30 Fun Things to Do In The Outer Banks in 2024

LOOKING FOR FUN THINGS TO DO IN THE OUTER BANKS?

We are here to help! We spent several weeks camping in the Outer Banks, exploring all of the fun things to do in this unique part of North Carolina. If you are looking for a fun beach vacation with the family, Outer Banks, North Carolina is the spot you are looking for.

The Outer Banks, commonly abbreviated OBX, are 200 miles of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. There are so many different fun things to do in the Outer Banks, making it a perfect beach destination.

The best part of the Outer Banks is the wide-open beachfront and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. There are so many fun things to do on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This is a beautiful part of the North Carolina coast.

The islands are filled with wild horses, charming towns, picturesque lighthouses, and stunning Outer Banks beaches. Swimming, watersports, and relaxing in the sun are what the Outer Banks are all about.

The Outer Banks is made up of 10 small towns spread out over about 84 miles, so unless you’re planning a road trip, it’s best to pick a general area based on the things you want to see and do.

Fun Things to Do in The Outer Banks

Things to Do in Kitty Hawk

1. Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve
2. Kitty Hawk Beach
3. Avalon Fishing Pier
4. Outer Banks Arboretum and Teaching Garden
5. H2OBX Waterpark

6. Wright Brothers National Monument

The first flights made by Orville and Wilbur Wright happened in the Outer Banks. So cool! There is a national monument here where you can learn more about the Wright brothers’ journey to flight.

There is a 60-foot-high granite monument, as well as other markers throughout the field telling the story of their first takeoffs and landings. We loved seeing the replica glider in the museum’s visitor center depicting what Orville Wright flew in.

Learning more about the history of this event was well worth the stop at the Wright Brothers National Monument.

The entrance fee for the Wright Brothers National Memorial is $10 for everyone 16 and older. Kids 15 and younger are free.

Things to Do in Corolla

7. Climb the Currituck Beach Lighthouse
8. Go Boutique Shopping
9. Head to the Northern Beaches

10. The Wild Horses of the Outer Banks

The Corolla wild horses are located on the northernmost sandy beaches just north of Corolla. The wild colonial Spanish mustangs have been stranded on the Outer Banks for centuries. These are wild animals so don’t expect to get close to the horses. It is even illegal to approach within 50 feet of the horses.

To see the wild horses you will more than likely either need a 4 WD vehicle or to go on a tour because the horses usually hang out on Corolla Beach.

Seeing the wild horses on the east coast is an amazing experience. The two-hour Outer Banks Wild Horse Tour will take you over the sandy dunes to find these beautiful animals. Tours are given in a 4WD open-air vehicle.

Along with seeing the horses, you will learn about their history as well as the history of the Outer Banks. Another fun place to see wild horses is on Assateague Island.

BOOK YOUR OUTER BANKS WILD HORSE TOUR HERE!

Things to Do in Nags Head

11. Outlets at Nags Head
12. Jennette’s Pier
13. Dowdy Park
14. First Flight Adventure Park
15. Nags Head Woods Preserve

Nags Head is one of the biggest Outer Banks towns and has quite a few amenities for visitors. There are a lot of kid-friendly attractions, restaurants, and beaches in town. If you need a rental during your visit, Nags Head is a good place to look for one.

We spent some time exploring the town and stopped in for a much-needed treat at Fat Boyz Ice Cream. They have a beautiful porch for relaxing and enjoying the beach-town vibe.

There are also great bike paths running from Nags Head to Corolla as well as throughout the Outer Banks. The bike paths are flat making it perfect for the entire family to enjoy. Riding bikes is one of the fun things to do in the Outer Banks.

16. Jockey Ridge State Park

Visiting Jockey Ridge State Park at sunset is a must-see when vacationing in the Outer Banks. It is a 425-acre park perfect for flying kites (pick up a kite from Kitty Hawk Kites), sandboarding, and watching the sunset. The best place to watch the sunset is from the highest dune on the Atlantic coast.

