NC Outer Banks
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 640
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From: Bowling Green, KY
NC Outer Banks
I have checked a few motorcycle ride links and CoC type reviews, beautiful scenery, nice people, quaint towns, etc. Can anyone who has ridden the Outer Banks give us their thoughts. Which end to start from, what times or places to avoid, must see stops etc. Read something about the ferry, but nothing about run times. Or even if this destination is worth the time and effort. Any info would be appreciated. Have done Foot Hills Pkwy, Deal's Gap, Skyline, BRP so looking for someplace we haven't been. We (4 bikes) are planning a trip in June. Thanks.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 759
Likes: 7
From: Western KY
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,671
Likes: 1
From: Virginia
Went to the OB last year & stayed at the BW in Kill Devil Hills right on the beach. All suites, Beach view out the balconey, and the Wright Bros memorial out the front door. Do the Harley Davidson Ride planner at the web page, and it will link you to the hotels in the area. Lots of good food, and friendly folks were there. Go have a good time. 
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,528
Likes: 606
From: Raleigh NC
I have checked a few motorcycle ride links and CoC type reviews, beautiful scenery, nice people, quaint towns, etc. Can anyone who has ridden the Outer Banks give us their thoughts. Which end to start from, what times or places to avoid, must see stops etc. Read something about the ferry, but nothing about run times. Or even if this destination is worth the time and effort. Any info would be appreciated. Have done Foot Hills Pkwy, Deal's Gap, Skyline, BRP so looking for someplace we haven't been. We (4 bikes) are planning a trip in June. Thanks.
Here's the lighthouse tour we took a few years back
Friday
Stop for lunch in Nags Head - _Sooey's BBQ_ (http://www.sooeysbbq.com/) at
Jockey's Ridge.
Hwy 12 to Corolla - _Currituck Beach Lighthouse_
(http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=358) .
Hwy 12 to Kitty Hawk - Check in at the _Buccaneer Motel_
(http://www.buccaneermotelouterbanks.com/) .
Saturday
Hwy 12 to _Bodie Island Lighthouse_
(http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=357)
Hwy 12 to _Hatteras Lighthouse_
(http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=356)
Hwy 12 Ocracoke Ferry / Ocracoke Island
Stop for Lunch in Ocracoke
Hwy 12 to _Ocracoke Lighthouse_
(http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=355)
Hwy 12 to Cedar Island Ferry / Cedar Island
Hwy 12 / 70 to Morehead City - Check in at the _Econo Lodge_
Sunday
Hwy 70 / 24 to Jacksonville
Hwy 24 / 17 to Wilmington
Hwy 17 / 117 / 421 to Fort Fisher
Hwy 421 to Southport Ferry / Southport
Hwy 211 / 133 to _Oak Island Lighthouse_
(http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=352)
Several HD dealerships along the way, if you're a t-shirt collector
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 245
Likes: 0
From: White Mountains of NH
Road is boring (straight)...having said that we had a great time. Watch out for the bridges while the cars and trucks are on them. Noticed alot of other drivers are looking at the water and not the road...drifting into your lane. I guess that will happen no matter where your driving, but there is no place for you to go if they don't recover in a timely fashion. Good luck, watch out for the blowing sand on the roads as well. 
Some great resturants. My wife loved the lighthouses. Kitty Hawk was cool. You'll have a good time...we did.
Some great resturants. My wife loved the lighthouses. Kitty Hawk was cool. You'll have a good time...we did.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 1
From: East TN
We've done that ride, and really liked it. I suggest coming at it from the southern end...will keep the sun to your back and allow ya to enjoy the very scenic ride up Hatteras National Seashore. We came in on US-70 almost to its eastern terminus, where we took NC-12 out to the Cedar Island Ferry. There's the Driftwood Motel out there at the end of the world in case ya wanna stay the night and catch an early morning ferry. Nuttin to write home about, but it was clean and has a restuarant...decent enough place when we were there. http://www.clis.com/deg/
Take the 2.5-3 hour ferry over to Ocracoke. I recommend staying at Blackbeard's there. http://www.blackbeardslodge.com/ There's several good outdoor type restuarants and tiki bar type eateries on Ocracoke...you'll have to Google Ocracoke, as I don't recall their names.
Take the free ferry to the north over to Hatteras, and enjoy a beautiful ride up Cape Hatteras National Seashore (no development along that stretch). We rode on up to Nags Head, and stayed at the Colonial Inn...if ya stay there, get a beach front room, as the others are nothing to write home about and open to a hot parking lot. http://www.colonialinnmotel.com/
The roads won't compare to the ones in the examples ya listed in the OP...but, if ya like lighthouses, history, and scenic coastal riding, you'll enjoy this 'un.
Take the 2.5-3 hour ferry over to Ocracoke. I recommend staying at Blackbeard's there. http://www.blackbeardslodge.com/ There's several good outdoor type restuarants and tiki bar type eateries on Ocracoke...you'll have to Google Ocracoke, as I don't recall their names.
Take the free ferry to the north over to Hatteras, and enjoy a beautiful ride up Cape Hatteras National Seashore (no development along that stretch). We rode on up to Nags Head, and stayed at the Colonial Inn...if ya stay there, get a beach front room, as the others are nothing to write home about and open to a hot parking lot. http://www.colonialinnmotel.com/
The roads won't compare to the ones in the examples ya listed in the OP...but, if ya like lighthouses, history, and scenic coastal riding, you'll enjoy this 'un.
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 640
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From: Bowling Green, KY
Thanks guys for the indepth replies. I am going to print these out so I can have ready access to the links and directions. You all have been very helpful (as always).
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 64
From: Southern Maryland
Took mine down there last year for the first time, while on vacation in Duck, NC. On Million mile Monday hooked up with the local HOG chapter and road with them. Saw some fantastic places and besides the beach road, did some riding in the west sections. Saw a fantastic lake that you could not see the other side and the amazing thing was the average depth was just three feet!! I plan on taking the bike again this year when on vacation again.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 592
From: USA
We have been going to the outer banks for about 16 years. If you are just passing through I would avoid doing it on the weekends. You have all the tourists either coming in or going out for the week and the traffic is terrible. If you like seafood Jimmy's seafood buffet in kitty hawk is a must stop for us every year.