OBX Windshield Tour | Be Safe. Be Smart. Have Fun.

Traveling the Outer Banks of North Carolina by car is a comfortable way to take in the beaches, unwind outdoors, and explore the many open-air activities found across the OBX.

By Outer Banks Visitors Bureau
May 04, 2020

Use this guide as a starting point for some of the top socially distanced things to do on the Outer Banks.

Explore the maritime forests on foot

Great walking routes can be found throughout Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve. Trails are available from dawn to dusk year-round, with scenery that includes sand dunes, ponds, marshes, and pieces of local history.

The Roanoke Trail is a favorite close-to-home option, with a short 1.5 mile round trip through the woods, past the old Tillett homestead, and onward to the sound. Just before the sound, a wooden walkway with benches offers an easy place to pause, look for wildlife, or enjoy the afternoon sunset across the reeds. The route is welcoming for dogs and kids as well.

Buxton Woods and Kitty Hawk Woods are also worth adding to the list.

Go shelling

The OBX is a natural fit for shelling and beach combing. The best windows are after a high tide, following a storm, early in the morning, or during the winter months.

Beachcombers on the Outer Banks often find themselves drawn into the search quickly. It may begin with a simple glance down at the sand, but soon the hunt for treasure takes over. A gold doubloon would be welcome, of course, but the prize can be anything: a piece of sea glass, a complete whelk shell, or even a striking rock. Once that first find is in hand, the search for the next one becomes part of the fun.

Look for ghost crabs

Ghost crab hunting is a nighttime activity many families enjoy. After sunset, bring a flashlight and walk down to the beach. Watch the sand closely as ghost crabs move away from the beam of light. It is one of the experiences featured on the OBX Bucket List.

Find quiet sunrise and sunset views

The Outer Banks brings together adventure and the sun. This stretch is where North Carolina sees its first morning sunrises and some of its biggest evening sunsets. Visitors can watch the colors appear just above the waves or make a little wave action of their own.

With more than 100-mile shoreline to explore, it is possible to seek out a peaceful spot that feels like your own without worrying about crowds.

Take a windshield tour of the Outer Banks Scenic Byway

The Outer Banks National Scenic Byway crosses one of the country’s remarkable wild and scenic coastal settings, tying together the distinctive maritime culture of 21 coastal villages.

The U.S. Department of Transportation recognized the traditional maritime culture found along the Byway with the National Byway designation in October 2009. The Outer Banks National Scenic Byway is one of only 150 nationally designated byways.

Following the North Carolina coast as it extends east into the Atlantic Ocean, the Byway covers over 138 driving miles and 25 ferry-riding miles along barrier islands, Pamlico Sound, two inlets, and coastal villages.

Visit Cape Hatteras National Seashore or the Wright Brother's National Memorial Pylon by car

Stay inside your own vehicle while exploring Cape Hatteras National Seashore and taking in views of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Pea Island Wildlife Refuge, Coquina Beach, and more.

At another National Park Service site, drive around the pylon on top of Big Kill Devil Hill at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. A road circles the hill, and parking is available near the picnic area beside First Flight Airport, where public restrooms are also located.

Play golf or disc golf

Bring your clubs into the sunshine at one of North Carolina’s year-round public courses. Ocean breezes and salt air make it clear you are enjoying the game on an island sandbar, away from everyday greens.

Courses are available that can test seasoned players while still feeling approachable for beginners. Nags Head, Sea Scape, and Duck Woods are all premiere golf destinations.

For disc golf, consider the newer Casey R. Logan Disc Golf Course in Kill Devil Hills.

Surf fish from the beach

Surf casters have access to more than 100 miles of beach. For a more remote outing, take a 4x4 vehicle.

Kayak or drive through Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

On the OBX, sound, bay, and estuary waters are as much a part of the landscape as the oceanfront. Salt marshes and open shallows create a maze that calls to paddlers.

Guided tours, specialty shops, outfitters, and public water access for kayaks and canoes can be found on both sides of the barrier islands. Ride the Atlantic Ocean surf or move into calmer waters on Pamlico or Roanoke Sounds.

Fly a kite

Wind and water have shaped the Outer Banks, making the steady breezes part of the experience. Visitors can pick up a handheld kite from a local retailer or head south to Hatteras Island for a kiteboarding lesson near the well-known S-turn or Canadian Hole.

Hike across Jockey's Ridge

Jockey’s Ridge State Park is recognized for the tallest sand dunes on the east coast. Many visitors may not realize that this state park also includes hiking trails. These paths move through the dunes and open toward the sound, with markers and information panels that explain the area’s unusual ecosystem.

Jockey's Ridge is going to be doing rigorous regular cleanings of the bathrooms and heavy touch surfaces at their visitor center. The outdoor bathroom doors will be left open when appropriate to ensure maximum ventilation. They may reduce the number of people allowed into the visitor center at any given time to allow for safe density.

Next to Jockey's Ridge, the newly completed boardwalk at the Soundside Road sound beach access adds another place to explore. There are 22 actual parking spots, with another 10 or so on average available on the west side of the entrance road leading off Soundside Road into the parking lot.

Walk Run Hill, the NEW NC State Natural Area

Run Hill is operated as a satellite of Jockey's Ridge State Park and is monitored by Jockey's Ridge staff. The area covers about 110 acres. Visitors often park at First Flight Middle School or near the field house just before the disc golf parking.