The Outer Banks is not a single landmass but a long, narrow chain of barrier islands and peninsulas that stretch for approximately 200 miles along the coast of North Carolina, extending slightly into Virginia. These formations are separated from the mainland by a series of shallow sounds, including the Currituck, Albemarle, and Pamlico Sounds.
A barrier island is an elongated deposit of sand that runs parallel to the mainland shore, protecting the inner coast from the full force of the Atlantic Ocean. The area has earned the historical nickname “Graveyard of the Atlantic” due to the thousands of shipwrecks caused by the convergence of the cold Labrador Current and the warm Gulf Stream, along with the presence of the constantly shifting Diamond Shoals off Cape Hatteras. The islands are low-lying and are in a state of continuous change, constantly reshaped by waves, currents, and wind.
The Major Island Sections
The Outer Banks is segmented into several distinct sections. The northernmost developed area, often called the Northern Beaches, includes the popular towns of Corolla, Duck, and Nags Head. This section is situated on what was historically Bodie Island, which is now a peninsula because the inlet separating it from the mainland closed.
Moving south, the chain is broken by the Oregon Inlet, which separates the northern peninsula from Hatteras Island. Hatteras Island is a long, narrow stretch of land that is home to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, which preserves the natural character of the barrier island ecosystem. This island is characterized by its small, historic villages and the iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
The southernmost inhabited section is Ocracoke Island, separated from Hatteras Island by the Hatteras Inlet. Ocracoke is more isolated than the northern sections, with its village located on the southern end of the 16-mile-long island. Beyond Ocracoke, the chain continues with the undeveloped Portsmouth Island and the Core Banks, which are part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Access and Mainland Connections
Access to the Outer Banks requires crossing the sounds that separate the barrier chain from the mainland. The primary entry point for the northern and central sections is via bridges spanning the Currituck and Roanoke Sounds. The Wright Memorial Bridge, which carries US-158, is the main route connecting the mainland of Currituck County to the northern Outer Banks.
Further south, the connection between the northern peninsula and Hatteras Island is maintained by the Marc Basnight Bridge, which crosses the Oregon Inlet. This modern, high-rise structure replaced the aging Herbert C. Bonner Bridge. For the most remote section, Ocracoke Island, access is exclusively by water, requiring a state-operated ferry service. The free ferry from Hatteras Village is the most common route, while longer, toll ferries connect Ocracoke to the mainland ports of Swan Quarter and Cedar Island.