Outer Banks Scenic Byway
Hatteras Inlet, NC

The parade of deep-sea charter fishing boats and working watermen vessels through Hatteras Inlet and into the village harbor is a special sight. In 1846, a gale opened Hatteras Inlet, spurring Hatteras village’s growth as a shipping hub. At the Civil War’s start, two Confederate forts guarding the inlet fell, opening Union control of the Pamlico Sound region. In the mid-1930s, a newly dredged channel attracted the now-sizable fishing fleet.

The best way to observe the inlet is by ferry. Visitors can also hike or use off-road vehicles to see the inlet from the southwestern end of Hatteras Island. The inlet is readily viewed from the northeastern end of Ocracoke Island with a short walk from the ferry terminal.