Kitty Hawk, NC Road Trips
Kitty Hawk, NC serves as a quiet starting point in the Southeast, connecting drivers to 2 outbound routes across the area. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 236-mile quick runs to 324-mile cross-state drives. Most routes from Kitty Hawk, NC head west, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Chris F
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
323.5 mi
Maine, NC
Quickest Drive
4h 13m
Raleigh, NC
Plan Around Kitty Hawk, NC
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Kitty Hawk, NC is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Kitty Hawk, NC
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Kitty Hawk, NC
Driving from Kitty Hawk, NC
On average, trips departing from Kitty Hawk, NC run 280 miles with a drive time of roughly 5h 48m. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 324 miles (6h 36m), while the shortest is just 236 miles.
Popular Destinations
Top road trip destinations from Kitty Hawk, NC are Maine, NC (323.5 mi, 6h 36m) and Fayetteville, NC (236 mi, 5h). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in NC currently averages around $3.96 per gallon. For the typical 280-mile trip from Kitty Hawk, NC, budget about $44 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring. Most routes head west — leaving in the morning keeps the sun behind you for a more comfortable drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 2 mapped routes leaving Kitty Hawk, NC and 3 routes heading into Kitty Hawk, NC, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 236 to 324 miles.
The longest mapped route from Kitty Hawk, NC covers 324 miles and takes approximately 6h 36m. Shorter options start at just 236 miles.
The average route from Kitty Hawk, NC runs about 280 miles with a drive time of roughly 5h 48m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.96/gallon for regular), the average 280-mile trip from Kitty Hawk, NC costs roughly $44 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Kitty Hawk, NC include Maine, NC and Fayetteville, NC. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Kitty Hawk, NC by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
3,721
Median Income
$88,811
Median Home Value
$494,200
Median Age
50.3
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Kitty Hawk, NC
Kitty Hawk, located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, consists of a thriving village that has been around for generations, a newer beach community of residential cottages, and a maritime forest called Kitty Hawk Woods which features a wide variety of plant and animal life.
Once a remote area, Kitty Hawk has grown with small-scale development into a summer resort and beach recreation area. Orville and Wilbur Wright chose this remote fishing village on the Outer Banks in 1900 partly for privacy from prying eyes. Three years later, they flew for the first heavier-than-air flying machine. Since then, Kitty Hawk has been associated with the Wright Brothers as the birthplace of aviation, although the flight took place four miles south from the base of Kill Devil Hills. On the oceanside, thousands of rental homes, restaurants and shops are part of the development that has characterized the northern Outer Banks from Nags Head to Corolla. But along the Albemarle Sound, the village remains off the beaten path. Shaded lanes wind along the marshes. Quaint clapboard cottages and fishing boats line a series of canals that lead to the open waters of the Sound. Wright Brothers National Memorial and Visitor Center and the Memorial Pylon are nearby reminders of the days when Orville and Wilbur Wright made this area their headquarters. See Aviation history for context.
Activities include kayaking, parasailing, boating, fishing, surfing and surfing lessons. Outer Banks Music Showcase, ☏ +1 252-261-7505. A musical variety show for everyone. Sea Scape Golf Links, 300 Eckner St., ☏ +1 252 261-2158, [email protected]. Duck Woods Country Club, 50 S. Dogwood Trail, Southern Shores.
Black Pelican Restaurant, ☏ +1 252-261-3171. Su-Th 5PM-10PM; F 5PM-1:30AM; Sa 5PM-11PM. Historic restaurant. Dining, nightlife & seafood. (updated Apr 2017) Ocean Boulevard, 4700 N Virginia Dare Trail, ☏ +1 252-261-2546. (updated Apr 2017) Pizzazz Pizza Kitty Hawk, 1187 Duck Rd, ☏ +1 252-261-1111, [email protected]. Pizza, subs, wings, buffet and salad bar. Delivery. Four locations in the Outer Banks. (updated Apr 2017) Jimmy's Seafood Buffet, 4117 N Croatan Hwy, ☏ +1 252-261-4973. Tu-Sa 4PM-8:30PM. Seasonal. Features crab. (updated Apr 2017)
Barefoot Bernies Tropical Grill & Bar, 3730 N Croatan Hwy, ☏ +1 252-261-1008. Daily 11AM-10PM. Fun, casual place with great food and a lively ambiance. (updated Apr 2017) Hurricane Mo's Beachside Bar & Grill, 120 W Kitty Hawk Rd, ☏ +1 252-255-0215. Daily 11AM-9:30PM. Relaxed, casual dining, fresh Outer Banks Seafood. (updated Apr 2017) Rundown Café, 5218 Virginia Dare Trail, ☏ +1 252-255-0026. Daily 11:30AM-midnight. Oceanview surf bar with burgers, seafood, and salads. (updated Apr 2017)
Buccaneer Motel and Beach Suites, 3512 N Virginia Dare Trail, ☏ +1 252-261-2030, toll-free: +1-800-442-4412. Hilton Garden Inn Kitty Hawk, 5353 N. Virginia DareTrail, ☏ +1 252-261-1290, toll-free: +1-877-629-4586, fax: +1 252-255-0153. Oceanfront hotel. Holiday Inn Express Kitty Hawk – Outer Banks, 3919 North Croatan Highway, ☏ +1 252-261-4888.
The Norfolk International Airport is 1 hour and 30 minutes away. It is right off the highway and an easy drive to the Outer Banks and Kitty Hawk. You can also check flights into Newport News. That drive would be about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Pitt-Greenville is about three hours away. Private pilots will want to make a visit to First Flight airport (FFA IATA), just southwest of the Wright Memorial. OR Manteo Airport in Manteo, NC. There are Charter flights from Norfolk (ORF IATA). Dock of the Bay Marina, ☏ +1 252-255-5578. Marine fuel, supplies, charters.
There is no local bus service. Use a private car, or hire a taxi. Walking and bicycling is also possible.
Travel tips adapted from Kitty Hawk on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
Trips to Kitty Hawk, NC
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