Public Bike Routes Through the Outer Banks

THE OBX WAY researched public bicycle routes from Oregon Inlet to the Town of Duck and built a FREE online Google Map to support safety, health, and education in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. To help cyclists anticipate shifts in separation from vehicles, the route is divided into ten sections. The map also identifies where riders will be on multi-use paths versus road shoulders.

By The OBX Way on May 16, 2025

THE OBX WAY examined public bicycle routes from Oregon Inlet to the Town of Duck for safety, health, and education purposes. These connected paths are organized into ten segments so riders can prepare for changes in traffic separation and transitions between multi-use paths and road shoulders. Once again, THE OBX WAY worked with HONORS intern Benjamin Lashley to highlight important sites and share Ben’s award-winning photography through this final project. Enjoy Ben’s photos, review the safety notes and local knowledge, then study the Outer Banks Bike Path Map.

1. Manteo to Pineapple Beach | Multi-Use Path | 5.35 mi

In historic downtown Manteo, The Outer Banks Trail Center serves as a public hub for outdoor recreation, access, and inclusion. The little shack reflects a stewardship mindset while offering a shaded place to pause and drift into daydreams. About a mile S, Manteo Cyclery provides dependable rentals and repair service. This relaxed route passes the Cemetery on Wingina and Freedmen’s Colony 1863 site before reaching Delvillar’s Pineapple Beach on the Umstead Bridge S side.

2. ORV Ramp 4 to S Nags Head | Hwy Shoulder | 3.85 mi

Oregon Inlet Campground is the ONLY place for year-round tent camping N of Hatteras Island, so this stretch matters for bikepackers as well as car campers. Along this part of the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway, the shoulders are slim but kept up regularly to reduce debris. Still, fast-moving Hwy 12 traffic may go beyond 55-mph or pass using oncoming lanes. With Bodie Lighthouse in view, this route is meant only for riders who are experienced and highly alert.

3. S Nags Head to Whalebone | Multi-Use Path | 4.75 mi

At the S end of Nags Head village, ORV Ramp 1 offers public parking, beach access, and open views of Hatteras National Seashore. This quiet straight route includes a parallel path for the full span of S Oregon Inlet Road, though it can collect rainwater after storms. Share the surface with walkers, runners, scooters, skaters, and other cyclists, and stay attentive to vehicles leaving hidden driveways. Green milepost markers make it easy to follow distance along the way.

4. Whalebone to N Nags Head | Multi-Use Path | 6.50 mi

Whalebone Park offers overflow parking across The Beach Road from Jennette’s Pier. This freshly paved yet nostalgic ride passes vintage motels, restaurants, retailers, churches, and more than two dozen public beach access points. Vehicle activity rises here, but the multi-use path continues for the complete 6.5-mile section, creating a strong option for family rides. Trash pickup happens Monday and Thursday, so watch for bins blown over by wind.

5. N Nags Head to Kill Devil Hills | Road Shoulder | 1.55 mi

At milepost 10 of Hwy 12, also known as Virginia Dare Trail, the Nags Head multi-use path changes into the KDH road shoulder. The shoulder is broad, but this stretch is not suggested for kids or casual riders looking for an easy cruise. At historic Ocean Bay Lifesaving Station, the green Bike Route 1 sign identifies the NCDOT Wright Brothers Bikeway and the safest route toward Kitty Hawk. Nearby bike shops can help with unexpected repairs, parts, or service needs.

6. Kill Devil Hills to Moor(e) Shore | Multi-Use Path | 5.00 mi

Route 1 travels past Wright Brothers Memorial and First Flight Airport N of Colington Road, where a tree-lined greenway links to scenic Bay Drive. This family-friendly route also includes soundside public parks with shaded shelter views across Kitty Hawk Bay. Windgrass Circle Park has free parking for the S entrance to the Wright Brothers Multi-Use Path. Before they became aviators, Orville and Wilbur were early bicycle builders moving through this same ground in 1900.

7. Moor(e) Shore to Sandy Run | Road Shoulder | 1.55 mi

Moor(e) Shore Road has no shoulder and is narrow, yet the quarter-mile stretch feels surreal. Stay alert while taking in the living shoreline, creek bridge, and Wright Brothers Garage Monument on the Tate House lawn. Farther N, Route 1 lanes run along both sides of 35-mph Kitty Hawk Road, where blind curves, scattered trash, and black bins S of Woods Road require caution. This track is appropriate for riders already comfortable with traffic and obstacles.

