- Home
- Things to do in USA
- Things to do in North Carolina
- Things to do in Outer Banks
- Outer Banks Tours
- Cultural & Theme Tours
- Private & Custom Tours
- Tours & Sightseeing
- Tour
Outer Banks Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
Outer Banks Tours
- All Outer Banks Tours
- Cultural & Theme Tours
- Day Trips & Excursions
- Outdoor Activities
- Private & Custom Tours
- Tours & Sightseeing
- Walking & Biking Tours
- Water Sports
- Weddings & Honeymoons
Attractions
Guides
- View All
- Family-friendly things to do in Outer Banks.
- Senior-friendly tours, activities and things to do in Outer Banks
- The Top 10 Outer Banks Tours and Activities of 2024
- The best tours and activities for culture lovers in Outer Banks
- Things to do in Outer Banks this summer
- Top Day Trips from Outer Banks
Calendar
- Outer Banks Event Calendar
- New Year’s Day long weekend in Outer Banks
- New Year’s Eve in Outer Banks
- Hanukkah in Outer Banks
- MLK Day in Outer Banks
- President's Day in Outer Banks
- Valentine's Day in Outer Banks
- St. Patrick's Day in Outer Banks
- Good Friday in Outer Banks
- Easter in Outer Banks
- Memorial Day Weekend in Outer Banks
- Cinco De Mayo in Outer Banks
- Juneteenth in Outer Banks
- 4th of July in Outer Banks
- Labor Day in Outer Banks
- Halloween in Outer Banks
- Thanksgiving in Outer Banks
- Veteran's Day in Outer Banks
Overview
Explore North Carolina's Outer Banks on this self-guided car tour. First, see the majestic Bodie Island Lighthouse and the peaceful Coquina Beach, where nature and history merge. Continue to Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site, a maritime hero attraction. Next, see the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, a coastal landmark. Last stop: the Wright Brothers National Memorial, where flight dreams were realized. Explore maritime history and pioneering spirit in stunning coastal scenery.
After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.
New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!
This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Description
Stop At: Whalebone Junction Information Center - Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, Cape Hatteras National Park Rd, Nags Head, NC 27959, USA
Welcome to The Outer Banks and Cape Hatteras National Seashore! This stretch of picturesque coastline is packed with stories of lost colonists, shifting sands, and of course… pirate ghosts! So let’s get started!
Note: This 97-mile-long tour covers the essentials of the Outer Banks in 3-4 hours.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Bodie Island Lighthouse, 8210 Bodie Island Lighthouse Road, Nags Head, North Carolina 27959
In 1921, the four-masted schooner Laura Barnes was sailing from Massachusetts to South Carolina to pick up a load of cargo. But the weather turned foul. A dense fog rolled in and the waves grew treacherous. Unable to see, the captain didn’t spot this shore… until it was too late! The ship crashed into the beach and broke apart. The entire crew made it out alive, but the ship stayed stuck! Salvagers scavenged most of it, but some of the ship’s remains are still lodged in the sand here to this day!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Oregon Inlet, Oregon Inlet, North Carolina, USA
In a few minutes we’ll cross over the Oregon Inlet. This waterway unites the Pamlico Sound with the Atlantic Ocean. And speaking of storms, it didn’t exist until 1846, when a huge hurricane hit! A ship called the Oregon was in Pamlico Sound during that storm. As the story goes, the Oregon was sailing back to Edenton, North Carolina from Bermuda. It was right next to the Outer Banks when the hurricane hit. The rough, stormy seas lifted the entire ship up… and deposited it safely on a sandbar! Talk about luck!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Herbert C. Bonner Bridge, Herbert C. Bonner Bridge, North Carolina, USA
That huge body of water to the right of the bridge is the Pamlico Sound. It measures 80 miles long and about 18 miles wide, though it never gets any deeper than 26 feet! The rivers from the mainland flow down and into the sound too, creating the second largest estuary in the US, after Chesapeake Bay. The shallow water makes for some great fishing. Pamlico Sound is where 90% of North Carolina’s commercial fishermen catch their crabs, oysters, and clams!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Oregon Inlet Life Saving Station, North Carolina Hwy 12, Rodanthe, NC 27968, USA
Coming up on our left is the Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station from 1874. It’s the only structure we’ll see when the bridge meets land again; you can’t miss it.
