The Outer Banks is easily accessible from Norfolk International Airport, Norfolk, VA (82 miles north in Norfolk, VA) or Raleigh Durham International Airport, located in Raleigh, NC (192 miles west of the Outer Banks). National rental car services can be found at each of these airports.
*Directions from the Norfolk International Airport to The Outer Banks
Start out going Southwest. Turn RIGHT toward I-64/Airport Exit. Turn LEFT onto NORVIEW AVE. Merge onto I-64/HAMPTON ROADS BELT toward VA BEACH/CHESAPEAKE. Merge onto I-464 S/US-17 S/MARTIN LUTHER KING JR MEMORIAL HWY via EXIT 291B toward VA-104 S/ELIZABETH CITY/US-17 S/DOMINION BLVD/VA-168 S. Merge onto VA-168 S via the exit on the LEFT toward NAGS HEAD/MANTEO (Portions toll). VA-168 S becomes US-158 S.
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 $2.00 each way, EZPass and SmartTag accepted.
*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 will costs you each way, EZPass and SmartTag accepted.
*For a Scenic Drive
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 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.
*For a Scenic Drive
Take US-17 from South Carolina north to Wilmington, NC. Drive north until you reach Folkstone, NC. From Folkstone, take State Route 172 north to Hubert, NC. From Hubert, 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.
From the South
Coming from South Carolina take I-95 to Wilson, NC. Take US-264 East through Greenville and Washington, NC. From Washington, take State Route 30 to Plymouth, NC and follow the directions above via US-64 East to The Outer Banks.