If you walk down from the tallest dune, you can go where the ocean meets the dunes.

The sand dunes keep their shape so well because of how wet they are. Only the top six inches of the dunes stay dry.

There are no entrance fees to enjoy Jockey Ridge State Park making it one of the best free things to do in the Outer Banks. This is one of our favorite state parks we have been to.

17. Oregon Inlet Fishing Center

If you want to go on a guided fishing trip, the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center is a great place to look. This area has some of the best fishing. We knew a guided fishing trip wouldn’t work with our kiddos but if you want to see the boats and the catches of the day, head to the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center around 4 pm.

We drove by a couple of other times during the day and there wasn’t much to see because all of the boats were out fishing. This is one of the unique things to do in the Outer Banks.

Outer Banks Attractions

18. Kayaking in the outer banks

One of the best things to do in the Outer Banks of North Carolina is spending time on the water. We rented a kayak to explore the Sound side of the Outer Banks. My girls had a great time learning how to paddle and exploring the coastline.

The Pamlico Sound is a beautiful place to enjoy water sports and spend time with your whole family and friends. This was one of our favorite Outer Banks activities.

Another great place to kayak near Kitty Hawk is in the Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Preserve. It is a creek that runs through one of North Carolina’s maritime forest habitats. It is a great place to kayak, especially if you are a beginner.

The rental reservation is for two hours and you have the option of a sit-in and sit on top kayaks.

Check Prices For a Kayak Tour Here!

OBX Lighthouses

There are five different OBX lighthouses. These lighthouses are an iconic part of the Outer Banks. If you’re driving down the entire Outer Banks, be sure to stop in at all of the lighthouses. If you’re staying in one central location, chances are there is a lighthouse nearby.

Visiting the Outer Banks historic lighthouses is one of the best parts of an Outer Banks vacation.

19. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in America. The lighthouse was moved to its current location in 1999 due to beach erosion. There are 257 steps to the balcony, the equivalent of climbing a 12-story building.

We didn’t get to climb the lighthouse because of pandemic restrictions but we still had a really fun time at the lighthouse.

Climbing tickets are $8 per adult and $4 for kids (at least 42” tall) and seniors. There is also a souvenir shop and a lighthouse museum near the Outer Banks lighthouse.

20. Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Currituck Beach lighthouse is in Corolla. This is a unique lighthouse because of its distinct red exterior. The red exterior was designed to set it apart from the other neighboring OBX lighthouses. The grounds are open for exploring year-round.

You can climb the 220 steps to the top seasonally. Typically it is open from climbing from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m from mid-March until the end of November. The cost to climb is $10 and kids under three are free if they are in a carrier.

21. Bodie Island Lighthouse

The Bodie Island Lighthouse is another fun Outer Banks lighthouse. It is more central in Nags Head so if you don’t want to make the drive out to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse this is a great option. It is 156 feet tall and you can climb to the top.

Climbing tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and children 11 years old and younger. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are sold on-site.

There is also a beautiful wildlife observation area you can walkthrough. It is a great place to see the birds native to the Outer Banks, North Carolina.

22. Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse

This is the least visited lighthouse in the Outer Banks probably because of its small stature and limited visibility. It is also tucked away in the Manteo waterfront. The lighthouse is open during the spring, summer, and fall, generally from Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The boardwalk near this lost colony is open year-round. Another fun thing to do in this area is visiting the Roanoke Island Festival Park.

23. Ocracoke Island Lighthouse

The Ocracoke Island Lighthouse is North Carolina’s oldest lighthouse in operation. In fact, it is the second oldest in the United States. If you’re taking the ferry over to Ocracoke Island, be sure to stop by this charming lighthouse.

One unique thing about this lighthouse is that it is not open to climbers and there is no information center on-site. It is still fun to explore the grounds and take pictures with the lighthouse.

24. Birdwatching

The Outer Banks is one of the best places for bird lovers. It is home to dozens of different native birds and thousands of migrating birds. The miles of beaches, maritime forest, and marshlands make the Outer Banks a place where wildlife can flourish.

