The Complete Outer Banks Travel Guide

Visiting the Outer Banks of North Carolina? Discover where to stay, what to eat, what to do, and which beaches to visit! Consider this to be your ultimate Outer Banks travel guide for the best beach vacation ever.

The Outer Banks is one of my favorite places to visit. My family has been taking our annual summer family vacation there since I was a baby. The Outer Banks is a fun and special place for us. Our beach house was always filled with family, cold beer and laughter.

My cousins, sister and I would spend our days boogie boarding, building sand castles, and searching for sea shells. Eventually we’d be ushered inside by the sinking sun and the promise of ice cream at Sunset Ice Cream after dinner.

As I grew older, our annual trip to the Outer Banks was one I wouldn’t miss. Even if that meant spending the week before the bar exam writing essays in the early morning on a beach house dresser and repeating my flash cards to myself on afternoon beach walks.

The Outer Banks means so much to us that my husband and I planned our wedding there. (Although Hurricane Matthew had other plans! Read all about our Outer Banks wedding and the vendors we used. And read all about our Charlotte wedding that we planned in three days before Matthew!)

Now, I get to share a place that is so special to me with my two children, who now join us on our annual family vacation. It’s wild that our beach trips have come so full circle. I used to go on Outer Banks vacations as a baby and now I’m bringing my own babies!

I’m so excited to share this special place today with you, my readers, too. If you get anything from this post, I hope it’s that the Outer Banks is the perfect place for your next trip and that is has some of the best beaches in the country!

We’re beach bound! Can you feel the sand between your toes and smell the salt in the air?

What makes the Outer Banks so special?

The Outer Banks (also known as the OBX) are more than just vacation rentals, expansive beachfront and Atlantic Ocean views. (But trust me, the beaches and ocean views alone are worth the visit!)

The Outer Banks are a set of barrier islands in the northeastern part of North Carolina, just south of the Virginia border. The string of islands spans 200 miles — along almost the entire coast of North Carolina!

These beautiful islands are the home to miles of shoreline, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, aquatic plant and animal life, wild horses, The Roanoke Colony (also known as The Lost Colony, one of America’s first settlements and most intriguing, unsolved mysteries, aviation (the Wright Brothers took their first flight in Kill Devil Hills on December 17, 1903), pirates (including Blackbeard, Ocracoke Inlet was the famed pirate’s favorite anchorage), and more.

And that’s without mentioning the dozens of fabulous places to stay, delicious food to eat, and plenty of fun things to do! All of this (and more) makes the Outer Banks one of the best vacation spots on the East Coast. It’s the perfect destination for your next trip!

How to get to the Outer Banks

The Outer Banks are a set of barrier islands in the northeastern part of North Carolina, just South of the Virginia border.

Traveling by car: The islands are easily accessible by car via major interstate highways:

• 1.5 hours south from Norfolk, Virginia, via US-158.
• 3.5 hours west from Raleigh, NC, via Interstate 40.
• 6 hours from Charlotte, NC, via Interstate 85 to Interstate 40
• 5-6 hours from Washington, DC, via Interstate 95, to Interstate 64.

Flying in: The closest airport to the Outer Banks is Norfolk International Airport (ORF). It is 82 miles north of the town of Kitty Hawk (about an hour and a half drive).

You can rent a car at the airport or take a shuttle down to the Outer Banks.

Where to stay in the Outer Banks

Choosing a town

The OBX is comprised of 15 small towns and villages, each offering a different vacation vibe to visitors. The Outer Banks towns are:

• Corolla
• Duck
• Southern Shores
• Kitty Hawk
• Kill Devil Hills
• Nags Head
• Manteo (located on Roanoke Island)
• Avon
• Waves
• Frisco
• Salvo
• Rodanthe
• Buxton
• Hatteras Village
• Ocracoke

Staying somewhere like Nags Head or Kill Devil Hills will put you right in the middle of the action. You’ll have easy access to popular activities, attractions, and restaurants. Towns like Avon, Rodanthe or Hatteras will give you a simpler, slower pace. Spend your days exploring sand dunes and the roaring Atlantic. 

(There are even more remote spots like Carova, which requires 4WD vehicle access, or Ocracoke which is a ferry ride away!)

Type of accommodations

Once you narrow down your location, you have to decide on the type of accommodations.

Beachfront hotels and resorts

One of the Outer Banks’ beachfront hotels and resorts will help you take advantage of the barrier island benefits and stay just steps from the ocean. The Hilton Garden Inn Outer Banks/Kitty Hawk has a prime location on the the Beach Road (Virginia Dare Trail). You’ll get oceanfront rooms, a fishing pier, and access to a lot of great restaurants and shops in Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills.

