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Planning the Best Day Trip to Cape Hatteras, NC

hatteras lighthouse

If you’re planning a vacation to the Outer Banks (OBX) in North Carolina, be sure to set aside a day to spend some time exploring Cape Hatteras. Most of the folks that travel to the OBX tend to stay in the Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head area. But it’s important to understand that the OBX is so much more! This 200-mile (320 km) long strip of barrier islands, located on the eastern coast of North Carolina, has a lot to offer. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a foodie or a beach bum, we recommend planning a day trip to Cape Hatteras.

Cape Hatteras has been named as one of “10 Great Beaches for Nature Lovers” by the Travel Channel.

Travel Channel

Get an Early Start

If you’re traveling to Hatteras from the main OBX strip (Kitty Hawk/ Kill Devil Hills/Nags Head) it will take you about an hour and a half to make the drive down. We recommend getting an early start so that you can maximize your day. We guarantee there is plenty to see to fill your time. If you’re planning to hit the beach a some point during the day, be sure to pack you chairs, towels, suits, a cooler and sunscreen.

Cape Hatteras is made up of several townships including Rodanthe, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras proper. The barrier islands that make up the National Seashore are super exposed to the elements and the shape you see today is a result of thousands of years of brutal, Atlantic front weather. Odds are, when you come back in another decade it’ll be a different shape then too!

cape hatteras national park sign
Welcome to Cape Hatteras National Seashore!

Take your Breakfast to Go

Being you’re on the road for a hot minute, why not take the opportunity to try a new coffee shop along the way. (If you have a favourite spot that you can’t pass up, we’d love to hear about it!) And be sure to grab some extra snacks for the beach later as well.

Here are a couple of our favourites (North to South):

  • Ashley’s Espresso Parlour (100 E Helga St, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948)
  • Front Porch Cafe (2200 N Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948)
  • Biscuits N’ Porn (2112 S Croatan Hwy, Nags Head, NC 27959)
  • Wave Riders (3022 S Croatan Hwy, Nags Head, NC 27959)
  • Muffins & Scones (40126 NC-12, Avon, NC 27915)
  • Orange Blossom Bakery (47206 NC-12, Buxton, NC 27920)
  • Scratchmade Snackery (57544 NC-12, Hatteras, NC 27943)

Admire Local Artistry

As you make the drive, you’ll notice plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy local artisan spots. If art floats your boat, there are galleries and permanent art fixtures peppered along this coastal drive. We are particularly fond of murals and there are a few to see on this day trip. You’ll see several pieces by Justin Paxton, local artist with an eye for marine themed murals. You’ll even find a painted horse or two along the way.

painted work around cape hatteras
Swordfish mural (left) and octopus VW beetle painted by local artist JPAX

See Where Fresh Seafood Comes From

There are several waterfront restaurant in Cape Hatteras. You can even catch a glimpse at a couple fishing boats and fish houses nestled away in the town of Hatteras. Fishermen here run small [mostly] day boats. This means they’ll head out to sea at the crack of dawn to catch whatever fish is in season, and have it home in time for dinner! Here you’ll find locally caught tuna, mahi, grouper, speckled trout, bluefish, weakfish, shrimp, crab and oysters on the restaurant menus. Some eateries will even tell you what boat they bought their fish from (ocean to table style!). Otherwise, you can plan to take a charter trip and head offshore to catch your own dinner!

Revel in a Bit of History

The coast along the Outer Banks is known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. That’s because thousands of ships have wrecked on it’s doorstep over the centuries. Make your way all the way to the tip of Hatteras Island where you’ll find the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. Admission to the museum is free but they are happy to accept donations.

The Outer Banks are also no stranger to pirates. You’ll see lots of pirate flare around town and even notice familiar names. Teach’s Lair Marina is named after Edward Teach. Recognize the name? Blackbeard was his alter ego. Our local celebrity.

Hatteras is so named for the native American tribe that once resided here (Hatteras Indians), also known as ‘Croatans’ or “people of shallow water”.

Wikipedia
flower and beach signs
Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum; Phil holding an ‘Apple Ugly’ out front of Orange Blossom Bakery & Cafe; Social distancing at the beach

Take Your Picture With a UFO (?!)

One of the popular roadside attractions is something one would expect to see in New Mexico, but not along the North Carolina coast. Known as the Frisco UFO, the flying saucer structure is a “blink and you’ll miss” it type of attraction. The second most photographed landmark, after the lighthouse, has been a local attraction since the 70s. It was actually sold in Playboy Magazine!

Designed by Matti Suuronen in 1868, there are over 60 of these Futuro Houses located around the world! The Frisco structure itself was originally used as a beach house that people could rent out. It was then moved into town and used as a girl/boy scout head quarters, then a fast food stand, before settling in it’s current location. Meet the owner and property owner here. The Frisco UFO is located at 52186 Morriss Lane, Frisco, NC but isn’t the only local supernatural attraction.

ufo ship and weather station
Frisco UFO (Futuro House); Cape Hatteras U.S. Weather Bureau Station

The [Spooky] Cora Tree

This attraction is a little off the ‘beaten path’. The story goes, that the locals believed there was a witch that lived in the Frisco area in the 1700s. One day, “Captain Blood” from Salem, MA was visiting the area. As one who was familiar with witch trials, he took it upon himself to plan for her to be burned at the foot of this oak tree. As they were about to set her on fire, a bolt of lightning hit the tree, creating a cloud of smoke. When the smoke cleared, there was no sign of the witch but the name “CORA” had been carved in the tree and can still be seen today. The Cora Tree is located in a small neighborhood at 50175 Snug Harbour Drive Frisco, NC.

