New to driving on the beach? Worried about what to do if you get stuck? We’ve put together a list of the things to put in your 4x4 vehicle, tips and tricks for a great day on the beach. And remember, all of these items can be used to help yourself and your fellow drivers! Southern hospitality, y’all.
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Traction Mats
Many times, you can drive out of a stuck situation with the assistance of traction mats. If you get into some soft sand or sink wheels, simply stop and place these mats under your vehicle’s tires. Press lightly on the accelerator. The traction tread helps your tires grip the mat. These mats provide a larger footprint and allow your vehicle to rise up out of the rut with ease. Drive to a harder-packed area, retrieve the mats and drive away. Sold in pairs, we carry these at all times when driving on the 4x4 access in Carova, and on Cape Hatteras National Seashore (permit required). These mats also work well in mud and snow. These mats are durable and stack to a low profile for storage. We like the bright orange color for visibility purposes.
Tip: Still having trouble driving out of soft sand after using these mats? Try airing the tires down a bit more.
TGL Tow Strap
Required for the NPS beaches on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands
In the unfortunate event of a breakdown or extra soft sand that has left you stranded, tow straps are a must for recovery. We like the TGL because of its high ratings, 30,000 pound capacity and small storage footprint (no big metal hooks here). Hook the strap to both vehicles, slowly pull it taught, and then drag the disabled vehicle to safety. Even if you never get stuck, you can be a hero with a tow strap on Outer Banks beaches.
Folding Shovel
Required for the NPS beaches on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands
Sometimes all it takes to get unstuck is a little sand-clearing from around your vehicle’s tires. We love our E-Tool for the compact storage footprint, but more importantly, it’s tough. This is the heavy-duty tool relied on by our armed forces. We’ve personally used this tool on the beach for vehicle recovery, sandcastle construction and pit-filling. It has been fantastic and showing no signs of slowing down.
Tire Pressure Gauge
Required for the NPS beaches on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands
Even if you’re lifted and running wide tires, airing down is a smart move on the beach. Reducing air pressure increases each tire’s footprint, helping you drive over the sand instead of pushing through it. The ride will be more comfortable, your vehicle won’t strain, and you increase traction and greatly reduce the chance of sinking into soft sand. To make sure you’ve got the right pressure (we air down to 20psi on the sand, sometimes lower), you’ll need a tire pressure gauge. This is one of those items we prefer to buy once, forever. Check out the TireTek gauge linked above. It features a large 2” dial, 360 degree swivel chuck, and solid steel construction. And, mechanical gauges don’t run out of batteries. This is a stout gauge, and it comes as no surprise that it is to highly-rated.
Air Compressor
This is our MV50 Superflow compressor. Every Summer evening in the Outer Banks, lines accumulate around gas station air compressors. We've waited nearly 2 hours to "air up" after a day on the sand. You can avoid this wait altogether by taking your own high-CFM 12-volt air compressor. We're not talking about the compressor you plug into your cigarette lighter. This MV50 Superflow connects directly to your battery terminals and draws real current to get your large tires inflated quickly. It includes 10ft. battery cables and a 16ft. high-pressure hose. This is a photo of our initial test of the unit. We inflated a BF Goodrich AT KO2 285/65/18 tire from 22psi (beach pressure) to 44psi (street pressure) in just over 3 minutes. That's faster than many local gas station air pumps. the screw-on nozzle allows hands-free inflation. This compressor does get hot to the touch, so keep little hands clear during/after use.
First Aid Kit
Some areas of the Outer Banks are more remote than others. It’s rewarding to leave the crowds behind on a 4x4 beach. But emergency vehicle access is also further away, and access is more limited. We recommend a kit with some higher-end items, just in case. The Lightning X Individual first aid trauma kit includes Quick – Clotting Gauze, a CPR mask, Nitrile gloves, and more. These are some of the more common items needed for emergencies in which seconds count, and EMS is further away. As a kit, the included items represent a lot of value. Add some basic bandaids and disinfectant spray to round out your kit. Remember to learn how to use these items BEFORE you need them!
Fire Extinguisher
Another item that should be part of your 4x4 beach access kit is a basic fire extinguisher. We like the Kidde FA110. It’s a Coast Guard approved multipurpose dry chemical extinguisher with a pressure gauge and retention bracket. Fire extinguishers don’t take much room, and they save vehicles/lives. As an alternate, try the Buckeye 45100 CO2 Extinguisher. Compressed air is a great alternative to chemical extinguishers, especially in wildlife habitat areas. Plus, there is no chemical mess to clean from the scene. The only drawback is price, as CO2 extinguishers are more expensive.
Head Lamp
Some of the best days on the beach keep going after the sun has set. 4x4 access beaches don’t have street lights. Whether you’re digging out or gathering your gear, you’ll be glad you have a hands-free light. We like the inexpensive but durable LED headlamp models from Energizer. They provide lots of light, and our experience is that they always turn on after months stored in a hot/cold vehicle. The brand and model aren’t as important as the utility, so pick your favorite and make sure to take it on your trip.
