Best time to visit Outer Banks, NC, USA

Our verdict

The best time to visit Outer Banks is April-May

Based on all the essential things any traveller needs to know about visiting Outer Banks such as the cost of travel, weather, peak travel seasons and many more, April-May is the best time of year to go.

During the warmer months, temperatures in Outer Banks can rise to a maximum of 29℃ (85℉). In the colder months such as January, temperatures usually get down to an average minimum of 5℃ (40℉).

The sun stays up the longest in Outer Banks in July, so you’ll get the most out of your daytime activities if you visit around this time. The wet season in Outer Banks usually falls during the months surrounding August each year. It’s not uncommon to get some decent rainfall or light showers during this time, but on some days the weather tends to be fine for a majority of the day, with only a few drops of rain falling from a passing shower.

Continue reading to find out more about when to visit Outer Banks, including the climate, seasonal info, what to pack, FAQs, and the best tools to help you plan and book your next vacation.

Warmest month

July

Least rainfall

January

Most daylight

July

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Outer Banks seasons

Before you continue, it’s important to know when the seasons are in Outer Banks as they might be different to yours depending on where in the world you’re travelling from. Outer Banks is in the Northern Hemisphere, so the seasons fall during these months:

Season Months
Summer June to August
Autumn/fall September to November
Winter December to February
Spring March to May

Average temperatures in Outer Banks

If the temperature is a big factor for you to help you decide when to visit, the chart below shows the average minimum and maximum temperatures in Outer Banks for each month side-by-side so you can easily see the difference in weather throughout the year. To see the temperatures in both Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F), hover or tap the shaded boxes on the graph.

Outer Banks climate by month

If you already have a rough idea about which months you might want to travel, the section below shows a detailed breakdown of the climate in Outer Banks for each month so you can see if it all suits your wants and needs. Scroll down, or use the quick menu below to jump to your preferred month.

Jump to:

JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC

Outer Banks in January

  • Average temperature: 7℃ (45℉)
  • Average high temperature: 9℃ (49℉)
  • Average low temperature: 5℃ (40℉)
  • Average humidity: 76%
  • Average sunny days: 15 days
  • Average rainfall: 57mm (2") over 12 days
  • Average snow days: 1 days
15 days
of pure sunshine
12 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Outer Banks in January, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.


Outer Banks in February

  • Average temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
  • Average high temperature: 10℃ (50℉)
  • Average low temperature: 5℃ (42℉)
  • Average humidity: 76%
  • Average sunny days: 14 days
  • Average rainfall: 74mm (3") over 12 days
  • Average snow days: 1 days
14 days
of pure sunshine
12 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Outer Banks in February, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.


Outer Banks in March

  • Average temperature: 10℃ (50℉)
  • Average high temperature: 12℃ (53℉)
  • Average low temperature: 8℃ (46℉)
  • Average humidity: 77%
  • Average sunny days: 13 days
  • Average rainfall: 78mm (3") over 16 days
13 days
of pure sunshine
16 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Outer Banks in March, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.


Outer Banks in April

  • Average temperature: 15℃ (58℉)
  • Average high temperature: 17℃ (62℉)
  • Average low temperature: 13℃ (55℉)
  • Average humidity: 77%
  • Average sunny days: 14 days
  • Average rainfall: 86mm (3") over 15 days
14 days
of pure sunshine
15 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Outer Banks in April, make sure you pack a light jumper or hoodie.


Outer Banks in May

  • Average temperature: 19℃ (67℉)
  • Average high temperature: 21℃ (70℉)
  • Average low temperature: 18℃ (64℉)
  • Average humidity: 80%
  • Average sunny days: 11 days
  • Average rainfall: 77mm (3") over 18 days
11 days
of pure sunshine
18 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Outer Banks in May, make sure you pack a light jumper or hoodie for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.


Outer Banks in June

  • Average temperature: 24℃ (75℉)
  • Average high temperature: 26℃ (78℉)
  • Average low temperature: 23℃ (73℉)
  • Average humidity: 78%
  • Average sunny days: 12 days
  • Average rainfall: 66mm (3") over 15 days
12 days
of pure sunshine
15 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Outer Banks in June, make sure you pack t-shirts and light clothing.


Outer Banks in July

  • Average temperature: 26℃ (79℉)
  • Average high temperature: 28℃ (82℉)
  • Average low temperature: 25℃ (77℉)
  • Average humidity: 78%
  • Average sunny days: 13 days
  • Average rainfall: 91mm (4") over 17 days
13 days
of pure sunshine
17 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Outer Banks in July, make sure you pack t-shirts and light clothing.


Outer Banks in August

  • Average temperature: 26℃ (79℉)
  • Average high temperature: 27℃ (81℉)
  • Average low temperature: 25℃ (76℉)
  • Average humidity: 78%
  • Average sunny days: 12 days
  • Average rainfall: 97mm (4") over 17 days
12 days
of pure sunshine
17 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Outer Banks in August, make sure you pack t-shirts and light clothing.


Outer Banks in September

  • Average temperature: 24℃ (75℉)
  • Average high temperature: 25℃ (78℉)
  • Average low temperature: 23℃ (73℉)
  • Average humidity: 77%
  • Average sunny days: 14 days
  • Average rainfall: 97mm (4") over 15 days
14 days
of pure sunshine
15 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Outer Banks in September, make sure you pack t-shirts and light clothing.

Outer Banks in October

  • Average temperature: 20℃ (67℉)
  • Average high temperature: 21℃ (70℉)
  • Average low temperature: 18℃ (64℉)
  • Average humidity: 74%
  • Average sunny days: 16 days
  • Average rainfall: 60mm (2") over 12 days
16 days
of pure sunshine
12 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Outer Banks in October, make sure you pack a light jumper or hoodie for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.


Outer Banks in November

  • Average temperature: 14℃ (57℉)
  • Average high temperature: 16℃ (60℉)
  • Average low temperature: 12℃ (53℉)
  • Average humidity: 74%
  • Average sunny days: 15 days
  • Average rainfall: 67mm (3") over 12 days
15 days
of pure sunshine
12 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Outer Banks in November, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.


Outer Banks in December

  • Average temperature: 10℃ (51℉)
  • Average high temperature: 12℃ (54℉)
  • Average low temperature: 8℃ (47℉)
  • Average humidity: 77%
  • Average sunny days: 17 days
  • Average rainfall: 86mm (3") over 12 days
  • Average snow days: 1 days
17 days
of pure sunshine
12 days
of showers or rain

What to pack: If you’re heading to Outer Banks in December, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.


Top FAQs

The hottest month of the year in Outer Banks is usually July, where temperatures tend to rise to around 28℃ (82℉) in the middle of the day or early afternoon.
The month with the least amount of rain in Outer Banks is generally around January. The dry season often coincides with cooler weather, so you should check the temperatures in January first to make sure it’s still a good time to go.
The rainiest time of year in Outer Banks is generally around August, although the wetter season can sometimes extend a few months either side of August too.
If you want to get the most out of your time visiting Outer Banks, or if you're just afraid of the dark, the days in July are usually the longest between sunrise and sunset.

Outer Banks map