What to do in Outer Banks, NC

Activities, attractions and tours

Visit Outer Banks

Types of activities

Where to stay

Outer Banks travel guide

Wright Brothers National Memorial which includes a statue or sculpture

Oregon Inlet Fishing Center featuring fishing, a bay or harbour and boating

Cape Hatteras National Seashore which includes a sunset

Outer Banks Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Outer Banks has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Outer Banks is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Outer Banks to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Outer Banks Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Outer Banks.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Outer Banks attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

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Top places to visit

1. Cape Hatteras National Seashore

When you drive into Cape Hatteras National Seashore, you might see oystercatchers or piping plovers flying overhead before you even hear the waves on the beach. These are signs of the magical place you’re entering. Spend at least a weekend exploring the 70 miles (110 kilometers) of coastline that are part of this remarkable preserve.

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North Carolina Outer Banks Bodie Island Lighthouse Autumn Morning Marsh Boardwalk, Shutterstock ID 164239178, purchase_order: SP-1269 HA 2018 Batch 1, Order: , client: , other:

2. Jennette's Pier

Experience some of the finest fishing available in the Outer Banks at Jennette’s Pier. Learn about the region’s history in the pier house. The pier was completely rebuilt after major destruction in 2003 when Hurricane Isabel blasted through the area. With support from the North Carolina Aquarium Society it is now an eco-friendly education center and a sustainable fishing hotspot.

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Jennette\'s Pier featuring general coastal views

3. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Visitors to the Outer Banks of North Carolina should make a point of seeing the twisting, white and black stripes of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. The distinctive spiral pattern on this structure makes it a pretty subject for a photo. Come to see a beautiful relic of maritime technology and learn about the troubled history of those who have relied on its guidance in nearby waters.

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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse featuring a lighthouse

4. Wright Brothers National Memorial

If you’ve read about the first plane taking off near Kitty Hawk, visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial where this epochal moment occurred. Stand in the trail of history and see where Orville and Wilbur Wright flew their first four test flights between 1900 and 1903.

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5. Bodie Island Lighthouse

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Bodie Island Lighthouse featuring a lighthouse

Recommended things to do in Outer Banks

Number of things to do	9
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia	Cape Hatteras National Seashore Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: CA $21
Top 5 things to do	Self-Guided Audio Driving Bundle of Outer Banks Tours Jumpmasters OBX Fun Park Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Outer Banks OBX Ghost Tours: Lighthouse Wraiths & Dune Shadows Cape Hatteras National Seashore Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
Half-day tours	Jumpmasters OBX Fun Park OBX Ghost Tours: Lighthouse Wraiths & Dune Shadows OBX Ghost Tours: Lighthouse Wraiths & Dune Shadows Beginner Hang Gliding Lesson Private Holiday Photoshoot with Photographer in Outer Banks
With kids	Jumpmasters OBX Fun Park Beginner Hang Gliding Lesson Private Holiday Photoshoot with Photographer in Outer Banks

What to do in Outer Banks

Discover the most popular places to visit in Outer Banks

Corolla Beach

Why not spend a lazy afternoon at Corolla Beach during your trip to Whalehead Beach?

Jennette's Pier

Fish for striped bass, flounder and bluefish or simply admire the oceanfront surroundings from this eco-friendly pier in North Carolina’s beautiful Nags Head.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

This soaring brick lighthouse is among the very tallest in North America. It’s a great place to learn about American maritime history.

Wright Brothers National Memorial

A true testament to the origins of aviation history, this monument is also a visually impressive and inspiring feature of the North Carolina landscape.

Sunrise by a fishing pier in North Carolina

Nags Head Fishing Pier

After visiting Nags Head Fishing Pier, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Nags Head. Stroll along the beautiful beaches or seek out the fishing spots.

One of the northernmost towns along the coast in North Carolina, Duck is an idyllic town on the shores of the Currituck Sound. This shot was taken from the town's boardwalk while looking West over the sounds. It is advisable to visit the location in Winter as that is off season - so you can spend more time taking in the beauty of the North Carolina coastline and also sunsets are usually much more picturesque around the time owing to the cooler temperatures and lower amount of atmospheric haze.

Plenty of things around Duck to see. Further north, there is the Currituck Lighthouse where you can climb the steps to the top of the lighthouse. North of Corolla, there is an area where you can drive along the coast on the sand - 4X4s a must. Here you can spot some Spanish Mustangs, horses out in the wild. If you're lucky, you can spot them running along the beach in the surf. I'd recommend taking a tour through the Corolla Wild Horse Fund - the money from the tours is used to help the wild horses in every which way possible and the staff are knowledgeable and friendly.

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Duck Boardwalk

After visiting Duck Boardwalk, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Duck. Wander the beautiful beaches in this family-friendly area.

Bodie Island Lighthouse

Climb the iconic lighthouse just south of Nags Head and experience spectacular natural views of Bodie Island, the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding areas.

Pirate's Cove Marina

Explore the waterfront in Manteo with a trip to Pirate's Cove Marina. Stroll along the beautiful beaches or visit the notable monuments in this family-friendly area.

Oregon Inlet Fishing Center

With a large range of boat choices, one of the eastern seaboard’s largest charter boat fishing fleets has options for all fishing enthusiasts, and non-fishermen too.

Explore areas of Outer Banks

Bodie Island Light Station was placed on the National Register of Historical places by the United States Department of Interior 2003

South Nags Head

If you're spending some time in South Nags Head, Bodie Island Lighthouse and Oregon Inlet Fishing Center are top sights worth seeing.

Whalehead Beach

While visiting Whalehead Beach, you might make a stop by sights like Currituck Beach and Corolla Beach.

Ocean Sands

If you're spending some time in Ocean Sands, Corolla Beach and Outer Banks Beaches are top sights worth seeing.

Sun Setting at Currituck Lighthouse Outer Banks North Carolina

Corolla Light

If you're spending some time in Corolla Light, Whale Head Bay and Outer Banks Beaches are top sights worth seeing.

The beautiful lighthouse in Corolla, North Carolina

Corolla Village

While visiting Corolla Village, you might make a stop by sights like Currituck Beach Lighthouse and Currituck Beach.

Ocean Side Court

If you're spending some time in Ocean Side Court, Full Throttle Speedway and Mutiny Bay Adventure Golf are top sights worth seeing.

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