Made it to Nags Head from Ohio on Saturday and have a few observations. Traffic during the whole 2 day trip was generally not as heavy as in prior years (we always take 2 days to make the trip -1 day is doable but it takes me 2 more days to become human again). Traffic congestion could be a timing thing but over the 2 day drive it seemed the lightness was pretty consistent. Crossing the bridge was a cakewalk and even the traffic headed up to Corolla/Duck was very minimal (at the lights in Kitty Hawk). The real eye opener was going to Food Lion. I’m the fortunate one to hazard the initial run to the store to jostle with it’s usual cast of thousands of other tourists. This time (around 5 pm) was very different: I got a parking space close to the store (of which there were several available) and the store was not crowded at all - I would estimate that the number of customers was about 35%-40% of what I faced in the past. Some of the aisles actually had no people in them. Nothing seemed to be in short supply as I loaded up 2 carts (with my grand-daughters help). When I went to check out I was pleased to see no register had more than one customer being checked out so, even with 2 carts, checkout was quick. Leaving the parking lot to get on 158 was no also problem. There was absolutely no traffic for apprx. 1 block in either direction. Back at the rental we were unloading the car when a maintenance person arrived to look at an ice maker that was reported leaking by the prior guests. While talking with him about the apparent lower volume of people in the banks he said that in 26 years with his company this was the slowest he has ever seen and last week was even slower. It almost seems to rival levels I’ve seen in October if memory serves me. Of course we know how memory seems to work a little different as we age. Anyway I’m just curious if others have experienced fewer visitors/lower activity or not.
It is definitely quieter than normal for June. The road traffic is the same as off season. It's still early so maybe it picks up. But I've been hearing rentals are not as strong this year.
short video entering OBX via Wright Bros bridge
The bridge traffic back ups are a thing of the past and the only thing I can attribute it to is so many using VRBO and Air B&B and coming on days other than saturday and sunday. You were just lucky with low traffic on rt 12 to Duck.
@dandjw2 I agree that the crowds seem to be down but you would never have known that today. I was coming home from work and passed Jimmy Buffett in Kitty Hawk. The parking lot was jammed. Everybody was parked on the grass and there was probably 20 to 30 cars lined up on the bypass as well. A line wrapped around the restaurant
@Tim-OBX either that or rentals are way way down. Not a lick of traffic coming from or going to duck last weekend.
Well I'm longing for 2 weeks ago. Had to do some travels today. Going south the bypass was packed. The longest right turn line to go to Manteo that I've ever seen, backed up to Pirate's Cove. Going north bypass still packed. Getting to/thru Duck was like the old turnover days.
@OBXRelaxing I can attest to this. Had lunch in Manteo today. Big mistake.