This sure is a terrible place to cycle. Cannot ride on the narrow roads
and the tremendous amount of traffic. Towns like Duck felt they solved
the problem by installing bike paths. Paths have marbles, sand, skateboarders,
baby strollers, and every 50 yards one has to stop and allow traffic to exit
the side streets onto the mains. I realize and have been aware for many
years that bike paths are not the answer for road cyclists but if one
is to take his bike to the Outer Banks just remember it is very dangerous.
So leave the bike at home and take your walking shoes.

My father and I had a pretty darn nice time riding the Outer Banks when we were there last September--but we rode early in the morning on weekdays.

--Steve

I agree that riding in the towns is no fun, but there are long stretches between towns where I've enjoyed riding immensely on weekdays. I vacation there every couple of years, and bring a bike, most recently a fixed gear. I live in a very hilly part of the country, so it's a treat to have mile after flat mile for a change of pace. It's also a great place for easy bike touring, given the nice campgrounds at regular intervals.

The N. Beaches of the OBX are too crowded, packed with cell-phone people behind the wheel of mega SUVs on their way to their mega-million dollar rentals and, as the OP states, sucks for cycling. The only bike I use in Corolla is the beach cruiser.

Cycling "in town" - Kitty Hawk, KDH, Nags Head - is much better. I biked the beach road at 6am for a week during peak season with no traffic. There are great back roads behind the Wright Bros. Memorial and if you want some "hill" climbs - try the Manteo Causeway bridge then keep peddlin to the town of Manteo for some coffee.

Stay "in town" next time or drive to one of the parking lots and bike the beach road. You'll enjoy that more than Duck and Corolla.

Last year in July, my brother and I rode several mornings from our rental house in Avon to the Ferry in Hatteras Village and back about 34 miles round trip. We had more problems with the wind than anything else. The key as mentioned is to ride early and get out of the Nags Head area. I really can't stand that part of the beach. It's much too congested.

As a NC native and life-long resident, my opinion is that the "Outer Banks" (Kill Devil Hills - Corolla) SUCK!
I hate them. The beaches are no good, the towns are crap, the roads are marginally rideable, etc. etc.

However, I will say the barrier islands further south: "Bogue Banks" (Emerald Isle - Atlantic Beach) and others between Beaufort & Topsail Island are awesome! The ferry-access barrier islands are great also, but the wind can get pretty strong on undeveloped stretches.

Best beaches and riding are on Bald Head Island, IMHO. No cars allowed on the island. Everybody gets around on golf carts! You can be the fastest thing around. Accomodations are a little pricey, though - but you can stay on nearby Oak Island or in Southport and take a ferry to BHI.

+1 Nags Head area

We've been staying there the last few years and have had no problems riding. The ride to Hatteras is a good one, but as someone mentioned the winds can be hellacious.

I spent a few days in Atlantic Beach back in September, and honestly I have rarely had a more unpleasant ride than I did there (and this is coming from someone who regularly rides around the urban parts of Cincinnati). I rode from the east end of Atlantic Beach around Ft. Macon and then started heading west again. It was nice to have flat roads, but the wind totally counteracted that. I was slogging into a strong headwind the whole way out. The road had a decent shoulder, and since it was September there wasn't a whole lot of traffic anyway, so that was kind of nice. Nevertheless, it was SO BORING I couldn't stand it. Of course you can't see the ocean for the most part, and along much of the way the only thing to keep you company is the concrete power line poles and some very scrubby and nasty bushes with bugs buzzing away. There was no shade to speak of either, and it just, well, sucked.

