Currituck Beach Reviews

Heard a great deal about doing the tour, see the Mustangs, etc. We did it, it was hot, we did see some beautiful animals but it really fell short of expectations (although not sure what we expected). My son's main take away was seeing the house of the monster truck driver the "Grave Digger".

This is the best beach to visit! I was on a horse tour because I don't have 4-wheel drive. But if I did I would air-down my tires and drive out on the beach myself. You just park on the beach between the surf and the dunes and enjoy the wind and waves on a hot day. A bonus would be seeing the wild horses on the beach cooling off! I'm not sure but you might be able to walk out onto the beach (but that would be a lot of stuff to carry!).

We decided to take on the 4 Wheel Drive on the beach with a Ford Explorer. It was a great trip. We horses and dolphin jump out of the water. We didn't venture off on the roads (not really paved) leading to bayside and sorry we didnt. there are some beach home but the roads are sand so its hard to tell where the roads are so we stayed on the beach ocean side.

The wild horse adventure tour was amazing and spending time with family. We rented a house from Carolina Blue realty and I have my 4 grown children and their spouses and 2 grandkids under one roof.

Been coming to Currituck for over 20 years. it is peaceful yet enough to keep me busy and satisfied. The beach is not crowded here and is private at the VIllages of Ocean Hill where we stay. we prefer quiet sound side and easy walk to ocean away from other tourists. Purple Pelican is where we stay with Brindley Beach vacations. Love to walk to the lighthouse and watch sunsets here. Prettiest area. We were here even before memorial day this year and it is great. And we saw the newest addition the herd of horse, a one month old female. beautiful.

A great place to visit, the horses really make it special. It will be something we Will never forget. The horses came out more around sun set.

Amazing beauty. Off-season is time to go. Hardly anyone on beach. Obey signs, only 4-wheel drive vehicles allowed. It can get dicey in spots and make sure tide had been out for awhile. Don't go so far up towards Virginia Line that you can not get back before the tide comes in. Permit not required, unlike Hatteras Seashore. Use Wild Horse Adventures to find Wild Horses if you can not find them or if you do not have 4WD.

A trip to the northern Outer Banks of North Carolina is not complete unless you visit the wild, natural and stunningly beautiful Corolla Beach. You must have a reliable 4 wheel drive vehicle and know how to drive in soft sand or take a commercial tour. You'll see the legendary wild horses as well as other wild and natural sights.

We took the wild horse tour with our family and enjoyed every minute. The horses are beautiful and the views are incredible.

Very clean beach, not very crowded at all. It was easy to walk to from our house we rented but we did have to go up quite a few steps and down to the beach, had to go over a dune. Water is this area is very clean as well. Beach is well maintained, very clean. There are wild horses in some areas but they don't seem to bother anyone. We are coming back to this beach again this year.

We actually got to ride on the beach. You must have 4 wheel drive or you will get stuck. The beach is expansive and lots of people doing the beach thing. You can go fishing, swimming, or just get your chairs out and enjoy the space. The ponies are out there and just perusing the beach. Lots of fun, lots of good photo opportunities.

Have stayed on the 4x4 only beach several times and never disappointed! This is an area that is accessible by 4 wheel drive only and is a good time! A few more visitors on the beaches this visit but everyone seems to be cool and having a blast ! 🤙🏼JEEP DAD always says give this a try, good rentals from twiddy rentals and an adventure to go along with fun in the sun 🤙🏼

Our family of 9 decided to ride on the beach to Corova. We had so much fun! We rode with a local family member, and we saw so many groups of horses. Some go swimming and enjoy the beach as much as us. We also stood at the Virginia border. Downside—-We witnessed a truck, who forgot to let some air out of the tires, having trouble getting off the beach back onto the road (getting to the beach was no problem for them, just getting off the beach was a problem). No worries, a tow truck is on site, ready to accept around $250 to pull one out of the situation ;). Some carry boards in his and her trucks for this scenario, I heard, but our truck was good to go. No problems, 4x4 worked. Oh! Speed limits were posted, so 15 mph can be expected. Enjoy!

After visiting the Wild Horse Museum, we drove out to the beach. You can only drive on the beach if you have a 4-wheel drive and fortunately we did cuz as we drove up the beach, we saw 10 wild horses strolling along the water's edge! It was magnificent. It was the middle of the day and we were told we probably wouldn't see any because of the heat and they like to come out in the evening when it is cooler.
You have to keep your distance and could be fined if you get too close but we were near enough to them to get some awesome pictures. At one point we had to stop our truck cuz they crossed in front of us.
We felt so lucky to be able to see these beautiful animals up close.
Be sure to stop at the Wild Horse Museum first and pickup there free brochures that tell the story of the horses. DNA testing date them back to 1528,

The beach was wide with. Nice fine sand. As an added bonus some of the wild horses came to pay us a visit.

I visited Currituck Beach on Thanksgiving. It was cold and sunny. I had to drive the beach to get to the little village of Carova Beach. The beach is beautiful, and the drive is fun and unique. It's not like driving on Daytona Beach. Here, you're literally driving next to the surf. 4x4 is required, and it's not a suggestion. If you try to drive a 2WD car, you'll be stuck.

My husband bought a 4 wheel drive truck this past year, and he wanted to test it out. This beach was perfect for that. We rode out two miles before we ever parked. There’s plenty of space, and yes, there are really cool wild horses that come up on the beach. If you own a 4 wheel drive vehicle, there’s no need to pay for the horse tour; you can just drive out there yourself. As a word of caution, we did see several vehicles stuck in the sand trying to leave the beach, so be extremely careful.

I was at the Southern end of the beach so I didn't spot any horses. The sand is the softest, most powdery white sand I've seen. Many seashells along the shore, especially large ones. The beach was pretty empty. I'd love to see the seashells that wash up after a storm there. What a relaxing area!

Our family came here for Spring Break. We found lots of shells and were able to walk along the beach. It is well kept and a great place to visit. we definitely plan to come back.

We saw the dolphins and the horses the same day all while seating on the sand enjoying the breeze. Real nice beach clean and shallow. Great for kids

My husband and I spent the day on the beach in Corolla after a couple windy days dealing with Hurricane Jose. I packed drinks and snacks, but should have packed a sandwich or two for lunch. Luckily we were smart enough to stop at the Visitors Center in Currituck. The lady that we talked to was most informative, gave us a tire gauge, pamphlet explaining the proper tire pressure, told us where we could find a bathroom while on the beach and also where to fill our tires back up, all of which contributed to a fantastic day!!! Seen dozens of horses both on the beach and off. Came across the tours, but so glad we didn't opt to go this route seeing as I had back surgery six months previous. We took our time, parked on the beach and enjoyed a fabulous day.

We drove our 4 wheel drive Suburban out twice to accommodate a large group, no trouble navigating the sand but we did reduce air pressure in our tires as recommended. We saw two large groups of horses wandering peacefully along the beach, paying no attention whatsoever to the many beachgoers and vehicles. You can drive from on end of the beach to the other in about 30 minutes. Kids had a blast taking pics!

Great beach getaway from DC. Try to avoid the Saturday rental exchange day.. Terrible traffic all day. Beautiful sand and waters for body surfing

We enjoyed our tour through this beach area to see the horses...so pretty and a very beautiful, clean beach...also saw a fox!

Any Outer Banks vacation would not be complete without seeing the Corolla Wild Horses on Carova Beach! Only caveat is you must have a four-wheel drive vehicle or take a guided tour with one of the several wild horse tour companies. These horses roam the Carova Beach area and are said to be descendants of shipwrecked Spanish mustangs more than 500 years ago. All visitors must keep their distance of 50 feet (or suffer a hefty fine), and not feed the horses. You may see the horses grazing on the dunes, near rental cottages, or on the beach itself. We were fortunate to see a group of the horses. I am sure you will agree seeing and taking pictures of the horses will be one of the highlights of your Outer Banks vacation.

Nice and beautiful, a lot of history at this place. This is first time we visit and plan to go back for more. Many interesting place to see.

We went driving under our own power. It was a great experience, we did get to see horses. As a note, while just driving is free, if you want to park and visit the beach, you will need to pay for a pass.

There is a place to refill the air in your tires at the parking for the Currituck lighthouse.

This was my family’s second year is a row staying in Corolla in May. This year, we stayed in Atlantic Beach for a wedding. I was so happy to get to Corolla. Atlantic Beach is too populated. Corolla is so much more peaceful, clean, and such a beautiful beach. Everyone is respectful. We will certainly be visiting again.

Our tour guide was Tom Baker “The Outlaw”. He was our guide last year also, really makes a great tour guide. We didn’t see as many horses this year as we did last year, but it was still a great time. Beautiful day, beautiful beach, very enjoyable time.

Flanked by the ocean and sand dunes, the beach is flat and is actually a "roadway" to get to houses built within the dunes. It's crazy, but people park in the middle of the beach, and set up their umbrellas and chairs while cars and trucks drive past them--not my idea of a relaxing day at the beach!

What can you say about a beach? Seen one, seen 'em all? Not so 'cause there's very few beaches in this area you can actually drive a vehicle on without a permit. Its pretty cool because if you choose to deflate your tires before heading out, there is a FREE air filling station when you come back. We weren't fortunate enough to see the wild horses this time, but they are out there. I would advise checking the tide schedule before you go as with the tide out it gives you much more of a firm, flat area on which to drive and you can stay out of the soft stuff. We keep 90 pounds of pressure in our Wrangler tires, didn't deflate and had no problems.

At some point people have homes back from the beach that they can only access by driving over the beach. Gotta time those grocery trips right or you're held up by high tides. We used Corolla Outback Adventure for our tour and saw quite a few horses, some of which were grazing in a homeowners front yard. Went through some flooded areas to get to huge pasture where herd was grazing. Great experience.

Wide, quiet beaches and soft sand are what you get in Pine Island. Spent a week here at Easter, and it doesn't get any better. Close to restraunts, Audubon Society, shoping with a secluded beach ennvronment. Can wait till next year when they add indoor tennis to the complete list of amenities. Even used their private airport to fly in a friend.

