Cape Hatteras National Seashore: A Self-Guided Driving Tour – Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, North Carolina

EXPERIENCE

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

Then start your engine and immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Cape Hatteras National Seashore with this scenic driving tour. Once downloaded, your exploration begins at the Whalebone Junction Information Center. From there, you ll head to the iconic Bodie Island Lighthouse, standing tall as a beacon of North Carolina’s rich maritime history.

Next, you ll reach the Pea Island Beach and Pea Island Wildlife Refuge, perfect places to enjoy the famous natural beauty of the Outer Banks.

As you cruise alongside the ocean, you ll hear fascinating tales of early Europeans who tried to colonize this beautiful land. Unravel the mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke and separate fact from fiction.

Then you ll learn more about the Pamlico Sound itself and the world of marine life beneath its surface. Plus, pass the Oregon Inlet Life Saving Station and hear stories of brave souls who battled fierce seas to rescue stranded sailors.

The tour then ushers you towards the majestic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. On the way there, you ll discover the little-known World War II history of these islands and find out how this place became a National Seashore. Then, take your time as you marvel at the grandeur of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse itself.

While you drive through the town of Buxton, you ll find out what exactly the Diamond Shoals are, and why they ve posed such a problem for ships in days gone by. And this tour wouldn t be complete without a foray into the thrilling (and true!) tales of pirates. Did you know the Outer Banks were once the haunt of the infamous Blackbeard?

Finally, you ll arrive at the town of Hatteras itself. Here, you ll have the option to take the Hatteras Ferry to the remote and picture-perfect island of Ocracoke. Your tour concludes here.

HIGHLIGHTS

Visit the iconic Bodie Island Lighthouse
Unearth the mystery behind the Lost Colony of Roanoke
Dive deep into maritime tales of Blackbeard the pirate
Learn about the wild horses of the Outer Banks
Discover how this place earned the title Graveyard of the Atlantic

Discover more exciting & fun things to do in Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge