The Outer Banks is one of the most spectacular and unique vacation destinations in the United States.
Made up of fragile barrier islands that separate the sound from the Atlantic Ocean, you can see how the Outer Banks are unique when you first arrive.
It’s one of our favorite places to visit due to its blend of adventure, natural beauty, and history.
When visiting the Outer Banks (OBX), deciding on where to set up a home base can be challenging.
It’s nearly impossible to cover the Outer Banks’ Northern and Southern areas in 3 days AND experience its relaxing atmosphere.
We chose to stay in the Buxton/Hatteras area in a top-notch 3-star boutique hotel called The Inn on Pamlico Sound. With waterfront views and delicious breakfasts, the inn also provides bikes, kayaks, and SUPs for guests to utilize. There is also an on-site movie theater that seats 12 people and has over 2,000 movie options.
To help you make the most of your visit, here’s our suggested itinerary for the Outer Banks. It will help you plan your trip, save money, and see everything this amazing beach community has to offer!
Day 1: Kill Devil Hills/ Nags Head / Manteo
Visit the NC Aquarium
The North Carolina Aquarium is a popular stop for families, animal enthusiasts, and nature lovers. It’s also a great place to spend a rainy morning!
Located on Roanoke Island in Manteo, NC, the NC Aquarium can be done as a day trip from the Northern or Southern points of the Outer Banks. It’s recommended to allow 1-2 hours when visiting, but you can easily stay longer depending on how much time you want to spend.
Before you arrive, it’s required to purchase your tickets online. Even though this may be the case, we saw several people purchasing tickets on-site. While you may be able to buy tickets at the admissions window, there is a chance they could sell out!
374 Airport Rd, Manteo, NC, +1 252-475-2300, ncaquariums.com, Oven 7 days/week 9am-5pm, Pricing from $10.95-$12.95/pp
Eat lunch at The Hungry Pelican
The Hungry Pelican is our top-rated sandwich shop in the Outer Banks. If you’re looking for a local hole-in-the-wall hangout that doesn’t break the bank, you’ll fall in love with this gem! It also ranked #1 on Tripadvisor for best quick bites in Manteo.
After visiting the NC Aquarium, the Hungry Pelican is a quick 8-minute drive. They’re known for their made-to-order sandwiches, freshly baked bread, and homemade desserts. Josh enjoyed a Chipotle Chicken Sandwich and I stuck with the classic Grilled Cheese and Creamy Tomato Basil Soup, both of which we’d rate 5 stars.
Seating is limited inside, so try to arrive early or plan to take the food to go.
205 Budleigh Street, Manteo, NC, +1 252-473-9303, thehungrypelican.com, Open Monday – Friday 11am-7pm, Saturday 11am-3pm
Experience Jockey’s Ridge State Park
Jockey’s Ridge is the location of the tallest sand dunes on the Atlantic Coast. After your morning exploration of Manteo, drive a quick 15-20 minutes to this incredible State Park located in Nags Head, NC.
It’s the perfect place for flying kites, watching sunsets, and hang gliding! Hang gliding classes are very popular on Jockey’s Ridge. After careful consideration, however, I decided not to take a (3-hour) class. After watching youtube videos, I decided it didn’t look worth the $130 price tag.
Click here if you want to take beginner hang gliding lessons
If you decide to visit the sand dunes, come prepared to walk and explore. Wear some flip-flops. This was a last-minute decision for us and we came in our tennis shoes. They have rinse stations available. And please please please don’t just go to the sand dunes overlook. It doesn’t do it justice!
300 W Carolista Dr, Nags Head, NC 27959
Walk the waterfront of downtown Manteo
After you’ve explored Jockey’s Ridge State Park, head back toward Manteo where you can walk the scenic downtown and prepare for a nice casual dinner on the water.
We enjoyed walking the waterfront of downtown Manteo. It’s a picture-perfect place to have a picnic, read a book, or to enjoy nature. Nestled along the streets you’ll be able to enjoy local shops, restaurants, and the marina.
Eat dinner at Avenue Grill
There are a number of restaurant choices in Manteo. If you’re looking for one centrally located downtown, then Avenue Grill and Goods may fit your needs.
Avenue Grill and Goods is a nice restaurant choice if you’re wanting a casual atmosphere. It’s also great for families traveling with kids. We don’t recommend dining here if you’re looking for a quieter atmosphere as sound isn’t well contained.
Although we chose to eat during off hours, we were still quoted a 1+ hour wait time. Thankfully we didn’t have to wait but 25 minutes. Time, however, does pass quickly as there are boutique stores and ice cream shops to visit while waiting to be called.
Overall, our food was good and we had a nice view overlooking the downtown area.
207 Queen Elizabeth Ave #5, Manteo, NC, +1 252-473-4800, avenuegrilleobx.com, Open Thursday – Monday 11am-4pm (exception: open until 9pm on Friday)
>>> Bonus <<<
With limited time, we weren’t able to cover everything on our list. If you’re looking for more ideas, we recommend: 1) Learning about history at the Wright Brothers Museum and 2) Hiking to the top of Bodie Lighthouse!
The Wright Brothers Museum is located in Kill Devil Hills, which is 15 minutes north of Jockey’s Ridge State Park. On the other hand, Bodie Lighthouse is situated just south of Nags Head (where Jockey’s Ridge is located).
