Beach without 4-wheel drive vehicle

We will be vacationing this summer for a week on Ocracoke, our first time. We will be driving a minivan, and know that it will not be driven on the beach. Will I be greatly limited on where we can go to the beach since we%26#39;ll have to park on pavement? How far will we have to walk to the ocean? We will be staying in the Wahab Village area.

Beach without 4-wheel drive vehicle

Well the good news is you realize not to drive on the beach w/o 4-wheel drive! Many people do not, that is one of the reasons the Ocracoke natives call all non-islanders dingbatters.

You will not be that limited. You can park at the airport and walk 50-100 yards to the beach, you can go to the public beach which has parking as well as a toilet and a rinse off shower. My recommendation would be at least once to drive past everything I have mentioned and drive toward the Hatteras ferry. Several miles from the ferry the road gets very close to the beach. Along that stretch there is room to park on the shoulder (just be sure it is HARD sand where you park), at that point you are about 100 feet from the ocean and can carry whatever you need (chairs, bogie boards etc.) and spend your time on a beach that will probably be almost completely empty. That is what makes Ocracoke so special to me is the abilty to enjoy the beach without being stacked up like cord wood. If you make that trip, please respect the dune structure and sea oats and use a pre-existing cut-throughs.

Kirk

Beach without 4-wheel drive vehicle

Thanks, Kirk! You have eased my mind! We are really looking forward to our trip.

There were some 4x4 for rent next to camp ground in town if you should decide to drive out on the beach but there are plenty of places to park and just a short walk to the beach as other poster said If it has rained recently you can go out on the Beach Road across from Howard%26#39;s and park just before you get into the soft sand there is plenty of room. if you should get stunk lower you air pressure to 15 psi I have seen 2 wheel drive on the beach but don%26#39;t recommend it only done by experienced drivers