Where Was Outer Banks Filmed?

The Short Answer

Outer Banks was primarily filmed in and around Charleston, South Carolina, especially Mount Pleasant and James Island. Shem Creek, Hunting Island Lighthouse and Lowndes Grove all appear. Later seasons added Barbados, limited North Carolina work, Morocco and Croatia, with the final season shooting partly in Dubrovnik.

The Pogues live on Kildare Island, a fictional stretch of North Carolina's Outer Banks. The cameras, however, rarely went there. From the start, production based itself in Charleston, South Carolina, and used the surrounding Lowcountry to stand in for the Barrier Islands.

Why the switch? North Carolina's since-repealed HB2 bathroom bill raised inclusivity concerns for the production, so the crew relocated south. The result is a show that looks convincingly coastal while being shot in Mount Pleasant, James Island, Barbados, and eventually Dubrovnik for the final season.

Every Location At A Glance

Location	Where	What was filmed	Access
Shem Creek	Mount Pleasant, United States	Waterfront boat scenes and Heyward’s Seafood/Geechie Seafood	Free to see
Hunting Island Lighthouse	Hunting Island, United States	Redfield Lighthouse and Boneyard beach scenes	Ticketed
Lowndes Grove	Charleston, United States	Tannyhill Plantation (Cameron family home)	Private property
Secessionville Historic District	Charleston, United States	The Chateau (John B's house)	Outside only
Kiawah Island Golf Resort	Kiawah Island, United States	Island Club / Midsummers event and golf scenes	Ticketed
Old Bethel AME Church	McClellanville, United States	Abandoned church bell tower scenes	Outside only
Morris Island Lighthouse	Charleston, United States	Lighthouse scenes	Outside only
Careenage area, Bridgetown	Bridgetown, Barbados	Nassau streets in Season 2	Free to see
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area	Kure Beach, United States	Enduro dirt bike race scenes in Season 4	Free to see
Dubrovnik Old Town	Dubrovnik, Croatia	Mediterranean and overseas scenes in Season 5	Free to see

Filming Locations Map

10 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant stands in for the show's working waterfront. Boat scenes were filmed here, and the waterfront buildings served as Heyward's Seafood, later Geechie Seafood. Today it is one of the most popular tourist spots in the area, with boardwalks, kayakers, dolphins and a long row of restaurants. Fans can walk the same docks seen across multiple seasons without any ticket or reservation.

This state park lighthouse plays Redfield Lighthouse, site of key treasure-hunt moments, and the park's striking boneyard beach, with dead trees scattered across the sand, also appears. Hunting Island State Park requires admission, and the lighthouse itself is open to the public for climbing. It sits about an hour and a half from Charleston, making it the most distant of the core South Carolina locations but one of the most photogenic.

Lowndes Grove, a historic waterfront estate in Charleston, serves as Tannyhill Plantation, the Cameron family home. It is a private event venue primarily used for weddings and private functions, so public access is limited and fans should not expect to wander the grounds. The best approach is to admire the property from the water or check whether any public events coincide with a visit.

John B's house, The Chateau, was filmed in the Secessionville Historic District on James Island, part of Charleston. It is a residential neighborhood, so the house is visible only from public roads and interiors were shot elsewhere. Visitors should be respectful of residents, keep to the street, and avoid trespassing on the property. It is an easy stop on a self-guided driving loop of James Island filming sites.

Kiawah Island Golf Resort provided the setting for the Island Club and the Midsummers event, along with golf scenes. The resort is primarily for guests, and public access is limited to certain areas, so fans without a booking may only glimpse parts of the property. Those staying at the resort or dining at accessible venues can see the coastal landscape that doubled for the show's exclusive Kook territory.

This historic abandoned church near McClellanville appears in the show's church bell tower scenes. The building is a genuine piece of Lowcountry history, but it is derelict and not open to the public. Only the exteriors can be viewed, and visitors should treat the structure carefully and view it from a distance. McClellanville itself is a small fishing village north of Charleston worth a short stop.

Morris Island Lighthouse, which appears in lighthouse scenes on the show, is a beloved Charleston landmark. It stands offshore, partially surrounded by water, and cannot be entered. It is visible from the beach at Folly Island, and boat tours that pass close to the structure depart regularly from the area, giving fans a waterside view similar to the camera angles used in the series.

