Outer banks Alternative (Atlantic Coast Route) Map Question

[ZombieTortuga]

Hello,

Planning a trip for this summer using the Atlantic Coast route Map 4 to create a loop. The plan is to use the Outer banks Alternative segment to avoid backtracking a section of the ride between Sudbury, NC and Jacksonville, NC.

The issue I have run into, and purpose of my post is that the Outer banks Alternative map segments do not have a narrative on the ACA map. Does anyone know if there is a reason behind this and/or a solution I’m missing to get that information for this section?

Thanks for any ideas/support!

Matt

[LARRYL05]

In 2015 I did this great adventure, left my car parked at Norfolk Airport. Safe travlels.
Larry

[TeresaC]

Hi LarryL,
Did you do this tour?  I'm planning something similar in Oct., 2021, but I'm planning to take the  Outer Banks south to form a loop that includes Cedar Island and circling up through the wildlife refuges to Manteo and Roanoake Island. 

My question is mainly about the winds:  Would it be better to travel south to north in the autumn?

Also, any other insights you may have would be appreciated.  Thank you

[LARRYL05]

Yes I did this trip in November 2015.  I do not remember the winds, but the reason I rode the coast north is then the ocean is always to the right - I don't have to look across the road to see the water.
This web site helps plan trips related to weather.
https://weatherspark.com/


This is  my log of that trip
November 1, 2015   Outer Banks Trip - Airport to Hotel   3.0
November 2, 2015   Outer Banks Trip - Norfolk to Edenton   87.1
November 3, 2015   Outer Banks Trip - Edenton to Ocracoke   82.3
November 4, 2015   Outer Banks Trip - Ocracoke to Rodanthe   57.6
November 5, 2015   Outer Banks Trip - Rodanthe to Kitty Hawk   47.9
November 6, 2015   Outer Banks Trip - Kitty Hawk to Virginia Beach   75.5
November 7, 2015   Outer Banks Trip - Virginia Beach to Norfolk   18.9

Make sure you take time to see the Kitty Hawk Museum - it was great

If you want to see my pictures of my trip I can send them to you on Facebook Messenger
Larry

[DanE]

Teresa,

I have made the tour that you are considering a couple of times. I always have done the Outer Banks south to north but mainly because I started my rides from the Swan Quarter ferry terminal. Ferry schedules were such that it made it easiest to drive to Swan Quarter and park and board the last ferry to Ocracoke at 4:30pm. No recommendation on whether this is advantageous with the wind. I will just say that if the wind is against you it is a struggle. I have had it both ways.

My other advice is to be prepared for the leg between Mann's Harbor and Englehard as there are no services on that stretch, approximately 50 miles.

Have fun.

[HikeBikeCook]

Sounds like a great tour but looking at websites they say summer traffic is heavy. What is the best time of year to do this loop?

[DanE]

I have done it in "shoulder season", spring or after Labor Day. Summer is too hot out on the Outer Banks I think. There is no shade in the NPS campgrounds. Spring seems like it has more wind. September and October can be wonderful unless there is a hurricane, and in recent years that has been a significant risk. Most of highway 12 has a shoulder. I have hitch hiked across the Oregon Inlet bridge if it seems like there is too much wind to be riding on that thing. Someone has always picked me up and taken me across. I have not been there since the new bridge has opened however.

[TeresaC]

Thank you, bike friends.  This is so very helpful and, for my first Outer Banks tour, I'll try the S to N route and then let you know about my experience with the winds.  I'm planning to start in early October.   Since I'm driving to my point of origin, Swan Quarter, I'll have more flexibility in tracking the weather and avoiding the hurricanes.

[LARRYL05]

I did it in November and I had the route to my self, minimal traffic

[HikeBikeCook]

I did it in November and I had the route to my self, minimal traffic

Thanks for the information.

Were most of the services closed at that point? Were hotels open or closed for the season?

[LARRYL05]

Services, hotels , Kitty Hawk Museum open and empty.

[HikeBikeCook]

One more question - where do you park your car while doing the tour? It looks like Hatteras Terminal is the only one with overnight parking and it is for 5 cars first come, first served.

[DanE]

I parked at the Swan Quarter ferry terminal, although it has been a long time since I did that trip. It is not uncommon for people to park at the ferry terminals and walk on to the ferry. It is difficult to drive and find parking in Ocracoke during summer season and many people will park at the ferry and walk on to either spend the day and come back or maybe spend a night at Ocracoke. I don't think the ferry people are concerned about it at all. Perhaps you could dig around on the web page and see if there is any info on parking: https://www.ncdot.gov/travel-maps/ferry-tickets-services/Pages/default.aspx It looks like they have phone numbers for the terminals listed, perhaps you could call the terminal.

[driftlessregion]

Larry,
Can you put this route on ridewithgps and post the link to it? It would be a great help.
Thanks

[DanE]

The route I did and I think is being referred to by Teresa as riding through the wildlife refuges is really easy as there is only one road choice. I parked at Swans Quarter and took the ferry to Ocracoke. Then ride north on NC 12 which is the road that runs up through the Outer Banks. There is a ferry at the northern end of Ocracoke to Hatteras Island. Further north there is a high bridge over the Oregon Inlet that can feel a bit sketchy to ride on. I have hitch hiked across that bridge if things did not feel safe to me. I have also ridden it. At Nags Head US 264 intersects NC 12. Take US 264 over to Roanoke Island and then US 264 back to the mainland using the old bridge and not the new bridge which is US 64. Follow US 264 back to Swan Quarter. There is a 50 mile run here without services between Mann's Harbor and Englehard so one should be prepared to ride that. It's along US 264 that you are traveling through the wildlife refuges.

I am not really a ridewithgps guy, but here it is in Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/tour/464877490/zoom