From wild horses and historic lighthouses to fishing piers, beaches, and great food, the Outer Banks has something for every kind of traveler. Use the map and guides below to plan your trip and find the best things to do across the OBX. Not sure which month to come? Check our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit before you lock in dates. And when the day winds down, don’t miss our sunset spots guide for the eight best places to watch it happen. Prefer dry land? Our nature trails & bike paths guide maps every real trail on the islands.
Open this map full-screen in Google Maps — handy for saving it offline before you lose signal.
Top Outer Banks Attractions
- See the Wild Horses — the famous Corolla wild mustangs.
- Stand Where Flight Began — the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills.
- Climb a Lighthouse — Currituck and Bodie Island are open to climb; Cape Hatteras is closed for restoration through at least the end of 2026, and Ocracoke was never climbable.
- Hit the Beaches — the best stretches of sand by town.
- Go Pier Fishing — every ocean pier on the Outer Banks.
- Find Filming Locations — where the show is actually filmed.
- See the Shipwrecks — eight wrecks visible from shore, mapped with access points.
Things to Do by Town
Each OBX town has its own personality. Explore our local guides for each:
- Things to Do in Corolla
- Things to Do in Duck
- Things to Do in Kitty Hawk
- Things to Do in Kill Devil Hills
- Things to Do in Nags Head
- Things to Do in Manteo & Roanoke Island
- Things to Do on Hatteras Island
- Things to Do on Ocracoke Island
Crossing the Wright Memorial Bridge, H2OBX Waterpark at Powells Point is the area’s only true waterpark — slides for every age, wave pools, a lazy river, and cabanas, fifteen minutes from the beach towns. It’s seasonal and it’s popular: on peak summer days, buy tickets ahead.
Where to Eat & Stay
Round out your trip with our Outer Banks Restaurants map, Pet Friendly Travel guide, and RV Parks guide.