Wow is all I can say!

As part of a guided tour, I had the opportunity to see all the folks that have 4WD vehicles enjoying this beach. We saw dolphins, plenty of sea birds, and a protected sea turtle nesting area. (No horses on the beach while I was there.)

The wild ponies of Corolla are a short drive north of the town, with free public access to miles and miles of beaches. If you've not seen firsthand the herds of wild ponies playing and running along the beach and into the ocean surf, you're missing one of the best treasures of the northern Outer Banks! We rented a jeep and drove the miles of beaches, stopping to watch mares with their colts prancing around the dunes and splashing into the ocean. Stallions pawed sand at other stallions, showing the magnificence of these healthy little ponies! We have memories of a lifetime from dozens and dozens of wild ponies playing like a fun family at the beach!

Easier to access and more populated than Carova, Currituck beach occasionally has wild horses, but your more likely to see tourists fishing from the beach. It's a nice walk, but it's gotten more popular over the years - for better or worse...

The best experience ever. Would definitely like to go back. Never have I ever seen such beauty and awe.

Maybe because it was a blustery day the horses weren't visible. They say they are hard to catch. There was a truck stuck on the beach and no one was around.

I was blown away by the beauty of the place, the white sand and the abundance of horses - granted it is off season but this is a not to be missed spot.

We had my son's Jeep and he gave us rides on the beach after the highway ended which was cool. It was almost like an amusement ride but after about 10 minutes both my daughter and I had to get out and walk as our stomachs were somewhat queasy. There were hundreds of people on the this part of the beach and it actually had many people both fishing and in the water.

the beach was good ,finally after two days of rain ,we got to go and play and lay on beach,was crowded but spread out

Fun and unique experience driving on the beach! It was like a roller coaster ride in the car! Waves rolling in, sunshine, family time and laughs! Enjoyed every minute, although we didn't see any horses, we did see a jellyfish! We drove the 12 mile stretch to the border and then turned around to beat the sun going down. Took about an hour or so both ways, but it was enjoyable, peaceful, and relaxing!

What can be more fun than deflating your tires on your pickup truck and going for a ride on the beach. First day, we immediately saw horses within 1/2 mile of the entrance. Very convenient to park your vehicle and pull all your beach supplies/toys out of the truck and not have to carry them! Will definitely be coming back if we go to OBX again.

Great beach with 4WD access. But only 4WD access do not attempt to take your AWD vehicle out here or other non 4WD vehicle. Great option to see the wild horses on your own.

Such surreal experience. Followed the directions, lowered the air in the tires and drove on the beach. Never experienced anything like this before. Worth the hype.

Once you get away from the crowds driving near the entrance, you'll be captivated by the majestic wild horses and the natural beauty that caress you as you enjoy this wonderful place.

The beach is beautiful. If you have a 4x4 you can drive on it but a 4x4 is essential. There are no roads. The beach has some homes but not that many. It is natural beauty and worth visiting. We saw a wild horse near the water.

We visited as part of the Wild Horses Adventure Tour as well as several trips by car while we were in the area. Lots of nice shops nearby as well.

Quieter family beaches that are very clean. They even helped us bring gramma to the beach on a golf cart. She walks with a cane and would not be able without the help. We stayed in a house on Corolla. The public access was just down the road.

What a cool beach. Wild horses roaming, great dunes and paths, quiet solitude (at least in shoulder season). Loved the freedom of exploring the paths off the beach. Houses tucked deep inside the dunes! Must have a 4x4 and deflate tires. You cannot park on the beach unless you buy a pass, I believe it is $50 for the pass. But if you just want to cruise along the beach and off road in the dunes, no pass is needed.
Endless beauty
Juju

Went to Currituck Beach to see the wild horses. We did not see any horses but had a good time any way. We drove almost to the VA state line. You must have a 4WD vehicle to go on the beach, and tire pressure should be under 30 psi.

It was very windy and cold when I visited, so I really didn't enjoy it much. Besides that, it was still beautiful to look at.

The horses were amazing and so beautiful! We didn't swim at the beach but took an ATV tour and had a fantastic time. Would definitely return!

We went to Corolla for a week with our very close friends. It was fun and relaxing except for the sunburn! :) I would recommend to be extra cautious around the horses. They are beautiful, but they are not tame. An emergency vehicle was dented very badly while we were there because the horse was kicking it. There was a horse fight in our back yard and one of the horses stuck around all day and for a while blocked our way out of the pool area. The beach was great and the water was beautiful! Fishing was pretty good and we did catch some fish. NEVER go on the beach with out 4 wheel drive and always take some air out of your tires whenever driving on sand. Cars get stuck because people often don't follow protocol. It is a wonderful beach and I would definitely go again.

This is such a lovely beach. We drove out on the beach and got to enjoy seeing some wild horses. Absolutely loved it!

We always take a ride or2 to the 4x4 area. See the wild horses, enjoy some beach time, great dunes and wildlife.

this beach area is peaceful and the place to go with kids. You have a wonderful beach are and the horses roam and it's a true vacation - relaxing

The beach area is such a joy to visit. Seeing those beautiful horses, and how they deal with the people that is on the beach. It is a must see & do while on OBX.

you need a 4x4 to axcess this beach but its worth it. great beach with super waves. long beach with plenty of room. you can grab a 100 yards for yourself.

Loved this place, the horses, the shells, all the different fish we caught! It was so beautiful and peaceful.

Horses where great to see roaming freely. Worth the time to go. I do think the locals should have a clean up drive, lots of rusty metal and trash in the dunes. You have to go off the pavement for this trip.

The Corolla 4x4 Beach refers to the beaches up to the Carova Beach. Those beaches include: Ocean Beach, Seagull, Swan Beach, North Swan Beach.

Our tour guide/driver, Wiley, was fantastic! He is a local and takes his boat across the Sound to work. Amazing! We saw about 20 mustangs, including some under a house for shade.
Thanks Wiley!

If you like driving 4x4 on the beach, parking and spending the day swimming, eating etc. this is the place to be. You may even see wild horses on this beach as well. Very exciting and fun.

Took a wild horse group tour with the family, riding in the back of an open truck. Beach is only accessible by 4x4 vehicles. Pretty wide beach, even taking into account that it also serves as a parking lot and access road. Tour was interesting and we enjoyed seeing the horses.

Was disappointed that some local beachgoers (brandishing confederate flags) were yelling "white power" and giving thumbs down signals when they saw people of color driving by. Some were making menacing gestures with their fists. My young children found this especially disturbing. This behavior was exhibited by a small minority of the people on the beach, but they did leave their mark, which I imagine was their intent.

Took an afternoon to drive on the beach.An experience the family will not soon forget.We deflated the tires to around 20 psi and put the truck in four wheel drive and away we went. Had no problem at all even though we did see a couple of vehicles stuck. Drove at low tide and that was a big help because the beach is busy in certain areas.Be careful and slow it down around the pedistarians.We drove for about 20 minutes before we seen wild horses walking along the edge of the water.That's not something you see everyday.Please respect the space of the horses! We just enjoyed a beautiful afternoon driving on a beach! Do it if you get the chance!

This is a beautiful beach - we went to it at dusk once and then during the day. We were shocked at all the cars parked on the beach during the day - they went on for miles. In the evening it was a quiet, untouched, natural beach. Don't try it without a four wheel drive because you'll get stuck.

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! Especially given it's a 4x4 beach... I can't get over how pristine and well-kept and CLEAN it is! Definitely a must-see if you are visiting the area. The horses are worth it.... please respect them!

There is very deep sand here. Make sure you have your permit and you remember to deflate your tires if you choose to drive onto the sand.

If you aren't experienced in this type of driving, walk the beach or go with a tour.

It's a popular place to try to spot the Corolla wild horses.

This beach, at the northern end of the Outer Banks, is very wide, and has gentle slopes to ocean. Apparently it is an extension of State Highway 12, meaning that you can drive on it if you have the appropriate vehicle and without needing a permit. We saw different sized parties partying along the beach, next to their cars/4x4s. We even saw a wedding. The beach has quite a festive atmosphere in the summer. If you are lucky, you might come across the wild horses of Corolla.

It was so nice to go to this 4x4 beach and see the beautiful horses! It took us two tries to see the horses, but it was so worth it!

When you get this far up the Outer Banks you've left the crowds far behind---especially when you get to the part of the beach restricted to 4-wheel drive vehicles.

We have stayed from Corolla to Hattaras over the last 30 years and we have always like Corolla and the Corolla beaches the best just a little less crowded

I didn't personally see any horses but enjoyed the beach every morning and evening of my stay in Corolla. Very nicely kept beach.

A must see. The wild horses are a historic wonder.
You can drive the beach with your own 4 wheel drive or take a tour.

We really enjoyed the beach and the beach staff. The water was a bit cold but did not stop us from going each day.

Our tour guide was Marshall. He was very knowledgeable about the horses, and the history of their habitat. He seemed to enjoy going on the tours as much as the tourists and it is obvious that Marshall and the company have a genuine passion for protecting these beautiful animals and their habitat. We saw a lot of horses and he made sure both sides of the car got to see every horse for pictures. I couldn't have asked for a better horse tour or tour guide.

Access to the beach is only possible with a 4-wheel drive vehicle and reduced tire pressure. Beware attempting it otherwise. You come into the beach at the northern edge of Corolla. It's a beautiful area but there are lots of houses up here and especially on weekends many day trippers with cars lined up along the beach. The wild horses are still here and can often be seen grazing contentedly. Several companies in Corolla run mini bus tours. Even tho it's not deserted, the beach is beautiful; wide with almost white sand. Best way to experience the area is to rent a house close enough to the ocean so that you can see the waves and enjoy the moonlight over the water at night when it's peaceful.

... it‘s a shame, that there are no controls about the amount of cars! It‘s a nice ride on 4x4 (don‘t forget to reduce the tire pressure from 35psi to 20/25psi) and we enjoyed driving along the sea and we were lucky enough to spot horses.
Although it‘s not summer, it was already packed with pickups, all sort of 4x4. Some drivers being reckless, thus my disappointment that there are no more restrictions!
As for the tyres pressure, shortly before the lighthouse, there‘s a petrol station on your right and you can „refill“ your tires. It cost approx 1-2$ and takes time. We had 2 cars before us and we waited 45min...

