So,

A few people mentioned and were asking about Carolina Beach on the intro thread, thought I'd break it out and start one just for that. Now it's been a couple of years (about 6) since I was out there so things may have changed. This is what I remember from the last dealership run we made.

I haven't been out on the South End since I was in school. Its always closed to 4wd's whenever I am out there. I have heard it's open certain times of the year.

The North end is known as Freeman Park. You can by a year pass or a day pass. A day pass runs from 8 am to 8 am. You are allowed to camp, only registered 4wd vehicles allowed. No four-wheelers, trailers, etc, allowed. The sand is patrolled by police on 4-wheelers. Yes I have been pulled over out there for driving erratic, I was in a jeep, having a little fun

I've had both the 350 and the TJ out there, as well as numerous other vehicles. Never aired down, never had a problem.

I've also done day trips from the Raleigh area there and back. It's just south of Wilmington.

Here's the website, it looks like things are changing again, and not for the better.

Freeman Park

However there is still plenty of places to go on the outer banks, that however is a much longer drive from the Raleigh area and I've never had a great experience on the outer banks. If i remember correctly, there is no camping on the sand in the outer banks, or over night activities. But again, my experience with OBX is the southern area, so I don't know about Corolla and up north.

I have heard tell about 4wd trails all the way up to the Virginia Beach border.

Also, there's Portsmouth Island, which I think would just be plain fun.
Portsmouth Island - OuterBanks.com

 

Here are two other links for driving on NC beaches:

Beach Rules and Regulations

http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/beachdrivingpage.htm

 

What about somewhere at the outer banks?

 

Pony,

From what I remember it take about 3 hours to get out to OBX from the Raleigh area. After that you have the north end which I know little about, except some reading about Jeep trails up there to the Virginia Line. Maybe we could meet Sparky at the fence .

When heading south, the last place you'll hit is Hatteras before you have to take a ferry over to Ocracoke. When I hit OBX I usually stay on Ocracoke, it's a little further to get to, not as crowded, and just a little more secluded. That's why I like the idea of Portsmouth Island, which has no public Ferry, just a private one, and a few other details that make it harder to reach.

However I've never had any of the 4wd's out on the sand at OBX, I just have the luck of when ever I am out there, the weather is un-kind and either Rain, or full out tropical storm. I do have a couple of stories to tell about the island though thanks to that.

Hopefully others can chime in and tell us more about the other parts of OBX that I haven't visited.

 

We go via 64 if in a hurry, and 264 if you want to meander and see some great scenery and explore old towns. Kitty Hawk to Rodanthe has awesome uncrowded beaches all along there. I never camped but I am sure we could find out some info. I think it is a much more family friendly area compared to the Crystal Coast. North of KH gets more private, Oregon Inlet area probably would be good for the fishing.

Cape Lookout is good too. Ferry access. I have been on the beach at Carolina Beach, but never camped. I would LOVE to go down there and hang out a couple of days.

 

I'm definitely in for a long weekend beach trip this spring/summer. I really know very little of the area, and only just moved to Asheville a few years ago, and have never spent any time on the Outer Banks, but it's always been something I've wanted to do. I'd be up for an exploration trip to check out the area though and see what it's like and maybe help nail down some details.

 

I would definitely like to check out some of the 4wd stuff in Corolla on the north end of the Outer Banks. It looks like the furthest north on the islands I can find a campsite though is Hatteras. We would probably need to camp there and drive north the next morning to do the beach driving, and just get on back to camp after that.