Drive the famous 59-mile corridor of Cape Hatteras National Seashore with a location-triggered audio guide that narrates shipwrecks, lighthouses, and migrating birds. Download once, use for a year, and explore the Outer Banks at your own pace.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You pull off Highway 12 as wind lifts salt spray into the cab and the sound of the ocean edges into the stereo—our guide begins, voice steady, pointing the route ahead. The road ribboning across barrier islands feels like a slow reveal: salt marshes to your left, Atlantic surf to your right, and lighthouses punctuating the horizon like milestones.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
4–6 hours
Fitness Level
Light: primarily driving with short, easy walks at stops; comfortable for most fitness levels.
Wildlife
History
The Outer Banks earned the nickname “Graveyard of the Atlantic” due to frequent shipwrecks; lifesaving stations and lighthouses developed here as a response.
Conservation
The seashore’s barrier islands are dynamic and protected—stick to marked parking and paths to avoid disturbing nesting birds and fragile dunes.
Reserve your spot on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Download before you arrive
Install the Action Tour Guide app and fully download the tour over strong Wi‑Fi; the audio works offline once saved.
Use car audio or headphones
Connect via Bluetooth or AUX for hands-free playback while driving; bring headphones for any short walks or crowded stops.
Respect speed limits and parking
Follow posted speed limits along Highway 12 and only stop in designated parking—barrier islands are ecologically sensitive.
Plan for wind and sun
Bring windproof layers and sun protection; conditions change quickly on exposed beaches.
Smartphone with GPS
Required to run the Action Tour Guide app and to navigate the route.
Portable phone charger
Keeps your device powered during the 4–6 hour tour and photo stops.
Windproof jacket
Wind off the ocean can be strong—protects you during beach stops and walks.
spring
Binoculars
Helps spot migratory birds and distant marine life from viewing points.
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