Can you imagine being on a ship in the dark, trying to find a dock along this coast? Before there was radar, GPS, or sonar, sailors didn’t have an easy time navigating this cape or the Oregon Inlet. Shipwrecks were incredibly common. So common, in fact, that the Outer Banks earned the nickname “The Graveyard of the Atlantic.”
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, 14500 NC Highway 12, Rodanthe, North Carolina 27968
We’re now driving through 13 miles of nature preserve! It’s the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, and it stretches from the bottom of the Oregon Inlet to the northern border of the community of Rodanthe. And it’s part of what scientists call “the Atlantic Flyway.” This is a corridor that migratory birds use to travel up and down the coast, sort of like a highway in the sky! Birds use these beaches as pit stops along their way.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Pea Island Beach, Rodanthe, NC 27968, USA
Coming up in a moment will be parking for Pea Island Beach. This is a popular beach, but it’s so big you wouldn’t guess it! So even if you don’t go out in the water, take some time to sit on the sand and take in the gorgeous view.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Jughandle Bridge, JG7G+F4, Rodanthe, NC, USA
We’re driving along Jughandle Bridge. But why does this bridge actually exist? After all, we’re not traveling from one island to the next, we’re just traveling next to the island!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site and Museum, 23645 North Carolina Hwy 12, Rodanthe, NC 27968, USA
Off to our left is another life-saving station, the Chicamacomico US Life-Saving Station. Like the Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station, this served as a hub for rescue crews to live, observe the coast, and conduct training exercises with the peculiar device known as a beach apparatus. But what on earth is that?
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: The Mother Vine, 263 Mother Vineyard Rd, Manteo, NC 27954, USA
The Outer Banks are home to some fascinating pieces of history, but one of the most unusual can be found on Roanoke Island. It’s known as the Mother Vine, and it’s the oldest grapevine on the continent still producing grapes! The vine is about 400 years old, though no one is sure of its exact date of origin.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Kite Point, North Carolina Hwy 12, Buxton, NC 27920, USA
We’re approaching a little spot on our right that locals call “kite point.” It’s just a strip of sand beach, but it’s become a mecca for kitesurfing! The beaches near here have been popular with windsurfers since the 1970s. And Kite Point is the perfect spot to watch this high speed sport in action. But where exactly did kitesurfing come from?
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Lighthouse Rd, Buxton, North Carolina 27920
Do you remember that the Bodie Lighthouse was so poorly built that it leaned like the tower of Pisa? Well, you’re about to see the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and it had a tough time starting out too.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Cape Point, Cape Point, North Carolina 27920, USA
Cape Point in North Carolina isn't just a location; it's where nature and history meet. Its ever-changing sands and maritime stories connect visitors to a rich maritime heritage and the relentless shaping of the Outer Banks. Cape Point offers a unique blend of natural beauty and historical significance.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Hatteras, Hatteras, North Carolina
We’re entering the small village of Hatteras. If you love fishing, this little village is the place for you! Locals and visitors alike make their money and spend their free time with a rod and reel in their hands. It’s got a population of around 400 people, so it’s as quiet and as quaint as a small town can get. The roads snake and meander around with no grids and no official plots. Everything here feels connected to nature.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Teach's Lair Marina, 58646 North Carolina Hwy 12, Hatteras, NC 27943, USA
We’re coming up on Teach’s Lair Marina. It’ll be the collection of boats off to our right in just a minute. As you’ve probably already guessed, the marina and plenty of other landmarks around here are named after Edward Teach, otherwise known as Blackbeard.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Hatteras Ferry Terminal, 59063 North Carolina Hwy 12, Hatteras, NC 27943, USA
