Private Tour
Outer Banks Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Explore North Carolina's Outer Banks on this self-guided car tour. First, see the majestic Bodie Island Lighthouse and the peaceful Coquina Beach, where nature and history merge. Continue to Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site, a maritime hero attraction. Next, see the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, a coastal landmark. Last stop: the Wright Brothers National Memorial, where flight dreams were realized. Explore maritime history and pioneering spirit in stunning coastal scenery.
After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.
Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car's stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
For the best experience, please use an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, an Android device running version 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular connectivity, as these are recommended for navigation.
Due to Hurricane Erin, all beach accesses and facilities on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands are closed from August 19-21, 2025, with expected coastal flooding and ocean overwash. Please plan accordingly and stay safe.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
What To Expect
Welcome to The Outer Banks and Cape Hatteras National Seashore! This stretch of picturesque coastline is packed with stories of lost colonists, shifting sands, and of course… pirate ghosts! So let’s get started! Note: The tour is over 40+ miles long, with more than 35+ audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
Bodie Island Lighthouse
In 1921, the four-masted schooner Laura Barnes was sailing from Massachusetts to South Carolina to pick up a load of cargo. But the weather turned foul. A dense fog rolled in and the waves grew treacherous. Unable to see, the captain didn’t spot this shore… until it was too late! The ship crashed into the beach and broke apart. The entire crew made it out alive, but the ship stayed stuck! Salvagers scavenged most of it, but some of the ship’s remains are still lodged in the sand here to this day!
Options
Outer Banks Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
Reviews
25 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great Audio Tour
bethn636,
Oct 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We did the Outer Banks Self Guided Audio Tour & really enjoyed it! It told us lots of interesting information about the OB including lots of history. The narrator was easy to listen to as well. One thing though is that when you sign up for this tour it actually lists it as 2 separate tours Hatteras National Seashore - south end of the island & Kitty Hawk - north end of the island). It was confusing since they didn't let me know it was gonna be listed that way. It was definitely worth the price & we love how you can stop & start at your own pace.
Excellent Tour
Jillsmonthlytravels,
Oct 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The audio tour of the National Seashore on the Outer Banks, NC was excellent. Lots of interesting info, and the format allowed us to stop and visit sites along the way. I plan to use this app on future travels.
Dtiving Delight
781eileend,
Sep 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were pleasantly surprised with all of the details that this tour has. You download it to your phone, and magically, you are entertained with a story about your surroundings as you follow the narrators prompts. In between destinations, you can learn about native fauna, wildlife, and marinelife. He will even guide you to cool overlooks or possible stores that might be of interest. We loved hearing about the history and then exploring the actual sites. FYI-the drive time estimates 3 hours, but when you include the time spent observing the cool stuff, it actually lasts much longer. Especially if you include some beach and shopping time. We took 2 days of leisurely travel to finish our tour. Loved it!!!
Outer Banks driving tour
Joyce W,
Aug 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour was well narrated, and provided information regarding the history of the area that we would not have otherwise discovered.
Great Deal
Angela D,
Aug 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We used this two days when the weather was overcast and we were looking for variety to the beach. We toured a few hours on a couple of different days. It was interesting to learn a little history and info on the nature of the places we were previously just passing by. Great value.
Great way to self explore the Outer Banks
M8708QFteresaj,
May 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00This audio great way to self explore the Outer Banks. There were appropriate paises throughout. Dry well modulated. We would recommend this audio tour.
Great touring option!
I9004RIsandras,
May 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00An enjoyable option for touring and very reasonably priced. Great idea! - Stories and history were enjoyable. - Narrator voice was excellent! - Appreciated the heads up and directions so nothing was missed. - We started midway through the tour so tried to listen to part of it backwards. That did not go so well 🤣.
Difficult to operate
Steve S,
Mar 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
2.00Very difficult to coordinate trip on call phone. I was driving and had to switch with another passenger to operate cell phone. Took 30 minutes before I was able to get the route to appear on my cell phone. Was unable to get the trip map on the cars screen
Perfect length and depth
sheilamQ5206WF,
Mar 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was the perfect way to enjoy the Outer Banks. We learned so many interesting things and it enhanced our drive tremendously. The snippets of information and stories were appropriately brief but frequent, and the guide's voice pleasing and entertaining. Wonderful!
Great tour—book if you like going at your own pace!
Hillary M,
Jan 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great experience, very informational. The south-side tour isn’t as busy as the north-side tour, but it’s a lot of history to listen to while you drive the long stretches of the barrier island. The north side tour (kitty hawk, duck, corolla was a lot to look at and places to stop. 10/10!! 5stars!
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