This 7-day OBX RV itinerary is the gold standard for a first OBX trip — enough time to hit the Northern Beaches, fully experience Hatteras Island, and optionally cross to Ocracoke. The structure: 2 nights north, 4 nights on Hatteras, 1 buffer/Ocracoke night.
The Plan at a Glance
- Days 1–2: Northern Beaches base (Kill Devil Hills / Kitty Hawk)
- Days 3–6: Hatteras Island base (Tri-Villages or Buxton)
- Day 7: Optional Ocracoke ferry day or relaxed travel home
Days 1–2: Northern Beaches
Base at Kitty Hawk RV Park, OBX Campground, or Oregon Inlet Campground. Day 1: Wright Brothers Memorial, Kill Devil Hills beach, sunset dinner. Day 2: Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Currituck Beach Lighthouse, optional hang gliding or sandboarding.
Days 3–6: Hatteras Island
Move south on NC-12 across the Marc Basnight Bridge. Base at one of:
- Cape Hatteras KOA Resort — full amenities
- Camp Hatteras RV Resort — biggest park, ocean and sound
- Cape Point Campground (NPS) — closest to lighthouse
- Frisco Woods Campground — shaded soundside
Day 3 — Travel and Settle
Drive south, set up, walk the beach. Stop in Avon for groceries on the way down — selection thins south of Avon.
Day 4 — Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and Buxton
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (climb if open seasonally), Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve hike, beach time. Dinner in Buxton or Frisco.
Day 5 — Beach Driving and Cape Point
If you have a 4×4 (or rented one), get an NPS ORV permit and spend the day at Cape Point — fishing, beachcombing, swimming. See our beach driving guide. Without a 4×4, do a Pamlico Sound kiteboarding lesson at Real Watersports in Waves or kayak the sound.
Day 6 — Pea Island or Rodanthe Pier
Drive north to Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge for birding and a quiet beach. Or stay south and walk the Rodanthe Pier and Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station.
Day 7: Ocracoke Day Trip or Travel Home
Option A — Ocracoke day trip: Drive to Hatteras Village (south end of Hatteras Island), take the free Hatteras–Ocracoke ferry (about 60 minutes each way, no reservations), spend the day in Ocracoke village seeing the lighthouse, the pony pen, and the British Cemetery. Return on the afternoon ferry. Note: this is a long day and only practical if you don’t take the RV — drive your tow vehicle only.
Option B — Add an Ocracoke night: Move the rig to Ocracoke Campground. Plan the ferry crossing carefully — see our Ocracoke ferry guide.
Option C — Travel home. Pack up Hatteras, drive back across the bridge, and exit the OBX. NC-12 traffic is heaviest on Saturdays during turnover; plan around it.
Reservation Timeline for a 7-Day Trip
- Private parks: book 9–12 months ahead for July/August
- NPS sites: book exactly 6 months ahead at 10:00 a.m. ET on Recreation.gov
- Ocracoke ferry (Cedar Island/Swan Quarter): reserve when you book the campsite
Plan Smaller
Have a long weekend instead? See our 3-day OBX RV itinerary.