The Outer Banks are a long chain of narrow barrier islands along the coast of North Carolina, separated from the mainland by broad sounds and connected by bridges and ferries. Communities including Corolla, Duck, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Manteo, Hatteras, and Ocracoke each have distinct settings and local traditions. The landscape is shaped by ocean waves, shifting sand, wind, and storms, creating wide beaches, dunes, marshes, maritime forests, and tidal inlets. The region is also known for fishing, surfing, boating, and beach recreation, with Cape Hatteras National Seashore protecting large stretches of its coastline.

The Outer Banks have a deep maritime and Indigenous history. Native American communities lived along the islands before European settlement, while later residents built communities around fishing, farming, boatbuilding, lifesaving, and lighthouse work. The region is associated with the Roanoke Island colony, the Wright brothers' first powered flight at Kill Devil Hills, and the maritime history of the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Historic sites include the Wright Brothers National Memorial, Bodie Island Lighthouse, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station. These places preserve stories of exploration, aviation, coastal rescue, and generations of island communities.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore stretches along more than 70 miles of coastline and includes beaches, dunes, marshes, maritime forests, lighthouses, and several historic communities. The seashore covers parts of Bodie Island, Hatteras Island, and Ocracoke Island, offering opportunities for swimming, fishing, kayaking, surfing, hiking, and birdwatching. Jockey's Ridge State Park near Nags Head contains the tallest active sand dune system on the eastern coast of the United States. Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge provides important habitat for migratory birds and other coastal wildlife, while Currituck National Wildlife Refuge protects wetlands, forests, and dunes farther north.

Seafood plays a central role in Outer Banks cuisine, with local menus commonly featuring blue crab, shrimp, oysters, clams, flounder, tuna, and other Atlantic fish. Fishing remains an important part of local life, and seafood markets and waterfront restaurants connect visitors with the region's working waterfronts. The islands also have distinctive food traditions such as Hatteras-style clam chowder, which uses a clear broth rather than the creamy base associated with northern versions. Another local detail is the region's nickname, the Graveyard of the Atlantic, reflecting the large number of shipwrecks caused by shifting shoals, storms, and strong currents along the coast.