Day 2: Ocracoke Island
Take the ferry to the island
The only way onto and off of Ocracoke Island is by a) vehicle ferry b) passenger ferry or c) private plane (but let’s be real, the average Joe isn’t taking a plane).
1) Vehicle Ferry
We opted to take the vehicle ferry for a few reasons: 1) Free and 2) Independently explore the island with our own car.
The ferry ride from Hatteras > Ocracoke takes 70 minutes and departs every hour (subject to change depending on the time of year). A local recommended that we arrive 15 minutes before departure; however, we missed the ferry by 2 cars! This could’ve been because we visited during a holiday weekend, making it slightly busier. No matter what the reason, we recommend arriving 30 minutes early if possible.
The vehicle ferry will drop you off 12 miles away from Ocracoke Village. So be prepared to pull out your GPS and drive around to explore the area!
2) Passenger Express Ferry
The passenger express ferry is another popular option if you prefer to stay around Ocracoke Village.
This ferry costs $15/pp for a round trip and reservations are recommended. Like the vehicle ferry, the crossing time from Hatteras > Ocracoke remains 70 minutes. The passenger ferry does not depart as regularly as the latter, so we recommend you check the updated ferry schedule for departure times.
Once you arrive, there is a free Ocracoke Village tram that runs from May 14 – mid-September. It makes 10 stops and runs every 20 minutes from 10:30am – 8pm.
Grab lunch at Jason’s Restaurant
With over 1,000 positive Google reviews and 4.6 stars, Jason’s Restaurant was a place we decided to test. If you’re looking for a restaurant with a variety of food options, then look no further!
Jason’s Restaurant is one of the first restaurants you’ll come across after getting off of the ferry. It boasts a casual and beachy atmosphere. They serve anything from pizzas, subs, salads, and seafood meals.
Josh and I split a large cheese pizza and a side Caesar Salad. We should’ve ordered a smaller size because we’ve been eating leftovers for days! While I won’t rave about it being the best pizza, the people were nice and the atmosphere was chill. We’d return.
1110 Irvin Garrish Hwy, Ocracoke, NC, +1 252-928-3434, ocracokeguide.com/jasonsrestaurant/, Open Monday-Saturday, 11 am-2 pm & 5 pm -9 pm
Walk the Springer’s Point Preserve Nature Trail
Ranked #1 for things to do in Outer Banks, Springers’ Point Preserve was a must for us. Springer’s Point is a 1-mile trail that is surrounded by grasslands, marshes, cedar forests, and tidal ponds. It’s a well-maintained coastal preserve on Ocracoke Island.
We, unfortunately, didn’t experience that peace and spirituality many feel when visiting this area. The previous day the Outer Banks was blessed with a torrential downpour, leaving the trail muddy and in a swampy mess. After seeing a crab, being startled by a frog, and getting bitten by mosquitoes, we turned back after a few hundred feet.
But what has forever scarred us is when Josh came inches away from stepping on a poisonous Water Moccasin. Needless to say, we didn’t complete the hike and have no plans on returning. If you go, don’t go after a rainstorm when all the animals come out of hiding.
104 Loop Rd, Ocracoke, NC
Stop by the Ocracoke Lighthouse
Standing at just 75 feet tall, Ocracoke Lighthouse is one of the oldest operating lighthouses in the United States and the second oldest in the nation!
Due to safety concerns, you’re not allowed to climb to the top. Even though we couldn’t see inside, we enjoyed stopping by Ocracoke Lighthouse to capture a photo and take in the calm surroundings.
Adjacent to the lighthouse you’ll also be able to see the lighthouse keeper’s quarters. It also was worth a photo with the beautiful trees, birds, and surrounding marsh-like waters.
360 Lighthouse Rd, Ocracoke, NC
Day 3: Hatteras/Frisco
Drive by Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is not only the most famous lighthouse in North Carolina but is also the tallest lighthouse on the East Coast!
The Hatteras Light was created to protect one of the most hazardous sections of America’s coastline, an area known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. In 1999, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse had to be relocated 2,900 feet in 23 days to prevent the lighthouse from falling into the sea due to shoreline erosion. You can still see some of the remaining tracks used to move the lighthouse.
Climbing Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is a bucket list item if visiting the Outer Banks. During our visit, the lighthouse was temporarily closed for “restoration efforts.” If you get lucky to climb to the top, be prepared to climb 257 steps, which is equivalent to climbing a 12-story building! There’s a landing pad every 31 steps so you can catch your breath.
46379 Lighthouse Rd, Buxton, NC, +1 252-473-2111
Enjoy the Beach
After visiting the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, we took a quick visit to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore to walk on the beach.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach is a popular hangout for surfers as the waves are bigger and the waters colder. If you aren’t into swimming or surfing, it’s also a good place to relax, look for shells, or fly a kite. A lifeguard is usually on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day, 9 am to 5 pm.
The Outer Banks has a lot of things to do, cool attractions to see, and plenty of amazing places to eat. There’s literally something for everyone here – especially if you’re a history buff or a foodie!
Just be sure to decide on where in the Outer Banks you want to stay and organize your sightseeing based on that location. Duck and Corolla are beautiful places in the Outer Banks and are known for wild horses. Unfortunately, it was too far for us to visit… this time!
If you decide to stay in the Buxton/Hatteras area, make sure you stay at the Inn on Pamlico Sound (or at least consider it). It’s like a home away from home!
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