This was my first experience being able to drive on a beach, which was cool enough...to be able to see wild horses that have been indigenous to the area for hundreds of years....well, that was the icing on the cake! Word of advice- follow the traffic patterns, stay away from what seem like shallow puddles and loose sand... even big trucks can get stuck! :)

Very relaxing great beach to hang out at. The sad part is when we were here 6 years ago the beach went out about 100 more yards. Now the ocean is coming ever so closer to the dunes

We've wanted to drive our truck on Currituck Beach for several years and we finally got to do it today! Now that my boys are old enough to drive, we brought two vehicles on vacation this year so we had a truck to make the trek! We had great fun! We started out early as was recommended from the website (low tide) and as the day progressed into midday, the traffic got crazy. We decided it would be better to go early and get off the beach early. We plan to do it a second time before we head home. Fun was had by all!

I arrived in Corolla on May 23, 2015 for A week's vacation. I took my kids to the beach on Memorial Day and was pleasantly surprised by how close it was to our beach house. We used the public beach access. There were very clean bathrooms, a concession stand and life guards. Let me tell you about the best thing, valley beach service!!!! There were eager workers there to help us with all of our beach gear. They promptly loaded up their jeep and met us with all of our belongings on the beach. It's not a long walk from the parking area to the beach, but with kids, beach chairs, beach toys etc., you will love the sight of the staff!!

There was plenty of room to spread out. We were not on top of each other. The waves were gentle, the sand was soft and great for playing/building. We loved it!

We were on the beach for quite awhile. 4 wheel drive vehicles only...if not you will get stuck! Saw horses, wild Spanish mustangs on the beach, lots of fishermen and just as many beach goers. The tide was out so driving near the weather was better than further in towards the dunes. Lots of beautiful houses which surprised me because the beach is their only way in. Very interesting!

We had our 4wd truck with us on our visit to the Outer Banks, and knew the history of the wild mustangs form the 1500's, so we drove to Currituck Beach along with a lot of other visitors, and about halfway down the beach area, there some of the horses were! They were beautiful! They just stood in the surf, ignoring all around them! Soooo Beautiful!. Worth the trip by themselves!

Since we have a 4 wheel drive truck we decided to drive the beach and look for horses on our own. The first day was rainy and we didn't see any horses. We went back the next day and we saw 3 different herds/packs. They are beautiful!

We have been to Currituck Beach twice and really enjoy driving out on the sand to see the horses. This past July we were really luck to see two groups of horses and one foal. Warning: Do NOT attempt this drive unless you have four wheel drive and know what to do. It is not for the inexperienced and the tow fee is hefty, like almost $200! Drive out around the little community that is also out there or stop on the beach to sun and relax. We also saw dolphins this past July pretty close to the beach. Lots of fun for the kids to see as well.

I took a solo trip to Corolla, North Carolina to OBX - the Outer Banks of North Carolina. You MUST prepare for this trip! I wish I had known more and want to advise and inform travelers so they know what they're going to encounter on what was a "bucket list" trip for me. MUST know! Learn how to "air down" your tires to get onto the beach. REQUIRED. Learn how to navigate through deep sand, ruts, and over sand dunes. Understand there are NO street signs to get to your rental home. Your navigation system will be WRONG. Learn that you will find your rental home by mile markers ONLY. Study the tide charts of Corolla (Carova Beach) to KNOW when you can and cannot drive on the beach! Once you leave the paved road, you will have to drive beach ONLY to get to your location and only by knowing the tide level. BRING GROCERIES! All you have on the island are homes, sand, surf, more sand, wild Mustangs and more sand! FILL YOUR TANK WITH GAS!

You will learn how to navigate over the dunes. If you want food or groceries you will have to drive back down the beach on air-downed tires, then find the Public Park to "air up" to your normal PSI, then go grocery shopping or go to restaurants. FILL YOUR TANK WITH GAS. Now to get back to your rental property, CHECK tide levels. Your ability to get around the island (on or off) are governed by the tides.

To prepare? Gas tank FULL, air lowered to 15-18 PSI, shovel if you get stuck, AAA if you get stuck, cell phone charged, FOOD for your entire stay (and extra if you can't get off the island due to storm), an adventurous spirit!

You can take wild horse tours (they book out of Corolla so you will have to air up once you leave the beach to get to the tour company's main location. Then when your tour is over (if you're staying on the beach), you will have to air down again to go back on the island to get to your vacation rental.

Respect the horses, DO NOT approach them. If you stay for a week, you can just relax on the beach, fish, or just drive around to see if you can locate the wild horses either coming in from the preserve, or in people's yards, or on the beach front. I traveled SOLO with my two dogs. I have plenty of tips if you wish to ask me. It was all a learning curve for me and I met some amazing local people who gave me tips and advice. A MUST do trip.

Up until a few months ago, I had never experienced this section of OBX. Fell in Love with the natural beauty, and the Wild Horse's. Highly Recommended Beach if you have access to a 4x4. Unrestricted Driving on this Beach, referred to as NC Hwy 12 ... Very Clean, and Comfortable. This was our 3rd visit to Currituck Beach, and will remain one of my very very Favorites!

We stayed in the 4x4 area of Currituck beach and it was a great vacation! We had wild horses wander through our yard every day, it was awesome. The only downside is that because you can drive on the beach, cars and trucks go zooming by all day :-/ It didn't make me feel safe bringing my dog to the beach.

The area has some really great beaches and to get to them you MUST have 4x4. There are no pave roads after Corolla. The rental homes in the beach area are BIG and beautiful. We were at the beach everyday even though we had a pool at the house. The wild horses roamed the back yards of the area. this is a true natural area. The people that use the beach on the most part clean up after themselves. Sometimes there are idiots that have to go fast on the beach but that's not to often.

As always a awesome vacation!! Love the beach at currituck! Beaches are clean water is always just right and we love the beach valet!!

I would recommend you take the wild horse safari to this area. It was an very amazing tour by our amazing guide, Bruce. I highly recommend Back Country Safari Tours

4x4 a must. Lots of traffic for a beach road. It was cool seeing some of the horses. Lots of people on the beach. and a free for all while driving.

this was our first time in the area. We came as a family of si. We rented a house in corolla. but while here we went to the 4x4 beach and next year we will stay there.

Love driving on this beach (you must have a 4 wheel drive vehicle) love watching the water and seeing the wild horses when there around.

Our first trip to the Outer Banks,we really have enjoyed this trip, especially enjoyed seeing the wild horses on the beach

We were staying in a beautiful house on the beach in Corolla when my friend suggested we take a rise on the beach. Sure! I jumped right in his 4X4 Ford truck and we were off. There were 4 of us and we took water, bug spray and towels just in case we needed them. It was the week after Labor Day and I was amazed by the number of trucks on the beach. There is no permit needed to drive on Currituck beach which is unusual. My friend said it was because this was an extension of Hwy 12 that runs along the coast of NC. There are rules for driving and certain places where you need to use caution. Families and fisherman park along the beach and there are unwritten rules on that set up and where you park and drive, so be careful. We drove all the way to the end of the NC beach. It is blocked by a fence and we got out and walked through the fence to the other side. That it geographically the Virginia line. All the houses along this end of the beach are very remote and don't have access to the highways. I don't think I would like to live there but it was fun to ride the beach and see that area. You have to pick and choose the ramps to get off and on the beach as some of them are really difficult to maneuver. My friends said this was the first time they had driven on the beach without seeing someone stuck or in trouble. There is a rescue/fire station off the beach. We didn't see any horses on our trip but we saw lots of horse poop all around. There were hundreds of horseshoe crabs dead on the beach. Not sure if that was because of something they do each year but they were everywhere. Also saw several groups of Dolphins jumping. Sea gulls, diving birds, and Pelicans were in large quantities too. Beautiful day and I will remember it. Didn't see many sea shells and I was surprised by that.

Great beach. A great drive on the Currituck beach. A 4X4 is a must to experience this treat. And maybe you will get to see the beautiful wild horses. Always remember they are wild and do not approach them. Amazing to see them in the wild knowing that they are wild. Lots of other sights to see as well, such as sea life.

The best part of our trips to the outer banks of N. Carolina.
When you see these gorgeous, wild horses, it is truly breath-taking!!

Gorgeous beach. Our rental house was 25 minute ride down the beach on the 4x4 front. It was 9.5 miles down the beach. Great ride and often saw dolphins playing.

Absolutely awesome beach! only because you can drive on it. The beach itself is typical but the northern half is where you are allowed to drive on and see the horses. There are many signs as you approach the beach access point that tell you to pressure down your tires (for better grip on loose surface) but the beach is so compacted from hundreds of cars driving over it I don't really think you need to. I would say a 4x4 is a must just in case. We drove down it during sun set so we didn't see any horses they must have gone to bed (I know nothing about horses lol) but the dive was so much fun. If you have a vehicle that has 4 wheel drive this is a must do.

Our rental was on the northern end just before the horse fence and 4x4 access point. Its the reason to come here. Save the money on the horse tour. We seen tours while were driving the beach and there were no horses to be seen. They run about $50 a head, so renting a 4x4 would be cheaper and the beach isn't super soft, especially by the water.

Cool place. 4x4 area is separate from pedestrian area. If going to the 4x4 area, beware of the tides. We went with all wheel drive. If the tides had been any higher, we would've gotten stuck. It's also a free for all as there are no lanes so people are all over the beach area.

This beach is a must! Even if you have to rent a 4 wheel drive vehicle or take the guided tour vehicles. The horses are such fun to spot and the immense number of seashells will keep you hunting for your favorites.

We took our 4 wheel drive truck out to these beaches about one hour before sunset. Was awesome to see the wild horses on the beach and up close. Saw 9 horses in a 30 minute drive. The beach itself is pristine and depending on the time of day it wasn’t very crowded. If you have a 4wd this is a must do. And way cheaper than the guided horse tours which basically do the same thing.