Marvel at a Lighthouse

There are actually a couple lighthouses on this drive. The first one you’ll come across is Bodie Island Light Station, at the very northern end of Cape Hatteras. As you make your way south, you’ll encounter the Cape Hatteras Light Station next. Due to the aforementioned ever evolving landscape of the area, both of these lighthouses have been moved from their original locations. However, they still stand proudly and shine brightly in their new positions.

two lighthouses
Phil at Cape Hatteras Light Station; Kat and Phil at Bodie Island Light Station

Get the Beach to Yourself!

Now that you’ve spent most of your day exploring, it’s time for a break wouldn’t you say? The Cape Hatteras National Seashore spans over 70 miles of ocean front. That’s a lot of beach! What this means is that the odds of finding a slice of beach to yourself for a couple hours is totally attainable! If you choose not to park in one of the designated lots, you’ll notice plenty of winding walking paths along the dunes where folks pull over and make their when to their own private paradise.

Beach parking tip – if you decide to pull over on the side of the road, take note of the ground structure. If you are NOT driving a car with four wheel drive, make sure to pull over on a grassy patch. Otherwise, you risk getting stuck in the sand, and that isn’t fun for anyone.

dolphin sea turtle beach bird
Dolphins swimming and playing along the shore; Sea turtles are no stranger to the National Seashore (so keep an eye out!); And shore birds a plenty

Plan to Spend A night (or two!)

If you’ve got some additional time to spare, make a trip over to Okracoke. At the end of Cape Hatteras, next to the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, you’ll see a ferry. And a free car ferry at that! The ferry will take you and your car to the next island in the chain of barrier islands, Okracoke. You can access the schedule here. You can even take ferries to other islands from there, depending on your trip motives, and of course, your budget.

There are plenty of outdoor activities to experience along Cape Hatteras. If you’re more the adventurous type, you can plan to go surfing, kayaking, diving, and even kite boarding!

There are several small motels and inns that would be happy to host you for a night. There are also a few very reasonably priced campgrounds in the area.

Do we have you convinced to take a trip to the Outer Banks? In staying with the social distancing activities theme, a great lodging option is an Airbnb (you get a full space to yourself, forget a crowded hotel!) We’d love to host you in our very own pirate themed Airbnb. And be sure to grab a copy of our OBX Scavenger Hunt. We hope to see you soon!

Have you ever travelled to a National Seashore? Which one?

float on, kat & phil

21 Comments

    • admin

      Isn’t it such a unique attraction Paige? We were definitely surprised by it. Hope you get a chance to visit soon. Safe travels!

  1. Carson

    I’ve never even heard of this area but this makes me want to go! I might have to toss this onto my road trip bucket list for when traveling opens back up. Thank you so much for sharing!!

    • admin

      You are most welcome Carson! We are always happy to inspire. Maybe we’ll see you on the beach some day 😉

    • admin

      That’s so great Kristen! It’s such a great feeling when you can find that little piece of heaven that you shar with your family. Hopefully it’s a family tradition for many years to come!

  2. Chelsea Boccardo Smith

    Have you ever gone on a dolphin tour? We usually catch a quick trip from Manteo with Captain Johnny’s tours. It’s also a great way to see the fishermen! Thanks for these other great tips. We really need to make it to an actual lighthouse one of these days!

    • admin

      We have not Chelsea! We are actually a little spoiled as we spend quite a bit of time offshore for work and see them then. Thanks for the recommendation though! We’ll be sure to pass it along. Happy exploring!

    • admin

      We just love how every lighthouse is so unique Elena! And we’ve got seven of them here in the Outer Banks. Happy exploring!

  3. Alanna

    That UFO house is so cool! I was just looking at a similar one in Joshua Tree actually so that was crazy that there’s more than one! What a great area!!

    • admin

      Yes Alanna! There are a few of them around. We’ve seen a couple others in our travels on the east coast. The one in Joshua Tree is next on our list!

  4. Jasmina

    Wow, that UFO house is wild, love it!! I’ve never heard of this place but I would love to visit it after reading your article, thank you for sharing it!

    • admin

      We’re obsessed with the futuro houses now haha! We’ve found a couple more in our travels. Hope you get a chance to get out here!

  5. Cristina

    I have never been to North Carolina, and I would love to explore more destinations in the US. This sounds like a great day trip. I would love to do all the activities you mentioned.

    • admin

      You definitely must add North Carolina to your short list of US destinations. It has so much to offer, from mountains to beaches! Happy to answer any questions you might have 🙂

  6. Terri

    I love the Swordfish mural and octopus VW beetle painted by local artist JPAX. It is so cool to discover street art when vacationing.

  7. Pingback:Planning A Great Day Trip to Ocracoke - Staying Afloat Blog

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