Ah, the Outer Banks Scenic Byway in North Carolina. It's been featured in movies, in books, in poetry. It's a source of inspiration, of magic, of creativity. It's a Sunday activity and a long time tradition of those who visit the coast. While the road takes you far more places than 'nowhere,' it's a road that allows you to leave the world behind. And there are some stretches of this beloved route that make you feel as though you've reached the edge of the world. Simply put, there's nothing else like it in the whole state.
Here's more on why you can look forward to driving the Outer Banks Scenic Byway in North Carolina.
The Outer Banks Scenic Byway in North Carolina stretches a total of 138-driving miles and 25-ferry miles. It begins at Whalebone Junction on HWY 12 in Dare County and ends in Beaufort in Carteret County.
You'll travel through some of the most pristine, and sometimes untouched areas of North Carolina's Outer Banks. The byway takes you through 21 coastal villages.
The drive takes around 6.5 hours, with 3.5 of those being spent on ferries. That is, if you drive it straight. With the Pamlico Sound on one side and the Atlantic on the other, it's a breathtaking six to seven hours. It's recommended you break the drive up as you'll pass several landmarks and little gems along the way. Some highlights include...
...Bodie Island Lighthouse, a 156 ft. black and white lighthouse rebuilt in 1872 to replace the original that was destroyed in the Civil War...
...the charming, quaint, and also cinematic beach town of Rodanthe...
...the wild, rugged, and beautiful Cape Hatteras National Seashore...
...the incredible salt marshes of Cedar Island Wildlife Refuge...
...and, of course, the mesmerizing and beautiful wild horses of the Outer Banks. Left in the 1500s by explorers, these descendants of Spanish Mustangs have learned to survive on the harsh landscape. They're found throughout the OBX but most notably in Carova, Corrolla, and Shackleford Banks.
You'll also encounter "Hoi Toiders" or High Tiders, who are longtime residents of Outer Banks villages that have retained an Elizabethan dialect due to their remote location.
Be sure to check out Ocracoke Island Lighthouse, circa 1823. It's one of the oldest operating lighthouses on the Atlantic coast, and also North Carolina's only operating lighthouse within a town.
The byway ends in Beaufort, and from here you can explore all the Crystal Coast has to offer, including a day trip the remote Shackleford Banks. You can even just take a relaxing beach day in the crystal clear surf of Emerald Isle.
One thing is true, there really is nothing like the Outer Banks Scenic Byway in North Carolina. The magic you experience while driving this route will make you feel as though you've been transported to a whole new world and a place you thought only existed in your imagination.
The Outer Banks Scenic Byway should be top of your bucket list, and for good reason, there's truly nothing like it in North Carolina. Now, I'm ready for a drive!
If you're looking for other drives in North Carolina, these ten beautiful byways are the most scenic in the state.
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