We were on a family trip with 4 kids under 10, a teenager and 8 adults. The beach is nice and in early June not crowded at all. Waves are pretty small and there is a long downgrade into the ocean. We initially tried our community beach access site which had a decent parking area with a short walk to the boardwalk that had steps to get you over the dunes to get to the beach. There was a lifeguard but they are positioned far apart so swim at your own risk. There are no facilities either.

Then we drove down to the public access point across from the lighthouse. There are facilities here along with limited parking. Again in early June not too many people. One difference is at this location you have to walk the dune no Boardwalk. It is also a vehicle access point as well. We found tons of shells at this part of the beach. Large shells big as your fist. One point to make is you may want beach shoes to walk in the water here because there were several shell beds you would walk on. We really enjoyed this section of the beach! Plus I'm not exactly the most fit person but I managed going over the dune no problem.

This is how I picture the beach a hundred years ago. Just ocean, sand, wind, birds, plants, sky...

We didnt see any horses but we didnt do a commercial trip. Just walked. Beautiful and haunting. Dont know how long it will be like this but we were happy to have seen it like this.

My husband and I wanted to take our children to the beach to see the wild horses, but honestly didn’t feel like a one hour tour with one of the local companies was worth $150. We have a 4 wheel drive Infinity QX 80. We wanted to take our own vehicle, but we were scared we would get stuck since it wasn’t the typical Jeep we saw heading out that way. After much debate we decided to try. We deflated our tires to 20 psi (our tires are due to be changed so the tread was pretty worn) and went out on the beach. We were really nervous about getting stuck, but we didn’t! There are tow trucks about every .5 mile out that way in case you do get stuck. The way out was definitely better than the way back since the inside of the beach has more loose than unpacked sand. Also, bring your beach chairs and gear because the beach is nice and so much more than just horses. Hopefully this post helps someone!

2 minutes n the beach and he see our first Mustang. The day just kept getting better.We chatted with a very friendly sheriff patrolling the beach.He was so informative. We saw a couple dozen Mustangs.One harem with a day old foal. This was a bucket list check for us!! My one tip is do it yourself in your 4X4 . The tours are on a strict schedule and you will miss out.We can canned plans for the rest of our stay.Returning to Corolla Beach every day.Amazing!

I had a fantastic trip and would absolutely do it again! The whole family went and we had 4 generations there! I cannot tell you what a great time we all had....

Hwy 12 is an actual highway on the beach with speed limit signs and police patrols. Such a beautiful trip

Love this beach in off season. Too busy in the summer. Can drive out and park. If lucky you may see our Spanish mustangs strolling along the beach.

We took a 2 hour ride with a wild horse tour company down the beach and saw lots of wild horses. They are almost tame, but not quite. They roam in and out of the sandy by ways and into people's yards. They are the issue of the Spanish explorers who made a quick get a way about 500 years and left horses behind. Worth an afternoon.

It is definitely worth taking a wild horse tour onto the beaches. We live in New England but there is nothing like the pristine, level, expansive beaches of Corolla or the Outer Banks. Getting there on a Saturday or Sunday during the summer can be crazy but it is beautiful any time of the year-May, June, or September are a favorite.

This is a great educational experience for the entire family. All ages would enjoy. Our tour guide, Joe, was wonderful. He gave us lots of information about the horses and their habitat. Wonderful adventure.

I like a less crowded beach - and this is one of the less crowded spots. The horses are usually further north of the beach; however, there were "signs" that the horses come down this far occasionally (hoof prints, horse poop, etc.).

We actually stayed in this area in a house and we saw horses every day. Cant beat those views. Would visit again with proper vehicle. MUST MUST have 4 wheel drive.

We rented a jeep and went 4-wheeling on the beach. Beautiful and fun. Saw 12 wild horses prancing around the surf.

Once on the other side of the sand dunes this is a great beach to simply enjoy the sun, play in the sand, or take a swim. Children of all ages have a great time watching the ghost crabs come out of their holes at dusk.

Surf was a little rough, but great weather, saw wild horses, up thru 4x4 area. Overall a great day, enjoyed watching the NY/NJ idiots in their $100k Cadillac SUVs getting stuck...lol

We drove onto the 4WD portion of Hwy 12 beach. There is an air down spot near the lighthouse on Corolla Village Rd. and an air up station near the lighthouse. There is no legal place towards the beach after the lighthouses to pull over and air up or down.
You can drive the beach but need a permit to park on the beach. (Online pass application) and must pick up physical pass at visitor center. 4WD is highly recommended. Not AWD. What's there: nice beach, residents, rental houses, sometimes wild horses. Not many shells to be had like the southern OBX. Be respectful of the locals. The beach is actively patrolled by the sheriff's office. If you get stuck, prepare for a $275 fee from the local towing companies.

Saw very few horses as this is NOT a protected, unpopulated area. Quite the contrary, this is an over-populated, excessively traveled area. The speedlimit is 15 but the idiots run around rawhiding at 40+, digging big holes that cause issues for others. The locals use this road to get home as there are no paved roads in the area, and this is a common fishing area for many locals. Visitors and fools create dangerous situation by ignoring the laws, guidelines, and safety information. Tires must be at 20 lbs - this prevents you from getting stuck; there are deep holes and loose sand - cars like subarus do get stuck so pay attention. The tow truck drivers make a fortune LETTING AIR OUT OF TIRES of stupid people. FOLLOW THE RULES, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS, AND FOLLOW THE SPEED LIMITS!!

My Mom and I walked along the beach in Currituck (after visiting the lighthouse). It was quiet, peaceful, flat, and full of shells. I love the "action" when I am at Nags Head beach or those on Ocracoke - but the peacefulness of the beach in Currituck was a feeling I will not forget!

going on the 4x4 beach area (carova) is a high point in our trip every time. seeing the wild horses is fantastic. great drive up, beautiful. we just love it. if you can't drive your own vehicle on the beach, take a tour. there are many wild horse tours in the area.

I loved this beach. Bummed i didn't see any wild horses on the beach but we didn't stay at the beach very long. Loved how soft the sand was and how beautiful the water was. Great beach to spend several hours at or all day if you want!

You need a 4x4 and lower your tire pressure. Plenty of places to pull over and do that. Also free air fill ups on the way out. Just wish they had psi gauge on them.

We just drove the beach so didn’t need a permit. If you park and enjoy the beach you need a permit. Not sure the costs. We enjoyed seeing the horses and the set ups that people had. You could tell some people majorly set up with some cool stuff. Definitely go if ya got a 4x4. You could do guided tours as well.

We went on the driving beach where you take 4X4 vehicles and it was superb. Make sure you let the appropriate amount of air out of your tires so you don't get stuck in the sand. The best thing about the beach is that after sunset the Colonial Spanish Mustangs come out and walk along the beach. Wowzers! Go enjoy.

The entry to the beach is on a sand road and you MUST have 4 wheel drive to drive on it. We were looking for wild horses but never saw any even after driving 5 miles down the beach. Also this doesn’t appear to be a beach you would want to get out on to swim in the water but I guess you could since there are houses near this end of the beach.

Love this beach. Its 4wd only and you always see wild horses. Its a totally different feel and its so nice to drive out and not have to lug all your stuff through the dunes to the beach. You can grill out here so bring some fresh seafood to cook up!

Make sure you have a 4x4 with ground clearance you'll love the ride along the beach Many amateurs out there what they think is a 4x4 as they were getting stuck I just drove by we only seen 2 horses this trip The sand is deeper in some areas you have to keep moving And try not to stop or you may get stuck.

So much to see and so much to learn. Back Country Safari Tours, Natalie, shared her local knowledge of the history of the area from seashells, wampum, tides, sand dune shifts, the early coast guard and of course, horses. It was so entertaining and informative. I also loved the way our group was small and everyone had a 360degree view. We weren’t packed 6 deep into a loud hummer, but rode in an open air jitney with 1 bench seat on each side. FUN!
Mandy P

First of all, do NOT try driving on 4x4 beach if you don’t actually have a 4x4/AWD vehicle. We were fine with our Subaru Outback, but we saw someone who actually took his Mercedes coupe on the beach and it was stuck to the point you couldn’t see the tires.

The beach is beautiful and is worth spending some time there...horses or not. That said, we drove all the way up the beach to the posts that act as a fence. We didn’t think we were going to see any horses and started to head back after a few hours (about 10am-1pm). Then...all of a sudden...the horses ran past us. They were absolutely beautiful and made the trip even more memorable.

along with the horses, the birds the weather and shells.. Come get some! the Local Gov just instituted a daily parking pass for those wishing to stop on this 4 wheel drive beach.. Inquire at visitors center.. If you don't have a 4 wheel drive, don't attempt it as you most likely will get stuck in the soft sand.. There are usually tow trucks up there.. $100 to get ya goin..

we visited the beach in a 4x4 and loved it. just wonderful and free feeling! would love to go again.

Clearly one of the best beaches for strolling - wide, clean, soft sand, lots of sea shells, less crowded. you can walk for miles - get the exercise you need without any stress. Fun to watch the birds - few areas cordoned off for turtle hatching.

The beach is so vast, and relatively unspoiled. It is sad to see the development taking place. We hope NC does more to protect the natural envirnment these horses live in.

Stumbled on this beach. Luckily we drove a truck. Driving on the beach was a hoot, but going off-beach, behind the dune was a blast! On our way to Chincoteague now. Hopefully it's as much fun. Otherwise we might come back down just to go here.

wonderful beach area. unbeatable scenery and wide open beaches make this a great place to spend the afternoon or longer. 4x4 needed

This beach is amazing. To think that you can walk in the footprints of the wild horses. Requires 4 wheel drive, and watch out for the petrified tree stumps. Great views!!

The Currituck Beach in the Outer Banks is really beautiful and fairly secluded. I stayed with one of my friends who owns a large rental about 10 miles into the 4 Wheel Drive Beach. Yes, 4 Wheel Drive is required. There are only sand roads in this section.

It was great being able to job on the beach, or sit on the balcony and watch Dolphins jumping in the Ocean. There are also Wild Horses that roam around. We saw them frequently during my week end visit.

