Things to do in Outer Banks
Late spring and early fall bring warm water, lighter crowds, and the best lighthouse-climbing and beach weather. Peak July and August are hot and busy, while winter is quiet, windswept, and ideal for solitude and storm-watching.
Best months: May, June, September, October
What is worth your time in Outer Banks
Cape Hatteras National SeashoreDo not miss
Seventy miles of wild, undeveloped barrier-island beach, dunes, and surf protected as the country's first national seashore.
Nature · 3.5 hr4.9
Corolla Wild Horse TourDo not miss
Ride a four-wheel-drive tour up the roadless northern beach to find Spanish mustangs grazing wild among the dunes and surf.
Activity · 2.5 hr4.9
Bodie Island LighthouseDo not miss
Climb the black-and-white striped 1872 tower or walk the marsh boardwalk at this photogenic gateway to Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Landmark · 1.1 hr4.8
Cape Hatteras LighthouseDo not miss
Climb the tallest brick lighthouse in America, its iconic black-and-white spiral towering over the dangerous shoals of the Graveyard of the Atlantic.
Landmark · 1.5 hr4.8
Duck Town BoardwalkDo not miss
Stroll a mile of soundside boardwalk through marsh and cedar with sunset views, shops, and a waterfront park in the heart of Duck.
Scenic Route · 1.4 hr4.8
Jockey's Ridge State ParkDo not miss
Climb the tallest living sand dune on the East Coast for soaring views over ocean and sound and a famous sunset hang-gliding scene.
Nature · 1.8 hr4.8
Wright Brothers National MemorialDo not miss
Stand on the field where the first powered flight took off in 1903, with a granite monument, replica flyer, and markers of each historic flight distance.
Historic Site · 2 hr4.8
Currituck Beach LighthouseDo not miss
Climb the 220 red-brick steps of the unpainted 1875 lighthouse for a sweeping view over Corolla, the sound, and the wild northern beaches.
Landmark · 1.1 hr4.7
Kitty Hawk Kites Hang GlidingDo not miss
Take a beginner lesson and launch off the Jockey's Ridge dunes at the largest hang-gliding school in the world.
Activity · 2.8 hr4.7
Whalehead in Historic CorollaDo not miss
Tour a lavishly restored 1920s Art Nouveau hunting-club mansion set on the sound amid the gardens of Historic Corolla Park.
Historic Site · 1.5 hr4.7
Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve
The largest remaining maritime forest on the Outer Banks, with shaded sand-trail loops through ridges, swales, and freshwater ponds.
Nature · 1.5 hr5
Corolla Village
A cluster of restored former fishing-village cottages now housing a local bookstore, cafe, and craft shops just behind the lighthouse.
Neighborhood · 1.1 hr4.9
Cape Point
The dramatic sandy point at Buxton where ocean currents collide over Diamond Shoals, a legendary surf-fishing and beachcombing spot.
Viewpoint · 2 hr4.8
Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station
The most complete US Life-Saving Service station survives in Rodanthe with original buildings and summer beach-rescue reenactments.
Historic Site · 1.5 hr4.8
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- The Outer Banks is a long barrier-island chain, so a rental car is essential and driving between Corolla and Hatteras can take two to three hours each way.
- The free state ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke fills up in summer, so arrive early and build the crossing time into your day.
- Beach driving in Corolla and on Cape Hatteras National Seashore requires four-wheel drive and a permit, so never attempt the sand in a regular car.
- Lighthouse climbs, the Lost Colony drama, and aquarium programs are seasonal and sell out, so check dates and book ahead in summer.
- Watch the surf and rip-current flags, respect the wild horses by staying fifty feet back, and pack sunscreen and bug spray for marsh and dune stops.