Outer Banks Travel Guide: Reviews, photos, & videos

The sandy dunes where the pirate Blackbeard met his end in 1718, and where spectators saw the Wright Brothers’ Flyer soar towards the sky above Kitty Hawk a little less than two hundred years later, is now a vacation destination of seemingly endless golden beaches. Collectively known as the Outer Banks, a 130-mile long string of sandy barrier islands wrap the North Carolina shoreline. If you’re looking for a 24-hour party you better head elsewhere. Visitors come to the Outer Banks for some of the Atlantic’s best beaches, for the wild horses at Corolla, or perhaps in search of the Lost Colony, last seen in 1587.

  • Beach, Family-friendly, Hang-gliding, Northcarolina, Northeast, Ocean, Relaxing, Romantic, Rustic, Sailing, Surfing, Wedding
  • 93%

 
 
link35.9491411698-75.62164306648Outer Banks, NC, USA
link36.385203-75.830861Wild Horses....at Corolla
link35.219231-75.690163Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum
link35.7067258887-75.5008792877Cape Hatteras National Seashore
link35.879628-75.670684Roanoke Island & the Lost Colony
link36.069667-75.719225Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kitty Hawk
link35.9491411698-75.62164306648Outer Banks, NC, USA
link35.219231-75.69016310Hatteras, NC, USA
link36.385203-75.83086112Corolla, NC, USA
link35.949246-75.6216459Nags Head, NC, USA
link36.069667-75.71922510Kitty Hawk, NC, USA
link36.169911-75.75579112Duck, NC, USA
link36.016266-75.66718312Kill Devil Hills, NC, USA
link36.122297-75.72595612Southern Shores, NC, USA
link36.54272-75.87026612Carova, NC, USA
 
 
 
 

   

 Directions 

Distance from closest metropolitan area: 70 miles (from Norfolk, VA)  
 
Estimated travel time: 1 hour, 30 minutes (from Norfolk, VA)  
 
From Norfolk, VA, and points north: Take Route 168 to Route 158, which crosses the Wright Memorial Bridge to Kitty Hawk. --- From Raleigh, NC, and points west: Take Route 64 to Manteo, and past Manteo follow NC-12 North to Kitty Hawk. --- From the south: Take the Cedar Island Ferry to Ocracoke and follow NC-12 North to Kitty Hawk.

 

   

 Weather 

  • Current conditions

    Cond050

    Mostly cloudy with scattered sprinkles. Windy with highs in the upper 40s. North winds 20 to 25 mph. Gusts up to 40 mph this morning.
    Hi: 47° F, Low: 42° F.

  • Tomorrow's forecast

    Cond003
    Partly cloudy. Highs in the middle 50s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
    Hi: 55° F, Low: 47° F.


  • Weatherbug's weather page.
 

   

 Attractions 

Add Attraction

Wild Horses....at Corolla

Some guy named Mick Jagger once sang that wild horses couldn't drag him away. Although I'm not sure what exactly Sir Mick was referring to, I'm pretty certain he'd never been to Corolla. That's because on the beaches of this small beach town in Currituck County, North Carolina, there are about 120 wild Spanish Mustangs that could probably drag a ten ton boulder if they wanted to (now that's a real rolling stone). Pronounced by the locals as Kuh-RAH-Luh, this quaint vacation town has more than just horses. With expansive Atlantic beaches, lavish seaside accommodations, elegant landscaping and fashionable shopping and dining locations, Corolla is quickly becoming a popular East Coast vacation destination. The town has a permanent population of just around 500 people, but that number surges to the thousands during the summer vacation season. In addition to the Wild Mustangs, there are historic light houses, superior golf courses and ample swim, surf and fish opportunities to keep one entertained for the entire summer. And of course, you can always try to ride the Wild Mustangs! DISCLAIMER: DO NOT RIDE THE MUSTANGS. THEY WILL MOST LIKELY THROW YOU OFF, CAUSING SERIOUS PHYSICAL HARM.