While on a Hummer Tour to drive out to see wild horses, we really enjoyed the beach. Plenty of room for all the vehicles driving and people sitting on the beach near their vehicles. Saw dolphins and plenty of shore birds.

This review is for the beach directly across the street from the Currituck Lighthouse in Corolla. It does not have horses on it. But it does have a very nice sandy beach with a clean shower house even after a busy day. Two changing rooms feature showers with warm water plus bathrooms. Ample parking and a boardwalk make this a very easy spot to get on the beach.

But if you look West you see houses to close to the dunes. the beach access construction destroying the dunes with every wave that reaches them.
Private owners build those bridges/ crosswalks but do not help clean up the mess they cause
and if you sit on the beach and a car drive by that is not beach live for me.

We love the beach as it's the time when the family can relax and enjoy one another without life's distractions. This beach offers a perk that no other can, wild horses casually strolling by, at least in the dunes any way. They are the coolest part of the day. It makes for a very memorable trip that leaves us smiling. So, if you have a 4wd and want some excitement on top of your typical beach trip this is a must stop!

Items to note, if you plan on spending some time, be sure to pack everything you need to be self sufficient. You are not near any bathrooms, restaurants, gas station, etc.

Just another of the nice beaches. Plenty of room to hunt for that one percect sea shell, walk, get wet and have fun ans enjoy.

One of the most beautiful natural beaches! We were able to see the wild horses walking the beach during the early morning hours and they were gorgeous!

This is our favorite summer vacation area. The beaches are wide and beautiful. And there are just the right amount of activities behind and among the beach houses.

Visited this month, loved it so much that we're buying a home on Swan Beach. The wild horses are amazing.

I knew there were wild horses to be seen, which we of course did, but the drive up and down the beach was the most awesome experience, dont miss the lighthouse ($10) and welcome center - which had an amazing person who gave us the off-roading details - take your pressure gauge !

I love a natural beach and this is a gorgeous one. The dunes are untouched and no hotel buildings. All natural beauty of beach, dunes, scrub and trees. The horses occasion the beach too, like not other place. It is quite and peaceful. Be sure not to drive anything other than a four wheel vehicle on the beach.

Great views. Great fun on the beach. Just watch out for the crazy drivers on the beach especially if you have small kids. When we were on the beach saw two groups of horses. It was amazing to see so close. Please don't pet them or feed them at all. You will go to jail if you do. I didnt try to drive on the beach I didnt want to make the truck driver even richer than he is. So many folks were getting stuck in the sand. Just be careful if you try to drive on the beach.

We had such a fun afternoon in Corolla, driving on the beach (must have 4 WD) and seeing the Corolla horses was definitely the highlight!

Bring your own chairs, food, drink, sun shade ir you need it, changing area and showers are few and back at your residence.
Water can be clear and green or stirred up sand and cloudy.
ig storm pushed the sand up by the dunes, beach is ok to walk but it can be deep sand which requires good 4 wheel drive skills or golf/sand buggy's, or proper equipment, or just not driving on the beach.
Out of season the water is too cool for most people to swim. Restaurant's and beach activities are seasonal, check to see what's open.
Parking only at your residence or at few access points.

Beautiful creatures. We were lucky to see a few of them after the storm that flooded the area behind the dunes.

We stayed in a rented house around mile 21, the beach was fantastic. We had wild horses stroll by our house, as well as on the beach. Sure there is some "traffic" coming and going but nothing too bad up that far. It's VERY quiet at night. The water was great with enough surf to make it interesting but still fairly safe for kids. The beach was very clean, and everyone was pleasant. If you are unfamiliar with driving in sand, there's plenty of YouTube videos to explain the process. Be prepared, at times the conditions do get deeply rutted with dry loose sand and you need to be ready or face the cost of a tow. There are no amenities- no garbage cans, no "snack bar" etc- so you need to bring everything you may want or need.

This was a great experience to have one time. If you like driving on the beach this place is for you! There are no permits required and as long as you take proper precautions you will be fine. We drove out here to see the wild horses and had never driven on the beach before. I will say you definitely need 4 wheel drive, because I saw a few people get stuck and have to be pulled out. If you want to see the horses you need to be there early in the morning or late in the evening. The horses were not out on the beach in the middle of the day. It is a very rough ride on the sand, and if you get car sick easily this might not be for you. Otherwise it is a fun day trip if you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle.

Such great history... Just being able to see nature at its purist. We were even able to see a 5 week old foal. Beautiful.

Thank you Virginia Beach/ Obx horseback riding. Our guide, Joey was great abd the horses were strong and well. So glad the horses was high spirited and not a slow path kind of ride. I got to ride Trigger and take him in the water and the guide let me run him on the way back and he made a dream come true for me. What a Horse! Because the beach was so great we went back the next day!

We have rented electric fat tire bikes and biked all 10 miles to Virginia border. Saw many beautiful wild horses. Great swimming. Many dolphins. Wonderful time

It was so amazing seeing these horses out in the wild. Beautiful!!! A must see on you trip to the Outer Banks!!!!

We decided to drive to the beach and see if the horses were by the water, they were not but the beach is beautiful! There are tons of shorebirds, shells, and tree stumps because the shore is always changing and about 100 years ago there were trees growing where the beach is now. The water was cold but felt good to walk in for a bit. The beach is free of glass so walking barefoot was okay. If you decide to go here you will need 4 wheel drive to drive on the sand, we saw no less than 3 people in the short time we were there who decided to try it without 4 wheel and it didn't turn out well for them, and I am sure the tow companies do a brisk business pulling out tourists. There isn't nearby parking for the beach either so if you want to visit without your own car consider an Uber or cab.

We saw several horses on the beach! The horses were on the dunes just eating grass, they didn't seem to be scared of humans.

Unlike most beaches I have visited! Amazing wildlife to be viewed from horses to the sea life! Bring your camera and be ready to spend some time taking in the sights!

We usually visit Ocracoke this tone of year, but due to hurricane damage we revisited Duck this year for Fall Break. Driving on the beach here reminded us of Ocracoke. Drove to mile 20 post and took the ramp. Turned right and saw 4 wild ponies in the yard of the very first house!

This is part of the wildlife reserve, but the beach and dunes are accessible by foot or 4-wheel drive. We walked into the reserve and, within minutes, found a small herd of wild horses. It was magical! The children in our party were transfixed in awe. There are also tours you may purchase to go there with a guide.

Went to Currituck / Corova Beach and drove the beach up to the NC / VA State Line. When it says you NEED a 4x4 - believe it as saw others with lesser vehicles including an AWD get stuck and it you pay the tow service up there to help - $$$$$$$$.

We also trekked on some of the "streets" where homes are built and they are not real streets. Think the beach was easier to drive on than the streets. We were looking for the wild horses and saw a few here and there.

Went back to the beach and was headed out when a big thunderstorm blew in and most everyone fled. Then the wild horses came out on the dunes of the beach i groups.

You DO NEED A PERMIT to drive on any of the OBX beaches that allow it. We saw several places run by the Park Service that sell the permits or buy before coming down on-line.

Even if you don't own a 4x4, you can take one of the many horse siting companies in the area to go to the beach or park close by and walk a ways up. Nicer waves up here than at our beach at Kill Devil Hills.

So incredible! Seeing the wild mustangs up close is impossible to explain. Do this and thank me later!

I find this place fascinating! I enjoy the fact that this actual named road is a beach. I suppose it is a 4 lane road at low tide and a 2 lane road at high tide. I drove on it once when I had a truck, and what a fun ride!

The wild horses are just stunning. Beautiful and majestic creatures for certain.

I also enjoy the massive homes built into the beach, and even more impressed with the folks that live out here full time.

I always enjoy visiting Currituck Beach when at OBX.

Well it's a beach you can drive on - it's a novelty but gets boring after awhile - we unfortunately drove and drove and didn't see a single horse. It's not something I would do again - once and done is enough.

Beautiful, yet crowded. If you are lucky you can see the horses on a misty uncrowded day when they are near the surf....fun and picturesque. You absolutely need a 4 wheel vehicle or book a tour.

Awesome beach! Smooth sand and very quiet this time of year (Nov). Beach is really wide and has lots of seashells to find! Great place!

Corolla beach is the best beach on the East Coast. Go in the off season and have the beach to yourself. The sand is perfect for walking. It is always clean. Many shore birds. Simply perfect.

We certainly enjoyed our visit at the Currituck Beach. We had decided to buy tickets to see some wild horses. We saw not only wild horses, but wild life in general and numerous houses and vegetation. Our highlight was to see wild horses and we saw many of them!

We learned so far that there were 3 ways to get to the Currituck Beach:

1. Walk for several miles or stay nearby the entrance

2. Use a 4WD, but make sure your car is high enough to overcome the sand. Take some air from your tires as the traction is way better on the sand that way. Basically you can go anywhere.

3. Find someone who has a 4WD or take one of the Wild Horse Trips.

Once you are on the sand facing the Atlantic Ocean, you have many options: Eat, read, walk, swim, fish, paddle a boat, enjoy the wildlife around you . . .

To see wild horses, the best way to do so is to buy tickets from a Wild Horse Adventure place and they will certainly lead you to them. Many try to follow these trucks, but with no avail.

Many people also rent houses that have electricity, WIFI and cable. Still you need a 4WD to get there! Be aware that there are no street signs anywhere as tourists have the habit to steal them!

No matter what you do, you will never regret enjoying this fantastic beach! It is heavenly!

Anyone has 3 options on how to reach the Currituck Beach:

1. Walk for several miles or stay nearby the entrance

2. Use a 4WD, but make sure your car is high enough to overcome the sand. Take some air from your tires as the traction is way better on the sand that way. Basically you can go anywhere.

3. Find someone who has a 4WD or take one of the Wild Horse Trips.

Once you are on the sand facing the Atlantic Ocean, you have many options: Eat, read, walk, swim, fish, paddle a boat, enjoy the wildlife around you . . .

