Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Outer Banks
Download the GuideAlong self-guided audio tour and you'll discover more on your Outer Banks road trip. Hear fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, local tips and directions play automatically, all based on your location. You'll be guided to all of the area's famous highlights as well as lessor known gems including three historic lighthouses that you can climb, look for wild horses in the dunes, wander the famous piers, and learn about the Wright Brothers' aviation history at a national memorial. Enjoy the freedom to explore offline at your own pace, spending more time at places that interest you, and bypass any that don’t. ✅ Stories, tips and directions play automatically based on your location ✅ Travel at your own pace ✅ Tour offline using GPS, no cell service or WiFi needed ✅ Suggested itineraries for half, full or multi day use ✅ Buy once, use forever! No expiry, includes free updates ✅ Like having a tour guide along for the drive Purchase one tour per vehicle.
Departure Point
- Commentary plays automatically based on your location, so you have flexibility on where and when you want to start and end your tour anywhere along the tour route.
Return Details
- Commentary plays automatically based on your location, so you have flexibility on where and when you want to start and end your tour anywhere along the tour route.
Duration
2 hours - 13 hours
Languages Available
- Audio guide - English
Points of Interest
Stop At: Outer Banks
North Carolina
As the audio guides play commentary based on your gps location, you can create your own itinerary along the tour route to match your interests and schedule.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Bodie Island Lighthouse
8210 Bodie Island Lighthouse Road, Nags Head, North Carolina
In terms of structure, Bodie is a twin to the Currituck Beach Lighthouse at the far northern end of the Outer Banks. The Bodie Island Light Station has a distinct paint job: horizontal black and white stripes. That helped mariners back in the day know which lighthouse they were looking at - and it also helps us take really great photos! One of the most awesome things to do here or at any lighthouse is to climb it. There’s a season for climbing, but lucky for us, it coincides with visitor season. The view from the top is epic, to say the least.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
46379 Lighthouse Rd, , Buxton, North Carolina
As well as being the tallest brick lighthouse in the country, the Cape Hatteras Light Station is painted with a memorable, black and white candystripe design. If available, it's fun to climb the lighthouse. Also see where the building was relocated from and tidelines keep rising. You may even recognize the lighthouse as a location often first-battered by hurricanes threatening to make landfall along the coastline. Also in the area, be sure to check out the towns of Hatteras and Buxton, and the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is worth a few fascinating hours.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Cape Hatteras National Seashore
North Carolina Highway 12, , North Carolina
The Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a stretch of approximately 70 miles south of Nag's Head. Much of it is natural, and sometimes a little wild, but it's a beautiful drive to explore. Though we will enjoy some longer sections of zero development, there are seven small towns heading that way including Rodanthe, Avon, Buxton and Hatteras Village. We have a couple of very cool lighthouses at Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras itself. Driving this way is a great day out, with lots of space on open beaches and it's definitely less crowded feeling than the towns to the north. If you enjoy beachcombing for shells - that's the way to go.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Corolla
Corolla, North Carolina
This is the end of the road driving as far north as we can on the North Carolina Outer Banks. Beyond seeing where the pavement meets the sand, there are several cool things to see including the Currituck Lighthouse and associated historic buildings like the lightkeeper's residence. From a more gilded time - the Whalebone Club was once a somewhat decadent seeming duck hunting lodge. And the protected waters of the Currituck Sound are well worth enjoying - the Whalebone Club is a good place to do that.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Duck
Duck, North Carolina
Of the towns north of Kitty Hawk, Duck enjoys a true town center-feeling unlike the others. It's well worth exploring and taking some time to walk the waterfront boardwalk - that extends into the water in many places.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
1401 National Park, Manteo, North Carolina
Way back in the 1580s, an English colony was established at the north end of Roanoke Island. It only lasted a few years before the colonists disappeared without a trace, and to this day, we really don't 100% know what became of them. You can visit the site where their fort stood, learn about their lives and disappearance, then watch The Lost Colony, the longest-running outdoor drama in America, which tells a dramatic interpretation of the events surrounding the mystery of the failed colony.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Jennette's Pier
7223 S Virginia Dare Trl, , Nags Head, North Carolina
There are 3 excellent piers that jut out into the Atlantic Ocean along the Outer Banks. Jennette's might be the most famous and is located at Nag's Head. Having been rebuilt 3 times - the last time in concrete - the pier is lovely for a short stroll, or for a slightly higher activity level - a popular place to fish from. Fishing equipment and bait are available right at the pier. You'll also find a small aquarium at the location too. For a taste of local flavor, opposite the Pier is Sam and Omie's - a tavern/diner that is an OBX favorite for its decor, food and tradition. It started out as the place the fishermen would take their breakfast before heading off to work.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Jockey's Ridge State Park
300 W Carolista Dr, Nags Head, North Carolina
Sand dunes and their specialized environment are unexpectedly fascinating, and Jockey's Ridge has 2 places to explore. The Visitor Center is accessed right from the Croatan Highway and features a boardwork through the low dunes - but you should also get your toes into the sand. Also be sure to visit the Jockey's Ridge Sound Access location. This gives you the best of both worlds - explore the dune environment, but also access some lovely sound-side beach areas where you can cool off. If you go a little further, you'll find you might have more space all to yourself.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Roanoke Island
Roanoke Island, North Carolina
there are many other things to enjoy on Roanoke Island, which is on the sound-side of Nag's Head. Manteo is quite the lovely waterside town with a charming, historic feeling and loads of galleries, stores and dining options to explore. Enjoy the boardwalk too - you'll see that the town becomes like a magnet for folks who want a relaxing end to their day. Further along the island is the highly experiential North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island - an excellent outing at any time, but a fantastic option on a rainy day. Other great experiences to seek out on the island include the historically restored Island Farm, the gorgeous Elizabeth Gardens over by Fort Raleigh, and calling in to the National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Center to plan your own little adventure. And finally - there's the Mothervine, a plant you may have never imagined. You'll be tempted to make this 5 minute detour as we tour - no spoilers.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Rodanthe
Rodanthe, North Carolina
Located in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Rodanthe is most recognizable of the 3 intermingled towns, including Waves and Salvo, and Avon further to the south. It's a uniquely beautiful drive just to get there. We'll cross some very long and impressive bridges on the way and don't be surprised if the beach sand is trying to reclaim the road. The area is popular for regular surfers and kiter-boarders, and the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station is a celebration of the brave souls who risk hazardous seas to save those on ships in distress.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Wright Brothers National Memorial
1000 N Croatan Hwy, , Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
On December 17, 1903, in Kitty Hawk, the Wright Brothers successfully launched four powered flights that day, making history as they proved mankind could break the bonds of gravity and fly. You can stand on that very ground at the memorial - or even better, you can walk the exact flightpath from the day that changed the world forever. The memorial and visitor experience is a not-to-be-missed highlight for your visit to the Outer Banks.
