Flying into the Outer Banks of North Carolina gives pilots a rare combination: historic significance, scenic coastline, and direct access to one of the most popular vacation regions on the East Coast. This guide covers all four public-use airports on the Outer Banks, fuel availability, runway specs, and which airport is best for your destination.
Outer Banks Airports at a Glance
- First Flight Airport (KFFA) — Kill Devil Hills. 3,000 ft asphalt. No fuel. Adjacent to Wright Brothers National Memorial.
- Dare County Regional (KMQI) — Manteo. 4,300 ft asphalt. Self-serve and full-serve fuel. The OBX fuel stop.
- Currituck County Regional (KONX) — Maple. 5,500 ft asphalt. Fuel and FBO services. Best for larger aircraft and the northern OBX.
- Billy Mitchell Airstrip (KHSE) — Frisco, Hatteras Island. 3,000 ft asphalt. No fuel. Closest to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.
- Ocracoke Island Airport (W95) — Ocracoke. 3,000 ft asphalt. No fuel. Accessible only by ferry or air.
Which Airport Should You Use?
Visiting the Wright Brothers Memorial? Land at KFFA — you can walk to the memorial in under 10 minutes. Just be aware there is no fuel on field, so plan your fuel load accordingly.
Need fuel or a longer runway? KMQI in Manteo is the OBX fuel hub. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Kill Devil Hills.
Heading to Corolla, Duck, or northern OBX? KONX in Currituck has the longest runway and is closer to the northern beaches.
Visiting Cape Hatteras Lighthouse? KHSE in Frisco is the closest airfield on Hatteras Island.
Going to Ocracoke? W95 is your only direct option — the alternative is a ferry from Hatteras or the mainland.
Weather and Wind
The Outer Banks is a narrow barrier-island chain. Winds are typically stronger and more consistent than on the mainland — the same conditions that drew the Wright Brothers in 1900. Pilots should check METARs at MQI for the most reliable Outer Banks weather data, as the other airfields are uncontrolled and may not have real-time observations.
Ground Transportation
None of the smaller OBX airports have on-field car rental. For getting around after you land, see our Ground Transportation page for options including 4×4 vehicle delivery directly to the airport.
Hours and Restrictions
KFFA is daytime use only — no runway lighting. The other OBX airfields generally have runway lighting but check the latest A/FD or chart supplement for current information before flying. None of the airfields are towered, so all operations are on CTAF.