Outer Banks advice needed, travel/time
 

Hi!
First trip to NC. Need to get out of Chicago for a long wkend. !! Is it worth the trip for April 2 wkend? Too cold? Will stores and restaurants be open?

Also, Our flight would get into Norfolk at 9:30 Thurs night. Is there an easy motel to stay the night and head to the islands Friday morning? Vs. late check in and an expensive night.

Any advice is most appreciated. Thanks!

Right now the weather forecast is for temps in the fifties and sixties. Good for beach walking but not much for sunning. The water will definitely too cold for swimming (w/o a wet suit anyway) until June.

Everyday stores (groceries, hardware, Walmart, etc) will be open as there's a large year round community. Specialty shops are a bit more hit and miss. Lots will have hours but they may be shortened or irregular. Ditto with nicer restaurants which cater to visitors.

There's a Doubletree and a Hilton near the airport.

Are you staying in a hotel or doing a short break in a house?

Thanks obxgirl. I think we'll book a B&B. I was looking at some in Duck, Manteo and the Corolla inn. Only concern with Corolla inn was all the pics on their site with crowds of kids, but may be ok this early.
I'm open to suggestions We'll book this wkend. Thanks!! Hubby and I like to walk, bike and golf.

My suggestion is to leave Norfolk by 8AM. Sometimes the traffic in Norfolk starts to back up--in the summer anyhow. Perhaps April is not the same.

This seems like alot of travel time for a long weekend. Norfolk is about 2 hours from the Outer Banks. If I were you I would go somewhere easier to get to, farther south where the weather is warmer. How about Charleston? Great city with beaches nearby. Or Savannah. I've found that the weather in the Carolinas can be pretty "iffy" in April.