Duration: 1 hour
Additional Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How to Access: After booking you’ll receive an email and text with instructions (search “Download Audio Tour”). Click the link in the email/text to sign in with your preferred Apple or Google account and redeem your voucher code ahead of time.
- Download The GuideAlong App: Download the free app over WiFi or cellular data and sign in with the same Apple or Google account.
- Download The Tour: Download the tour in the GuideAlong app under 'My Tours' over WiFi or cellular data.
- Start The Tour: Open the tour in the GuideAlong app to preview the start locations, tour route and trip planner, or start the tour.
- Location-Based Stories: Audio commentary plays automatically as you drive using your phone’s GPS chip. Wherever you are and whichever direction you’re going, you’ll hear the best stories and tips.
- Flexible Travel Date: Tours are a one-time purchase with no expiry or date/time limit. If your plans change to a different day, there’s no need to change your travel date.
- Tour at Your Leisure: With GuideAlong, you control the pace. Start, stop, and resume the tour any day, anytime, adapting it to your schedule.
- Driving Tours: Group Savings: One purchase covers everyone in the vehicle, making it a cost-effective way to explore.
- Works Offline: No internet or cell service is required once the audio tour is downloaded to your phone, so you can relax and tour offline.
- Bring A Charger: Pack a USB/C car charger for charging and easy sound connectivity, and make sure your device is fully charged.
- Technical Support: The GuideAlong support team is available daily by toll-free phone, online chat, and email.
- Support: Toll free phone, chat and email
- Easy To Use: Pre-download and tour offline
- Trip Planners: In-app, web and PDF
- Location Based: Stories, tips & directions that autoplay
- Buy once, use forever! No expiry, includes free updates
- GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide) Audio Tour: 190+ Points
- Flexible Routes: Suggested itineraries or create your own
Exclusions
- National Park Passes (vary depending on length of stay, ages & group size),~ $30 (2024) Annual pass
- Wright Brothers National Memorial Admission ($15 adults, children are free)
Redemption Instructions
STEPS TO GET YOUR GUIDEALONG AUDIO TOUR:
1. SIGN IN + REDEEM your VOUCHER CODE: https://store.guidealong.com/voucher
2. DOWNLOAD the GuideAlong App
3. SIGN IN to the GuideAlong app with the same Apple or Google account as Step 1
4. DOWNLOAD the Audio Tour NOW
FIND YOUR VOUCHER CODE AND INSTRUCTIONS
- Email: Search your inbox for “Your Tour Operator Sent You A Message” and “Instructions for GuideAlong Audio Tour.” Check All Mail and your junk/spam folder.
- Text: Check for a text message from +17817732638.
- This Ticket: Find the voucher code at the top under the QR code and redeem at Step 1.
- Viator App: Open your booking and select Contact Support > Contact Tour Operator.
- TripAdvisor App: Open your Account and select Messages.
- Need help? Call GuideAlong toll-free on 1866-477-1791.
DOWNLOAD THE GUIDEALONG APP & TOUR NOW
You must pre-download both the GuideAlong app and audio tour to your phone over reliable wifi or cellular data before you drive out of signal. If you can OPEN your tour and see the START TOURING button, your tour is downloaded. No service is required while touring.
FLEXIBLE TRAVEL DATE
There’s no expiry, date or time limit for your tour, so download the GuideAlong app and audio tour now. If your plans change to a different day there’s no need to change your travel date.
CHARGING & SOUND
We don’t recommend connecting your phone to the vehicle's USB port. Instead, use a USB/C car charger adapter in the auxiliary power outlet (cigarette lighter) to prevent an automatic secondary pairing and keep your phone charged. CarPlay and Android Auto are not yet supported, so listen to the tour through your phone’s speaker or pair it to your car stereo via Bluetooth: guidealong.com/travel-tips-bluetooth/.
HELP & SUPPORT
- FAQs: Check the offline Help menu in the GuideAlong app or online FAQs at guidealong.com/faq.
- Contact GuideAlong Support: Call toll-free 1866-477-1791, chat online at guidealong.com, or email info@guidealong.com.
Voucher Info
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide) in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon.
This offer is not eligible for promo codes.
Need To Know Info
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services. Offer is not eligible for our promo codes or other discounts. Learn about Strike-Through Pricing and Savings