Everything You Need to Know to Enjoy Your Outer Banks 4x4 Vacation | Twiddy Blog (2024)

We caught up with our local 4×4 beach expert Edward to get the rundown on all the tips and tricks for vacationing on the 4×4 Beaches of Corolla. Edward has been driving up and down the 4×4 Beaches all of his life and knows a lot about the area.

To start, the “4×4 Beach” designation is one loosely assigned to a collection of communities on the Northern Outer Banks still requiring beach driving to access them. How neat is that? No alternative access by vehicle exists and you might be surprised to learn that all of the Currituck Banks, including Corolla, were like this until the 1980s! Though some often refer to the whole area as “Carova”, most locals prefer the accuracy of the individual community names as Carova Beach is only one of the many subdivisions that make up the area, which include Ocean Beach, Seagull Beach, Swan Beach, North Swan Beach, and Carova Beach.

What vehicle should I bring?

If you already have a 4WD or AWD vehicle that has adequate ground clearance for beach driving, bring it! We recommend at least 7.5 inches of clearance and that information is readily available on Google in searching the year, make and model with the search term “Ground Clearance”.

If you do not have a 4WD or AWD vehicle and you are considering renting one to come, please double-check that it is 4WD or AWD before leaving the rental agency. Unfortunately, we’ve seen guests arrive to Corolla to find that their rental vehicle is not 4×4 or AWD. If it’s 4WD, it’s going to have some sort of switch inside the vehicle to shift it into 4WD. AWD vehicles can be a little more difficult as there might not be any switches inside the vehicle but you can look for badging advertising AWD. If you’re more mechanically inclined, just climb under the vehicle and see if the proper hardware is underneath the vehicle. Please don’t assume that if it is a Jeep or Full Sized SUV it would automatically come with standard 4×4/AWD, as it is often not the case.

Can I bring my AWD vehicle?

There is much debate among many whether or not an AWD vehicle is best suited for beach driving. The differences between AWD and 4×4 are mechanical in nature, a standard 4×4 vehicle features a transfer case that, when selected, will split the power 50/50 between the front and rear axles. These systems can only be used on slippery surfaces or damage can be done. This type of system is more common on standard pickups and truck-based SUVs though it is becoming more common to find automatic 4×4 systems or even AWD systems on these vehicles that will operate slightly differently.

AWD systems vary by manufacturer and some perform better than others. These systems typically require little to no input from the driver. The power might be split more mechanically by way of a center differential or viscous clutch or can be completely computer-controlled by a power transfer unit. Some systems have power going to both front and rear all the time while some are front-wheel-drive based and shift power only when wheel slip is detected. The former is a bit more seamless in operation but we’ve found in newer vehicles that most AWD systems will perform well for the scenarios we face here on the Outer Banks.

The most important thing you can do for successful beach driving

Whether you have a trusted true ‘90s 4×4 Pickup with a shifter in the floor or an electric F150 lightning with dual motor AWD, the proper tire pressure is the most important factor to ensure you have a great experience driving your vehicle on the beach. Tire pressure is a crucial tool for successful beach driving, not unlike having an appropriate vehicle. The recommended pressure for most vehicles is 15psi to 18psi. Your vehicle will always perform much better with lower pressures.

For your convenience, we have 5 air-up stations at our Corolla Main Office for you to air back up as you leave the beach. Lots of people ask how far they can drive once they are back on the paved road when their tires are at low pressure. We wouldn’t recommend you driving far, but for short trips around town, to the grocery store or maybe going out to dinner, you should be fine to drive at a lower tire pressure. Just take the turns easily, and you may notice that the steering is a little more difficult to turn in parking lots, but you don’t need to air up to go the grocery store, that would be unnecessary.

Do you need to have experience beach driving?

One of the most common statements we hear is, “Oh I’m just too inexperienced to drive on the beach, I don’t know anything about it.”

Well, you’re in good company! Most of the people you will come across while beach driving are also inexperienced with beach driving. The most experienced drivers on the beach will tell you that tire pressure is the most important factor in success. Airing down the tires lets you focus on the other unfamiliar aspects of beach driving as you won’t be as fearful of getting stuck with the ease with which your vehicle will drive.

