On a warm spring day, nothing beats a leisurely bicycle tour of the Currituck Outer Banks. Why spend money on gas, when you can hop on a beach cruiser and tour Currituck County via the many winding bike paths that border the beautiful and historic North Carolina shore? Cycling is one of the fun things to do in Currituck County.
For leisure riders and serious cyclists, the Currituck Outer Banks provide a wonderful opportunity to explore the county, and beyond, on two wheels. Starting at the north end of the beach in Corolla on NC Highway 12 takes you past the flora and fauna to Currituck Heritage Park and a multitude of multi-use trails and quiet avenues. From there one may wind through serene Outer Banks neighborhoods on narrow paths toward Sanderling and Duck.
Cyclists are welcome on the shores as well, allowing visitors to feel the salty ocean breeze as they glide past the lapping waves of the Atlantic.
Knotts Island offers a unique rural environment in northeastern Currituck County, with much of its land devoted to vineyards. For those interested in seeing the Currituck mainland, multiple paths through rural routes are available.
Cycling Tips:
Watch for sand and other debris on the shoulders. Some bike paths are narrow, so slow down and use caution when passing other bikers or walkers/joggers.
Wear bright clothing and of course a helmet for safety!
The warmer months bring more tourists to the area, ride defensively and watch for traffic, walkers, runners, and Segway users on the paths.
The Outer Banks sun is bright and hot; wear plenty of sun screen, and drink more liquids than you might on a normal day back home.
People come here from all over the nation - all with different driving customs and attitudes. Many have different ideas of the proper relationship between bicycles and motor vehicles.
Know the proper North Carolina bicycle and traffic laws for safe road travel.
Roadways and Bikeways
The roadways and bikeways of the Outer Banks run along the entire length of the barrier islands and forms the Outer Banks’ Wright Brothers Bikeway. The Wright Brothers Bikeway runs from Corolla to Ocracoke. Cyclists can ride the northern half of the Bikeway and never have to ride in a high-speed motor vehicle traffic lane. The Bikeway consists mostly of bike and multi-use paths, wide paved shoulders, and quiet neighborhood streets. There are some bike route signs along the way, but not many.