State Route 12 - North Carolina
AKA: Outer Banks Scenic Byway
Corolla - Atlantic
Distance/Driving time: 146 miles/6h, 17m
County(ies): Dare, Hyde, Carteret
Submit your on this road.
Rider Comments:
- Ferries to Ocracoke (Cedar Island and Swan Quarter) charge $10 for 2 and 3 wheel motorcycles, $15 for motorcycle with sidecar or trailer. Southport to Fort Fisher fares are $3 and $5 respectively. Reservations, especially, during the tourist season are highly recommended. The other ferries (Bayview-Aurora, Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach, Hatteras-Ocracoke, and Currituck-Knotts Island) are currently without charge. However, this may change in 2013. Go to www.ncferry.org or call 1-800-BYFERRY for schedules, fares and reservations. - Anonymous (1/4/13)
- This is a very nice ride, the scenery is beautiful, I rode from Nags Head to Ocracoke Village. The only draw back were the cars that impeded my ride, but the lighthouses were nice. - Anonymous (5/30/08)
- The ferry is free for motorcyclists, as all ferries in NC are. There are also a couple of Light houses that you can stop at and take a pic and a break. Be aware, the proximity to the ocean makes for quick changes in temps. Bring a jacket at the very least. Also, be watchful of the sand that occasionally drifts onto the road way. I would urge you to time the trip so that you can be at the Oregon Inlet Marina when the charter boats come back in with their bounty. The fish that these guys bring back are incredible and oft times the mates will sell what the clients didn't want. - T.J. Puca (4/30/08)
- Right by the water. I've gone the whole route once, half in a beat to hell Benz, the other half on my Bonnie. Very, very pretty on a nice day (ocean and *ahem* "other" scenery), and very, very slow - about 35 mph average from Nag's Head and North. While I haven't been down on tourist weekends or such, I can imagine this can be a nightmare come summer, as sand, leather and excessive heat don't make a winning combo. Good thing there's plenty of raw bars along the way. The ferries are gorgeous and fun to take - bring cash for the trip, and watch for slick loading ramps. - Patrick Waters (4/7/07)
Other Resources:
- America's Byways - Outer Banks Scenic Byway
- Weather.com - Cape Hatteras
- Guy Boutin's Motorcycle Touring and Travel Pages - North Carolina SR 12
- Wikipedia - North Carolina Highway 12
- Rand McNally Road Atlas