i biked down in nags head over 4th of july week. yeah the roads are busy, but it's a well known beach, that is to be expected. the roads are flat, and it's the beach, so the wind is to be expected. it's an island so no matter what side of the island(s) your on, there's going to be wind, no big surprise. i found it to be a challenging and enjoyable ride. duck and corolla are worse to ride in then nags head because theres only a few roads to either side of the main strip, so theres nowhere for the traffic to ride then right on your ass. at least nags head has the 2 main roads then plenty of side roads to spread out the Escalades and Hummer's. I love the people down there more then anything, it was about 98 degrees and i had a Couple with 2 bikes on there roofrack stop me and offer me there upopened bottle of water, it was great to because i was empty on both waterbottles and fighting a 15+mph headwind.

all this obx riding talk makes me want to do a ride down there again, corolla to hatteras anyone? haha

I've always enjoyed riding between Nags Head and Ocracoke (ferry trip in the middle of a bike ride!) off-season. It's doable peak-season, so long as you get a very early start. People (mostly with Ohio plates, I'm sad to say) will yell the usual "get on the sidewalk" and "******" comments in the towns, but I've never been given any slack on the huge, vaccant stretches of NC12 (so long as you're comfortable riding with fast-moving traffic nearby). The bridge over Oregon Inlet is an experience. Definitely take the lane. Crosswinds can be brutal.

Any coastal areas with resort or gated communities are horrible. Too many damn rules for engagement! I will stick to the mountains.

I love the Outer Banks!!
I grew up near there...but now live near Myrtle Beach. I much prefer OBX.

It ain't so bad if you know where to ride and when. If anyone is coming this way gimme a shout and I'll hook you up. I'm also looking for some long distance cyclists who are ending up here. We would love to have a group meet you 50 miles out and escort you in to town.

+1. Use a little creativity, and there are some great rides. Through Southern Shores is nice. The Northern Outerbanks, north of Duck has a wide shoulder. There is a great area to ride along the sound around Kitty Hawk.
Use the MUP here and there for short stretchs to link things together, cut through a development here and there, and and you can easily do a 75 mile ride with 95% of it being very pleasant.

Ride up and down on the most congested road through the heart of Tourist areas, and yes, you're experience is not going to be great.

We've taken a vacation in Duck in Sept/Oct for the past few years, and I bring my track bike and ride north through Corolla on weekdays after the morning rush hour traffic is done. Never had a problem, big wide shoulder all to myself, traffic is light and drivers are considerate. A little patience on the bike-path part of Duck and you'll get through just fine.

We also stayed in Ocracoke one year, I didn't bring the bike but MAN I wish I did. Miles of empty road with miles of empty beach to keep you company.

Maybe going in the off-season is the key.

I vacationed in Nags Head, and managed to get a decent ride out of going to Kitty Hawk and back. I was originally going to head down the banks south, but that highway was packed (peak of tourist season) and I didn't feel like getting run over.

Plenty of good roads! Get in touch with one of our bike shops. There is a 5:30 am ride that leaves from the Food Lion in the Marketplace Southern Shores and that will help you learn some of the back roads. Bring your bike you will be surprized.

You're crazy!

I road up and down the OBX this summer from Duck to the north beach and back, every morning without issue.

I am about to travel to the OBX for the week. Does anyone know of the group still meets at 5:30? Either way, if anyone wants to meet up for a ride I would love it.

Been going there for years, it is worst now than in the past. You must get your ride in early before everyone get up and moving. I have always taken my bike and will continue to.

I liked it.

I ride there all the time - except for sat afternoons. It's not bad at all even with traffic. Drivers are courteous. The best is go from Manteo and south towards Hatteras

From Duck to Corolla is a nice ride but it's best to ride it early.

I know this is an old post but if you have any recommendations for routes or groups to ride, please let me know. I will be in town Monday-Friday next week and plan on bringing my bike. I'm a little concerned about riding after reading some of these posts!

I have bicycled on the Outer Banks many times and enjoyed it everytime. I am used to riding with heavy traffic as I live in south-coastal Delaware. It is much like the OBX with bad congestion in the towns but nice ,wide shoulders in between. Traffic is heavy most of the time, and I never trust any motorist. If I want to ride I have to deal with it.