To see wild horses, the best way to do so is to buy tickets from a Wild Horse Adventure place and they will certainly lead you to them. Many try to follow these trucks, but with no avail.

Many people also rent houses that have electricity, WIFI and cable. Still you need a 4WD to get there! Be aware that there are no street signs anywhere as tourists have the habit to steal them!

No matter what you do, you will never regret enjoying this fantastic beach! It is heavenly!

We have a YouTube channel and went on an adventure to see if we could find wild horses. We didn't want to take a tour to keep COVID safe. We did our best research and took the trip. It was tough with lots of interesting things you need to know. Especially about driving on the beach! Check out our video for all the tips on how to do better than we did! Just search for us.

It was really hard to find a place to park to walk onto the beach. I think there might be a conspiracy to sell the jeep tours. We were lucky enough to walk onto the beach and see a herd of horses about a short 10-minute walk from the entrance to the beach. We were so happy to see about 12 horses including a mother and her foal. There was also a person from a conservation group there watching over the herd and he gave us some interesting facts about them. All in all it really made our day.

Beach was inviting and relaxing for a Thanksgiving visit. Thanks to the kite flyers for their entertainment!

Went on a tour through "Wild Horse adventure tours" and had a excellent time are driver Gary was Great!!

This beach is available to walk or drive on, and if driving make sure you have a four wheeled vehicle. You will see wild horses too.

We saw a few group of horses on the beach. Very pretty see them roaming free. Must have 4wheel drive to drive on beach need to reduce tire air pressure! Worth the trip. If planning to go bring a good quality tire gauge with you. We bought one at the local gas station and it was not accurate at all!! Very thankful for Rod and his son-in-law Jeff who came to our rescue when we got stuck.

Don't miss the opportunity to take your 4-wheel vehicle out to this beach. You will be amazed at the view and the fact that there are so many houses out there. Must experience

An experience worth some time, great views of the Atlantic. However, hordes of tourists driving around your house chasing Wild Horses is doubtfully embraced by most year round residents.
Large homes perched right on the beach simply awaiting their demise can't realistically be sustainable.It is unfortunate that the seashore continues to be developed. If you drive your own vehicle make sure to read all advisories and rules carefully!

Unspoiled beach in a non commercial setting. Went to the lighthouse and walked around the small village there. At the museum we were given interesting information about the history of Corolla and the Spanish mustangs. We toured the beach to see the horses. A unique and special experience across the beach and dunes. A must if you go there.

Every trip to OBX should include a visit to Currituck Beach to see the wild horses. It is like visiting a civilization from long ago but only it is modern. Whether on your own as part of the tour it is a fascinating place to visit and ponder how and why the folks live there.

You need to check this out! So beautiful seeing these horses free and wild. You must stay clear of 50 feet and you can't touch them or feed them, they are protected, but they are beautiful and you can drive your jeep or trucks on the beach. Awesome two thumbs up!

What an amazing place of beauty! Loved this beach, only one problem, I wasn’t able to stay longer!!!!

Whether you drive your own 4 wheel drive or take a tour from one of the many companies on the island this is definitely a must see when in the area. So fun to watch the horses and be a part of their world for a couple of hours!

We used Wild Horse Adventure Tours and rode in their Hummer vehicle with 12 theater-type seating. The horses were so beautiful! We even saw a mare with her week and a half old foal. Our guide Wiley knew so much from living on the OBX all his life, and enhanced our experience tremendously by telling us the history and knowing where to find the horses. It's a bumpy ride! But worth every second of time and every dollar we paid. I'll remember that mare and foal forever!

A wonderful trip to see some beautiful animals with an amazing guide! A must see if you're in the area.

Corolla lite beaches are very nice and not too crowded. Depends on time of day. Go early around 9 am. Can be pretty hot after 12. Make sure you check out the tide times so you can adjust where you set up.

Beautiful, well kept beach! There were jellyfish washed up all over and we didn't know if they were dangerous if stepped on or not. We looked it up and it was said they were not dangerous as they didn't sting when washed ashore. Very little garbage, and I brought along a bag and gloves to pick up what I did see to do my part at cleaning up.

I have been to many beaches all across the globe and this has to be one of the most serene and prettiest I have ever seen. The water is clear and blue-green. The sand is soft and powdery. This beach, as others have noted, is accessible by 4x4 or getting there by walking on foot from your hotel or vacation rental. This makes for a much less crowded and cleaner environment. What a beautiful area and one that I hope to be able to return to one day very soon. Gorgeous!

We came out here to surf fish and let the kids run around. The beach wasn't very busy so we had plenty of room to spread out. The water is still a little cold. It was a plus that the horses came out on the dunes behind us. If you're going to go out here make sure you have 4WD and let some air out of your tires. We seen a ton of people get stuck out on the beach and it's around $200 to get towed out if someone doesn't stop to help you.

We rented a jeep to go up and see the wild horses. Well worth it. The wild horses were what I was looking forward to this vacation. I was not disappointed. There was an officer in the 4x4 area that kept coming by to tell us we were parked wrong, then we were not close to the beach. Make sure you are aware of rules and follow them. Seemed to be as crowded in the upper beach as the lower beach but still a lot of fun.

We decided to drive on the 4x4 beach the last day we were in Corolla . Hurricane /tropical storm Jose had just departed 3x days previously . The beach was very flat and we did not us 4 wheel drive until we needed to turn around in the fluffy stuff up near the dunes . We did not lower air pressure in our tires (although you should) The beach driving conditions reminded me very much of Datona several decades ago. There are tree stumps in the driving area everywhere, I assume the dune line previously was much further east. We had no problems with traction and only saw one vehicle "stuck" up in the fluff near the dune line . We were there at low tide and in a very large Dodge 4x4 truck . The ramps going to the homes behind the dunes looked very "fluffy" . I suspect getting stuck while exiting the beach up there is vey common .

A beautiful pristine beach to explore on foot or with a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Such a pleasure to know that there are still such natural beaches available for public use, and at no entry cost or parking fees.

We got married on the 4 X 4 beach 3 years ago. We come back every year at the same time. The 4 X 4 is our favorite beach

It was such an awesome experience to get to drive on the beach! We drove quite a way and found a place to park and enjoyed a wonderful day on the beach! There were a lot of people there, but we were still able to find our own spot where were were not bothered by anyone else. Beach is pet friendly. Much more traffic than we expected on the beach, but it added to the fun atmosphere. It was a great experience, and we even saw some of the the wild horses on our way back off the banks. Beautiful!

We drove on the beach twice and saw horses both times. There is a remote community that is only accessible from the beach. 4x4 is a must. We drove to end and crossed through a Dench to the NC coast. Would recommend to anybody. If you have a 4x4 the horses aren't hard to find

Very nice tour Wiley tour guide very knowledgeable. Tour last about 2 hrs well worth the money. We saw many horses and other wild life .

By far the best beach i have seen in NC so far. Very clean and family friendly atmosphere plus the wild horses are an added treat.

Its clean, plenty of space and the water is great for kids. Shallow beaches to watch the kids. Sand was clean and a great place to find seashells

beautiful beach untouched .There are tours for the beach or rentals that you can drive in .Go for the first tour in the morning .It was rainy on the day but managed to see a few of the wild horses .

This end of the Outer Banks is not as congested with more residential areas. The beaches are beautiful and Currituck Beach has the most magnificent wild horses that roam the beach. You can go by tour or if your willing, 4 wheel yourself onto the beach. You will be glad you did.

Incredible day walking the beach, taking photos of the wild horses, brown pelicans, and osprey hunting for fish. Crowds were lighter than expected, even for Memorial Day Weekend. Access to the beach is 4x4 vehicles only, and highly recommend deflating the tire pressure.

rustic and breathtaking. Full of history and glorious vegetation and of course the wild life especially the horses. Was fabulous. We were thrilled with our visit.

Beautiful and calming. Always good to spot horses. Better to see with an official tour company due to travel

We rented a 4x4 Jeep from Island Jeep Rentals (attached to the Chrysler Jeep in KDH). We stopped at a bakery a 1/2 mi from where the road turns into the beach and let the air out of the tires down to 20psi (recommenced by the Jeep rental attendant).

The drive up to Carrova Beach was long, and the sand was super dry and it was tough trying to find “grooves” to drive in. It’s rocky driving the entire time, not to mention challenging dodging the trucks already parked in the middle of the beach... but...

Once you spot a horse, it makes it all worth it! We had to drive off the beach back into the housing developments and drive on the sandy roads to find the horses at first. We found 4 in the front yard of one house!! And then one walking all by his lonesome self along a sandy road. As we started our drive back towards Corolla, we saw 8 horses out in the dunes!! They were absolutely beautiful!

As an added bonus, We saw an Osprey with a fish in his claws perched on a staircase! Captured amazing photos during this trip!

Whoah! This is a must do! We drove on the beach and it was so beautiful! I loved it so much! We will do this again!

My wife and I took the truck on this vacation because we knew that driving on the beach was limited to 4 wheel drive vehicles. Many people on the beach and this was a weekday! Got to see the horses maybe a mile up the beach, an impressive sight.

If you enjoy the serenity that a wide open beach can provide, you're sure to love the banks of Currituck Beach.

Highway 12 changes right into sandy beach just north of Corolla. Be sure you drop tire pressures to 20 psi and 4 wheel drive is a must! We drove our Jeep Wrangler on the sand for 8 miles and still the beach did not end! There are offshoots from the main sand and it's hilly and wet. Tons of fun! Folks park on the sand, set up canopies, fishing gear, chairs and whatever they can get in their vehicles and they spend the day. Not crowded on a Wednesday. If you do park, a parking permit is required. A 10 day permit costs $50. Only 10 day and yearly passes. I had 1 day, so we drove only for free. Yes, you may see horses. We saw 2 groups near the water and 2 more on the sand dunes. There is a tire inflation area a mile from the entrance. A great time IF you have 4WD.

This is a beautiful beach and we found it basically to ourselves! That was nice. We were looking for seaglass and although we didn't find any, we found a lot of cool shells and some pretty big ones.

