An OBX Escape: A Weekend Trip From DC to North Carolina’s Outer Banks

By Julia Randall
May 30, 2023

For travelers searching for weekend trips from DC, the Outer Banks delivers more than 100 miles of gorgeous beaches, gardens, beach towns, and historic lighthouses.

For beach getaways, few places compare with North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Stretching across 100 miles of scenic barrier islands, the area feels far removed from everyday life while still being simple to access. With unspoiled shoreline, historic lighthouses, and inviting coastal towns, an Outer Banks trip offers plenty to discover. Whether the visit lasts a week or only a weekend, there is a distinctive adventure waiting — as I found out myself.

How to reach the Outer Banks

Whether arriving from the North or the South, driving is usually the easiest way to travel to the Outer Banks. From Washington, D.C., the trip takes about a 5 hour drive. Another option is to fly into Norfolk International Airport, located about 90 miles from the northernmost area of the OBX. In either case, having a car during the trip makes getting around much easier, so travelers flying in should plan to reserve a rental car.

Places to stay on the Outer Banks

One reason the Outer Banks feels so distinctive is the absence of high rise hotels or resorts along the shoreline. Instead, the islands are known for appealing beach houses, along with smaller inns and more intimate resorts. The Sanderling Resort blends both experiences especially well, pairing luxury resort amenities with accommodations that keep a close, beach-house feel and offer incredible oceanfront views.

The Sanderling amenities include private beach access, two outdoor pools, one of which is adults only, an indoor pool and fitness center, onsite dining, and several activity options. Guest rooms come in a range of sizes, with choices suited to different group sizes. Guests can also book one of the resort’s private vacation homes or cottages for a more elevated stay.

One experience worth making time for is dinner at the resort’s onsite restaurant, the Lifesaving Station. Set inside a carefully restored 1899 life-saving station, the restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows with a sweeping look out over the Currituck Sound and a setting that feels hard to match. The menu focuses on southern coastal inspired dishes, and everything I tried was delicious, with the crab hush puppies especially worth ordering.

Things to see and do in the Outer Banks

Spend time at The Elizabethan Gardens

In Manteo, the Elizabethan Gardens cover 10 lush acres and were first created in 1951 as a tribute to the first English colonists who reached America and to Queen Elizabeth I, the monarch of the time. A walk through the grounds brings together plants, flowers, and sculptures in a beautiful setting. Highlights inside the gardens include the Italian Renaissance Garden, the Great Lawn, the Queen’s Rose Garden, and the Sunken Garden.

Tour Bodie Lighthouse

Bodie Island Lighthouse is in South Nags Head and offers tours during the summer months. At 156 feet tall, the lighthouse provides dramatic views of the surrounding landscape from the top. The climb up the winding stairs includes details about the lighthouse’s history and the keepers who cared for it through the years. Reaching the top rewards visitors with wide panoramic views and an ideal photo opportunity.

Try a hang gliding lesson at Jockey Ridge State Park

For a one-of-a-kind and exciting addition to the itinerary, a dune hang gliding lesson is a great choice. The Outer Banks is known for broad sandy beaches and natural dunes that work well for hang gliding. One of the top places for a lesson is Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head, where visitors can glide above the tallest natural sand dune on the East Coast.

During my trip, I reserved a hang gliding lesson with Kitty Hawk Kites, a local adventure company offering several kinds of hang gliding lessons for different experience levels. My beginner lesson lasted about 3 hours, covering the basics before giving me the chance to try a few thrilling test flights. The Kitty Hawk Kites instructors are highly trained and experienced, and they helped make the outing fun and memorable.

Anyone hoping to take a dune hang gliding lesson should make a reservation ahead of time, since spots often book quickly.

Go kayaking in Kitty Hawk

The Outer Banks has many kayaking tour options. For my visit, I chose something more relaxed and found a great fit with the Kitty Hawk Maritime Forest Kayak Tour.

This experience moves through the calm Kitty Hawk Woods Maritime Forest, offering a chance to explore the marshland ecosystem and see some of the wildlife that lives there. As we paddled along the narrow channels, we were surrounded by tall trees, birdsong, and no tide to fight against, which made the tour especially peaceful. Our guide shared interesting details about the local vegetation and wildlife and helped point out animals along the way. On my tour, we spotted birds, turtles, and even a few small, curious otters. Altogether, it was a relaxing and memorable way to take in the natural beauty of the Outer Banks and well worth booking.

Browse shops and restaurants in Duck, NC

As someone who loves locally-owned shops with personality, downtown Duck quickly became one of my favorite stops on the trip, especially because it sits just a few minutes from the Sanderling Resort. The walkable, charming area has a variety of shops and places to eat. Between playful boutiques and welcoming gift shops, there are plenty of places to wander and find something interesting.

One favorite discovery was Duck’s Cottage, a cozy bookstore and coffee shop at the Waterfront Shop village along the Currituck Sound, where the homemade fudge is not to be missed. The village also has over a dozen additional shops, making it easy to search for a souvenir or gift to take home. When it is time for food or drinks, nearby options include the iconic Duck Donuts shop and Aqua Restaurant.

This blog post was part of a hosted visit and paid partnership with The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. Recommendations and reviews remain genuine, these opinions are my own.

Category: Art & Culture

Author

Julia Randall lives in Washington DC with her girlfriend Brit, and they love leaving the city whenever they can. She believes PTO should never be spent on ordinary travel. Through international trips and domestic long weekends, she has developed a knack for planning getaways. Julia enjoys searching for hidden travel experiences, deals, and destinations, and shares more itineraries and travel inspiration at staysandgetaways.com and @staysandgetaways on Instagram and TikTok.