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Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

Although it's probably not a great idea to have the word "graveyard" in the title of anything other than an actual cemetery, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum might be the exception to that rule. Located at the end of Highway 12 in the Hatteras Village, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum has a unique objective: to preserve and interpret the rich maritime history of the Outer Banks along with the more than 2,000 known shipwrecks that occurred in that region. That's right, it's a museum dedicated to shipwrecks! Due to the severe weather and strong currents of the Outer Banks region, this deadly section of coastline has claimed over 2,000 ships and the lives of countless sailors, thus earning it the nickname of the Graveyard of the Atlantic. The museum itself has artifacts ranging from pieces of Union gunboats to the Enigma machine from the first German U-Boat sunk by the allies. Admission to the museum is totally free, but it might be quite prudent to avoid taking any sailing trips in that region!

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Cape Hatteras National Seashore

When one thinks of world class beaches, places like Jamaica, Cabo and the Mediterranean usually come to mind. North Carolina usually doesn't play into this discussion, but in the Outer Banks lies a 70 mile stretch of sand along the Atlantic Ocean that embodies everything a beach is supposed to be (and then some)! The Cape Hatteras National Seashore helps link the thin, broken strand of islands that makes up the Outer Banks, and the amount of activities available on the beach is mind-boggling. There's canoeing, sailing, snorkeling, sunbathing, swimming, beachcombing, surfing, fishing and – of course - surf fishing (it's real, I investigated). Make sure to check out the historic Cape Hatteras Light House built in 1870, or wonder into the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge to admire one of the 265 species of bird, or – if you feel like roughing it - experience nature in a new way by setting up camp in one of the four camp grounds. Take that Cabo!

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Roanoke Island & the Lost Colony

An ancient settlement. A shocking disappearance. An unsolved mystery. Sounds kinda like a cheesy tag line for a new Colin Ferrell movie, doesn't it? Thankfully it isn't (sorry Colin), but is instead an apt description of the twisted and mysterious history of the Roanoke colony. Located on Roanoke Island (duh) in present-day Dare County, the Roanoke Colony was the first attempt at a permanent English settlement in North America. Between 1585 and 1587, groups of English settlers attempted to settle the land. Wouldn't you know it, the entire colony ended up disappearing. Don't you hate it when that happens? To this day, historians are still uncertain what happened to the Roanoke settlers, leading them to be nicknamed The Lost Colony. Morbid history aside, the present day island is actually full of good, old fashioned, family fun by combining recreational and water features with historical sites and a famous outdoor theater in the Roanoke Island Festival Park. The 25-acre island park features a life size replica of the Elizabeth II, one of the seven English ships from the Roanoke Voyage of 1585, and costumed Elizabethan sailors help visitors experience sixteenth century colonial life (without all the bad parts of course). The park is open mid-February to December 31 and the hours vary seasonally.

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Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kitty Hawk

On December 17th, 1903, in a little town in Dare County, North Carolina, two human beings gained the power of flight. I'm not talking about Superman, Iron Man or even Kobe Bryant, I'm talking about Orville and Wilbur Wright. These two brothers, who honed their mechanical prowess building bicycles in the late 1800's, are credited with inventing, building and then flying the world's first successful airplane. In fact, the Wright Brothers National Memorial is the actual patch of land where the flight took place. The memorial is home to several full-scale reproductions of the Wright 1903 Powered Flyer and interpretive presentations. Also on display are several of the earlier models (i.e the ones that didn't work), including a replica of the 1902 Wright Glider. The grounds showcase the historical markers of each of the attempted powered flights and a 60-foot granite monument honoring the Wright brothers atop the 90 foot Big Kill Devil Hill. For only four dollars you can witness how human beings conquered gravity! Unfortunately, however, we still can't figure out how to make waiting in an airport enjoyable.

