4x4 Beach Driving Tips & Regulations

Please review the following safety tips before enjoying the 4x4 beaches of the Outer Banks...

• Always arrive before dark, as the beach is more difficult to navigate at night.
• Bring a tire pressure gauge. We recommend lowering your tire pressure to 18-20 psi. Free air hoses are available at the Corolla office for guests staying in the 4x4 area.
• Avoid driving through the surf; saltwater is very corrosive.
• All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles are not recommended due to low ground clearance.
• Follow all posted speed limits (35 mph or 15 mph when within 300 feet of pedestrians or wild horses).
• Drive on the hard-packed sand near the edge of the water or close to the dunes. Leave the middle of the beach available for parked vehicles and beachgoers. 
• Park vehicles in the middle of the beach (east of the dune line and west of the hard-packed sand near the water's edge). Do not block the flow of traffic with chairs, coolers, fishing lines, etc. This is extremely important for emergency vehicles as there is no other roadway available and the beach is considered a state road.
• Always be alert for moving vehicles when walking across the hard-packed sand.
• No vehicle of any type may park or unload at the North Beach Access at any time. This must be done on the beach past the 1/2-mile mark. VIOLATORS WILL BE TOWED.
• Drivers must be 16 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license.
• ATVs are NOT permitted.
• Also, Currituck County does not allow personal motorized watercraft on the ocean. Jet skis and personal motorboats are allowed on the Currituck Sound. The closest boat ramp is located at the Whalehead Club in Corolla.

For more information regarding Currituck County's rules and regulations, please contact the Currituck County Chamber of Commerce at (877) CURRITUCK or visit Currituck Chamber website.

There is limited space available for guests to park two-wheel drive vehicles while vacationing in the 4x4 area. Please plan accordingly. Daily parking may be available in Corolla for a fee.