Roadtrip: Outer or Inner Banks?

Hi all, and thanks for reading.

I%26#39;ve got a roadtrip in the planning stages going from Jacksonville, FL to DC in a week at the end of May. It looks like it%26#39;s going to be really fun.

I%26#39;d like to spend some time in the Outer Banks, but the towns of the Inner Banks also look interesting. Originally I was going to drive up from Wilmington through Morehead, New Bern, the ferry over from Aurora and US 264 to Nags Head, but I came out with an extra day and am considering the full drive from Oracoke now.

Questions:

That drive seems like lots and lots of beach. I love the ocean, especially the desolate coastlines, and have little experience with the Atlantic, but I also really like small towns. Any insight?

On the drive over, I would try to take the last ferry to Oracoke and sleep in the car on the beach. Before you freak out and say how dangerous that is in general, I do it quite a bit and have on the beach of the Gulf Coast a few times. My only questions are: can I drive onto the beach at that point? Is it developed along that entire stretch, or would I get some peace and quiet for the evening?

Will that road (Highway 12?) be busy at this time of year with tourists?

Any highlights or suggestions for the next day%26#39;s drive? I%26#39;ll be staying the next night in Norfolk, so lots of time.

Thanks in advance,

Colin

Roadtrip: Outer or Inner Banks?

Colin

I would definitely do Ocracoke, it is beautiful. Also, there is camping allowed on Ocracoke, so you could probably stick with your plan of ';sleeping on the beach';. I would suggest trying the campground in Frisco also. Frisco is back on the mainland, and headed North towards the Nags Head area. Check the park service website for Frisco info. Also, note there are 2 campgrounds there, so make sure you get the ';real camping'; site! You will love the drive from the Ocracoke Ferry back north-unspoiled beaches!

There are some nice places to stay in the areas of Waves, Rodanthe, etc. and you%26#39;d probably like that area more than the Nags Head/Kill Devil Hills area. Rt 12 sould not be crowded then. You may haver some traffic, but you are before the summer craziness!

For the rest of the drive back to DC, I would follow 158 out of the Outer Banks, and then 168 to VA Beach. Check out the Bay Bridge Tunnel, and take that instead of Rt 64 to 95. Much prettier drive, and you will get to see the Eastern Shores of Virginia, and some beautiful areas of the MD eastern shore, too. Onancock, VA is a great small town to stop in on the way up through VA. Easton, MD and Salisbury, MD are also nice places. As you go across Rt 50 in MD, you will end up right near Annapolis, MD which is also well worth a look.

Have a great trip.

Roadtrip: Outer or Inner Banks?

Thanks for the response!

I can%26#39;t really do any actual camping (as in a campground) because of the logistics of bringing along my tent, sleeping bag and other goods is a little too much. I had just wanted to park on or near the beach to sleep. Preferably on the beach, because I%26#39;m sure NC is like the Gulf Coast where it%26#39;s a wall of mosquitoes just over the dunes where the wind dies. Or could I just park outside the campground?

I was actually planning on doing the Eastern Shore. Excited about Chincoteague and some other out-of-the-way stuff up there. And I was planning on stopping in Annapolis. Always wanted to see it, and I like visiting state capitols (although I guess I%26#39;ll be missing most of them on this trip, including NC%26#39;s).

Thanks again.

Ok you say you want to camp in your car on the beach you know this sand is nothing like Daytona you will need 4 wheel drive to drive on the beach here or expect to get stuck. Also some knowledge of how to drive too.

Technically there is no over night parking any where on Ocracoke but if you pull into the lot just as you get off the ferry I don’t think you will be bothered but it as I said not legal or you can do the same thing at the other end of the island where the Hatteras ferry lands there too is a parking lot . Also rest rooms .

The rule say no over night parking on the beach unless you are fishing although I have seen people do it but your subject to fine being it’s May I really don’t think you will have any problems but I’m not encouraging you to do this, Hotels are rather cheap before the beginning of the season so you might consider that. Edwards may have rooms for $ 49 a night you will have to check.

Ok you say you want to camp in your car on the beach you know this sand is nothing like Daytona you will need 4 wheel drive to drive on the beach here or expect to get stuck. Also some knowledge of how to drive too.

Technically there is no over night parking any where on Ocracoke but if you pull into the lot just as you get off the ferry I don’t think you will be bothered but it as I said not legal or you can do the same thing at the other end of the island where the Hatteras ferry lands there too is a parking lot . Also rest rooms .

The rule say no over night parking on the beach unless you are fishing although I have seen people do it but your subject to fine being it’s May I really don’t think you will have any problems but I’m not encouraging you to do this, Hotels are rather cheap before the beginning of the season so you might consider that. Edwards may have rooms for $ 49 a night you will have to check.

Hi, and thanks for that. I didn%26#39;t even think about that: car camping in the national park being illegal. Somehow, a national seashore seems different. Is the road really tight for the whole stretch, hugging the coastline, or are there pull-outs or a drive that faces the coast? I don%26#39;t want to drive too far at night because I%26#39;d worry about missing things.

Every hotel I found goes up the weekend prior to when I%26#39;m going, as that%26#39;s Memorial Day weekend. Edwards goes to $80 on 5-22. I%26#39;d actually prefer to sleep in my car that night because I%26#39;m going to be in hotels practically the whole time.

I had thought about the ferry lot idea, and that may be the best deal. Thanks again for that.

Any suggestions on things to see, or is it all just beach and dunes?

Here are a few ';things to do/see';:

In OBX there is a place (locals will have to give exact location %26amp; directions) south of Waves (toward Hatteras) where they kite-surf. I watched this for an hour one day, very interesting if you%26#39;ve never seen it. Pull into parking area and enjoy the show.

If you have time while in Norfolk/Va Beach, take a hike in First Landing State Park, nice trails, all flat of course, bald cypress trees, beach area, post again if you want more details about trails.

The Va Beach oceanfront is only about 10 minutes from FL State Park, so have a look, 2 1/2 mi boardwalk, nice beach.

Downtown Norfolk, visit the waterfront (Elizabeth River) working waterfront so lots of activity, boats, ships. Same area, see USS Wisconsin Battleship (free). take the ferry, cheap $1, to downtown Portsmouth.

Again, if time allows, drive to Newport News about 30 min (not during rush hours, in fact don%26#39;t drive anywhere around here during rush hours) at RT17 is Mariners Museum, great museum, but they also have the USS Monitor exhibit from the ironclads battle, one of a kind. And as a treat there is a 5 mi hike around a beautiful lake on the property (Lake Maury, Noland trail). You could drive up to DC using RT17 if your plans change from driving the Eastern Shore route.

Enjoy the roadtrip. Happy trails.