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 Reviews(Average Rating: 93% for 13 reviews) 

  • mariesatz
    mariesatzReviews: 5
    Posts: 4

    Emerald Isle, North Carolina

    03/06/2009

    99%

    Outer Banks, NC, USA

    We have lived in and around Emerald Isle for over 30 years. This is a wonderful location for family vacations if you want to spend your time on the beach. Emerald Isle does not have a lot of high rises, or amusements, but it does have miles and miles of uncrowded beaches for you to explore. People often come here for famiy reunions renting one or several houses along the beach---and many come back year after year. The high season is in July and August, but the weather is wonderful here in May and often through Thanksgiving. September and October are wonderful months as the crowds are gone, and the water is still warm. The nearby towns of Swansboro, Beaufort, and New Bern make great day outings, but most of your time will just be spent relaxing and enjoying the sun and sand. Should you come, don't miss seeing the wild horses on the surrounding islands and Bear Island. These areas are especially nice for day trips, although you can obtain a permit for overnight camping.

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  • mariesatz
    mariesatzReviews: 5
    Posts: 4

    Emerald Isle

    01/22/2009

    100%

    Outer Banks, NC, USA

    This is not the place for folks who are looking for action. But if you want miles and miles of unspoiled beaches, this is the place for you. Lots of vacation beach cottages and lots of sand and sun. It is a wonderful place to spend some quality reflective time.

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  • AnnaCD
    AnnaCDReviews: 4
    Posts: 0

    Beach Trip/Road Trip

    10/16/2008

    89%

    Outer Banks, NC, USA

    One rainy weekend in college, my friends and I decided to go to beach . Outer Banks of North Carolina. A North Carolina Native, I was the only one who had seen the ocean before. We stayed at a tiny motel in Kill Devil Hills. It had musty bedding and no ocean view to speak of but there was a tetherball poll just outside our room, and every day we went to the ocean and swam until our eyes stung. We didn't do anything fancy. There were rows of little highway restaurants with sticky vinyl booths offering basket of cornmeal dredged oysters and heaps of boiled shrimp served up in the ripped-out bottom of a paper bag. There were little arcades with ancient wooden skeeball sets. We ate three times at a little takeout window that served only spicy meatball subs. It was perfect. There are big, polished resorts in the Outer Banks, but I like to drive through the small towns. Some people say that North Carolina's Outer Banks are the only living relic of what coastal life used to be like before the tourist trade really took hold. With it's tongue-bending local accent, it's seedy charm and it's hidden gems, the "rural" Outer Banks combines two of America's greatest vacation traditions: the beach holiday and the road trip.

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  • Shakes
    ShakesReviews: 1
    Posts: 0

    Outer Banks - Bank on It

    09/11/2008

    83%

    Outer Banks, NC, USA

    WOW - I love the Outer Banks. The beaches are beautiful. I would love to vacation here.

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  • A2travelguy
    A2travelguy
    • Top member
    Reviews: 14
    Posts: 18

    First in Flight

    09/06/2008

    87%

    Outer Banks, NC, USA

    It's true: You got to see it to believe it. My sons and I were already quite familiar with the story of the Wright Brothers,how they built their first plane from bicycle parts, how they decided Kitty Haw would be the perfect place to attempt their bold experiment because of its high winds. Truly amazing stuff. Even so, the true magnitude of what these two Ohio boys accomplished doesn't completely register until you visit Kitty Hawk and the Wright Brothers National Memorial. The most amazing sight? The markers that show how long (or more appropriately, how short) the first few flights actually were. Just from those distances along you get the idea that Wrights were truly attempting something – almost literally – on a wing and a prayer. One disappointment: There's only a recreation of the original plane at the sight. The actual craft now resides in at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

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  • erinannie
    erinannieReviews: 8
    Posts: 0

