Beach Driving Along the Crystal Coast

Hi and welcome to another Emerald Isle Vacation Home Specialist blog post. I am your author Denis Raczkowski. Some of you recognize me as the co-owner of Flip Flops Donuts and some of you know me as your broker of real estate who specializes in waterfront and water view properties along the Crystal Coast, especially on Bogue Banks and in my Town of Emerald Isle, NC. Reading these posts, you will find essential information from the inside scoops on buying and selling houses to how to live with the ocean, rivers and sound that define the Crystal Coast. Today’s episode is all about driving on the beaches along the Crystal Coast. Whether you visit here occasionally or live here full time, driving on the beach is a story that deserves telling. Before I begin, please subscribe to my blog now, or at the end of this post.

Driving on the Outer Banks is a long standing tradition and if you’ve always wanted to explore the North Carolina beaches in the comfort of your 4WD vehicle, you’ll find ample options on the Crystal Coast. The barrier islands that span from Portsmouth Island to Emerald Isle have more than 85 miles of shoreline where folks will find plenty of stretches of sand where they can hop in their 4WD vehicle to cruise, explore, and discover a remote beach spot to call their own. That being said, here’s a closer look at my three most recommended beach driving destinations: Portsmouth Island, Core Banks and Emerald Isle, along with some tips when it comes to off-road driving on the Crystal Coast beaches.

My first recommendation, Portsmouth Island is located just south of Ocracoke Island. It delimits the northern and easternmost boundaries of the Crystal Coast. This remote destination is 13 miles long and is a haven for beachcombers, fishermen, birdwatchers, history buffs, and any visitor who loves an isolated shoreline that is miles away from the rest of the world. Once a busy port along the North Carolina coast, Portsmouth Island is now deserted with the last full-time residents leaving in the 1970s. Even so, it’s still a very popular spot for 4WD fans and visitors, with lots of room to roam. In fact, except for seasonal restrictions during sea turtle nesting, virtually all of the beaches are open for 4WD vehicle use. Moreover, multiple paths tucked behind the oceanfront dunes give visitors additional 4WD options for cruising and exploring the island.

The only way to access Portsmouth Island is by a privately owned and operated ferry. While ATV tours and day trips are available via Ocracoke Island, 4WD fans will want to take the Morris Marina Ferry out of the small town of Atlantic on the Crystal Coast mainland. This ferry company has two vessels that provide seasonal transportation to and from Portsmouth Island from roughly March until the weekend after Thanksgiving. Fares vary based on vehicle type, and visitors are encouraged to book well in advance. Because the marina’s two ferries can only accommodate a handful of vehicles at a time, spots can fill up quickly.

Core Banks, my second recommendation, is located in between Portsmouth Island and Shackleford Banks. Like its neighboring islands, Core Banks is undeveloped. Core Banks is famed as being the home of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, and like Portsmouth Island to the north, it is only accessible by boat or ferry, has limited facilities and amenities. And the majority of the island is open to beach driving, from the northernmost Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Ramp 24 to the tip of Cape Lookout (Ramp 44.) As such, it’s easy for visitors to explore the entire island from the comfort of a 4WD truck or ATV, and to enjoy popular area activities including shelling, surf fishing, birdwatching, climbing the lighthouse, and just marveling at the isolated shoreline.

Like Portsmouth Island, visitors with a 4WD truck or ATV will want to access Core Banks via one of two privately owned vehicular ferry services, either Davis Shore Ferry Service or Cape Lookout Cabins & Camps Ferry Service. Both are located in the Down East community of Davis, NC. While reservations are not required, they are always recommended, as both ferry operations are fairly small, and both can fill up quickly in the summer months. Both ferries also are seasonal, and may not operate in the winter months.

In contrast to Portsmouth Island and Cape Lookout, my third recommendation for beach driving, Emerald Isle, is a hopping beach town in the summer months. In the off season, however, it transforms into a quiet community and off-roading enthusiasts are invited to bring along their 4WD vehicles and explore the beaches of this coastal community that delimits the western and southern boundaries of the Crystal Coast.

There are three seasonally open ORV ramps located within the town of Emerald Isle. These ramps include the Ocean Drive "dog-leg" Ramp, (which is near mile marker 15 on NC 58), the Black Skimmer Drive Ramp, (which is across from the Police Department), and The Point Ramp, (which is at the very end of Inlet Drive off Coast Guard Road. While a 4WD vehicle is a great way to access multiple stretches of beach in this seasonal community that boasts a slow and remote atmosphere when the off-season rolls around, certain sections of the shoreline may be closed for endangered bird or sea turtle nesting.

Beach driving in the town of Emerald Isle is allowed from September 15 until April 30 every year, with the exception of the 10-day period from the Friday prior to Easter, and the Sunday seven days after Easter, when applicable. In addition, beach driving is allowed from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. every day from September 15 until the first Saturday in November AND from the second Sunday in March to April 30, during daylight savings time. During standard time, from early November to early March, daily driving hours are from 5 a.m. until 7 a.m. In order to drive on the Emerald Isle beaches, an official Town of Emerald Isle beach driving permit is required for residents and visitors, alike. Come on down this winter to partake in this exhilarating tradition of driving on the Crystal Coast Beaches. And, be sure to watch a video of this tradition on my website, EIHomesforSale.com. If you liked what you learned about beach driving on the Crystal Coast, visit my website, www.EmeraldIsleHomesforSaleNC.com and sign up for my blog. Explore the video tab for my weekly uploads to my YouTube channel. Subscribe to my YouTube channel and receive a free donut at my Flip Flops Donut shop. Text your email address to 919-308-2292 and subscribe to my newsletter.