Best time to visit Outer Banks
September to October. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.
September to October
September and October are named by most sources; April and May get praise as a second shoulder window.
- “September and October bring an entirely different pace with less tourist traffic” outerbankscarolinavacations.com
- “September and October are fantastic in the Outer Banks.” outerbanks.com
- “The months of September, October, and November bring some of the best of the Outer Banks” keesouterbanks.com
6 of the 9 travel guides we read name these months.
Outer Banks month by month
Average high and low in Nags Head
JanuaryChecking fares…Winter highs reach the mid 50s; rates are generally the lowest.
FebruaryChecking fares…December through February temperatures range from 40 to 50 degrees.
MarchChecking fares…Weather warms to the mid to high 60s in March and April.
AprilChecking fares…Average temperature is 69 degrees; shops and restaurants begin opening and the ocean is around 60.Rental rates stay lower until late May.
MayChecking fares…Average temperature is 75 degrees, warmer than April.May is one of the best months for Ocracoke: businesses open, beaches quiet.May is a good month to camp, before the crowds arrive.
JuneChecking fares…Summer from June to August ranges between 70 and 85 degrees.
JulyChecking fares…Summer is the most popular time; families fill the islands once school lets out.Ocean water is in the upper 70s.
AugustChecking fares…Average highs hover in the mid 80s.
Best timeSeptemberChecking fares…Still mostly summer: warm days and ocean water averaging 76F.Surf events and the Kite Festival at Jockey's Ridge fall in mid-September.
Best timeOctoberChecking fares…Daytime temperatures reach the low to mid 70s; ocean 68 to 73F.Swimming is possible until at least October in the northern area.
NovemberChecking fares…Cooler, with crisp mornings and water averaging 62F.Ocean stays warm through November.
DecemberChecking fares…Holiday events such as WinterLights at Elizabethan Gardens run in the off season.
Weather: Nags Head averages (1981 to 2010 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.
Every date to Norfolk from your city
Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.
Busy, quiet and what to watch for
Busiest
- SummerMost popular season; book accommodations early.
- SummerSchool vacations drive the crowds.
Quietest
- WinterQuiet, lowest hotel and rental rates.
- Shoulder seasonsApril to May and September to October bring fewer crowds and lower prices.
Watch for
- WinterSome restaurants and shops close for the season.
- WinterMany beach shops are closed.
- Fall stormsHeavy fall swells peak surfing; ferries can be affected by storms.
Questions people ask
- Is October a good time to visit Outer Banks?
- Yes. Sources describe mid 70s days, warm ocean water and fewer crowds.
More about Outer Banks
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