The Outer Banks is easily accessible from 2 major airports: Norfolk International Airport, Norfolk, VA (which is approximately 82 miles north in Norfolk, VA) or Raleigh Durham International Airport, located in Raleigh, NC (approximately 192 miles west of the Outer Banks). Rental car services as well as other forms of transportation can be found in both airports.

Driving Directions from the North, South, East & West

From the North:
Follow I-95 South to Richmond, VA. Take I-64 East toward Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Va. Take I-64 or I-664 to Chesapeake, Va. From I-64, take Exit 291B to Route 168, the Chesapeake Expressway.* Once in North Carolina, Route 168 turns into US-158 East. Follow this road to The Outer Banks. *Chesapeake Expressway is a toll-road which costs $12.00 each way, EZPass and SmartTag accepted.

Additional Route from the North:
From Virginia's Eastern Shore across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (Route 13)
Follow Route 13, Northhampton Boulevard, to I-64 East (to Chesapeake), take Exit 291B to Route 168, the Chesapeake Expressway.* Once in North Carolina, Route 168 turns into US-158 East. Follow this road to The Outer Banks. *Chesapeake Expressway is a toll-road which costs $12.00 each way, EZPass and SmartTag accepted.

For those who like the scenery:
Get off I-64 at Hampton, Va. Go South on I-664 through Monitor-Merrimack Memorial Bridge-Tunnel. Take I-64 toward Norfolk/Virginia Beach; then go south on US-17 at Deep Creek, Va. to South Mills, NC. Follow NC-343 south to US-158 South to The Outer Banks.

From the west:
Via I-95 or I-85 into North Carolina. Take US-64 East toward Rocky Mount. Follow US-64 East through Williamston and Plymouth, NC. From Plymouth, NC keep going east to Roanoke Island and The Outer Banks.

From the south
Take I-95 to Rocky Mount, NC. Take US-64 East toward Rocky Mount. Follow US-64 east through Williamston and Plymouth, NC. From Plymouth, NC keep going east to Roanoke Island and The Outer Banks.

For those who like the scenery:
Take US-17N from South Carolina to Wilmington, NC. From US-17N take State Route 24 east until it runs into US-70 (before Morehead City, NC). Follow US-70 North from Morehead City to State Route 12 and the Cedar Island Ferry. Take the toll ferry to Ocracoke Island. Then take State Route 12 north to the Hatteras Island Ferry. Ferry Information