Skip to content

Looking to live out your Outer Banks dreams? Here are 5 towns you should visit.

Aug. 01, 2021
4 min read
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

I don't know about you, but watching Outer Banks on Netflix always makes me want to book a trip to the place the popular show was inspired by.

While the show itself isn't filmed in the Outer Banks (most is filmed in or near Charleston, South Carolina), the show is still based on the history and lore of the barrier islands found in North Carolina and Virginia.

Want more travel tips delivered to your inbox? Sign up for our daily newsletter.

So if you're looking to live out your "Pogue Life" dreams, here are the towns along the real OBX you should consider visiting.

Kill Devil Hills

Kill Devil Beach Observation Deck
(Photo by Joesboy/Getty Images)

Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina is the oldest town on the Outer Banks, and it's actually half of the inspiration for the Netflix show's fictional setting Kildare County (the other half being Dare County, where Kill Devil Hills is located).

It's home to the Wright Brothers National Memorial and plenty of shopping and dining (and, of course, miles of beaches). But for fans of the Netflix show, you can snorkel or scuba off the coast — though don't expect to find any treasure like John B. and his friends are searching for in the show.

The Outer Banks is the unofficial "Graveyard of the Atlantic," and "Triangle Wrecks" is located just off the coast of Kill Devil Hills — a great spot to explore some of the shipwrecks.

Nags Head

beach with cottages at Nags Head in the outer banks
(Photo by Meinzahn/Getty Images)

Nags Head, North Carolina, is easily one of the most popular destinations in the Outer Banks. It's known for its nearly seven miles of shoreline and Jockey's Ridge State Park — where you'll find the largest sand dunes on the East Coast.

Nags Head is a great spot for hang gliding, hiking, jet skiing and more. Plus, another popular snorkel and scuba site, the USS Huron Shipwreck Preserve, is located off the coast of Nags Head.

Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

Corolla

Wild Horses with blaze pattern on the beach in Corolla, NC (OBX).
(Photo by Doug Hendricks/Getty Images)

If you're a fan of wild horses, you should consider Corolla, North Carolina. The Colonial Spanish Mustang can be found on the island, and you can book guided rides to see them.

It's also home to Currituck Beach Lighthouse and a number of beach activities, from surfing to kiteboarding to ocean kayaking. While Corolla doesn't receive a nod from the show, anyone who's a fan of the OBX vibe in the show will enjoy Corolla.

Ocracoke

Ferry Port in Ocracoke Harbor
(Photo by Eifel Kreutz/Getty Images)

Ocracoke, North Carolina, boasts an impressive 14 miles of beaches and is home to North Carolina's oldest lighthouse — the Ocracoke Island Lighthouse.

In the show, you might remember the ferry that runs between Chapel Hill (where the University of North Carolina is located) and the OBX. While that ferry route doesn't exist in real life, you can still take a free ferry ride between Ocracoke and Hatteras.

Related: 9 underrated beaches to visit this summer

Hatteras

Hatteras National Seashore, Nags Head North Carolina
(Photo by Eric Peterson/Getty Images)

If you do take that ferry from Ocracoke to Hatteras, North Carolina, make sure to stick around and enjoy the town's beaches and fishing community.

The show depicts Kildare County as a commercial fishing hub, and Hatteras is the place to go in the OBX — you'll find deep-sea fishermen, fishing charters and fishing tournaments throughout the year hosted in and around Hatteras.

You'll also be able to check out the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, where you can learn more about the shipwrecks that gave this area of the East Coast its nickname (while pretending you're on a fact-finding mission to find the treasure John B. and his friends are after in season one).

Featured image by Getty Images/iStockphoto
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

TPG featured card

Rewards rate
4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
5XNew! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
3XEarn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
2XEarn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1XEarn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
Open Intro bonus
As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
Annual fee
$325
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Recommended credit
Open Credit score description
Excellent to Good

Pros

  • Valuable dining and food-related credits
  • Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
  • Multiple travel and purchase protections
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
  • Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
  • New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
  • Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
  • Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
  • Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.