The far Northeastern corner of North Carolina is occupied by Carova Beach. To most of the tourists who flock to North Carolina's Outer Banks, it is known for the wild horses that reside there. Several businesses offer Wild Horse Tours, driving specially-equipped pickups, SUVs, and even Humvees up and down the beach. The cost of two tickets will fill the fuel tanks, and several tours can be made on a single tank, so these businesses are almost pure profit. A much more economical way to see the horses is to just drive yourself.
Just north of the town of Corolla on NC Hwy 12, the pavement ends and the beach takes over. Four-Wheel Drive is required, and the highway runs an additional twelve miles on the sand to the Virginia state line. It's recommended for vehicles with street tires to air down (let about half of the air out of the tires, down to about 12-15 psi), although trucks and SUVs with larger tires are usually fine at street pressure. It is also recommended to carry a shovel and at least a flat board to spread the weight of your vehicle's jack in case you get bogged down.
Mile Marker 24 is the last marker before the state line, which is visible (the vertical pilings) in the distance. With twelve miles of beach -and the deterrent effect of needing the skills to drive on the sand without getting stuck- there is always plenty of wide-open space on Carova Beach, as opposed to the elbow-to-elbow crowds on other beaches. It's possible to park on the beach and have a hundred yards between you and the next vehicle.
For us, it's about a three-hour drive to Corolla, so we try to leave pretty early in the morning. We also prefer to go on Sundays, when most of the weekend crowd is leaving to go home. We can go to the beach, spend a few hours in the sun (the water doesn't really warm up until June), and hit a gift shop or two on the way back to Nags Head. There are a few restaurants on the sound-side of the island with great sunset views for dinner.
Having the ocean nearby is one of the best parts about living in Eastern North Carolina. After my time in the military was over, I thought about moving back to Ohio or Alabama, but I like it better right here, in the middle. My wife's family is from the area, while mine is split between two states, so this allows us to be near her family and equidistant from each side of mine. If you ever come out to the Outer Banks, you might see me on the beach.
Of course, if you do find yourself stuck in the loose sand, it won't be long before someone comes along with a tow strap to give you a helping hand, as this Ohio native found out the hard way.
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