North Carolina · the United States

Outer Banks

The barrier islands of North Carolina, where the Wright brothers flew in 1903, with the Jockey's Ridge dunes, striped lighthouses, long beaches and Roanoke Island, site of the Lost Colony.

South (Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee)

In the photo: Dunes on the Outer Banks

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The Outer Banks are a narrow stretch of barrier islands and sandy peninsulas that run for about 300 km along the coast of North Carolina, separated from the mainland by wide lagoons, the sounds. On one side are the Atlantic and the open beaches; on the other, calm waters, marshes and sunsets over the lagoon.

It was on the dunes of Kill Devil Hills, near Kitty Hawk, that Wilbur and Orville Wright made the flights on December 17, 1903 that inaugurated aviation. The site is now a national memorial. Nearby, in Nags Head, the shifting dunes of Jockey's Ridge are a hang-gliding and sunset-watching spot.

On Roanoke Island, in the lagoon, the English tried to establish their first colonies in America in the 1580s; the second colony vanished without a trace and became known as the Lost Colony. The town of Manteo preserves this history, with the Fort Raleigh historic site, gardens and an aquarium.

To the south, Cape Hatteras National Seashore protects dozens of kilometers of undeveloped beaches, lighthouses such as Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras, and Ocracoke Island, reached by ferry. To the north, in Corolla, wild horses live among the dunes.

This destination brings together 3 cities: Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Manteo.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Outer Banks is

Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Outer Banks

✈ Norfolk International Airport (ORF) · 130 km to Kill Devil Hills

The most commonly used airport is Norfolk (ORF), Virginia, about 130 km away; Raleigh (RDU) is about 320 km. There is no train service. A car is essential to get around the islands. Entry requirements depend on nationality: confirm the rules before you travel.

Suggested arrival point: Kill Devil Hills

Carolina do Norte · Outer Banks Suggested arrival point

Kill Devil Hills

Beach town of the Outer Banks, between Kitty Hawk and Nags Head, where the Wright brothers made the first controlled powered airplane flights in 1903. The Wright Brothers National Memorial occupies the dune where they tested, with the granite monument, a visitor center and the flight markers. Around it are beaches, fishing piers and vacation homes.

Carolina do Norte · Outer Banks

Nags Head

Seaside town south of Kill Devil Hills, one of the oldest resort areas on the Outer Banks, with historic wooden beachfront houses. It has Jockey's Ridge State Park, featuring the largest living dunes on the U.S. East Coast, and is close to the Bodie Island Lighthouse at the entrance to Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Carolina do Norte · Outer Banks

Manteo

Historic village on Roanoke Island, in the lagoon between the Outer Banks and the mainland, with a small harbor, wooden boardwalk and old houses. At the north tip of the island is the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, which recalls the first English colonies in America and the Lost Colony, the Elizabethan gardens and the North Carolina aquarium.

The local experience

Things to do in Outer Banks

Manteo · North Carolina · Historic site

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

The location of the first English attempts to colonize North America, in the 1580s, including the Lost Colony, with a reconstructed earthen fort and the theater for the play The Lost Colony.

Nags Head · North Carolina · Dunes

Jockey's Ridge State Park

State park with the largest living dunes on the U.S. East Coast, between the ocean and the lagoon, used for walking, kites, and hang-gliding lessons.

Kill Devil Hills · North Carolina · Memorial

Wright Brothers National Memorial

The site where Wilbur and Orville Wright made the first controlled powered airplane flights in 1903, with the monument atop the dune, the flight markers and the visitor center.

Nags Head · North Carolina · Lighthouse

Bodie Island Lighthouse

1872 lighthouse with black-and-white horizontal stripes at the entrance to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, offering guided climbs in season and a boardwalk over the marsh.

See 2 more places in Outer Banks

Manteo · North Carolina · Gardens

The Elizabethan Gardens

Gardens inspired by 16th-century English gardens, created in the 1950s next to Fort Raleigh, on the Roanoke lagoon shore, as a tribute to the English colonists.

Manteo · North Carolina · Aquarium

North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

State aquarium on Roanoke Island dedicated to North Carolina coastal environments, featuring a large shipwreck tank, sharks, otters and sea turtles.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

June to August for the warmest beach and water temperatures, when it’s busiest. May, September and October usually have milder days and fewer people; spring and fall are windier, good for kites and hang-gliding. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, with higher frequency from August to October.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three to five days allow you to see the Wright brothers’ memorial, the dunes, the lighthouses and Roanoke Island and enjoy the beach; if you go to Ocracoke or the Cape Hatteras lighthouse you’ll need another one or two days.

Which city to stay in

Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head concentrate hotels and vacation rentals by the beach and near major attractions. Manteo, on Roanoke Island, has inns in the historic downtown and on the waterfront. In summer, many houses are rented by the week.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Outer Banks

How many days should you plan for the Outer Banks?

Three to five days for the Wright memorial, Jockey's Ridge, the Bodie Island lighthouse, Manteo and a few days at the beach.

Do you need a car on the Outer Banks?

Yes. Towns are spread across many kilometers of islands, and public transport is limited.

What is the best time to visit the Outer Banks?

June to August for beach weather; May, September and October for milder days and fewer crowds. Hurricane season runs from June to November.

Can you see wild horses on the Outer Banks?

Yes, in Corolla in the north, and on Ocracoke. In Corolla, the horse areas are reached by authorized 4x4 vehicle tours along the beach; keep your distance from the animals.

How do you get to Ocracoke?

By ferry from Hatteras, on the south end of Hatteras Island. The crossing takes about an hour; in summer, lines can be long.

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Outer Banks

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.