Outer Banks: 4WD Required?
 

Good afternoon!

I found a great Outer Banks beach rental for this March located in Carova (NC). Based on my research, 4WD is recommended in this area due to the sandy terrain. For those of you familiar with Carova, would you agree with this assessment?

I dont have a 4WD automobile though Ive “risked it” on other journeys where 4WD was recommended and, luckily, been ok. In your opinion, what are my chances in Carova without 4WD?

Thanks so much in advance for your help and have a great day!

Sincerely,

Carrie :)

Do you mean Corolla?

Curious

Nope, it's Carova, which is a beach north of Corolla closest to the Virginia border.

Carrie, There are no paved roads in Carova. Take the advice about 4WD.

Thank you obx!!

Looks like I better rent the 4WD automobile or search for an isolated beach house elsewhere :)

Those northern most beaches are so unspoiled. Just beautiful.

If you're experienced with 4WD in the sand you'll have little problem here. There are a few places on the OB that rent 4WDs. Ask whatever company you're renting from to recommend one.

If Carova doesn't work out, in March a smaller portion of isolation can be found at the southern beaches (Ocracoke, Avon, Frisco, Hatteras, etc).

4WD is not recommended, it is essential. I have an Acura MDX 4 WD SUV and although it is 4 WD I was not used to driving in the soft sand. I got stuck in the sand going to a house in Carova last year (not on the beach portion of the drive, I was fine there, it was in the portion that got off the beach and went up towards the house.) This was in the morning and although I took the same route out of the house that I had taken in the day before, the sand had shifted overnight and just got too deep and soft. This only happened once, after that I was MUCH more careful about what the sand looked like that I was driving on. But it did happen, even w/an MDX.

Carova is fantastic. Just be ready for the remoteness (stock up on groceries at first of the week, etc.) because it is not a short quick drive out to go get something you need.

In the 30+ years I've been visiting the Outer Banks, I've never been up that far.

I always wonder though, while you're hanging out on the beach are there cars driving by? Is that annoying? What about nesting birds or turtles?

Just wondered. Thanks.

During this time of year, Carova would be beautiful. In the summer, there are alot of cars driving along the beach, which can be annoying.
Hope you get your 4WD and enjoy it!

The first mile or so on the shoreline of Corova is more crowded than the rest in summer, due to people who are staying in other parts of the northern OUter Banks who drive up to Carova for the day to fish and play. But beyond that, it has never seemed crowded to me. Beyond that, it is only the people renting houses and living there who are out, and there is not the density of houses you see in the rest of the Outer Banks.

Also, I think "crowded" is a relative term here. It is not crowded like say Nags Head or Kitty Hawk, or even Corolla. But there are definitely more people in summer, and definitely more people on that first mile or so of beach.