Another great beachfront option is the Sanderling Resort in Duck. Find hotel oceanfront rooms, beach house rentals, beach and sound access, a full-service spa, and several restaurants on site. (Fun fact: When Al Roker from the Today Show comes to the Outer Banks to report on hurricanes, he stays at Sanderling.)

Short-term rentals

Planning on staying at the Outer Banks for more than a few days? Spread out a bit more by booking a vacation rental home through one of the many Outer Banks rental agencies (who have a wide variety of rental homes available for week long rentals) or a service like AirBNB.

There are tons of options to choose from! You’re sure to find something to suit your needs depending on your budget and location.

Camping

Opt to “rough it” and set up camp at one of the many campsites on the Outer Banks. Over the past few years, AJ and I have taken advantage of the campsites available on Cape Hatteras National Seashore. There are four campgrounds maintained by the National Park Service. Find out more in my guide to the best tent camping in NC.

Camping at the Outer Banks has given me a greater appreciation for the natural beauty and local wildlife and has given me a new perspective of my beloved beaches. Plus, camping is an affordable and fun way to enjoy the Outer Banks.

The best Outer Banks restaurants

With so many towns spread along the islands, the Outer Banks dining scene is just as varied as the landscape itself. From casual seafood shacks to sunset-view patios, these are the restaurants that help shape an OBX trip—places worth building your beach days (and evenings) around.

Below are a couple of our favorites highlighted, but be sure to check out our comprehensive guide to Outer Banks restaurants!

Seafood

Every time we come to the beach, fresh seafood is on the menu. No Outer Banks travel itinerary is complete without a visit to one of these restaurants:

Casual dining

Coffee & breakfast

Beer, wine and cheese

Ice cream

Hit the beach

Put on your suit and your sunnies, grab a towel, chair, boogie board and good book, and hit the beach. The Outer Banks is known for its beautiful beaches. Dotted with beach umbrellas in the summer, the Outer Banks are home to some of the best beaches on the East Coast!

No matter if you are at the northern beaches in Carova or Carolla, or on the more remote Ocracoke Island, you can spend the day in the sun, take a dip in the ocean, and comb the beach for seashells and other treasures. 

Nearly every town and community in the Outer Banks has a variety of different public beaches. Many have beach lifeguards on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and some offer amenities ranging from bathhouses to foot showers or porta potties. Parking also depends on location and can range from free street parking to paved public parking lots.

 If you’re looking for something less crowded, head to Coquina Beach or Cape Point Beach on Cape Hatteras National Seashore, where rolling sand dunes and sea oats separate the coastal highway from the expansive Atlantic.

Things to do in the Outer Banks

I can easily spend entire days lounging on the beach and exploring our favorite restaurants, but there are tons of other things to do during your Outer Banks vacation.

Go fishing

Cast a line from the shore (known as surf fishing), try your luck off a pier (check out Avalon Pier, Jennette’s Pier or Rodanthe Pier) or book a deep-sea fishing adventure to get the day’s freshest catch.

Make sure you have a license; short term coastal fishing licenses start at $10.

Climb a lighthouse

Enjoy the view from the top at one of the Outer Banks’ five historic lighthouses: the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Bodie Island Lighthouse, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and Ocracoke Lighthouse.

The fifth lighthouse, the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, is actually located on Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, and it’s one of the top things to do in Beaufort NC.

These beacons guided mariners and travelers for centuries, and now many are open for climbing. Even those that aren’t currently open inside are still interesting to visit to see their beauty and learn their history. Each Outer Banks lighthouse is special due to its distinctive daymark, which is the painted pattern on a lighthouse that distinguishes them from each other.

Play putt-putt

A round of mini golf is perfect for children (or bringing out your inner child). Work on your par with the dinosaurs at Jurassic Putt in Nags Head or go on an adventure searching for gold and diamonds at Lost Treasure Mini Golf in Kill Devil Hills.

Learn about The Lost Colony

Soak up some history and drama along with your rays at a performance of The Lost Colony. This annual summer spectacular in Manteo showcases the dramatic and mysterious story of the Roanoke Colony, one of the earliest settlements in the United States.

Try water sports

The Atlantic Ocean is the best kind of playground. Rent a stand-up paddle board and surf the waves. Boogie board your way to the beach. let the wind fill your sails on a kiteboard. Or paddle into the surf in an ocean kayak!

If you prefer calmer waters, check out the water sports sound-side. Parasail high in the clouds, pick up the pace with a jet ski, or go on a kayak eco tour.

