Oahu Camping

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 99% from 200+ reviews on Hipcamp | $85+/night | Check current nightly rates

If you’re looking for campsite on the North Shore, check out Mangrove Lounge! It’s one of the only places to stay in Haleiwa and is situated right on the river. They only have tent and RV spots so you’ll need to bring your shelter with you.

If you’ve never thought about camping in Hawaii, but you love camping back home, it is worth considering! I’ve done a little camping in Hawaii and always had a great experience with Hipcamps here. This Hipcamp has a 99% rating out of 215 reviews, which is excellent!

7. VRBOs on Oahu’s North Shore

Finding an Airbnb or VRBO on the North Shore of Oahu can be challenging because of local short term rental regulations. However, there are a few short term rentals that have been ‘grandfathered in’ including these ones:

• 🌺 Beachfront 1 Bedroom House at Sunset Beach (9.8/10 rating)
• 🌺 Waterfront 2 Bedroom Cottage in Mokuleia (9.6/10 rating)
• 🌺 3 Bedroom Beachside House on Malaekahana Beach (8.8/10 rating)
• 🌺 1 Bedroom Loft on Oahu’s North Shore (9.4/10 rating)
• 🌺 2 Bedroom Haleiwa Waterfront House (9.4/10 rating)

If you are planning to stay longer than 30 days, here are some VRBOs available for longterm bookings:

• 🌺 1 Bedroom Beachfront Home at the Banzai Pipeline (9.8/10 rating)
• 🌺 Beautiful Sunset ‘Hale’ on Oahu’s North Shore Near Sunset Beach (10/10 rating)
• 🌺 Beachside Guest Suite at the Banzai Pipeline (9.8/10 rating)
• 🌺 1 Bedroom Turtle Bay Resort Luxury Condo (10/10 rating)