The Outer Banks is my favorite place to go on the coast! There is so much to do there but be sure to see the visitors center at Kitty Hawk. They put on a great presentation. Most people do not know that a small piece of the Wright flyer (original) from Washington DC was taken to the moon on the first landing and left there by Neil Armstrong!!! A letter confirming this was signed by Armstrong and hangs in the visitors center.
Our prefered route is down 77 from Huntington to Greensboro then on to Route 64 and Rocky Mount. We follow 64 to Manteo and hit the banks south of Nags Head.
I'm not aware of any major traffic jams on 77. We were down this route and spent Labor Day week at Kitty Hawk, no problems with roads.
On many trips we enter the banks at Kitty Hawk then take a two or three day leisure trip down to the end, catch the ferry at Ocracoke to Cedar Island and come home. The Outer Banks is a rare place of beauty where you can witness beautiful sunrises and sunsets!! You are in for a real treat.