Jack and jack board - *Required for the NPS beaches on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands
Make sure your vehicle’s jack is operational and stored in the vehicle. This is required on Hatteras and Ocracoke Island beaches, which are maintained by the NPS (Cape Hatteras National Seashore). The MAXSA Traction mats listed above can act as a jack board, which the NPS also requires. You can also use a 2x12, or any solid lumber with large surface.
Permits
Driving on the beach in Carova does not require a permit (but parking does), but all 4x4 beach access on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands is managed by the National Park Service and requires a permit. Make sure you’ve got your permit decal in place before venturing onto the sand in these areas, they are patrolled regularly.
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The prestigious Whalehead in Historic Corolla has been a dominant attraction to Corolla visitors since it was renovated and opened to the public in 2002. As part of the Historic Corolla Park, the Whalehead in Historic Corolla serves as a northern Outer Banks icon, and a living testament to Corolla and Duck's heyday as a secluded oceanfront retreat for the country's wealthy hunters and conservationists.
More than 2,000 shipwrecks sunk off the Coast of North Carolina in what’s called the Graveyard of the Atlantic. With all that history floating around, it was only natural to build a museum to honor and preserve the maritime culture of the Outer Banks. A state-of-the-art structure, the year round museum houses and displays artifacts, and presents a variety of exhibits and interprets the rich maritime culture that includes war, piracy, ghost ships and more. Artifacts include thoseex from the USS Monitor, which sank 16 miles off the Hatteras coast. The lobby features the stunning and original, 1854, First Order Lens from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Current hibits include those on piracy and the Civil War on Hatteras Island.
SugarLand OBX, nestled in the Outer Banks, is a whimsical candy store offering a colorful world of sweets, treats, and nostalgic experiences. It blends modern innovation with timeless charm, featuring handcrafted ice cream sundaes, cotton candy, and unique souvenirs, creating a joyful space for families to make cherished memories together. Come in a indulge yourself!
The Outer Banks played a key role in yet another historical milestone, as the birthplace of aviation. The Wright Brothers Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, a towering granite monument, pays homage to this history changing event, which occurred on the tall sand dunes of the Outer Banks just over a century ago.
If you’re looking for a fun, hands-on activity that the whole family can enjoy together, hop aboard Risky Business for an Outer Banks shrimping and crabbing charter. Our experienced captain and mate will show your group how to pull crab pots to catch blue crabs and trawl for shrimp the same way that the local commercial fishermen do. You’ll learn about the species caught and how to sort through the catch – and everything of legal size is yours to keep for dinner! Along the way you’ll look for dolphins and other wildlife and see the sights in the Roanoke Sound and Croatan Sound. Based at Shallowbag Bay Marina in Manteo, our Outer Banks shrimping and crabbing charter is convenient to all the northern Outer Banks beach towns, only 5 minutes from Nags Head. We run charters in the summer only, from mid-June through September.
Swimming is a local sport that never goes out of style on the Outer Banks, and with literally miles of ocean and sound waters to paddle around, there's no shortage of refreshing locales to enjoy a dip. Vacationers will find they have their choice of swimming destinations, from the fun and challenging ocean waves, to the shallow splashing waters of the sound, to the assortment of public and community pools found all along the islands.
Discover the beauty of the Outer Banks with Duck Parasail. Duck Parasail is proud to partner with Corolla Parasail and together, they take pride in being the longest running, family owned and operated parasail company on the Outer Banks. Duck Parasail is the only company running a FLEET of US Coast Guard Certified and Inspected 12 passenger Ocean Pros on the Outer Banks, with boats leaving from the North Beach (Currituck) Lighthouse, Corolla, and Duck.
We love to highlight some of the best and most interesting Outer Banks restaurants, shops, attractions and activities. Read on to discover some of our favorites!
Shelling, Snorkeling, Paddle Boarding, Eco Tours & Light Fishing. Guided family adventure trips on Hatteras Island, NC. We take your group to multiple tidal islands along the Cape Hatteras seaside. These islands are constantly changing and providing us with an abundant amount of shells , fish and sealife to see. We offer an array of adventures. We love to snorkel, clam, take a tour around the old village creeks. We take the kiddos on a hermit crab adventure and take you to find some sea glass. If you've wanted to find your very own shark tooth, we even have a spot to look for those. If you like bird watching, you will be astounded at the variety of birds we can observe, often up close. We can do some fishing, along with just enjoying the luxurious views. No crowds, set itinerary, or chaos. Just your ultimate escape aboard one of our inshore vessels.
The Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station is one of Rodanthe's greatest treasures. This historical lifesaving station has been a popular attraction for Hatteras Island visitors for decades, and stands on the very edge of the small town of Rodanthe. Over the years, this station has been battered by hurricanes, ocean and soundside flooding, and ferocious gusts of winds, and yet it is still standing, and serves as a proud reminder of Hatteras Island and the Outer Banks' rich lifesaving history.
Check out Corolla's newest 5-star attraction! Pirate-Themed 18-Hole Minature Golf Course and Arcade with waterfalls, a pirate ship, caves, skulls, and more! So much fun for the whole family! Come to Corolla Light's premier attraction located in Corolla Light Town Center. Your family will love this adventure!