Outer Banks Trip October 15th

[Somefun]

Hey guys looking for some advice. I booked a home in Corolla NC for a week for my wife and I to take our Rubicon for a trip. Nether of us have been to the Outer Banks and looking for some points of interest and best Jeeping areas? We're really only going for some off roading so if you know of cool areas please let me know.

thanks very much guys I really appreciate your help!

Sponsored

 

[Remorseless]

Hey guys looking for some advice. I booked a home in Corolla NC for a week for my wife and I to take our Rubicon for a trip. Nether of us have been to the Outer Banks and looking for some points of interest and best Jeeping areas? We're really only going for some off roading so if you know of cool areas please let me know.

thanks very much guys I really appreciate your help!

I recommend going to Ocracoke island. Most of the main outer banks are pretty heavily touristy, but Ocracoke's a little more relaxed and has some dang good food too (Ocracoke got walloped by a hurricane a year or three back, so I'm not sure if it's still around, but SmacNally's in Ocracoke had the BEST scallops, absolute melt in your mouth deliciousness). Definitely hit Cape Hatteras and the lighthouse. There's really only basically beach to drive on, so not a whole lot that's super off roady, but most of the Cape Hatteras Nat'l Seashore you can drive on.

 

[beast40]

Following, we go to Fort Fisher and Freeman Park but haven't done Corolla yet.

 

[Pistoloni]

Fish heads is a decent spot down in Nags head if you're gonna head south to Hatteras and Ocracoke.

Are you going to be in the dunes of Corolla or before you need to drive the beach? The dunes themselves are fun to putt around in just watch out for the stray horse or 2 and the tours that follow them

 

[Remorseless]

As an aside, I will say pack warmer stuff than you think in addition to your beach stuff - it starts cooling off down there around the time you're going and the wind is pretty much always constant.

 

[Somefun]

Fish heads is a decent spot down in Nags head if you're gonna head south to Hatteras and Ocracoke.

Are you going to be in the dunes of Corolla or before you need to drive the beach? The dunes themselves are fun to putt around in just watch out for the stray horse or 2 and the tours that follow them

to be honest I'm not real sure, we're going to be on Sandfiddler Rd.

 

[Pistoloni]

to be honest I'm not real sure, we're going to be on Sandfiddler Rd.

Just took a look on google maps, and yeah you'll be in the part of Corolla that you need to drive on the beach to get to and from. Had a coworker stay there at the end of May and they had a great time they said. I was in Nags head beginning of May...Not so great of a time (weather) OBX is a great place. I really enjoy it.

I've stayed in Nags head (this year) and Southern Shores (Aug 19) both places are south of where you will be staying so any other recommendations I would have would be a 30+ drive one way

 

[Somefun]

Just took a look on google maps, and yeah you'll be in the part of Corolla that you need to drive on the beach to get to and from. Had a coworker stay there at the end of May and they had a great time they said. I was in Nags head beginning of May...Not so great of a time (weather) OBX is a great place. I really enjoy it.

I've stayed in Nags head (this year) and Southern Shores (Aug 19) both places are south of where you will be staying so any other recommendations I would have would be a 30+ drive one way

Sounds good thanks, Should be fun. We've only been in Cap Cod on the beach with the jeep and there's not much for beach driving as far as miles are concerned. but this looks like there a real good amount of beach to drive on.

 

[Robellion]

I know you will need some sort of permit if I remember correctly. Get it now if you can. There are a few entry points to drive along the ocean front beach along that long drive from Kitty Hawk to Buxton, look them up. Avon is my favorite town- some nice restaurants there- surf is fun. Best/famous place to surf is the point where the lighthouse USED to be. They moved it about 15 years ago more inland....on a bulit train track! Great place.

 

[Carolina Jeeper]

I'll be out there the same week in Carova just north of Corolla. Technically, you are going to be in the Carova beach area too. You drive through Corolla to where the paved road ends and then its beach driving (North only as far as I know) to your beach house. No more paved roads all the way through to Virginia. The Outer Banks is my favorite vacation spot. Mostly we stay in Rodanthe, Salvo or Avon. This will be our first time staying in Carova.

My favorite beach access points are just the ones I'm familiar with. Plenty of good ones I haven't been to yet. I typically aim for the ORV ramps south of Salvo and the first one you see when you get on Ocracoke after the ferry. I'm not familiar with those further North of Rodanthe except for Corolla. Hers's a link to the Hatteras Island information you'll want to look over. The Hatteras Island ORV ramps are on a map and they have current status info too. They close some of them for wildlife nesting seasons.

https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/beachactivities.htm

Here's the Currituck link:
https://www.visitcurrituck.com

Outer Banks beach driving is fun in it's own way. Finding a stretch of beach that is all but absent of people. Just sit there, fish, swim and hardly see anyone in the off season. I think those more southern beaches become open to 24 hour driving in either October or November. It depends on the turtle nesting, so you'll have to check in October. The Corolla beach driving is already 24 hours. The entire beach becomes driving lanes a night so be aware of that.

You will not be required to purchase an off road permit to drive in Corolla or Carova (Currituck county) after the first week of October. The Hatteras Island area may be different so check to be sure.

Lighthouses are a good point of interest. Currituck, Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras lighthouses are always fun. Not sure which ones are open to climb up. I've been in the Currituck and Cape Hatteras light houses but not Bodie Island. BTW you'll drive right by Curritck and Bodie lighthouses if you're not paying attention. ORV permits used to be sold at the lighthouse gift stores but I'm not sure if that's still accurate.

Check out the Wright Bother's Memorial in Kill Devil Hills and see the first flight museum and location.

