The Outer Banks of North Carolina | Things to Do & Hotels

The Lost Colony Outdoor Drama

Now-August 22, 2026

The Lost Colony Outdoor Drama on the Outer Banks in Manteo is the nations longest symphonic drama.

Live from OBX

Live music experience at Roanoke Island Festival Park.

Live from OBX Concert Schedule at Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo North Carolina

WRV Outer Banks Pro

September 3-6, 2026

WRV Outer Banks Pro

5th Annual Billfish Tournament

September 12, 2026

Annual Billfish Tournament at the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center in Nags Head, North Carolina.

ESA Easterns Surfing Championships

September 20-26, 2026

ESA Mid-Atlantic Regional Surfing Championship

The Outer Edge Video Series

The Outer Edge Video Series is a captivating video series created by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau as part of its ongoing commitment to responsible travel and the vibrant local community it serves. Explore the heart and soul of the Outer Banks of North Carolina through the stories of OBX locals.

Make the Outer Banks Promise

Make a Promise, Protect the Place

NEST Sea Turtles on the Outer Banks at Roanoke Island Aquarium in Manteo.

Offers & Packages

Check out these specials and local discounts

Beautiful sunset in Duck on the Outer Banks.

Open Spaces, Endless Possibilities

Conveniently Located Just Beyond Compare

Outer Banks beach horseback riding on available on Hatteras Island.

A Fisherman's Paradise

Cast a line on the OBX

Inshore and Offshore Charter Fishing available on the Outer Banks.

Quaint Coastal Towns

Each with their unique charm

Biking in downtown Manteo on the Outer Banks.

Birds of a Feather

OBX Birdwatching Tips

The Outer Banks is known world-wide for having the best birding opportunities on the East Coast of North America.

The Outer Banks of North Carolina offers a welcome relief from crowded cities and overrun vacation spots. In fact, you won’t find any cities on the Outer Banks, just 100+ miles of wide-open shoreline, charming seaside villages, and a mix of towns brimming with personality and fascinating connections to our nation’s history. Although we’re just a drive away, these barrier islands feel remote. Choose an oceanside vacation rental home, and just pop in the keycode for your rental and start vacationing on your own stretch of beach. Or, go for a different home experience at one of the romantic B&Bs of Roanoke Island and enjoy the walkable waterfront downtown of Manteo. This is where our country started (only makes sense to start a vacation here, too). You’ll find a variety of Outer Banks hotels, motels, cottage courts, campgrounds suitable for whatever experience you choose.

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Unique Adventures

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Things to Do

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Nags Head lifeguard stand on the beach on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Beach Information

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Places to Stay

Free Outer Banks Travel Guide

Free Travel Guide

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Outer Banks Map

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OBX TOWNS

For travelers seeking an authentic coastal experience, the variety of towns and villages that dot the picturesque coastline of the Outer Banks are sought out by visitors far and wide.

20 Miles

Kitty Hawk to Manteo

63 Miles

Manteo to Hatteras Village

78 Miles

Duck to Hatteras Village

Culinary

Where to Eat on a Three Day Foodie Trip to the Outer Banks

9 min read

For decades, the Outer Banks of North Carolina (or OBX for short) have been famous for their…

Where to Eat on a Three Day Foodie Trip to the Outer Banks

History & Heritage

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Restoration: What Visitors Need to Know

7 min read

Updated July 2026 You may be wondering why America’s tallest lighthouse is still encased in…

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Restoration: What Visitors Need to Know

Family Fun

Budget Travel on the Outer Banks

6 min read

Not all beach vacations need to break the bank. The Outer Banks is a great spot to enjoy a fun and…

Budget Travel on the Outer Banks

Family Fun

Flying High with Park Rangers at the Wright Brothers National Memorial

5 min read

When brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright captured the attention of our 8-year-old son, Sean, my…

Flying High with Park Rangers at the Wright Brothers National Memorial

Family Fun

How to Plan a Successful Home Rental in the Outer Banks for your Family

9 min read

So, you’ve found your dream house on the Outer Banks of North Carolina for your family…

How to Plan a Successful Home Rental in the Outer Banks for your Family

Family Fun

Tips to Build a Beach Fire

3 min read

Learn how to build a beach fire along the shoreline of Cape Hatteras National Seashore or Nags Head…

Tips to Build a Beach Fire

Family Fun

Spend a Day in Nags Head

4 min read

Nags Head combines everything people love about the Outer Banks — sand dunes, dolphin tours…

Spend a Day in Nags Head

Family Fun

Spend a Day in Kill Devil Hills, NC

3 min read

Kill Devil Hills, NC, has everything you need to spend a memorable day in the Outer Banks. As the…

Spend a Day in Kill Devil Hills, NC

Outdoor Enthusiast

Sailing the Outer Banks: A Comprehensive Guide to Charters and Nautical Adventures

3 min read

Steady breezes, open water and breathtaking views make the Outer Banks one of the best places on the…

Sailing the Outer Banks: A Comprehensive Guide to Charters and Nautical Adventures

Culinary

Explore the Outer Banks Brewery & Spirits Trail

7 min read

For those who love the finer tastes in life, Outer Banks breweries and tasting rooms capture the…

Explore the Outer Banks Brewery & Spirits Trail

2026 Season of The Lost Colony

Jul 22, 2026 - Aug 22, 2026

2026 Season of The Lost Colony

Jul 22

Butterfly Release

Elizabethan Gardens
Jul 22, 2026 - Sep 24, 2026

Butterfly Release

Jul 22

Coastal Enginneering Camp

Jul 22, 2026 - Jul 24, 2026

Coastal Enginneering Camp

Jul 22

Greater Tuna - Theatre of Dare

Jul 22, 2026 - Aug 13, 2026

Greater Tuna - Theatre of Dare

Jul 22

Nags Head Woods Guided Hike

The Nature Conservancy at Nags Head Woods Preserve
Jul 22, 2026 - Jul 31, 2026

Nags Head Woods Guided Hike

Jul 22

Oceanfront Live Music: Ray Wag

Gather
Jul 22, 2026 - Sep 16, 2026

Oceanfront Live Music: Ray Wag

Jul 22

Soundside Summer Market - CANCELLED

The Soundside Event Site

Soundside Summer Market - *CANCELLED*

Jul 22

Tunes on the Terrace

Outlets Nags Head
Jul 22, 2026 - Sep 2, 2026

Tunes on the Terrace

Jul 22

Water Aerobics

Village Beach Club
Jul 22, 2026 - Sep 18, 2026

Water Aerobics

Jul 22

Concert on the Green

Jul 23, 2026 - Aug 27, 2026

Concert on the Green

Jul 23

Dowdy Park Summer Farmer's Market

Dowdy Park
Jul 23, 2026 - Aug 20, 2026

Dowdy Park Summer Farmer's Market

Jul 23

Nags Head Sunrise 5k/1 Mile Beach Race

OBX Running Company
Jul 23, 2026 - Aug 20, 2026

Nags Head Sunrise 5k/1 Mile Beach Race

Jul 23

Sanderling Seafood Boil

The Sanderling
Jul 23, 2026 - Sep 24, 2026

Sanderling Seafood Boil

Jul 23

SOULone | Oceanfront Live Music

Village Beach Club

SOULone | Oceanfront Live Music

Jul 23

Wheeland Brothers: Legendary Beach Bar Tour

Avon Pier & RV Park

Wheeland Brothers: Legendary Beach Bar Tour

Jul 23

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