Total Mileage/Average drive time
63 miles, 1 hour, 22 minutes
Off the coast of North Carolina, between the Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico Sound, is the place of legends and ghost stories with tales of shipwrecks, pirates and danger. Explore the islands and find out how the Gray Man warns residents of approaching hurricanes, explore what happened to the mythical Lost Colony and discover if Virginia Dare was a real child. Comprised of a 200-mile-long chain of barrier islands with miles of unspoiled beaches, there's plenty to do and even more to explore.
1. Hatteras - Starting Point
The pounding of the waves, the moaning of the winds or the calmness of a starry night can all be experienced at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, a guardian of the sea for over 140 years. More than 1,000 shipwrecks have occurred in this region, earning it the nickname Graveyard of the Atlantic. In Hatteras Village, you can visit the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, where the maritime history of seafaring, exploration, piracy and warfare is presented, along with artifacts from shipwrecks off the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Dive in and enjoy swimming, windsurfing and kayaking on the protected side of the island, or explore a variety of fishing opportunities on the Atlantic.
2. Rodanthe - 34 miles, 46 minutes
Visit the largest rescue station in the country at the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Museum on the eastern-most point of North Carolina, one of only two 1874 life-saving stations open to the public. Delve into all types of water sports, like windsurfing, kiteboarding, and paragliding; enjoy all the amenities of the world-class Cape Hatteras RV Resort, the only oceanfront-to-soundfront camping in the state.
3. Manteo - 29 miles, 36 minutes
On the grounds of what is now the Fort Raleigh National Park, you can walk where the Roanoke Colony settled in 1585 in their attempt to establish a permanent English settlement in the New World. Explore the museum exhibits, including a replica of colonists' 16th-century ship, as you learn about what might have happened in those three years after the last supplies arrived from England and all 117 colonists disappeared. The fate of the Lost Colony remains a mystery to this day. Relive the story during the summer months, when The Lost Colony is performed on stage in Manteo. A "New World" awaits.
Outer Banks Visitors Bureau
Manteo, (877) 629-4386