Airport closure — Billy Mitchell (KHSE), from August 17, 2026. If your route includes Billy Mitchell (KHSE) on Hatteras Island, it is closed from August 17, 2026 until about mid-November 2026 for runway resurfacing. First Flight (FFA) and Ocracoke Island (W95) remain open. Source: National Park Service, Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Always check current NOTAMs.
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 five public-use airports on the Outer Banks, fuel availability, runway specs, and which airport is best for your destination.
Flying commercial instead? If you’re booking an airline ticket rather than flying yourself, see our guide to the closest airport to the Outer Banks — Norfolk International (ORF) is the nearest major airport, about a 1.5 to 2.5 hour drive.
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.
First Flight Airport (KFFA) at a Glance
KFFA sits on the grounds of the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills. It is one of a small number of public-use airfields associated with National Park Service units — on the Outer Banks the Park Service is also behind Ocracoke Island (W95) and Billy Mitchell (KHSE) — and it is the only one where you can land where the first powered flight happened.
- Runway: 03/21, 3,000 ft × 60 ft, asphalt
- Elevation: 13 ft MSL
- CTAF: 122.9
- Weather: AWOS-3 on 118.075 (252-449-0698)
- Approaches: RNAV (GPS) published to both runways
- Fuel: None — nearest is KMQI, 7 nm south
- Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset; no night operations
- Tie-downs: 24 consecutive hours, or 48 total hours per 30 days; bring your own ropes
- Hazard: Deer on the runway — overfly before landing
KFFA is the right choice if your goal is to walk to the memorial. It is the wrong choice if you need fuel, night operations, lights, or anything resembling an FBO. The runway is long enough for most light singles and twins, but the lack of fuel means planning a stop at KMQI on the way in or out.
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 4x4 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. Only Dare County Regional (KMQI) has a control tower, and only seasonally in summer on 118.55; everywhere else — and at KMQI outside tower hours — operations are on CTAF or UNICOM.
Trip Planner — Pick the Right Outer Banks Airport
Not sure which OBX airport is right for you? Pick your destination and aircraft considerations below — we’ll recommend the best option.
Plan your fly-in
Plan your OBX flight
- Closest airport to the Outer Banks — for anyone arriving on an airline rather than flying themselves.
- OBX Lighthouses From the Air — a pilot’s tour of Currituck, Bodie, Hatteras and Ocracoke.