Driving to the Outer Banks — Routes and Directions

The Outer Banks reaches as far east as possible without entering the water. Find the route that matches your starting point below and follow these straightforward instructions. These directions are guaranteed to alleviate the need to stop and ask.

Ferry Schedules

Because water surrounds the area, ferries are a convenient and popular way to travel around the Outer Banks.

Beach Driving Guidance

Off-road vehicles (ORVs) have long offered visitors a way to experience the Seashore’s ocean beaches.

Bringing Pets to the OBX

Bring Your Furry Friends!

The beaches, towns and villages of the Outer Banks can be enjoyable and rewarding for pets and their owners.

From Norfolk International Airport

• Begin by traveling Southwest.
• Turn RIGHT toward I-64/Airport Exit.
• Turn LEFT onto NORVIEW AVE.
• Merge onto I-64/HAMPTON ROADS BELT toward VA BEACH/CHESAPEAKE.
• Via EXIT 291B, merge onto I-464 S/US-17 S/MARTIN LUTHER KING JR MEMORIAL HWY toward VA-104 S/ELIZABETH CITY/US-17 S/DOMINION BLVD/VA-168 S.
• Use the exit on the LEFT toward NAGS HEAD/MANTEO to merge onto VA-168 S. Portions toll. VA-168 S becomes US-158 S.

From the North

• Travel south on I-95 to Richmond, Va.
• Continue east on I-64 toward Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Va.
• Take I-64 or I-664 to Chesapeake, Va.
• From I-64, use Exit 291B for Route 168, the Chesapeake Expressway.
• *Once in North Carolina, Route 168 turns into US-158 East.
• To avoid toll charges on Route 168 (Chesapeake Expressway), take exit 8B off Route 168 South, the Hillcrest Parkway Exit. Turn right at the second traffic light, near Wawa, onto Battlefield Blvd. (Route 168 South Business).
• Continue along this road to The Outer Banks.
• *Chesapeake Expressway is a toll-road with new rates that took effect May 1, 2011. EZPass and SmartTag accepted.

An Alternate Northern Route

• From Virginia's Eastern Shore, cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel on Route 13.
• Follow Route 13 and Northampton Boulevard to I-64 East toward Chesapeake.
• Take Exit 291B to Route 168, the Chesapeake Expressway.
• *Once in North Carolina, Route 168 turns into US-158 East.
• Continue on this route to The Outer Banks.
• *Chesapeake Expressway is a toll-road with new rates that took effect May 1, 2011. EZPass and SmartTag accepted.

For current information about road construction and traffic congestion in Virginia, visit 511virginia.org.

A Scenic Route From the North

• Leave I-64 at Hampton, Va.
• Travel south on I-664 through Monitor-Merrimack Memorial Bridge-Tunnel.
• Take I-64 toward Norfolk/Virginia Beach, then head south on US-17 at Deep Creek, Va. toward South Mills, NC.
• Continue south on NC-343 to US-158 South and The Outer Banks.

From the West

• Enter North Carolina via I-95 or I-85 and take US-64 East toward Rocky Mount.
• Remain on US-64 East through Williamston and Plymouth, NC.
• At Plymouth, NC, continue east toward Roanoke Island and The Outer Banks.

From the South

• Take I-95 to Rocky Mount, NC.
• Use US-64 East toward Rocky Mount.
• Follow US-64 east through Williamston and Plymouth, NC.
• From Plymouth, NC, continue east to Roanoke Island and The Outer Banks.

A Scenic Route From the South

• Travel north on US-17N from South Carolina to Wilmington, NC.
• From US-17N, take State Route 24 east until it meets US-70 before Morehead City, NC.
• Follow US-70 North from Morehead City to State Route 12 and the Cedar Island Ferry.
• Board the toll ferry to Ocracoke Island.
• Continue north on State Route 12 to the Hatteras Island Ferry.

Driving Distances

| City/State | Approximate Mileage | |---|---:| | Asheville, NC | 460 mi. | | Atlanta, GA | 607 mi. | | Baltimore, MD | 315 mi. | | Boston, MA | 717 mi. | | Charleston, SC | 450 mi. | | Charlotte, NC | 359 mi. | | Cincinnati, OH | 739 mi. | | Cleveland, OH | 632 mi. | | Columbus, OH | 670 mi. | | Fayetteville, NC | 242 mi. | | Greensboro, NC | 282 mi. | | Greenville, NC | 150 mi. | | Jacksonville, FL | 624 mi. | | Montreal, Quebec | 780 mi. | | Myrtle Beach, SC | 321 mi. | | Nashville, TN | 732 mi. | | Newark, NJ | 482 mi. | | New York City, NY | 503 mi. | | Norfolk, VA | 90 mi. | | Philadelphia, PA | 413 mi. | | Pittsburgh, PA | 505 mi. | | Raleigh, NC | 192 mi. | | Richmond, VA | 169 mi. | | Rocky Mount, NC | 154 mi. | | Savannah, GA | 492 mi. | | Toronto, Ontario | 827 mi. | | Washington, DC | 269 mi. | | Wilmington, NC | 251 mi. |