What to do if you get stuck

This is always a big concern that people have. First, if your tire pressure is where it should be, then, you should not get stuck. Of course, there is always a risk of a mechanical problem or an unforeseen situation like that. We would venture to say that 90% of vehicles that you see stuck on the beach are just not aired down enough. Some will say to go to 25 pounds of pressure, but that’s not going down enough. We encourage you to go low on the tire pressure, and you’re going to have a great experience driving down the beach.

If you do find yourself having trouble, immediately stop the vehicle. Get out of the vehicle to see if it’s functioning properly and air down a few more pounds on each tire. Don’t continue to spin the wheels, digging yourself in further. If you find your vehicle struggling to get over an access ramp, just air down a little lower and it should drive with ease.

It does sometimes happen that when you stop at the office and air down your tires to 15 psi, the pressure can build a little bit in your tires by the time you are driving a few miles up the beach. This can be caused by the heat and a few various factors.

People will also be concerned that their tires are getting too low, but typically you would have to get below 6-8 psi before the tire loses its seal and lets air leak out.

If it feels like we are saying the same thing over and over when it comes to airing down, we are! We cannot overemphasize the importance of reducing the tire pressure.

What about the beach itself: tides, storms?

You might be concerned about the beach itself, the tides, or if we are having a weather event that might impede travel.

During our summer months, our typical in-season time of the year, it is not common that we experience very high tides unless we have some sort of coastal storm. During the summer, we have a prominent southwest wind that builds the beach up and keeps the ocean at bay. Compared to the winter months, when we have a prominent northeast wind, that pushes the tide further up the beach. It is very rare for the beach to be impassable and Twiddy & Company will contact all guests in the event we expect the beach to be impassable.

If you are staying here and have a question about the tide or accessibility, just give our office a call. We would be happy to talk through that with you and give you advice for the best times of travel. You can always check out our Tide Charts on our website, here.

We like to remind our guests that there are residents that commute the beach every day. They get to work on time and get their kids to school on time every day.

What activities are there for my kids to do?

One of the best activities for kids to do on the 4×4 Beaches would have to be the beautiful beach and ocean to play in all day long. They can build numerous sand castles, hunt for the prettiest seashells, and be on afternoon dolphin watch.

You can always venture into Corolla for different activities that are not that far of a drive. There are arcades, putt-putt courses, educational centers, and an adventure park, to name a few.

If you’re someone who would rather stay close to home, we have a number of homes that have great amenities like game rooms, private pools, hot tubs, and theatre rooms. There are many amenities in these homes to choose from, if you would like to set up shop for the week and have plenty of things to do.

Are there any businesses to shop from?

We do get questions about the distance from shopping centers and grocery stores. Aside from the T-shirt shop at the Carova Beach Fire Department, there are no other stores in the 4×4 area. That is a part of the lore, the 4×4 Beaches are a great opportunity to get away from things.

The best time to drive up the beach and pick things up is early in the morning. The middle of the day is when the beach is most crowded. So if you’re an early morning riser, it’s a great time to do a sunrise cruise down the beach and pick up your grocery needs, or pick up some local coffee!

There is a distance from the beach to grocery stores, gas stations, or other shops you might want to visit. But, depending on which neighborhood you stay in, it is not an equal distance from the paved road. If you are staying in Ocean Beach, which is only 2.5 miles from the paved road, you’ll be closer to a gas station than if you stay in a Pine Island home. If you choose to stay in the northern part of Carova Beach, it could take 30-40 minutes to get to the nearest grocery store.

Access to Medical Assistance

If you feel like you don’t want to be too far from help in case of an emergency, there is a fire station in Carova Beach, close to the Virginia line. It is staffed 24/7 with EMS personnel. There is a helicopter pad at the Carova Beach Fire Station and at the future location of the Seagull Beach Substation.

On the Outer Banks, air ambulances are commonly used for serious medical issues considering our distance from nearby hospitals. By air, the northern banks, including the 4×4 beaches are much closer to the numerous great hospitals located in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area.

Wild Horses of the Outer Banks

One of the unique opportunities you have staying on the 4×4 Beaches is that you can see the Corolla Wild Horses from the home. The Wild Horses roam freely on the 4-wheel drive beaches, from the ocean to the sound, including through yards of vacation homes. Check out our Guide to Wild Horses in the OBX to learn more about the horses and how to protect them.