Soon after that, we’ll also see the Hatteras Ferry Terminal. From there, you can take a ferry over to Ocracoke Island, if you’re in the mood to see those horses or look for Blackbeard’s ghost. Ferries depart three or four times a day, depending on the season. You can walk or take your car on the ferry.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: WWII British Sailor Cemetery, Buxton, NC 27920, USA
Do you remember the story of all those German U-Boats sitting out in a line near the Outer Banks, blowing up any cargo ship that was trying to leave North Carolina? Well, what I didn’t tell you was that a few Allied forces were sent over from Europe to help battle those Germans here in North Carolina. Those who perished ended up here, at the WWII British Sailor Cemetery.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Jockey's Ridge State Park, 300 W Carolista Dr, Milepost 12 on US 158 bypass, Nags Head, North Carolina 27959
In just a moment we’ll see huge sand dunes off to our left. Those belong to Jockey’s Ridge State Park, the tallest sand dune system in the Eastern United States! But why are there sand dunes in the middle of this island? Aren’t the islands themselves sand dunes? Well, scientists believe that over many years, storms and hurricanes wash sand inland. Meanwhile, the winds from the mainland blow in the other direction.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Wright Brothers National Memorial, Mile post 7.5 on U.S. Highway 158, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
To visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial, turn left onto Wright Memorial Drive. It’s got full-scale models of the brothers’ planes, markers of the distances of each flight the Wright Flyer took, and more.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Avalon Pier, 2111 N Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948, USA
If you’d like to visit Avalon Pier, turn right onto E. Sportsman Drive ahead. It’s a 440-foot-long wooden pier that has a fantastic view of the ocean and lots of restaurants and shops. The fishing is great from there too!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Wright Brother's Garage Monument, 3839-3857 Moor Shore Rd, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949, USA
Want to see where the Wright Brothers built one of their earliest gliders? Like all great American inventors, they got their start in a garage! I’ll tell you where to turn in a moment to see the site of the garage where it all began.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve, 983 W Kitty Hawk Rd, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina 27949
We’re driving through the town of Kitty Hawk. You’ve probably heard the name before. After all, historians credit this town with being where Wilbur and Orville took their first flight. But technically, the brothers took their flight a few miles south of the town line, in a place called Kill Devil Hills. Quite a name, I know! Since that wasn’t an official town in 1903, Kitty Hawk gets the credit for Orville and Wilbur!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Duck Town Boardwalk, Duck, North Carolina
Coming up on our left is the Duck Town Park Boardwalk. This scenic park features waterfront trails, shops, restaurants, and more. If you’d like to visit and stretch your legs, turn left at the sign that says, “Town of Duck.” Otherwise, continue straight.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary, 300 Audubon Dr, Corolla, NC 27927, USA
Coming up is the Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary, containing 2,600 acres of preserved land. This land is home to hundreds of species of birds, but it would have been home to many more if not for the hunting craze that took over this part of the Outer Banks over a century ago.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Corolla, Corolla, North Carolina
We’re entering the town of Corolla. Off to our right, beyond the houses, stretches the seemingly infinite expanse of sand known as Corolla Beach. The locals here number around 500, but in the summer, the population surges into the thousands! Vacationers come here from all over to enjoy the small-town feel, the watersports, and that herd of wild horses.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Currituck Beach Lighthouse, 1101 Corolla Village Road, Corolla, North Carolina 27927
Currituck Beach Lighthouse is coming up in a few minutes. I’ll let you know when to turn if you want to see it.
