Driving on the beach at Cape Lookout National Seashore

Driving on the beach is allowed on North Core Banks and South Core Banks at Cape Lookout National Seashore. No vehicles are allowed on Shackleford Banks. Since there are no bridges to any of the islands you must take a vehicle ferry, which is not cheap. A ferry leaves from Davis, North Carolina, to South Core Banks and from Atlantic, North Carolina, to North Core Banks. Concessionaires can change with each contract renewal, so check Cape Lookout National Seashore’s List of Authorized Ferry Services web page for the current list of ferry operators.

While any street-legal vehicle is allowed to drive on the beaches if you think you can make it through the sand, I recommend nothing less than a high-clearance 4-Wheel Drive vehicle (as does the National Park Service). A park Ranger at North Core Banks said the only vehicles she’s ever seen get stuck are the 2-Wheel Drives, and despite warning people not to bring them over, they still give it a try. In regard to All-Wheel-Drive vehicles, I have received a few emails from people who argue that AWDs will suffice, but they do suggest the vehicles be high-clearance. From a recent National Park Planner visitor:

Great article! But one comment—your advice for vehicles not to attempt with AWD, well yes and no. Having beach drove many years in Coralla and Hatteras (and kayak camped on the Core Banks) I have to say then yes, most AWDs should not attempt (friend with a Honda got stuck in Coralla’s 4wd area), but no, not the case with Subaru Foresters— in fact one (you can’t choose your relatives) flew by me in my F150 once in reverse showing off! Think it’s about ground clearance, most AWD’s don’t have enough, but a few do.

You can also drive ATVs and UTVs and tow trailers. Only motorcycles are prohibited.

Former 2-Wheel Drive vehicle on South Core Banks at Cape Lookout National Seashore

Keep in mind that 4-Wheel Drives get stuck as well, usually in what the regulars call “sugar sand,” the deep and soft sand in the cabin complexes, on the ramps to the beach, and on the back service road. However, a seasoned beach driver told me that he’s never seen a situation where a stuck vehicle needed a tow truck, as most can be dug out with a little effort—part of the required safety equipment is for this purpose. And surprisingly, he told me that the heavier trucks with campers on them are more likely to get stuck, not the lighter SUVs. I would have thought the added weight would give the vehicle more traction, but I guess it also causes the wheels to dig deeper into the sand.

Sugar sand on the back service roads of the Cape Lookout National Seashore islands

Annual Off Road Vehicle (ORV) Permits are now required to drive on the beaches of Cape Lookout National Seashore. Permits are only available online at Recreation.gov and must be purchased before arriving. If you purchase a permit from January 1st through February 28th, you will get your ORV decal (for front window) in the mail. If you purchase a permit starting March 1st, bring your printed permit with you. Once on the islands, you can get your permanent decal. On South Core Banks the decals are available at the Great Island Cabin Camp Office. At North Core Banks, a Ranger will provide a decal when you arrive. You can also get a decal at the Harkers Island Visitor Center by appointment. Even after you get your sticker, you must always have your printed permit in the vehicle. For complete details, visit Cape Lookout National Seashore’s Beach Driving Permit web page.

To aid in case of getting stuck in the sand, the park service recommends carrying a tow rope, jack and stand, fire extinguisher, wood planks to put under the tires for traction, and a shovel. However, nobody checks to make sure you have any such equipment.

At first I was very apprehensive about driving on the beach due to the possibility of getting stuck. I had done quite a lot of “4-Wheelin’” on rocky roads, but prior to this the only beach I had driven on was Daytona Beach in Florida, and that’s as hard as pavement. However, my worries were all for naught, for with a 4-Wheel Drive vehicle and some common sense you can pretty much make your way through any type of sand.

Based on my two days of beach driving, here are a few tips:

• Lower your tire pressure to 20 psi. Be sure to bring a tire pressure gauge with you. The ferry stations have free air so you can pump up your tires when you return.
• If you are in soft sand, don’t slam on your brakes. This will cause the wheels to dig into the sand. In fact, try not to stop at all on the soft sand.
• When in soft sand, drive on the tire tracks of previous vehicles, as this sand will be packed down.

The rules to beach driving at Cape Lookout National Seashore are fairly simply.

• Purchase an ORV Permit
• You must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driver’s license (including ATVs and UTVs).
• Your vehicle must be legally registered and have a license plate.
• Don’t drive on beaches that are closed and don’t drive down paths marked “Authorized Vehicles Only.” If it looks like a road and it is not closed or marked as mentioned, you can drive on it.
• Do not drive over the sand dune or on the shore of the sound—ocean beach driving only.
• If you park, make sure there is room for other vehicles to pass between you and the water.
• Don’t run over any people.
• The speed limit is posted and ranges between 15 and 25 MPH.
• Don’t drink and drive.

Those driving ATVs are subject to all of the above rules, plus you must wear a helmet and eye protection.

At both North Core Banks and South Core Banks there is a sandy service road that runs parallel to the beach called the “back road.” This is the road you drive on once you exit the ferry, and it will take you through the cabin complexes to beach entrance ramps that are located every so many miles. Ramps are numbered and correspond to what beach mile they are located at. You can pick up a map at the Harker’s Island Visitor Center, and I believe at the cabin office on South Core Banks. If I recall correctly, I got one at the ferry office.

Numbered ramp posts on the beaches of North and South Core Banks at Cape Lookout National Seashore

In certain cases the beach may be closed and detour signs will direct you off the beach and onto the back road, which will take you around the closed area and to the next beach entrance ramp. Sometimes you will find the next ramp closed as well, so you just have to keep driving until you find an open ramp. Sections of the beach can be closed when turtles or sea birds are nesting.

Beach Closed sign used on the beaches of North and South Core Banks at Cape Lookout National Seashore

If you were to get stuck, it would very likely be on the back road. The road goes through loose sand, and ruts have been cut so deeply by passing vehicles that the center area is quite high, which is the reason for a high-clearance vehicle. To give you an idea of how deep these ruts are, I could drive the road without steering, as if my truck was on a rail like at an amusement park. Low clearance vehicles could get hung up on this middle sandbar. The sand is also quite deep along the beach entrance ramps and at the beach nearest to the dunes. The closer you can get to the water, the more packed the sand. But as I said earlier, any decent 4WD or ATV can trudge through the sand at Cape Lookout National Seashore without problem. In fact, I came to the conclusion that you’d almost have to try to get stuck to get stuck, and maybe not even then.

Deep ruts in the service roads on Cape Lookout National Seashore’s North and South Core Banks

Long term parking is also available on both North Core Banks (former Long Point Cabins) and South Core Banks (Great Island Cabins and Cape Lookout Lighthouse Complex) for anyone planning to leave their vehicle unattended for over 24 hours. Long term parking is mainly used by those who come to the island many times each season. You can leave your vehicle so that you don’t have to constantly pay for vehicle ferry service every time you go over. Most of the vehicles you see in the Long Term Parking Lots have campers on them. See the park’s Special Use Permit—Long Term Parking web page for details on how to get a permit. There is a fee for this permit.

Long term parking is available at North and South Core Banks at Cape Lookout National Seashore

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