The Outer Banks offers tons of outfitters and rentals for all of your water sports needs. Check out Ocean Atlantic Rentals and Kitty Hawk Kites.

Explore the highest sand dune on the East Coast

The Outer Banks is home largest natural sand-dune system in the Eastern United States. There are a multitude of activities to enjoy at Jockey’s Ridge State Park including hiking, sandboarding, and hang gliding. 

Pro tip: Avoid Jockey’s Ridge in the middle of a summer day. Hot sand dunes and no shade is not the best combination.

See the spot that was first in flight

Stand in the place where the Wright Brothers first took flight in 1903. Visit the birthplace of aviation in Kill Devil Hills. Stop by the Wright Brothers National Memorial to learn about Orville and Wilbur Wright’s life, gliding experiments, and dreams of flying.

Look for wild horses

Seeing the wild horses is a treat of any Outer Banks visit. The wild mustangs’ origins date back nearly 500 years, making them the earliest settlers of the Outer Banks.

The horses travel in small herds. They can be seen in the Corolla beach and Carova beach areas in the Northern Outer Banks. Spotting the horses usually requires driving on the beach, so 4-wheel-drive is definitely recommended.

Take your shot and plan your own adventure, or book wild horse tours through an experienced guide. My aunt and sister recommend Corolla Jeep Adventures.

Explore Historic Corolla Park

Historic Corolla Park is a 39-acre sound-front gem in Corolla that beautifully blends natural scenery with some of the Northern Outer Banks’ most iconic landmarks. The park is home to the striking red-brick Currituck Beach Lighthouse, the beautifully restored 1920s Whalehead Club, and the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, all set against wide-open lawns, saltwater marshes and peaceful views of the Currituck Sound. 

Visitors can climb the lighthouse’s 214 steps for a sweeping panoramic view, wander the manicured grounds that once hosted elite hunting parties, or simply spread out a blanket and soak in the coastal breeze. 

Even if you skip the climb, the park offers plenty to explore. From seasonal tours of Whalehead to exhibits detailing the region’s rich cultural and natural history — it’s an easy win for families and history lovers.

Beyond its historic structures, Historic Corolla Park invites visitors to experience the quieter side of the Currituck Banks. Find year-round nature trails, sound-side kayaking, and exhibits like the Wildlife Education Center’s large aquarium and extensive collection of waterfowl decoys.  

For me, it also holds a dose of childhood magic. I remember coming here around age eight or nine for the Fourth of July. We’d picnic on the grass and toss a ball with my cousins while we waited for dusk. Today, the annual Independence Day Celebration still fills the park with live music, local food vendors, and fireworks over the sound, proving this spot isn’t just a window into Corolla’s past—it’s where Outer Banks memories are still being made.

Catch a ferry to Ocracoke

A 40-minute ferry ride will transport you from Hatteras Island to Ocracoke Island. Enjoy the drive through Ocracoke’s unspoiled national seashore. Then take some time to explore Ocracoke Village, a small settlement with a few restaurants and bars. Make a stop at the Ocracoke Lighthouse, the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina.

Cruise the Outer Bank scenic highway

The Outer Banks National Scenic Byway starts at Whalebone Junction in Nags Head and heads sound between the Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico Sound through Bodie Island and Hatteras Island, then includes the ferry ride over to Ocracoke Island, and another ferry ride to Down East’s Cedar Island, where it ends near Beaufort, North Carolina. 

The Beaufort area is part of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast (also known as the Southern Outer Banks). You’ll find many fun things to do and beautiful beaches to explore, like Cape Lookout National Seashore, Pine Knoll Shores, Atlantic Beach, Emerald Isle and more.

The total length is 137.8 miles and about five and a half hours of driving time. This includes the two ferry rides which take about three and a half hours total.

A few years ago, we tacked this scenic drive on to the end of our beach vacation. We broke the drive up into two days, going from Duck, through Hatteras Island to Ocracroke on the first day, staying overnight in Ocracoke, and then traveling from Ocracoke to Beaufort the next day, and spending the night in Beaufort.

More North Carolina travel recommendations

Planning a day trip or weekend getaway? Or just looking for other things to do, places to visit, and where to eat across North Carolina?

Check out Off the Eaten Path’s North Carolina Travel Guide. You’ll find weekend itineraries, travel and restaurant recommendations across the Tarheel State. 

Need more North Carolina beach recommendations and suggestions? Check out the best things to do in Emerald Isle, NC, as well as our epic list of 25+ beaches near Charlotte, NC.