Outer Banks Airboat Eco Tour
Skim Outer Banks waters for local history, ecology, and photo opportunities
Duration
1 hour
Ideal For
Up to 10 people
Includes
Airboat tour, local guide
Highlights
Skim the shorelines and Roanoke Sound by airboat on a route shaped around your party’s interests. Discover local history, ecological insights, and sound-side scenery along the Outer Banks.
- Travel 12–15 miles across sound-side waters by airboat
- Stop near Wanchese Harbor and Cape Hatteras National Seashore when conditions allow
- Explore a sandbar on foot when weather and conditions permit
- Photograph shorelines and areas accessible only by airboat
- Learn about local history and migratory waterfowl
Important details
- Arrive 15 minutes before departure
- Ages 2+ only
- Pets and glass containers are not allowed
- A credit card processing fee applies
Cancellation Policy
Full refund or credit with at least 48 hours' notice. Cancellations 24–48 hours before start incur a 50% cancellation fee. No refunds within 24 hours. No-shows are charged the full price. Exceptions apply if the operator cancels due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.
FAQs
Yes. The airboat tour has a 4-person minimum. If you have fewer than 4, you may need to join a pair-up list, or pay the difference for a private experience (subject to availability).
Children under 2 and pets can’t join. Glass items are not allowed.
Bring sunscreen, water and snacks (no glass), and a camera or phone. Wear sunglasses and a hat. In April/May and September/October, dress warm or bring an extra layer since it can feel cooler on the water.
Meeting details
Washington Baum Boat Landing, 1205 North Highway 64, Manteo, NC 27954
More about Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Cape Hatteras National Seashore stretches for more than 70 miles along North Carolina's Outer Banks, a ribbon of barrier islands where the Atlantic meets a maze of marshes, sounds, and shifting dunes. While the airboat tour itself glides across the calm, shallow waters near the Outer Banks mainland, Cape Hatteras National Seashore sets the wider stage for any visit to this region. Its protected shoreline, historic lighthouses, and untouched maritime forests are part of what gives the Outer Banks its wild, end-of-the-road feel, and an airboat ride is one of the most exciting ways to experience the watery side of that landscape.
On the one-hour airboat tour, you skim across grassy shallows that mirror the same ecosystems you find throughout Cape Hatteras National Seashore: sun-warmed estuaries, tidal flats, and quiet creeks alive with birdlife. The rumble of the fan, the rush of warm coastal air, and the sudden hush when the captain cuts the engine to point out an osprey or a school of fish all bring this fragile habitat to life. Unlike the surf-pounded ocean beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, these protected backwaters reveal the calmer, hidden half of the Outer Banks, where wildlife thrives just inches below the surface and the horizon is broken only by waving cordgrass.
This experience is a great fit for families with curious kids, couples looking for a memorable hour on the water, and nature lovers who plan to spend the rest of their trip exploring Cape Hatteras National Seashore by car, bike, or foot. Anyone drawn to lighthouses, shorebirds, and big sky views will appreciate seeing the same wild coast from a fast, low-riding airboat. Pair the ride with a drive south into Cape Hatteras National Seashore and you have a complete picture of the Outer Banks, from quiet inland marsh to wide-open Atlantic shore.