8. Sandy Run to Chicahauk | Multi-Use Path | 3.05 mi

Sandy Run Park works well as a staging point, with parking, water, shelter, portas, and a crosswalk W of Woods Road and Pruitt Path. The road shoulder, by contrast, is under one foot wide. Even with a 35-mph speed limit, riders should use the side path because large utility trucks often move materials along this route. Mature maritime forest surrounds the area, and sidetracks are worth considering before reaching The Bypass/Croatan Hwy and the broad path to the N.

9. Chicahauk to Duck Landing | Multi-Use Path | 5.20 mi

Both ends of this segment include public parking, at the Southern Shores Municipal Complex and Town of Duck Park. Near the S end, the sidewalk moves from W to E by the Community of Volunteers sign and the Triangle Park pole. Dismount at the crosswalk by the blue NC 12/Duck Road Path marker. This route offers distinct local character, including classic beach box homes, playful yard decorations, and native tree limbs arching above the pavement.

10. Duck Landing to County Line | Multi-Use Path | 4.65 mi

Within the commercial corridor, the Town of Duck has bike lanes AND sidewalks on both sides of Hwy 12. N of the newly installed living shoreline, the wide multi-use path goes by the Duck Fire Department, Army Corps of Engineers tower, and the former site of Caffey Inlet, which connected the ocean and sound from 1770-1811. The road N toward the remote frontier was first paved in 1987 and was recently repaved with rumble strips along the shoulder lines.

Safety Notes

Before heading out, confirm that your bicycle is mechanically ready, with special attention to tires, wheels, shifters, and brakes. When choosing clothing, prioritize function over fashion: wear visible shirts with UV protection and pants that taper away from the chain. A fluorescent vest can help, and sunglasses can reduce glare while helping keep loose sand from blowing into your eyes. Helmets are recommended for adults and required for children under 16 in North Carolina.

Importantly, the Great Trails State views bicycles as vehicles and riders as drivers. Cyclists must dismount their bikes at crosswalks to be recognized as pedestrians with the right-of-way. Although it is law for vehicles to stop, do not assume that drivers will see and obey. From dusk til dawn, bikes are required to use a front light and a red tail light or reflective clothing visible from 300 feet. Notably, NC impaired driver laws (.08) apply to cyclists, so always ride sober.

These shared community paths are used by people moving at different speeds, including strollers, shoppers, and commuters. Be patient, and announce yourself when passing others from behind. Alternatively, e-bikes are limited to 750w motors capable of reaching unassisted 20-mph on level ground. E-bikes may use sidewalks unless restricted by ordinance. When a marked, paved, public path is available, choose it over a shoulder for safety.

Local Knowledge

On the Outer Banks, bicycles offer an excellent way to travel, pairing exercise and efficiency while visiting countless natural, cultural, and historic landmarks. This photo story centers on established public paths and intentionally leaves out dangerous dragways. For example, Atlantic Beach Road rides can be inspiring during the off-season, but they are not recommended in the busy summer season because traffic becomes erratic and shoulders can be covered with sand.

Bridge riding from the mainland to the barrier islands is not advised because of 55-mph speed limits, vehicle exposure, and distance from emergency services. Even so, advanced cyclists and bikepackers can benefit from wider shoulders, good visibility, and Share the Road signage on the 3-mile Basnight Bridge, Ethridge Bridge, and Jug Handle Bridge, which together link Nags Head and Bodie Island with Rodanthe and Hatteras Island.

A grant from the Outer Banks Community Foundation made this project possible, supporting the purchase of a fat bike and gear from Manteo Cyclery. The grant also supported a 1-month bikepacking trek from Roanoke Island to False Cape, VA in February 2025. That expedition involved primitive tent camping through a snowstorm, then a week at Oregon Inlet Campground, and THE OBX WAY adopting the beach S of ORV Ramp 4 access.

Author

The OBX Way is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that identifies, documents, and promotes public trails for hiking, biking, and kayaking along the NC Outer Banks. The OBX Way has created the new Jockey's Trail, a 50-mile hiking route beginning at Jockey's Ridge State Park and continuing north to the VA border. Visit obxway.org or e-mail luke@obxway.org for recommendations, including special needs, accessibility, young families, scout troops, and veteran programs. Trail Angels and sponsors are encouraged to message as well.