4x4 Driving Information

Want to know more about vacationing in the 4x4 area? We have some very hepful instructional videos, faq videos, and more that we asked our 4x4 specialist, Edward. Pick a category for the question you are looking to be answered and Edward can help:

Beach Driving FAQ Videos | Beach Driving Tutorial Videos | Beach Driving Information

Beach Driving Tutorial Videos

• Info on Tire Pressure for Beach Driving
• Helpful Tips and Info on Beach Driving
• What if My Car Gets Stuck on the Beach?
• 4x4 Driving Etiquette and Re-filling Tire Pressure

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Beach Driving Information

• What is the 4x4 area like?
• Do you have suggestions for driving on the 4x4 Beaches?
• Which vehicles are required to drive on the 4x4 beaches?
• Approximately, when is the best time to travel up the 4x4 beaches?
• Do you offer extended satellite parking to 4x4 area guests who do not have a 4x4 vehicle?

What is the 4x4 area like?

The fun begins where the asphalt ends on this untamed stretch of Outer Banks shoreline just south of the Virginia border. A four-wheel drive vehicle and an adventurous spirit are required to explore this beach community, where there are no paved roads, no hotels or restaurants - not even a snack shop. What you’ll find is an uncomplicated, fourteen-mile expanse of wide, sandy beaches, dense maritime forests and marshy soundside coves. Home to the wild horses of Currituck County, the extraordinary possibility of catching a glimpse of these unique creatures is practically commonplace. Keep in mind, they are wild - do not approach them. County ordinance states that you may not come within 50 feet of the horses at any time. Feeding, riding and petting a wild horse is prohibited. While a wild horse sighting is always an exciting event, please remember to use caution and keep your distance- these are wild animals.

Do you have suggestions for driving on the 4x4 Beaches?

• 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 in the parking lot of the Corolla office for guests staying in the 4x4 area to reinflate their tires.
• Check area tide charts prior to arrival; low tide is ideal for beach driving.
• Avoid driving through the surf. Salt water is extremely corrosive.
• Most All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles are not recommended due to low clearance.
• Please follow all posted speed limits (35 mph or 15 mph when within 300 feet of pedestrians or wild horses).
• Drive either on the hard-packed sand near the edge of the water or on the soft sand just east of the dune line. Leave the middle of the beach for parked vehicles and beachgoers. 
• All parked vehicles should be 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 or any other items. 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.
• 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.

Which vehicles are required to drive on the 4x4 beaches?

There are no paved roads in the northern Outer Banks beaches—travel is over loose sand roads and actual sand dunes. All wheel drive (AWD) vehicles are not recommended for this area due to ground clearance and traction concerns—our experience shows that AWD vehicles in this area are problematic at best. 4x4 vehicles with off-road ground clearance are recommended with reduced air pressure for beach travel. Please consult your vehicle manual and manufacturer for specific information. Twiddy & Company will not be responsible for vehicle recovery if inappropriate vehicles are used for access to the northern beaches.

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

Approximately, when is the best time to travel up the 4x4 beaches?

Low tide is the best time to travel up and down the 4x4 beaches. To view a current tide chart, please click here.

Do you offer extended satellite parking to 4x4 area guests who do not have a 4x4 vehicle?

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. For rental information on 4x4 vehicles, contact: Outer Banks Chrysler - call (252) 441-1146 or visit website; Enterprise Rent-A-Car - call (252) 480-1838 or visit website.

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