On December 1, 1875, engineers finished construction on this “first-order” lighthouse. “First order” means the biggest kind of lighthouse. The Fresnel lens at the top of the tower stands about eight and a half feet tall and stretches to around six feet wide! Its light can be seen from 21 miles away! The lighthouse itself stands 162 feet tall.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Whalehead Club, 1100 Club Rd, Corolla, NC 27927, USA
Just before the lighthouse, you’ll also have the chance to see the historic Whalehead Club. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, this area became the go-to place for wealthy Americans who wanted to do a little hunting. Edward Collings Knight, Jr. was heir to so many fortunes—sugar, railroads, and steamships! And he and his second wife bought a huge tract of land here in 1920 and started building a house on it. The resulting house is called the Whalehouse Club. It’s a 22,000 square foot home designed in the Art Nouveau style. The Knights used it and offered it up to their friends as a hunting lodge.
Duration: 5 minutes
Schedule
- Reservations are REQUIRED for all bookings
- Book Your Package On-Line and Receive Your Confirmation
- Departure point: Detailed check-in instructions - including the address and parking information if applicable - will be included in your final confirmation email.
- Duration: 3 to 4 hours (Approx.)
- Departure Time:
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
Outer Banks Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
10/11/2023 - 12/4/2025Monday - Sunday : 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM - Return Details:
59200 Museum Dr, 59200 Museum Dr, Hatteras, NC 27943, USA
What's Included
- Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
- Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
- Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
- Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
- Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
- Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
- Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
- Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
- Gratuities (Optional)
- Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
What To Bring
- Confirmation Voucher (printed or mobile)
- Any required or suggested items listed on your confirmation email.
- A Smile!
Additional Info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
- How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Amazing Savings: why pay for an expensive, crowded, and limited bus tour — priced per person! — when you can have ONE amazing audio guide on your OWN phone for your WHOLE group?
- Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It's perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
- Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
- Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
- Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
- Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
- Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app's features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
- Minimum Mobile OS Requirement: iOS 14 or later / Android 9 (Pie) or later. It is compatible with iPad models that have a GPS chip.
- CarPlay and Android Auto are not yet supported. Connect your phone via Bluetooth, USB, or Aux for audio. Use phone speakers if needed.
- Operated by Travel with Action
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
Reviews
Average 4.60 out of 5 stars based on 15 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor
Still have questions?
Similar Tours & Activities
Kooky Kill Devil Hills Scavenger Hunt
$27
Kitty Hawk Hustle Scavenger Hunt
$27
Hourly Kayak Rental in Whalebone
$29
Travelers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
2-hour Outer Banks Wild Horse Tour by 4WD Truck
$65
Popular Cities
- Things to do in Nashville
- Things to do in Chicago
- Things to do in Key West
- Things to do in Fort Lauderdale
- Things to do in Atlanta
- Things to do in Houston
- Things to do in San Diego
- Things to do in Cancun
- Things to do in Denver
- Things to do in Las Vegas
- Things to do in Miami
- Things to do in Orlando
- Things to do in Dallas
- Things to do in New Orleans
- Things to do in San Antonio
- Things to do in San Francisco
- Things to do in Seattle
- Things to do in Austin
- Things to do in Boston
- Things to do in Colorado Springs
- Things to do in Los Angeles
- Things to do in Myrtle Beach
- Things to do in Philadelphia
- Things to do in Charleston
- Things to do in Colorado
- Things to do in Phoenix
- Things to do in Pigeon Forge
- Things to do in Tampa
- Things to do in Asheville
- Things to do in Charlotte
- Things to do in New York City
- Things to do in St Louis
- Things to do in Arizona
- Things to do in Branson
- Things to do in Florida
Popular Attractions
- Mauna Kea Summit & Observatory
- Molokini Crater
- Arch of Cabo San Lucas (El Arco)
- Bioluminescent Bay (Mosquito Bay)
- Gondola Rides at the Venetian
- Teotihuacan
- Hoover Dam
- Machu Picchu
- Chichen Itza
- El Yunque National Park
- Distillery Historic District
- Öresund Bridge
- Stonehenge
- Xplor Park
- London Natural History Museum
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park
- British Museum
- Xcaret
- Aquarium of the Pacific
- Antelope Canyon
Free cancellation
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.