The answer is complicated. Technically, most of the Outer Banks is actually a peninsula stretching up into Virginia Beach, but there is no longer a way to travel between states on the beach.
The nature of the barrier islands means that over time, the general makeup of the islands shift and move with hurricanes, tides, and other weather. Islands can disappear, join with larger land masses, or those large islands can be split up by these same weather patterns into smaller individual islands. However, the generally agreed upon areas of the Outer Banks are the Northern Beaches, Knotts Island, Roanoke Island, Bodie Island, Pea Island, Hatteras Island, and Ocracoke Island.
If you're thinking about staying in the Virginia Beach area of the Outer Banks, check out our Sandbridge Beach vacation rentals!
Our first stop in the tour of the Outer Banks, North Carolina are the Northern Beaches. For most visitors, this is the first area you'll stop in before making your way to your final destination - or the place you'll be spending your entire vacation!
Carova Beach is the furthest north you can get in the North Carolina area of the Outer Banks, and can only be accessed by boat or four-wheel drive. For those looking for a more easily accessible but still isolated place to spend their vacation, nearby Corolla is the place to be, where you'll have access to grocery store, restaurants, and gear rental agencies. You can always plan a day trip to Carova!
Moving further down south (but still within the area that is colloquially known as the Northern Beaches), there are the notable towns of Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head. The rest of the Northern Beaches is famous for its place in aviation history and the busy Jockey's Ridge State Park. Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head have a variety of restaurants and shops, ample beach parking, and bathhouses near some boardwalks.
Even if you're not that daring it's fun to see the giant sand dunes and watch the more adventurous zip across the waves. Bringing your dog? Duck and Nags Head have the most dog-friendly beach rules.
Love the idea of the simplicity of times gone by? Stay in the northern towns. Check out our curated things to do pages for the towns of our Corolla, Duck, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head for more information!
A small town on the Currituck Sound, Knotts Island can only be reached by road in Virginia. In North Carolina, you have to take a ferry to visit. The ferry is free, however.
If you're looking for a laid back and secluded place to spend an afternoon, Knotts Island is it. Have dinner at Pearl's Bay Villa, or shop at the Knotts Island Market. If you have the time, also check out Martin Farm and Winery - they have pick your own peaches, apples, and grapes, as well as a wine tasting room if that's more your speed!
Roanoke Island includes the small towns of Manteo and Wanchese. These villages are pedestrian-friendly and offer watersport gear rentals, events, restaurants, and wonderful, wide beaches. Roanoke Island has a legendary history that you'll feel immersed in it as soon as you arrive. It is also a good midway point if you want to take in both the north and south islands of the Outer Banks chain.
Bodie Island has changed over time into a peninsula due to years of shifting beaches, but it has retained it's originally name for the area. It refers to the shoreline between southern Nags Head and Oregon Inlet.
Bodie Island became a peninsula in 1811, when the Roanoke Inlet was shoaled (became shallower) and was closed. The beach accesses along Bodie Island include two 4x4 accesses, where you can drive along the beach. Make sure to pick up your beach driving permit so you can enjoy off-roading worry free!
Between Bodie and Hatteras Island is the small, mostly uninhabited Pea Island. At various times, it has been part of both Bodie and Hatteras Island, as the sands shift and move along the coast line.
In 1846, the Oregon Inlet opened, separating Pea from Bodie Island (New Inlet had opened in 1738, separating Pea from Hatteras almost a century earlier). New Inlet continued to open and close over the following years, joining and separating Pea from Hatteras several times, even up until recent years. It was only in 2011 when Hurricane Irene reopened New Inlet and separating the northernmost 11 miles from Hatteras yet again, establishing Pea Island as it exists today.
However, that doesn't mean that the island hasn't had national focus on it, even as ephemeral as its existence is. Not only was it the site of the first Coast Guard life saving station with an all African-American crew, but it has also been the site of the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge since 1937. If you're wanting to spend some time on Pea Island, there are plenty of beach access points and parking at the visitor's center - or enjoy the hiking trails on the sound side of the island! But be aware: unlike other beaches in the area, Pea Island does not allow for any 4x4 driving of any kind on the beach.
Hatteras Island encompasses the vacation-friendly towns of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras. Several towns (Rodanthe, Waves, Frisco, Avon, and Salvo) are small with basic provisions nearby and Nags Head just a short drive for anything more you might need. If you're looking for a quiet place to unplug, Rodanthe is the place to do it. Buxton is also low-key and is the home of the famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. If you surf, the Atlantic side of Buxton and Hatteras has the biggest waves in the Outer Banks. The sound side of Hatteras Island is a haven for other watersports. The larger town of Hatteras has the most activities and rentals for vacationers, and is a popular destination for anglers.
What Ocracoke Island lacks in square mileage it makes up for in history. Remote and reachable only by ferry, private boat, or private plane, visitors to Ocracoke Island will find there are enough restaurants, shops, and activities to make a nice vacation. History lovers will appreciate the British cemetery, the old fort, and a visit to the site of Blackbeard the pirate's last stand. Even though roads connect the islands of the Outer Banks of North Carolina, each has managed to develop it's own culture. No matter which one you choose, you're sure to enjoy your foray into the fascinating history and unspoiled beauty of this special place.
