Eastern North Carolina

The NC Coast

Outer Banks · Cape Hatteras · Crystal Coast · Wilmington · Wild Horses

300+ Miles of Shoreline

A Coastline Unlike Any Other in America

North Carolina's coast is shaped by the forces that have always defined it — hurricanes, wild horses, shifting sands and the great Gulf Stream. The result is a landscape of extraordinary beauty: barrier islands stretched thin against the Atlantic, ancient live oak forests, and marshes teeming with wildlife.

From the legendary Outer Banks — where the Wright Brothers first flew and Blackbeard the pirate met his end — south to the unspoiled Crystal Coast and Wilmington's charming riverfront, the NC coast offers everything from solitude to surf.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse with black and white spiral stripes at sunset against dramatic sky and sea oats

198 ft Tall

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse — tallest brick lighthouse in the US

Wild Horses

Feral Corolla wild horses trace ancestry to Spanish mustangs

June–Aug

Peak beach season with warm waters — water temp 78–82°F

First in Flight

Wright Brothers Memorial at Kill Devil Hills marks first powered flight

The OBX

The Outer Banks

A 100-mile chain of barrier islands stretching from Corolla to Ocracoke — the most unique beach destination on the East Coast.

Woman walking on Outer Banks beach at sunrise with wild horses on dunes and Atlantic Ocean waves

Wild Horses: The Corolla wild horses are protected by law. You can view them on guided 4WD beach tours. Keep at least 50 feet away and never feed them.

OBX Highlights by Town

Corolla

The northernmost accessible town. Home to the wild horse herds, Currituck Beach Lighthouse and 4WD-accessible remote beaches.

Kill Devil Hills / Kitty Hawk

The Wright Brothers National Memorial and Jockey's Ridge State Park — the tallest active sand dune on the East Coast, great for hang gliding and sand boarding.

Nags Head

The classic OBX beach town with surf shops, seafood shacks and consistent waves. Best spot for surf lessons for beginners.

Manteo / Roanoke Island

Historic Roanoke Island is home to the mysterious Lost Colony of 1587. The outdoor drama "The Lost Colony" runs every summer — an American storytelling tradition since 1937.

Ocracoke Island

Accessible only by ferry. A timeless, unhurried island village with some of NC's most pristine beaches. The pirate Blackbeard met his end here in 1718.

National Seashore

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

The first designated National Seashore in the US (1953). 70 miles of protected barrier island shoreline — no commercial development, just pure beach, wildlife and the iconic lighthouse.

🏛️ Cape Hatteras Lighthouse — Climb the 257 steps of America's tallest brick lighthouse for panoramic ocean views. Open seasonally; admission required.
🐢 Sea Turtle Nesting — The seashore protects loggerhead sea turtle nesting grounds. Guided night walks available in summer.
🏄 Diamond Shoals — World-class kiteboarding and windsurfing at Cape Hatteras, where the Atlantic's currents collide.
🐟 World-Class Fishing — The "red drum capital of the world" — Cape Hatteras is a bucket-list surf-fishing destination.

Hurricane Season: August–October brings hurricane risk. Always check NOAA forecasts and NPS.gov before travel to the Outer Banks. Evacuations can be ordered for barrier islands.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse spiral stripes at golden sunset with sea oats dunes and ocean waves
Southern NC Coast

Crystal Coast & Wilmington

The southern stretch of NC's coast is calmer, less crowded and no less beautiful.

Pristine Crystal Coast beach with white sand and turquoise water

Crystal Coast

The Carteret County coast — nicknamed the Crystal Coast for its famously clear water — offers a quieter alternative to the OBX. Beaufort, NC (pronounced BOH-furt) is one of America's oldest port towns and home to the North Carolina Maritime Museum.

  • 🐎 Shackleford Banks — Wild horses accessible only by ferry from Beaufort
  • 🦈 Emerald Isle Beaches — Family-friendly, calm waters, great for kids
  • ⛵ Beaufort Historic Site — Free walking tours of one of NC's oldest towns
  • 🐬 Wild dolphin tours — Year-round dolphin watching from Beaufort waterfront
Wilmington NC Cape Fear River waterfront at sunset with colorful historic buildings and sailboats

Wilmington

NC's most historic coastal city sits on the Cape Fear River 15 miles from the beach. Downtown Wilmington is a gem — Victorian homes, a lively waterfront district and a surprisingly great restaurant and arts scene.

  • 🚶 Historic Downtown Riverfront — 1.75-mile boardwalk with shops, restaurants and river views
  • 🎬 EUE Screen Gems Studios — One of the largest studios outside Hollywood; tours available
  • 🌊 Wrightsville Beach — Just 10 miles from downtown, consistently voted one of the best beaches on the East Coast
  • 🎓 UNC Wilmington — Beautiful beachside campus with public access
Plan Your Visit

Coast Travel Practical Guide

Getting to the Coast

FromTo Outer BanksTo Wilmington
Raleigh~3 hrs~2.5 hrs
Charlotte~5 hrs~3.5 hrs
Durham~3 hrs~2.5 hrs
Washington DC~5 hrs~6 hrs

Safety & Sustainability

Rip Currents: The most dangerous beach hazard in NC. Always swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, swim parallel to shore — never directly against the current.

Leave No Trace: Never disturb sea turtle nests or wild horses. Pack out all trash. NC's barrier islands are fragile and irreplaceable ecosystems.