South · United States
North Carolina
Barrier islands, wild horses and 320 miles of Atlantic coast.
Discover North Carolina
North Carolina's coast unfolds across 320 miles of barrier-island beaches — from the windswept Outer Banks and Cape Hatteras National Seashore to the Crystal Coast's quiet shores and the charming small towns of the Inner Banks. Watch wild Spanish mustangs roam the dunes, climb historic lighthouses, paddle coastal rivers and eat seafood measured by the hour it was caught.
Watch
North Carolina in motion
Recommended Drives
Suggested itineraries
7 days
Outer Banks & Cape Hatteras
Route: Nags Head → Jockey's Ridge → Bodie Island → Cape Hatteras → Ocracoke Island → Cape Lookout
A coastal fly-drive along the Outer Banks — climb the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, watch wild horses at Corolla and Shackleford Banks, ferry to Ocracoke and kayak the Cape Lookout National Seashore.
6 days
Crystal Coast & Southern Beaches
Route: Wilmington → Bald Head Island → Carolina Beach → Wrightsville Beach → Jacksonville → New Bern
Explore the historic port of Wilmington, ferry to car-free Bald Head Island, unwind on Carolina Beach and discover the maritime heritage of New Bern, North Carolina's first capital.
Top Places To Visit
The unmissable North Carolina
The Outer Banks
200 miles of barrier-island beaches, two national seashores, five coastal lighthouses and wild Spanish mustangs roaming the dunes from Corolla to Shackleford Banks.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
A constantly shifting landscape of barrier islands where the iconic black-and-white spiral lighthouse watches over the Graveyard of the Atlantic.
Wilmington
A historic port city with a Riverwalk, Battleship North Carolina, a vibrant food scene and easy access to Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach.
Crystal Coast
The quieter southern coast — pristine beaches, the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and family-friendly wildlife tours by boat.
Historic Lighthouses
From Cape Lookout's diamond-patterned tower and Ocracoke's quiet glow to Bodie Island and Currituck Beach — each one a sentinel of maritime history.
Bald Head Island
A car-free island at the mouth of the Cape Fear River — reached by ferry, explored by golf cart and bicycle, anchored by Old Baldy lighthouse.
Simple Things To Do
Fun things to do in North Carolina
A quick-hit list of ideas for first-time visitors to North Carolina, inspired by Visit North Carolina.
Walk the Outer Banks beaches
200 miles of unspoiled barrier-island shoreline from Corolla to Ocracoke — surf casting, shell collecting and sunrise walks on the Atlantic.
Visit Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Climb America's tallest brick lighthouse, watch the land shift with every tide and camp under some of the East Coast's clearest night skies.
Spot wild horses on the shore
Descendants of shipwrecked Spanish mustangs still roam free on the Outer Banks — from Corolla's northern beaches to the flats of Shackleford Banks.
Climb the coastal lighthouses
Seven historic beacons line the coast — Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout, Bodie Island, Currituck Beach, Ocracoke, Oak Island and Old Baldy on Bald Head Island.
Explore coastal towns
Tuck into seafood shacks in charming waterfront towns from Bath and Edenton to Southport and Beaufort, where history lingers in storefronts and conversation comes easy.
Play coastal golf courses
Tee off beside windswept marshes and oceanfront fairways — the Carolina coast is home to some of the most scenic links in the USA.
Paddle coastal rivers and creeks
Flatwater kayaking on tannic coastal rivers, bald cypress swamps and quiet creeks — the Alligator River and Three Sisters Swamp are paddlers' favourites.
Visit the North Carolina Aquariums
Meet local marine life at aquariums in Pine Knoll Shores, Roanoke Island and Fort Fisher, plus the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue Center.
Ferry to Ocracoke or Bald Head Island
Leave the car behind and explore car-free islands by bicycle and golf cart — quiet lanes, maritime history and untouched beaches.
Tour coastal vineyards
North Carolina's coastal plain is home to Duplin Winery and a growing scene of muscadine and scuppernong wine tastings.
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