Sometimes it seems as though the Outer Banks have their own lingo.  This is certainly true as far as giving directions.  Most businesses will list their address according to their milepost location as opposed to a physical address.  For example, the Joe Lamb, Jr. and Associates office is located at Milepost 2 on the Bypass.  Mileposts begin as soon as you cross the Wright Memorial Bridge and continue south. 

Large green signs mark mileposts every half mile along the Beach Road and the Bypass.  Which leads us to another explanation.  The Beach Road is the closest road that runs parallel to the oceanfront.  It was built back in the 1930s and is also known as Virginia Dare Trail or NC 12. 

The US 158 Bypass is the faster 4 lane road, also known as Croatan Highway, that runs from Kitty Hawk to Whalebone Junction.  It was constructed in the 1950s to lessen traffic on the Beach Road. 

At approximately Milepost 16.5 things get really crazy.  The US 158 Bypass curves right toward Manteo and US Highway 64 begins, however the stretch of road that connects Nags Head with Roanoke Island is referred to as The Causeway. The Beach Road also curves right and ends at Milepost 16.5, although a beachfront road continues in South Nags Head as Old Oregon Inlet Road to about Milepost 22.  

The area at Milepost 16.5 is known as Whalebone Junction because many years ago a Mr. Midgett operated a gas station in the vicinity and had an old whale skeleton on display.  He had a sign that read something akin to "If you don't buy gas now, you'll run out and dry up like these old bones." 

Whalebone Junction is also the gateway to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore where NC 12 continues south to Oregon Inlet and Hatteras Island.