What ocean is at Outer Banks?

The Outer Banks are a series of barrier islands made up entirely of sand (undersea sand bars). The Outer Banks covers approximately half the northern North Carolina coastline separating the Currituck Sound, Albemarle Sound, Roanoke Sound, Croatan Sound and Pamlico Sound from the Atlantic Ocean.



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Regardless of where your family stays on the Outer Banks, a refreshing swim is literally just around the corner. Accomplished swimmers will love challenging themselves with mile-long swims along the ocean shoreline, and young ones can join in the fun in the calm waters of the Outer Banks' five saltwater sounds.

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Rip Currents on the Outer Banks Seaward currents, also called rip currents or rip tides, are created by breaks in the sand bar off shore and are very dangerous. Rip currents are channels of water flowing away from the shore and will pull a swimmer out from shore.

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The moon's gravitational pull, the Earth's rotation, and temperature changes between the equator and the poles keeps these waters constantly churning. The area off the Outer Banks is especially turbulent because of how the Gulf Stream collides with colder waters flowing down from the Arctic.

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Outer Banks, NC enjoys around 200 sunny days each year, with a year-round average hovering around 70°.

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