Outer Banks Beach Driving Rules

[Help Guy]

The Outer Banks, with its spectacular natural beauty and unique environment, offers visitors opportunities to enjoy pleasures that are far from commonplace. Not all the places to visit are on well-paved roads. Here, you can drive your off-road vehicle along many miles of accessible beach as you search for that perfect fishing spot or explore our pristine beaches, as the waves lap at your tires. All this can be enjoyed, but there are a few regulations that must be followed.

Driving an off-road vehicle (ORV) on the beach can be fun and adventurous, but where beach driving is permitted, there are general rules to follow:   The Standard speed limit is 25mph; enter and leave the beach only at designated, open ramps - never between or on the dunes; drive only on that portion of the beach which lies between the foot of the dunes and the ocean; proceed with caution and consideration for other beach users; open containers of alcohol are prohibited in vehicles; your vehicle must have a state road registration and valid license plate; the operator must have a current driver's license.

The use of off-road vehicles (ORV) on the beaches along Hatteras National Seashore is permitted year-round, with some limitations. No permit is currently required to drive on the National Park Service (NPS) beaches, but it is advisable to check with a ranger to understand NPS guidelines and assure that you are not entering a closed zone. Please not that driving in the Pea Island Refuge is strictly prohibited. For current information on open zones and guidelines, contact the National Park Service Headquarters, Cape Hatteras Group at 252.473.2111, or visit any NPS visitor center facility located throughout the park.

When pulling into the access ramp you should decrease the air pressure in your tires to 20-25 pounds. In softer sand you may need to go lower. When you lower the air pressure it gives the tire a wider, softer foot print which causes the vehicle to ride higher on top of the sand instead of digging down into it. This also helps to reduce the amount of strain on the engine since you're rolling on top of the sand and not plowing through it.

Drive at a slow, even pace. The maximun speed limit on all beaches is 25 MPH. Trying to take off too fast will cause loss of traction and bury you to the axle. If this happens, it's time to bread out the jack and shovel.

Try to stay in the ruts made by other vehicles unless they are deep enought to let you bottom out. The sand in these ruts is more compact than other sand.

Avoid pea gravel beds (small stones ususally orange in color.) These are the Outer Banks version of quick sand.

Avoid areas of the beach that may be impassable at times of high tide unless you plan to stay at the spot until the next low tide.

Park above the high tide line if possible.

In the event that you do lose traction, DO NOT spin your wheels to try to dig out of it. It only takes a couple of pumps on the gas to sink you down to your axle. The best solution is to decrease your tire pressure, shift to low range and back out of the rut you came in on before trying to proceed.

Don't drive between parked vehicles and the shoreline.

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