How many seasons did Outer Banks' creators originally imagine for their story?

Outer Banks' creators originally imagined the story as a five-season journey.

Josh Pate, Jonas Pate and Shannon Burke explained that the idea began with an image of teenagers on a beach during a power outage. From that starting point, they developed a mystery involving friendship, treasure hunting and adventure, with a broad story structure intended to span five seasons.

That original plan is why Season 5 has been identified as the final season. The ending was not announced as a sudden cancellation after an unrelated number of seasons; it completes the run the creators said they had envisioned when developing the show.

The five-season plan also helps explain why the Season 4 finale introduces a major final pursuit involving the Blue Crown and why Season 5 focuses on bringing the Pogues' journey home. The show premiered on Netflix in 2020 and is scheduled to conclude in 2026.