This beach is amazing and is something that every visitor to the Outer Banks should do at least once. The beach is wide with dunes and high grass on one side and the ocean on the other. You can stop and park your car on the beach and be a quarter mile or more from other beachgoers if you choose. Then there is always the possibility of seeing the wild horses roaming the beach. We have been fortunate to see them during each of our visits. We also saw a pod of about 12 porpoises swimming in the ocean less than 25 yards from shore. There are also numerous shells at this beach which the children love to find. I recommend taking the necessary measures if driving your own 4 wheel drive vehicle, such as deflating the tires, driving in a low gear, and visiting during high tide. Wouldn't want to get stuck in the sand while the tide is rising.

Beach is clean not to busy, great shelling. Can see small fish and small sting rays go by, there maybe dolphins off shore also.. that is a wonderful site.

Great tour and Tom Baker was a wonderful tour guide. We saw lots of horses and really enjoyed our tour.

Was a pretty awesome beach to go on. We unfortunately went after several days of it raining. It was the first time we've ever tried doing that in our truck. It was a cool experience that I would love to try again without the rain.

We had an exciting time. We went three separate times and saw 27 horses in all. The horses are gorgeous . My grandchildren were so excited . We took lots of pictures . We had so much fun riding on the beach . At one time we parked and took a swim in the ocean . We met so many friendly people. We were happy to see there was not a lot of littering and there was not any profanity that we heard on the beach. Our time was so enjoyable. I recommend Currituck Beach very highly.

The beach is amazing...it’s so great to be able to drive on the 4x4 beach and to be able to see the wild horses that are being protected with great success. However the policy of needing a parking pass to park on the beach between Memorial Day and Labor Day is a complete joke...$50 for a 10 day pass and can not get one any shorter. Driving on the beach does not require a pass, only parking so it has nothing to do with any environmental or safety regulation simply a money grab by an over inflated and greedy local government taking money out of the pockets of visitors and ultimately out of local businesses that revenue could have been used for. Public beach but only if you pay to be part of that public.

This beach is gorgeous. Morning and evening seem to be the best time to see the wild horses. You MUST have a 4 wheel drive vehicle to drive on this beach, we saw multiple people attempt it with 2 wheel drive and got stuck. You don’t need a pass to drive on the beach but for $50 you can buy a 10 day pass that allows you to park on the beach and hang out. It was so convenient to be able to throw coolers, beach gear, etc into the back of the truck, drive onto the beach and have everything available right there to use all day.

I absolutely loved seeing the wild horses!!!!! Incredible! Beautiful beach, water, everything!!! We took a Humvee with 15 other people. :-)

It is a truely beautiful beach. I do gotta say that it’s interesting to see people drive on the beach and not follow the guidelines.

Currituck Beach is absolutely gorgeous. It is fun to drive down as well and the further north you go, the more wildlife you can see! We loved seeing the wild horses and enjoyed the uncrowded, relaxing, and beautiful atmosphere this beach has to offer. We go once a year now and consider it our go to spot for a weekend reboot!

I have been on the beach both with Wild Horse Adventure Tours and taken my own truck, it's beautiful and fun. Seeing the horses is cool, there is a new foal that was recently born, it's all legs and very cute.

It seems like the number of wild horses are dwindling but if you come earlyish in the morning you can still see them walk along the shore. The dunes are a lot smaller than I remember them, probably due to storms but the beach is still wide. You can drive on the beach just make sure to let out some air out of your tires or you will get stuck. Have your cell phone handy and the number for the tow company just in case because the crowds have all gone home. Stay away from the horses! Leave them alone. They are protected by law so enjoy gawking at them but from a safe distance.
It's after the season (late September) and I like the beach better this time of year. The water is still warm and the sun is still strong but the crowds are gone and it suits me just fine.

Such a fun thing to do. I'm glad we had our 4x4 vehicle with us and decided to go for it. Read the signs about where to drive and park as it can get crowded and confusing. We saw some beautiful shells and lots of horses on the beach. We went off season so it wasn't too crowded, but I can't imagine what it's like at peak season.

Wife and I drove back to the beach the day after taking a guided wild horse tour. It was wonderful, calm and very few people out. We walked around and collected shells and just enjoyed the beach for several hours.

This is an area that is largely untouched by man trying to "improve". There are homes but they are set back from the natural beach. Nature at its finest...The 4WD area is quite fun.

So pretty! Couldn't believe the huge houses and dunes and the wheeling birds against the churning sea were gorgeous!

Our family took a private hummer tour of the wild horses utilizing the Wild Horse Adventure. Stu was our tour guide/driver. He was very knowledgable of the area and was very pleasant. After explaining what we were seeing, he made sure that everyone could see on both sides of the vehicle. He added humor to his delivery and was very welcoming to everyone. We were lucky to have Stu as our driver!

This is the beach to find when on the northern Outer Banks. Pull in across from the Currituck lighthouse, park and walk about 250 yards onto a clean, delightful beach. (restrooms available here in the parking area.)

Even though it's a long hike up the sandhill to get to the beach, it's definitely worth it. Nice wide beach, great waves. Even in late September there are a lot of people enjoying this beach. We spent most of our 2015 vacation week going to Currituck Beach each day.

This is one of the highlights for my family when we visit OBX! We drive our truck with 4x4 with this location in mind. We have made this trip 3 times and 2 out of the 3 we've seen the horses at the ocean on the beach. One time we had to drive up the dunes into where the houses were and saw them up there. If you love horses or your children do then pack a cooler and stay a while and bring your camera too. Also worth noting if you like to find shells on the beach you will see some here. Nothing huge have I personally found , also small bits of driftwood and occasional sea glass.

You can drive on this beautiful beach with a 4 x 4. There are places to inflate and deflate tires. You can see the wild horses if lucky. Please remember to on entice the horses, don't feed the horses and stay 50 feet away!

Our time with Ryan Riley of Wild Horse Adventure Tours was magnificent. We saw four different harems on the beach and we watched one large horse roll in the sand. Also, there are two recent births, one filly and one colt. We spotted both of them as well as last year’s births. The weather was perfect and we spotted dolphins in the distance. Ryan was a wealth of information, good humored and fun!

The beach in October is fairly deserted. It was wonderful to go Seashell hunting and not have to watch for cars and children. The first day going out on the beach we saw a wild mustang just walking along. It was amazing!

Prices for Horse tours are ridiculously expensive HOWEVER I wouldn't miss it for the world. Next time I will rent a Jeep for the day and drive the beach myself and take my time wandering. GREAT PLACE TO VISIT.

we did the wid horse tour, no horses were on the beach, but we rode in a hummer really fast to get to the north end of the beach where the horse were. very pretty, clean great beach. we were there early in april, so it wasnt real crowded. we were told it is extremely crowed during the summer!

The wild horse tours by Wild Horse Adventures is a must if you are in the Outer Banks! The beaches are immaculate. There is no commercialism. Pure nature. A few hundred people live in the remote part of the island. The wild horses and humanity live in harmony.

Took the chance with our 4x4 Jeep and drove the long distance in the thick sand to see the wild horses. We did finally find one in the dunes and then a family of 3 further north. It's nerve wracking being worried about getting stuck in the sand but we were fine and did not see anyone else get stuck. The drive to get here from Rodanthe was also worth it. Very scenic through some of the small towns.

Really enjoyed this part of the island. We went on a tour as we didn’t have 4x4. It was well worth it. Beautiful beach, and lots of wild horses

We just stopped by to walk the beach after visiting the historic village. It was drizzly, but we had our umbrella. The beach is flat and easy to navigate. We found some really cool shells. The fog had settled a bit, so it was so quiet. I think there was one other family and one couple there.

Lovely.

The history behind the breed of horses is fascinating. The guide was wonderful and he worked hard to make sure we got to see the horses. I think this activity was definitely worth the price of the ticket.

Loved taking my vehicle on the beach! We saw a few wild horses & a bunch of dolphins. It was also interesting to see what people decided we're 4x4 vehicles.

Drove on 4x4 beach with family during our OBX vacation. We saw horses within first 1/4 mile. Beach was beautiful, swimming was excellent, and surf fishing was AMAZING!

Currituck Beach is a beautiful strip of beach. Great place for the family to play and relax. I would recommend this beach to anyone.

We toured Currituck Beach as part of a wild horse tour. It definitely is worth braving the traffic to ride along the beach. The beauty of that spot, the horses even the dolphins we saw made it an exciting few hours touring the area. For those that opt to skip the tour and four wheel - make sure you do your homework on driving on sand. Saw multiple SUVs and pickups stuck in sand and several cars pulled over with clunking transmissions on 12 South.

The remnants of thousands of wild Spanish horses still roam the due coved beaches of Currituck. Only 101 survive today.

We went on the Wild Horse Adventure Tour. We saw the horses and a new foal born on Mother's Day 2018. The guide, Charlie gave us the history and habits of the wild horses, he was very good at finding the horses for us and made sure we got the photos we wanted to get.

This was year 13-never fails to deliver good weather, great waves and plenty of room to spread out and enjoy.

I recommend that you find/ask for a ‘guide’ that knows a lot about the area - fortunately, on our ‘Sunset tour’ at 6pm, we did see two harems grazing in local grasslands, but there is no guarantee you will see any. According to our GREAT guide (see my other review) there are less than 100 still on the island due to land grabs. But the dunes tour at sunset was very nice, anyway, and our guide told us a lot about the history of the Outer Banks sand dunes, shifting topography and development, so the hefty fee was worth it. It is also a VERY family friendly adventure.

We saw horses in the dunes on more than one occasion. The beaches were crowded but it's the middle of summer so we expected that. Was easier to relax than I thought it would be with traffic going both directions. Great vacation!

Great beach for off road driving though I prefer it during off season when there are relatively few people there. I love being able to stop and enjoy the scenery.

Miles and miles of flat sand is what is here. You can drive on the beach if you have a 4x4 vehicle and park wherever you like so if it's busy pick a spot you like. There are no facilities here so bring drinks/food etc. You may also get wild horses on the beach so don't be surprised, you amy nod feed or pet them it's an offence!

Loved our ride in the old military Hum-Vee and the view of the horses grazing on grass near the houses north of Corolla.