I don't do a lot of eating out there. I have eaten at the Mad Crabber several times and really love this place. Very informal and lots of choices. Food has always been really good. If you find yourself all the way in the Hatteras Island area at lunch you should try the Buxton Munch Company. We always get fish or shrimp tacos and crabby patties there.
For a bit finer dining experience with some more great food choices you'll want to try out Dinky's in Hatteras just past Frisco. Dinkys is a good sunset location for dinner right on the marina. Dinkys is on the top floor of a two story building. Has a very nice bar too and those rich yacht guys hit this place in the evenings lol. Nice semi quiet atmosphere.

Don't forget to bring a shovel, jack, jack board and tow strap. Those are bare minimum for beach driving. Use 4 high and turn off traction control. if you have an automatic trans, put it in manual mode and stay in about 3rd gear once you get going and get a feel for it. I change gears up or down depending on how loose the sand is. I don't air down much or at all and never had any issues in a Rubicon. If you do air down and then hit the pavement heading back south there is an air up station somewhere in Corolla but not exactly sure where it is on the right on highway. I think its called Corolla Park across from some restaurants.

 

[Somefun]

I'll be out there the same week in Carova just north of Corolla. Technically, you are going to be in the Carova beach area too. You drive through Corolla to where the paved road ends and then its beach driving (North only as far as I know) to your beach house. No more paved roads all the way through to Virginia. The Outer Banks is my favorite vacation spot. Mostly we stay in Rodanthe, Salvo or Avon. This will be our first time staying in Carova.

My favorite beach access points are just the ones I'm familiar with. Plenty of good ones I haven't been to yet. I typically aim for the ORV ramps south of Salvo and the first one you see when you get on Ocracoke after the ferry. I'm not familiar with those further North of Rodanthe except for Corolla. Hers's a link to the Hatteras Island information you'll want to look over. The Hatteras Island ORV ramps are on a map and they have current status info too. They close some of them for wildlife nesting seasons.

https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/beachactivities.htm

Here's the Currituck link:
https://www.visitcurrituck.com

Outer Banks beach driving is fun in it's own way. Finding a stretch of beach that is all but absent of people. Just sit there, fish, swim and hardly see anyone in the off season. I think those more southern beaches become open to 24 hour driving in either October or November. It depends on the turtle nesting, so you'll have to check in October. The Corolla beach driving is already 24 hours. The entire beach becomes driving lanes a night so be aware of that.

You will not be required to purchase an off road permit to drive in Corolla or Carova (Currituck county) after the first week of October. The Hatteras Island area may be different so check to be sure.

Lighthouses are a good point of interest. Currituck, Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras lighthouses are always fun. Not sure which ones are open to climb up. I've been in the Currituck and Cape Hatteras light houses but not Bodie Island. BTW you'll drive right by Curritck and Bodie lighthouses if you're not paying attention. ORV permits used to be sold at the lighthouse gift stores but I'm not sure if that's still accurate.

Check out the Wright Bother's Memorial in Kill Devil Hills and see the first flight museum and location.

I don't do a lot of eating out there. I have eaten at the Mad Crabber several times and really love this place. Very informal and lots of choices. Food has always been really good. If you find yourself all the way in the Hatteras Island area at lunch you should try the Buxton Munch Company. We always get fish or shrimp tacos and crabby patties there.
For a bit finer dining experience with some more great food choices you'll want to try out Dinky's in Hatteras just past Frisco. Dinkys is a good sunset location for dinner right on the marina. Dinkys is on the top floor of a two story building. Has a very nice bar too and those rich yacht guys hit this place in the evenings lol. Nice semi quiet atmosphere.

Don't forget to bring a shovel, jack, jack board and tow strap. Those are bare minimum for beach driving. Use 4 high and turn off traction control. if you have an automatic trans, put it in manual mode and stay in about 3rd gear once you get going and get a feel for it. I change gears up or down depending on how loose the sand is. I don't air down much or at all and never had any issues in a Rubicon. If you do air down and then hit the pavement heading back south there is an air up station somewhere in Corolla but not exactly sure where it is on the right on highway. I think its called Corolla Park across from some restaurants.

Thanks very much this is some great information! I really enjoy beach driving. We have a ARB twin stage air compressor so airing up isn’t an issue. I wish there were some dunes you could drive out there somewhere

 

[Carolina Jeeper]

Thanks very much this is some great information! I really enjoy beach driving. We have a ARB twin stage air compressor so airing up isn’t an issue. I wish there were some dunes you could drive out there somewhere

You're welcome!
Sorry, but the dunes are off limits out there and they make it pretty clear to stay off of them. It's also easy to get the park rangers attention if you go too fast or attempt any donuts. Park rangers in North Carolina have the same authority as the police, but without the police attitude since they are highly educated lol.

Anyway, once you get out there and you find you have more questions, just send me a PM and I'll try to help. I'm surecwell cross paths. I'll be easy to spot in my Mojito Rubicon.

 

[20-Willys]

Be cautious of the puddles, some are pretty deep.

 

[Xcoaste]

I go further south to Cape Lookout area. If you like the Outer Banks area, and want to go back again, check out Pine Knoll Shores (Crystal Coast). They open the main beach to vehicles in the fall.

Nothing very technical, but fun to drive on the beach with nobody around!

Be sure to adjust your tire pressure and change fluids after the trip.

 

[Somefun]

You're welcome!
Sorry, but the dunes are off limits out there and they make it pretty clear to stay off of them. It's also easy to get the park rangers attention if you go too fast or attempt any donuts. Park rangers in North Carolina have the same authority as the police, but without the police attitude since they are highly educated lol.

Anyway, once you get out there and you find you have more questions, just send me a PM and I'll try to help. I'm surecwell cross paths. I'll be easy to spot in my Mojito Rubicon.

Sounds good ?? Thank you

Sponsored