Here are some of the best places for birding in the Outer Banks –

• The North Carolina Birding Nature Trails
• The Elizabethan Gardens
• Roanoke Island Marsh Game Land
• Jockey’s Ridge State Park
• Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

There is a Wings Over Water Festival also held annually in the Outer Banks.

Fun Things to Do in the Outer Banks – Beaches

Odds are if you are considering visiting the Outer Banks, you’re interested in going to the beach. Playing at the beach is one of the fun things to do in the Outer Banks. This area has some of the best beaches along the coast. Make sure to keep the beaches clean for the sea turtles.

Some of the beaches in the major cities in the Outer Banks have lots of amenities and if you’re looking for a quieter beach, check out the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. This is a great place to spend your beach days in the Outer Banks.

We’ve put together a complete guide on visiting the beaches of the Outer Banks including what to bring, which beaches to visit, and other details like driving and pets on the beach.

Read More: The Ultimate Outer Banks Beach Guide

25. Outer Banks Dolphin Tours

Getting out on the water to see the dolphins is one of the popular activities that everyone in the family can enjoy. Tours usually run from May through September.

Along with dolphins, you’ll have a chance of seeing herons, eagles, brown pelicans, and egrets. In addition to the wildlife in the Outer Banks, tours often go by the Bodie Island lighthouse and the Roanoke Island harbor.

Here are some of the companies offering dolphin tours in the Outer Banks –

• Safari Dolphin Tours (Nags Head, NC)
• Harbor Star Dolphin Tours (Wanchese, NC)
• Captain Johnny’s Dolphin Watch (Manteo, NC)

Explore the Outer Banks Piers

26. Rodanthe Fishing Pier

The pier sells daily and weekly fishing passes as well as sightseeing passes. There is bait, tackle, and fishing equipment for sale as well as a room for TV and video games. If you need a bite to eat, there are snacks, sandwiches, and hotdogs.

We also had a great time playing on the beach below the pier. The girls had a wonderful time riding their boards in the waves and playing in the sand.

Parking is $15 but after 5 p.m. there is no charge.

27. Jennette’s Pier

Jennette’s Pier stretches 1,000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. It is a beautiful pier. An interesting fact about the pier is that it is powered by the windmills on the pier.

There is an education center as well as a small aquarium on the pier. There is a small fee for walking on the pier. It is $2 for adults and $1 for kids.

Jennette’s Pier was originally built in 1939 making it the oldest fishing pier on the Outer Banks. It has been rebuilt many times. Most recently it was purchased by the NC Aquarium Society.

If you’re interested in visiting some other piers there are three in Nags Head, one in Kitty Hawk, one in Kill Devil Hills, one in Rodanthe, and one in Avon.

28. Drive Across the Outer Banks Scenic Byway

The drive along the Outer Banks Scenic Byway passes through 21 coastal towns, stunning views, and two ferry rides. The Outer Banks Scenic Byway is one of the most beautiful drives in North Carolina. Whether you take a day or a week to drive the byway, you will find plenty of things to see along the way.

The byway is 138 miles of road and 25 ferry-traveling miles. Islands on the byway include Cedar Island, Ocracoke Island, and Hatteras Island. This is the best way to get see the entire stretch of the coastline.

The North entrance is at the beginning of NC Highway 12 at Whalebone Junction (the intersection of US Highway 64 and Highway 158). From here, visitors travel south to the tip of Hatteras Island. From here, you will take the one-hour ferry ride to Ocracoke Island.

The drive itself takes 5-6 hours. If you plan on stopping at the sites along the way, we would recommend taking at least a couple of days to explore the area.

29. Ghost Crab Hunting

One of our favorite activities in the Outer Banks was ghost crab hunting. At least one day, you need to plan a late-night trip to the beach to find the Atlantic ghost crabs. There are sand-colored crabs that are about 2-inches in diameter.

We found it best to use headlamps out on the beach to have your hands free, but any flashlight will work. You can try to catch them with your hands, but they are pretty fast. We used a net and bucket to catch them and it worked really well.