    Wild Horses Couldn't Keep Me Away

    08/26/2008

    100%

    Outer Banks, NC, USA

    I was seventeen on my first trip to the Outer Banks. I had heard about the wild horses, but in true high school denial, was convinced they weren't really everywhere. We stayed in a beautiful home on the Sound where we enjoyed both sunrises and sunsets on the water. From our home we could walk out into the Sound and go potting, layout in our own backyard, and in the front yard we could see the wild horses. One day we went to drive to the grocery store and found a mother horse giving birth right in the middle of the road. It was amazing. The island police force was there to protect the mother horse, and prevent cars from driving too near her. A large crowd gathered around to watch nature's miracle at work. Some high schoolers spent their spring break on a boardwalk, spending money on junk and crap, and getting a decent suntan. I spent my spring break learning about the tide, crabs and lobsters (and which tastes better on the grill), and nature's miracles. I admit I didn't stick around to watch the full miracle. (It takes even longer than human birth.) But it was incredible to see the herd of horses standing protectively nearby, in spite of the human intrusion. I've been to the Outer Banks many times since then. I've never seen the rare sight again. But I have seen the wild horses many times, and look forward to it every time I go back.

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  • amy-wrightolsen
    amy-wrightolsenReviews: 1
    Posts: 0

    Six Wrights can't be wrong about OBX!

    08/26/2008

    95%

    Outer Banks, NC, USA

    There were six Wrights along for the journey to North Carolina's Outer Banks (or OBX, if you want to sound local and hip), so we were excited to see visit Kitty Hawk, where Wilbur and Orville Wright took their first flight. Kitty Hawk turned out to be just one of many treasures on this soul-satisfying vacation. The Wright family found gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, shopping, history and adventure on the Outer Banks. We rented bikes and tooled around Okrakoke Island, took a dolphin-watching tour, played in the waves right off the deck of our rental house, ate tons of fresh seafood and bought cheesy souvenirs (including pirate hats, earrings and eye patches. Yaaaaar!). I recommend renting kayaks to enjoy the calmer waves of the lake and building the biggest sand castle ever on the beach. Make sure your castle includes a moat… those OBX waves can get huge!

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  • adzell
    adzellReviews: 1
    Posts: 0

    Outer Banks ~ The Late 20's Spring Break Destination

    08/21/2008

    95%

    Outer Banks, NC, USA

    My friends & I (all in our late 20's) wanted to take a more adult version of "Spring Break" - so we packed up & hit the Outer Banks. The trip was perfect; we rented an extremely affordable mansion on the beach for a week & could not have been happier. Waking up to goldenish red tinted sunrises & dolphins playing in the ocean was all it took for me to fall in love with NC. The night life is low key, but the "dives bars" were full of welcoming "locals" (not crazy college students organizing a hot body contest or foam party). The vacation can be what you make of it - educational (there is the NC state aquarium & the Diamond Shoals to name a few stops), relaxing (try crabbing - it is so easy yet strangely addictive) or both. It was the perfect place to spend a week bonding with good friends over a few beers, soft shell crabs (that we caught ourselves of course) & beaches (ok, maybe a few sunburns too).

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  • jambalayaval
    jambalayavalReviews: 4
    Posts: 0

    Outer Banks a hidden treasure

    07/23/2008

    90%

    Outer Banks, NC, USA

    I loved the Outer Banks. It has history, arts and a beach. The variety of types of accommodations is almost staggering. If you like the crowded condo scene, try Nag's Head. If you prefer a family-oriented, casual atmosphere, Manteo is for you. And the National Seashore is quiet, contemplative and commercial free. Don't miss "The Lost Colony," the outdoor drama. It's great entertainment. And the Manteo Bookstore, which has survived all manner of catastrophe, is a reader's heaven. Don't miss the Kitty Hawk area, with tours and monuments to the Wright Brothers.

