7 days in North Carolina Coast Itinerary

Created using Klarna Trips North Carolina Coast trip planner
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Drive
1
Wilmington
— 2 nights
Drive to Cedar Island, NC, Ferry to Ocracoke
2
Ocracoke
— 1 night
Ferry to Swan Quarter, NC, Drive to Manteo
3
Manteo, Roanoke Island
— 2 nights
Drive
4
Edenton
— 1 night
Drive

S M T W T F S
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Wilmington — 2 nights

Cape Fear Museum and Duplin Winery are good opportunities to explore the local culture. You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Wilmington Railroad Museum and Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. Change things up with these side-trips from Wilmington: Southport (Old Brunswick County Jail Museum & North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport). And it doesn't end there: learn about all things military at Battleship North Carolina, see the interesting displays at Museum of the Bizarre, and test your team's savvy at popular escape rooms.

To see photos, reviews, and more tourist information, read Wilmington tour itinerary maker tool.

Durham to Wilmington is an approximately 3-hour car ride. You can also take a bus; or fly. In April, daily temperatures in Wilmington can reach 74°F, while at night they dip to 53°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 4th (Tue) so you can travel to Ocracoke.
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Museums · Historic Sites · Wineries · Fun & Games
Side Trips
Find places to stay Apr 2 — 4:

Ocracoke — 1 night

On the 5th (Wed), take an in-depth tour of Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum, then explore the different monuments and memorials at British Cemetery, and then kick back and relax at Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach.

To see where to stay, traveler tips, reviews, and tourist information, you can read our Ocracoke trip planning website.

Do a combination of car and ferry from Wilmington to Ocracoke in 6 hours. Traveling from Wilmington in April, you will find days in Ocracoke are a bit cooler (68°F), and nights are about the same (54°F). Cap off your sightseeing on the 5th (Wed) early enough to travel to Manteo.
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Museums · Outdoors · Parks · Historic Sites
Find places to stay Apr 4 — 5:

Manteo, Roanoke Island — 2 nights

Kick off your visit on the 6th (Thu): enjoy the sand and surf at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, enjoy the sea views from Bodie Island Lighthouse, and then sample the fine beverages at Outer Banks Distilling. On your second day here, contemplate the long history of Island Farm, enjoy the sea views from Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse, and then explore the striking landscape at Jockey's Ridge State Park.

You can plan Manteo trip in no time by asking Klarna Trips to help create your itinerary.

Do a combination of ferry and car from Ocracoke to Manteo in 5 hours. Expect a daytime high around 66°F in April, and nighttime lows around 51°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 7th (Fri) early enough to go by car to Edenton.
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Historic Sites · Parks · Breweries & Distilleries · Outdoors
Side Trips
Find places to stay Apr 5 — 7:

Edenton — 1 night

Kick off your visit on the 8th (Sat): steep yourself in history at Barker House, enjoy the sea views from 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse, and then get engrossed in the history at Historic Edenton State Historic Site.

To find more things to do, where to stay, reviews, and other tourist information, read Edenton vacation planner.

Getting from Manteo to Edenton by car takes about 1.5 hours. Expect a daytime high around 71°F in April, and nighttime lows around 50°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Sat) so you can drive back home.
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Historic Sites · Museums
Find places to stay Apr 7 — 8:

North Carolina Coast travel guide

4.7
Plan a trip to North Carolina Coast to explore a lengthy stretch of barrier island beaches. While there, you'll have a chance to discover some 480 km (300 mi) of beaches, each offering a different vibe and a range of activities. As you holiday in North Carolina Coast, you'll also find many coastal towns, adding urban things to do to your itinerary. Things to do in North Carolina Coast range from wreck diving and working on that perfect tan, to dining at fine restaurants and exploring historical sites.
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