After dark, you can head to the beach. We were surprised at how many we found. We saw about 100 crabs in our 30 minutes on the beach.

When a ghost crab is caught in the light, it generally freezes for a few seconds before running away.

If you do catch them, enjoy them for a few minutes and then release them. These crabs are not for eating.

The best time to find the ghost crabs is during the prime summer months, from late May until early September. This is one of the amazing things to do in the Outer Banks.

Fun Things to Do in the Outer Banks Map

How to Use This Map: Click on the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest.

If you click the star next to the title of the map, this will be added to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps. Then click on the menu button, go to “Your Place” and click on Maps. You will see this map added to your list.

Fun Things to Do in the Outer Banks – Restaurants

The restaurants in the Outer Banks have everything from a quick burger and fries to fine dining with some of the best seafood in the country. Whatever type of dining you are looking for, you will find it. This is especially true in the larger cities of Corolla, Kill Devil, and Nags Head.

30. Kill Devil Grill

If you’re looking for a unique diner experience and some delicious food, head to Kill Devil Grill. The restaurant is located in a 1939 Kullman dining car with tabletop jukeboxes and old-fashioned décor. It is an American food menu with burgers, sandwiches, crab cakes, and fried shrimp.

Here are some other highly recommended Outer Banks restaurants –

• Outer Banks Boil Company (Corolla)
• Urban Kitchen (Corolla)
• Harbor House Seafood (Hatteras Island)
• Buxton Munch Company (Hatteras Island)
• The Hungry Pelican (Roanoke Island)
• Art’s Place (Kitty Hawk)
• Spanky’s Grille (Kitty Hawk)

Getting to the Outer Banks

Getting to the Outer Banks is relatively easy whether you are driving or flying.

The Outer Banks is easily accessible from Norfolk International Airport which is 82 miles north. Raleigh Durham International Airport is 192 miles west. The drive from the airport to the Outer Banks will be a scenic drive as you pass over the many bridges leading to the Outer Banks.

There can be bad traffic coming from the north during the summer, especially on Saturdays. To help with beating the traffic onto the island, consider arriving on a day besides Saturday.

If you’re going to the Southern Shores like Kitty Hawk and Nags Head, consider an alternative route. There will be more miles to drive but you won’t be stuck in traffic.

Where to Stay in the Outer Banks

• Hilton Garden Inn Outer Banks/Kitty Hawk (Kitty Hawk)
• Kitty Hawk Townhome at Sea Dunes (Kitty Hawk)
• Beachwoods by Diamond Resort (Kitty Hawk)
• Comfort Inn South Oceanfront (Nags Head)
• Sand Castle Village (Nags Head)
• Hampton Inn & Suites Outer Banks (Corolla)

There is also a wide variety of AirBNB rentals in the Outer Banks if you prefer to have a kitchen and space to yourself.

Twiddy & Company Vacation Rentals

Another great option for finding a place to stay in the Outer Banks is with Twiddy & Company Vacation Rentals, a family-owned and operated vacation home rental company. Property listings are vacation homes and have amazing amenities like pools, hot tubs, and theater rooms, depending on the listing.

They even have some amazing ocean-front properties, making you just a few steps away from the ocean. We always love staying in vacation homes because of the kitchen and the extra bedrooms we have for our kids. Having the extra space is a huge bonus!

Tips for Visiting the Outer Banks

• Book your lodging early, especially in peak season. Accommodations fill up fast. If you’re looking for something specific, the earlier you can book it the better.
• Avoid traveling off the island on a Saturday. Traffic on Saturdays is by far the worst day.
• Don’t drive on the beach unless you have the right kind of vehicle that is properly prepared. Make sure to get your permits.
• If you’re driving, bring in as many groceries as you can. Supplies are more expensive on the beach.
• Explore the island. Cape Hatteras is very different than the cities like Kitty Hawk and Nags Head.

Do you have any other tips for visiting the Outer Banks? Let us know in the comments below.

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