These datasets include paired measurements of beach and foredune topographic profiles and dune vegetation surveys along the North Carolina Outer Banks, collected from October 2016 to June 2018. In October 2016, we conducted topographic and vegetation surveys at 55 transect locations along the southern Outer Banks (Shackleford Banks, South Core Banks, and North Core Banks) that were approximately 2 km apart. We then surveyed an additional 34 transect locations along the northern Outer Banks (Ocracoke Island, Hatteras Island, Pea Island, Bodie Island, and False Cape) that ranged from approximately 2-20 km apart in June 2017. In October 2017 and June 2018, we repeated these surveys at the same transect locations. At each cross-shore transect, we measured elevation and position using an RTK GPS and plant species abundance and dune grass density (within 0.25 m2 quadrats) every 5 m from the foredune toe to the foredune heel. We measured the areal percent cover of all plant species found within each quadrat and counted the live and dead shoot density of four native Atlantic Coast dune building grasses (Uniola paniculata, Ammophila breviligulata, Panicum amarum, and Spartina patens).