National Scenic Byway · North Carolina

Outer Banks Scenic Byway

NC 12 down the Outer Banks barrier islands past Cape Hatteras, with state ferries linking Hatteras, Ocracoke and the mainland.

Also known as NC 12 and the state ferries

Outer Banks Scenic Byway: Thorofare Marsh and Sky

Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source

  • Length137.8 miles[1]
  • Drive timeAbout 5.5 hours, including about 3.5 hours on two ferries[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
  • RoadsNC 12, with state ferries[2]
  • Start and endNear Harkers Island, NC and near Manteo, NCNearest towns to the ends of the U.S. DOT route line
  • Fees and passesSome ferry routes charge and take reservations.[1]Check NCDOT's ferry schedule and fares before you go.
  • Best seasonNot verified
  • SurfaceNot verified
  • Vehicle notesThe byway uses two NCDOT ferries. Some routes take reservations, which FHWA recommends because schedules are tight.[1]
  • Seasonal closuresNot verified

Before you go

Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Facts last checked against the sources on October 22, 2026.

About the drive

The Outer Banks Scenic Byway follows NC 12 along North Carolina's barrier islands, through Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and uses state ferries to hop between islands. FHWA describes beaches, wildlife refuges, small villages and the well-known lighthouses.

Stop at the Bodie Island Lighthouse, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse by the Hatteras Island visitor center, and Ocracoke, whose 1823 lighthouse is the oldest working one in the state.

FHWA estimates about five and a half hours, three and a half of them on two ferries. Some ferry routes take reservations, so check NCDOT's schedule before you go.

Stops along the way

  1. Bodie Island Lighthouse

    156-foot striped lighthouse at the north end of the seashore.

    Official information · 35.81855, -75.56336 · about 0.5 mi from the route line

  2. Hatteras Island Visitor Center

    Next to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.

    Official information · 35.25122, -75.52821 · about 1.0 mi from the route line

  3. Ocracoke Light Station

    Built in 1823, the oldest working lighthouse in North Carolina.

    Official information · 35.10889, -75.98611 · about 0.3 mi from the route line

  4. Ocracoke Village Ferry Terminal

    NCDOT ferries link Ocracoke Village to the mainland.

    Official information · 35.117, -75.98621 · about 0.1 mi from the route line

Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).

Food along the way

Farmers markets within about 25 miles

  • Secotan MarketWanchese, NC · about 3.8 mi from the route
  • Olde Beaufort Farmers' MarketBeaufort, NC · about 4.8 mi from the route
  • OBX Farmers' MarketNags Head, NC · about 6.2 mi from the route
  • Morehead City Curb MarketMorehead City, NC · about 6.8 mi from the route
  • The Friendly MarketMorehead City, NC · about 8.9 mi from the route

Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.

Sources

  1. America's Byways: Outer Banks Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-22)
  2. Cape Hatteras National Seashore: directions (NPS) (checked 2026-10-22)
  3. Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-22.

Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).

More drives in North Carolina · All scenic drives