Wright Brothers National Memorial

Recently, Ashley and I had a chance to visit and explore the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. This was my second time here and it was her first. The Wright Brothers National Memorial is a must see for those who love history and like exploring where history was made.

Directions to Trailhead: The Wright Brothers National Memorial is located at mile post 7.5 on U.S. Highway 158, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. Here are driving directions to the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

From the North - Follow I-95 South to Richmond, Va. Take I-64 East toward Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Va. Take I-64 or I-664 to Chesapeake, Va. From I-64, take Exit 291B to Route 168, the Chesapeake Expressway.* Once in North Carolina, Route 168 turns into U.S. 158 East. Follow U.S. 158 through Kitty Hawk to Kill Devil Hills, N.C. *Chesapeake Expressway is a toll road which costs $2.00 each way.

From the West - Via I-95 into North Carolina. Take U.S. 64 East toward Rocky Mount. Follow U.S. 64 east through Williamston and Plymouth. From Plymouth, continue east to Nags Head and the junction of U.S. 158 through Nags Head to Kill Devil Hills, N.C.

From the South - Coming from South Carolina, take I-95 to Wilson, N.C. Take US-264 East through Greenville and Washington. From Washington, take State Route 30 to Plymouth, and follow U.S. 64 east to Nags Head. Continue on U.S. 158 through Nags Head to Kill Devil Hills, N.C.

Description of Hike: This is not so much a true hike, but is more of an outdoor adventure. The Wright Brothers National Memorial has a number of walking trails on the memorial grounds. The trails are well maintained. Your walk can be made as long or as short as you would like. You can even drive to most of the places on the memorial grounds. The only elevation gain is on Kill Devil Hill, which is where the Wright Brothers Monument is located. The hill on which the Wright Brother Monument stands is 90 feet tall. The cost to enter the Wright Brothers National Memorial is $4 per person. An annual pass is $20 per person. For more information on fees click Here. Additionally, for a schedule of events at the Wright Brothers National Memorial click Here.

Further Thoughts: Ashley and I really enjoyed our visit to the Wright Brothers National Memorial. It is always amazing to visit a place with such amazing history. It is even more amazing that from the first flight here at Kitty Hawk, it took only 66 years for us to put a man on the moon. When you go to visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial, there is a chance that it will be crowded, especially during the summer time. There is additional parking located close to the entrance, as well as close to Kill Devil Hill, where the Wright Brothers Monument is located.

The Monument is amazing to see. The Monument is 60 feet tall and sits atop Kill Devil Hill which is 90 feet tall. The Monument honors the Wright brothers and marks the site of the hundreds of glider flights that preceded the first powered flight. From this location you have great views of the surrounding area as it is one of the taller locations on the outer banks.

The visitor center and the first flight centennial pavilion are worth a visit. Inside both, there are historical exhibits about flight and the Wright Brothers. Additionally, if you are looking for a souvenir or a drink that is the place to go. Furthermore, the buildings are air conditioned and let you get out of the heat on a hot day.

Outside, there is the reconstructed 1903 hangar and quarters/workshop. One building depicts the hangar the wright brothers used for their 1903 flyer and the other building is similar to their workshop and living quarters. Right next to this area is where the first flight actually took place. There is the First Flight Boulder which marks the start where all the flights originated. There are a total of 4 more markers which mark the end point of each of the 4 flights. The first flight lasted 12 seconds and went 120 feet. The second flight lasted 12 seconds and went 175 feet. The third flight lasted 15 seconds and went 200 feet. The fourth flight lasted 59 seconds and went 852 feet.

Ashley and I would highly recommend a visit to the Wright Brothers National Memorial because there is so much history associated with this location.

Rating: Elevation Gain: 180 ft. (Easy), Distance: Variable (0.25 - 2) Miles Roundtrip (Easy).

Time to Complete Hike: 1 - 2 hours.


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