Is the Outer Banks worth an 8 hour drive? (Wilmington, Kitty Hawk: houses, camp)
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I have heard great things about the Outer Banks all my life. When I look at the pictures I see sandy beaches, ocean, and generally what you expect to find when you go to the shore. Now, we have been to many shore places up and down the Maryland's eastern shore and other places. So my question is is the Outer Banks different enough to take the family for an 8 hour ride? Are we gonna wake up and see a typical sandy beach in front of us, as pretty as it might be?
In a fundamental sense, you're right - yeah it's a beach with tourist shops. Although the sand dunes on Jockey's ridge are unique things not every beach has. When I was a kid a thought the long bridges over the sounds were interesting to ride over.
It helps to be interested in history to travel the outer banks. There are memorial sites for war battles, shipwreck sites. There is the Wright brother's museum in Kitty Hawk, There are lighthouses at Hatteras and Ocracoke. There's Fort Fisher and the USS NC battleship.
If your kids are older and they like quiet and nature there are long stretches of the outer banks that have no development. Fine for bird watching or just getting out of the car and walking an uncrowded section of the shore.
So my question is is the Outer Banks different enough to take the family for an 8 hour ride? Are we gonna wake up and see a typical sandy beach in front of us, as pretty as it might be?
The waves are a bit higher and rougher than some other areas on the east coast. The lighthouse is interesting, but, no, I don't think it is unique enough to be worth an 8-hour trip. BTW, Fort Fisher and the US NC battleship are in Wilmington, not the Outer Banks.
If you are looking for other wild natural places closer, you might try Assateague Island.
In a fundamental sense, you're right - yeah it's a beach with tourist shops. Although the sand dunes on Jockey's ridge are unique things not every beach has. When I was a kid a thought the long bridges over the sounds were interesting to ride over.
It helps to be interested in history to travel the outer banks. There are memorial sites for war battles, shipwreck sites. There is the Wright brother's museum in Kitty Hawk, There are lighthouses at Hatteras and Ocracoke. There's Fort Fisher and the USS NC battleship.
If your kids are older and they like quiet and nature there are long stretches of the outer banks that have no development. Fine for bird watching or just getting out of the car and walking an uncrowded section of the shore.
Fort Fisher and the Battleship are in Wilmington, about 5 hours from the Outer Banks...
Go south of Ocracoke for a change of pace. You'll see more cars from Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey on OBX than you will from North Carolina. Ironically those cars from New England usually have license plates that begin with OBX.
We went one time and felt that was enough. The history was interesting, but climbing over the dunes to see the ocean was problematic for me (arthritis) and the ocean is rough. I think it's a nice vacation and enough to see/do, but too far to drive for a repeat.��⛵
I used to go to the Outer Banks at least once a year from NY. It's one of my favorite places in the country honestly. Well worth the 8 hour drive in my opinion. It is unique for a beach in how vast it is, and the wildlife is also something you can't really see anywhere else. That paired with the history make it a really great place.
If you've never been, certainly worth the drive. Personally, I can't wait til the next time I can get over there. We're going to camp on the beach (another cool thing to do there)
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It depends on what you're expecting. I have friends that vacation every year in Ocean City, MD. They asked me about the OBX. I asked them what they expected. Perhaps an experience like Ocean City with the boardwalk and almost carnival like atmosphere? They said yes, like that. I told them not to bother.
Although the OBX is not want for visitors, and has plenty of touristy type shopping, it is a much more laid back experience. You go to the OBX for the beach and the ocean. As others have noted in this thread, there isn't really much to do outside of the beach.
The OBX is a part of Eastern Carolina. While there is plenty to see and do in EC, it is spread out and requires a lot of driving to get to the different places.
I was underwhelmed on my first trip. Maybe my expectations were too high. I expected magic, and the Outer Banks did not deliver. However I have been a million times, in varying capacities, so it was not all that bad.
If you want a week or two week vacation to recoup and escape your day to day BS, it would be worth 8 hours. Any less than a week, and you are pushing it, especially if you need something other than water and beach to "make your day."
I would NEVER do it for a long weekend. I don't to the three hour for that now!
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