Our tour was terrific! Our guide, Marshall Grossman has a wonderful passion for the Outer Banks and for protecting the herd of wild horses. He has a thorough understanding of the wild horse culture and lore.We were lucky enough to see many horses on the beach and within the protected community, to include two springtime-born foals. Marshall made a concerted effort to get our tour to see as many horses as possible.

This was a great tour. The driver,Stu,was very informative and entertaining. We all had a great time.

This was a wonderful experience. My 21 year old son even enjoyed it and he is not a horse lover like his mother but he enjoyed seeing them wild and in everyone's yard roaming free like the deer. Best beach I've to

We were vacationing in Corolla in a big beach house with lots of family. One of the family members had driven their Jeep down to NC and so we had access to their Jeep all week.
As you drive on 12 North (locals call it "the pavement") eventually it ends and there is a sign that says '4-wheel drive vehicles only beyond this point'.
Once you get past that point you are driving ON the beach! One must continue driving (no stopping) on the beach for a mile and a half before you get to a spot where you can park your 4x4, get out and explore, walk the beach, walk the dunes, or fish. Definitely worth checking out!

Great tour and fun also. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and so pleasant , I recommend this tour - it was the highlight of our trip! KC is the tour guide we had and she really made the tour fun.

Took a guided tour looking for the horses on the beach. found some off the beach near some homes. Then on the way back to our car we were able to see a horse on the beach. So neat. What I found most amazing was the all the different vehicles that drive on the beach.

On the final day of our vacation we went four wheeling on the beach. We were able to go up over the dunes in specific areas and back into the area of beach houses on this unspoiled section of the beach. We saw our first wild horse inside a carport of one of the beach houses. As we looked further we realized there was another horse further in to the area. Then along the back we saw four more horses with Egrets on their backs. We went further into the area and found four more horses. On our way back out there were four wild horses right down on the beach in the water. It is amazing that you can get out of the car and take pictures of the horses and they do not even move. Considering that there are only 126 wild horses in this area we saw over 14 different ones. Took lots of pictures. We got out and walked along the beach and collected some interesting shells. It was a fun morning and a great culmination to our week at a beach house in the Outer Banks.

Hurricane Irma affected the beach conditions while we were there, with more dangerous rip currents and larger than usual near-shore waves. That being said, the beaches are beautiful here without a doubt and we still enjoyed playing in the water when we could!
We went twice at night to catch and release crabs on the beach in the dark, and everyone really enjoyed it! Even the kids enjoyed hunting them down and most weren't scared.

These beaches are beautiful and away from the crowds. Love the dunes and wild horses coming from the maritime forests to the ocean. Be aware that North Carolina has a law to stay away at least 50ft away from the wild horses. It is highly recommended to use a four wheel drive vehicle. We saw one vehicle stuck in the dry sand. Car tows are very expensive. Although non-satellite maps show roads north of Corolla, all are unpaved roads. There are lots of tiny shells on the wet sand beach and it is recommended to wear water shoes.

We took a wild horse tour out of corolla that takes you through this beach. Its full of mansions, sand dunes and beautiful beaches. It was pretty quiet and peaceful. Also there are native wild horses all around the beach freely roaming.

Very busy on the weekend so get there early to get a good spot. Not to crowed were you feel like your on top of someone. People who come to this beach are very friendly. There are horses that come and walk the beach. So cool. This beach is very clean. Must go for a visit.

We decided to take a ride on the beach in our 4 wheeler with our kids. I thought it would be harder than it was. Just slipped the vehicle into drive, took it slow and no quick turns!! We rode almost all the way to Va. It was great fun for the kids, and me, too. We saw the horses for free as an added bonus. Will do it again, maybe bring the fishing gear!!!

AMAZING Beach — just wow - beautiful sand, waves, weather, house stayed in named Away From It All almost at Virginia border — and the Wild Ponies were out and about — truly WOW in every way

Lovely view of the beach and horses if you are in a off road vehicle, be careful that you don't get stuck in the deep puddles or dunes!

beautiful beach, dunes and you can drive on the beach with four wheel drive and see the horses we saw a lot of them on the beach

I knew you needed a 4x4 to get onto the beach to see the wild horses but we planned on parking and walking in. However there is no public parking right next to the beach. You have to park a looong ways away and walk down. Being a family with children on a cold windy day that walk would not have been enjoyable. We were super disappointed with the parking arrangements and our missed opportunity to see any ponies.

The beach is fantastic and tons of fun AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A FOUR WHEELED DRIVE VEHICLE!!!!!!!!!!! Mandatory. It is the law. you have to drive out onto the beach. It is also a preserve for some 600 wild spanish horses and you really need to understand the regulations around those animals. But WOW was it fun

What a delight to see wild horses in their habitat. Not every day one sees a stallion with his harem frolic in the ocean or watch several of them in their own private sanctuary-"Wild Horse Estates". Although it is a bit pricey, give this activity top billing. They even offer a coupon in the visitor's guidebook.

So many shells and so little time. Unspoiled beaches with great sand. We will definitely be back next year.

Both our daughter and her husband, and my wife and I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee. They performed admirably all the way up the beach which was several miles. We didn’t see wild horses the first time so we followed one of the tour vehicles the second time and saw several. I would strongly recommend the drive for young and old.

Beautiful beaches that are practically deserted in March. Lots of shells if you're into shells. Nice sunrises if you like to get up early.

We came here a couple days ago but never completed the review. There's not much to say other than this is the way things used to be all over the North Carolina coast, Sadly development has taken over most of the available spaces. My hope is that this area can remain in it's natural state for many more years to come, and perhaps permanently. The beauty and peacefulness here leave me speechless.

This area of NC is unique and beautiful, but don't go UNLESS YOU HAVE 4 WHEEL DRIVE!!! I don't mean All Wheel drive --I mean 4 WHEEL DRIVE!!
If you go there without 4X4, There is a VERY good chance you will get stuck!! A tow costs at least $150.00!! Now the good news:
What fun! Driving thru the roads is interesting-- a decent chance you will see the wild horses. The beach is beautiful--but don't get run over by the drivers. Take pictures of the beautiful scenery and the historic lifesaving station.

Nice wide beach for swimming or just relaxing. Also great to fly a kite or hunt for shells. At night hunting for ghost crabs is always fun!

I would not recomend trying this trip in a SUV, the sand is very deep and full of rutts and bumps, once you stop it is easy to get stuck, the tow trucks were making a killing the day we were there. I was lucky many others were not, I would highly recommend a profesional tour if you want to see the horses,they now were to look,they are not always on the beachh!

Seeing the horses was fabulous. The beach was much softer sand than I expected and my Sportage got stuck. No worries, there were plenty of people to help. I have driven on several other beaches in other states with no problems and I ignored the advice about letting air out of my tires. It was not just me, we saw 2 other vehicles stuck as well. There is a public spot at the lighthouse with air pumps, I should have used those on entry and exit from the beach. Be prepared and it is worth it to see the horses!

My family has been vacationing on the Outer Banks since the 60's. We have a family home in Corolla Light and go there regularly. LOVE IT!

We did not see the horses directly on the beach, just a lot of four wheeled vehicles. Water nice and lots of unusual shells. Go off season if possible.

Fun driving on the beach and very easy to unload beach items as you could park right on the beach. We enjoyed watching the wild horses and snapping photos.

What an amazing beach. Love the fact you can drive on it with a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Allows you to basically park and setup your beach site right at the waters edge. Very clean beach with nice sand.

We walked from the end of the paved road in Corolla towards Carova. We loved the wide open beach with no commercial businesses, just the dunes, the ocean, and us. It reminded me of other Southern beaches I've been on.
The downside is that the horse tour trucks were going way too fast on the beach on the way up to Carova - these guys must have been going 40 - 50 mph.
We didn't see any horses during our walk, but that wasn't too disappointing I would have seen that as a bonus.

We called several tour companies that did the wild horse tours and this company was responsive. They also gave us a generous discount for 7 people. Gator, our tour guide, was fantastic and we felt like he covered everything.

This is where you find them and we saw probably 15-20 this June and probably the same number last September. Keep them safe! Don't approach them. Stay at least 50 feet away and sure as heck don't feed them! They have a very specific diet and anything at all outside their natural diet can kill them. Also, don't feed them for your own safety. Admire them from a distance and get a photo for a souvenir!

Went on a wild horse tour on the beach at sunset. Nature at her finest. What a stunning scene with beach, waves and a setting sun kissing the earth. Beautiful horses. Highly recommend.....

Great natural sand dunes and wild horses, a must see if near the Outer Banks. The ecology of the area is very unique.

Not sub par but high tide really squelches the beach area - giving the beach a crowded feel. PROs lifeguards and ability to rent umbrellas and chairs. CON - lots of business or lifeguard ATV use.

Toured this beach today and saw many wild horses and even some whales off shore. Beach is very long and wide and not very crowded at this time of year.

Had a wonderful adventure today!!! Justin gave us a great ride on the 4WD beach and we saw plenty of horses including Rose the foal. FUN FUN FUN

Wild hoses are my favorite part! So much to do there also! The area is very clean and beaches are also!

The cars go by so often. It is a road so I guess that's what you would expect.
The convenience of your cooler being close does not justify sitting on the road while viewing the ocean.

We had a great time , took a drive on the beach , beach seemed fairly clean, will be returning again with more time.

Fun place to drive on beach with great views of empty beach and wildlife. Be sure to heed warnings of proper tire inflation and proper type of vehicles to be driving n beach.

Beach was very pretty. I wasn't a fan of the stones around the water. They really hurt my feet. The view was great though.

We took a hummer ride on the beach for 2 hours. It was my favorite thing we did at Corolla. I would do it again. The sand is so beautiful and the hummer ride on the beach was fun. We loved seeing the wild horses.

We did not know about the car and permit thing. You can permit online to drive your car on the beach, but ti should be AWD/4WD. Clean beach.. not crowded...
OBX beaches are so long that you won't find crowded at all. You can swim, kayak-surf, do water sports. Get down and have some relaxing moment.