For Season 2's Nassau scenes, production traveled to Barbados rather than the Bahamas. The historic Careenage waterfront in Bridgetown, the capital, provided the streets and harbor. It is a walkable public area full of colonial architecture, boats and waterside bars, so fans can explore freely. It makes an easy add-on for travelers already visiting Barbados for its beaches.

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area near Kure Beach hosted the Enduro dirt bike race scenes in Season 4, a rare case of actual North Carolina filming. The state park offers beach access and fees may apply. Located near Wilmington, it pairs well with a coastal North Carolina trip and gives fans the closest experience to the real Outer Banks region the show is named after.

Season 5, the final season, was filmed partly in Dubrovnik, Croatia, which stood in for Mediterranean and overseas settings. The UNESCO-listed Old Town, with its Stradun street and limestone squares, is fully open to the public and already one of Europe's most visited destinations. Fans will recognize archways and alleyways between the city walls, and the site is a proven filming magnet, having also hosted other major productions.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

The show is set on the fictional Kildare Island, part of North Carolina's Outer Banks, yet almost nothing was filmed in the actual Outer Banks until limited Season 4 work at locations like Fort Fisher. The Bahamas scenes in early seasons were shot in Barbados. The final season, Season 5, was filmed partly in Dubrovnik, Croatia, adding yet another layer of separation between the story's setting and the cameras' locations.

Tours That Visit These Locations

Several guided options cover the Charleston-area sites, led by locals who point out Shem Creek, The Chateau and other recognizable spots. Travelers choosing between them should consider transport style, group size and starting point.

Charleston Film Sites Drive

Outer Banks Film Locations Tour

A guided driving tour from Charleston that bundles the area's filming sites into one loop, ideal for visitors without a car who want the James Island and Mount Pleasant stops covered.

5.0 out of 5 · 184 reviewsCharleston

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

eBike Tour, Mount Pleasant

Outer Banks Film Location eBike Tour in Charleston

An electric bike tour based in Mount Pleasant that reaches Shem Creek and nearby sites under pedal assist, suiting travelers who prefer fresh air and a smaller footprint to a van.

4.8 out of 5 · 27 reviewsMount Pleasant

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

Guided Locations Tour, 250 USD

Charleston: Outer Banks Film Locations Tour

A locations tour currently rated 4.9 from 12 reviews at around $250, for fans who want a fully guided visit to the standout filming sites.

4.9 out of 5 · 12 reviews

From$250Check availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Outer Banks filmed in the real Outer Banks?

Almost never. No scenes were filmed in the actual North Carolina Outer Banks until limited work in Season 4, including the Enduro dirt bike race scenes at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area near Kure Beach.

Why was the show filmed in South Carolina instead?

Production moved to South Carolina due to concerns over North Carolina's HB2 bathroom bill and its implications for inclusivity. Charleston and its surroundings have stood in for the fictional Kildare Island since the show began in 2020.

Where is John B's house in real life?

The Chateau sits in the Secessionville Historic District on James Island. It is a private residence in a residential historic area, so only the exterior can be viewed from public roads.

Can you visit Tannyhill Plantation?

Tannyhill is played by Lowndes Grove, a private historic estate in Charleston used for events and weddings. Public access is limited, so fans generally view it from the water or during special events.

Where were the Bahamas scenes filmed?

The Nassau scenes in Season 2 were filmed in Barbados, specifically the historic Careenage area of Bridgetown, which visitors can explore on foot for free.

Where was Season 5 filmed?

Season 5, the final season, was filmed partly in Dubrovnik, Croatia, for its Mediterranean and overseas scenes. Dubrovnik Old Town is a UNESCO site open to the public.

For most fans, Charleston is the practical base: Shem Creek, The Chateau and Morris Island Lighthouse all sit within a short drive, and a guided tour ties them together without guesswork. Travelers with bigger ambitions can pair Barbados or Dubrovnik with a beach holiday and walk the international locations at no cost.

Sources

The Short Answer

Every Location At A Glance

Filming Locations Map

Location By Location

Shem Creek

Hunting Island Lighthouse

Lowndes Grove

Secessionville Historic District

Kiawah Island Golf Resort

Old Bethel AME Church

Morris Island Lighthouse

Careenage area, Bridgetown

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area

Dubrovnik Old Town