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  • MostlyElena
    MostlyElena
    • Top member
    Reviews: 6
    Posts: 22

    A teen-eyed view of Kitty Hawk

    07/16/2008

    94%

    Outer Banks, NC, USA

    The teenaged criteria for a good vacation are somewhat different from that of adults. I was fifteen years old the summer that I went to the town of Kitty Hawk for a few weeks with a friend’s family. She and her twin brother were sixteen and had just gotten their driver’s licenses, granting us relative freedom of movement. The water was warm, the house comfortable, the beaches great for lounging, and the town fun to explore, but in the end we were there to do what teenagers do best – socialize with other teenagers. And at that, we had great success. Within days of arriving we ran across and befriended about ten other boys and girls our age, and spent our days and evenings roaming in a pack around the dunes, hotels, and each other’s rental homes. The town offers a variety of teenager friendly shopping and ice cream parlors, and there was no need to worry about our safety during our wanderings through this safe vacation spot. I had, to that point, always lived in cities and never seen so dark a night nor so many stars. And I never, through the rest of my teenage years, had as much fun during a beach vacation.

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  • crowe
    crowe
    • Top member
    Reviews: 7
    Posts: 25

    Dune wilderness

    07/15/2008

    90%

    Outer Banks, NC, USA

    In my opinion, visiting the Outer Banks (or OBX, as its known here) is about solitude. So we always head south from the developed parts - Nags Head and Kitty Hawk - on Highway 12 to get our solitude. The Outer Banks region, while full of pristine beaches, is ultimately wilderness. We discovered the National Park Service campground in Frisco on a previous trip years ago and I feel it’s the best place to pitch a tent in the entire Outer Banks. The dunes rise and fall along a narrow road that twists itself in and out of bunches of sea oats and sun-dried brush. The sunsets are unreal over Pamlico Sound. We watched the sky fill with a searing spectrum of color that ranged from bright pink to a comforting rich blue. In 2006, my family, my wife’s parents and my brother’s family all met in the OBX for a week. We rented a place in the town of Avon for a week that had multiple decks, several private bathrooms, a hot tub and a pool table. We spent our days cruising the seashore and surf breaks and our evenings around family and a warming beach fire. That was a week worth remembering.

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  • blueeyedgrrl
    blueeyedgrrl
    • Top member
    Reviews: 4
    Posts: 16

    Weekend in Duck NC

    06/22/2008

    96%

    Outer Banks, NC, USA

    Being a Tarheel, the Outer Banks of NC is certainly nothing new for me. Ever since my first year in Chapel Hill NC, the OBX was always a popular destination for my friends and I. However, Duck NC was much different than what I had experienced before. Rather than a popular party destination for single 20-somethings, Duck promises tranquil shops, family-friendly beaches, and picturesque roads lined with large vacation homes on both the sound and the ocean side. You won't find commercialism here; most of the businesses are small, local and incredibly charming. Also dotting the landscape are colorfully painted horses representative of the wild horses that the OBX are famous for. In short, it was relaxing and peaceful, and I found the pace set by the target demographic of families and seasoned vacationers very refreshing.

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  • Karin
    Karin
    • Top member
    Reviews: 11
    Posts: 1

    Kitty Hawk

    06/13/2008

    95%

    Outer Banks, NC, USA

    A little over a century ago, Orville and Wilbur Wright came to the Outer Banks in search of more winds than the fields outside their hometown of Dayton, Ohio could muster. And there, on Kitty Hawk’s vast dunes, they set out to make their invention, a small powered airplane they called Wright Flyer I, airborne. Ever since, the place has been a destination for flight enthusiasts, but you don’t have to be an enthusiast to be fascinated by the strange human urge to learn how to fly and by the story of how two brothers actually did, against all odds. For some, a visit to Kitty Hawk is about actually flying and there are plenty of business that charter small planes. Drifting around in a single-engine plane, at the mercy of the winds, is not my idea of fun. I’m quite happy on the ground, exploring the dream behind the first flight: walking the original landing field at Kill Devil Hills, checking out the replica of the hangar where the brothers stored their plane, and learning about the history at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. There I can dream that I too had what it takes to fly…

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