I'm heading out to atlantic beach and have read a bit about driving on the beach. We're taking our car (dont have a truck or SUV). It's a honda fit. Bad idea? unsafe? or do cars drive on the beach up there without a problem?

9/20/2009 12:32:44 AM

Hahahaha...

Yeah, you kinda don't want to do this. Atlantic beach has soft sand and all you're gonna do is get that FWD tin can stuck on the beach (and with luck, it'll get flooded by the tide).

Only things I've seen on that beach are vehicles that are designed to go off-road (and they keep the beach nice and bumpy and soft with their big tires).

9/20/2009 12:45:13 AM

good to know - no beach driving. i know i've seen pics of cars on beaches, but it sounds like atlantic beach isnt one of those beaches. We'll stick to the road and walking on the beach.

thanks!

9/20/2009 12:50:43 AM

might wanna try daytona beach instead

9/20/2009 1:23:07 AM

Quote :

"It's a honda fit."

hahahahahahahaha

Anyway I'm not even sure Atlantic Beach allows vehicles on the beach.

9/20/2009 12:21:47 PM

Quote :

"It's a honda fit"

lol

9/20/2009 12:42:26 PM

we took a subaru on the beach in oregon

9/20/2009 12:59:13 PM

where does atlantic beach allow vehicles? i've never seen it or heard of it. northern Carolina Beach allows it... but that's a ways a way

9/20/2009 1:38:07 PM

oh man, i'd love to be out at the beach and see a honda fit drive by


ahahahahahahahaha

9/20/2009 2:39:58 PM

^^ I remember police and civilian vehicles along atlantic beach out by Sands Villa resort all the time as a kid. Now, do they still do it? I can't remember because now that I'm older I haven't spent nearly as much time on the beach. I just remember walking through the car tracks on the beach and seeing police cruise by during the busy summer months.

I do remember they banned vehicles on some NC beaches a while back because of those endangered turtle nests, or some shit like that.

Also: I would say a subaru might be just fine on the beach. If you're not driving something that at least resembles a truck or SUV (or doesn't have all wheel drive) then driving on the beach is not for you.

9/20/2009 3:53:56 PM

Atlantic Beach does not, to my knowledge, allow vehicles on the beach. However, you can get on a ferry in Davis that will take you to the Core Banks where you can drive on the beach. I don't remember how much it costs to take your vehicle across...

9/20/2009 9:30:35 PM

Quote :

"Sec. 5-22. Driving on beach and sand dunes prohibited; exceptions. It shall be unlawful for any vehicular traffic to travel upon the beach and sand dunes located within the town between mid-March and October 1 of each and every year. This section shall not apply to vehicles operated by commercial fishermen issued a valid state fishing license while engaged in commercial fishing activities and while being operated exclusively within the permitted driving area. Driving at other times on the beach strand shall be lawful only for vehicles which shall display a duly authorized permit as hereafter provided. (Ord. of 10-20-86(1), § 1020; Ord. of 7-18-94(2)) "

http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?sid=33&pid=12307

You wouldn't make it 10 feet in a Fit though.

9/21/2009 9:28:42 AM

thanks for the feedback. I swear i have seen just an average car on a beach somewhere, but i don't remember where or when. We took our ridgeline out on kure beach a couple years ago, and it was REALLY soft. Now that we've downsized to the fit, it sounds like beachd riving is no longer in the cards for us.

Even without the beachdriving - atlantic beach and beaufort was a really good time. First time out there for us, and I'd recommend it for a change of pace from the wilmington area, and its only 3 hours or less from raleigh.

9/21/2009 10:55:19 AM

There are beaches that are packed hard enough to handle car traffic, but I don't know of any in NC. People stick 4x4 trucks on our beaches all the time although 99% of those could have been prevented by airing down the tires, putting some weight in the bed, keeping it in 4x4, or better driving.

9/21/2009 11:01:38 AM

we used to cruise on the beach at myrtle in my dad's early 80's big yellow buick. fun times.

9/21/2009 11:03:54 AM

Quote :

"its only 3 hours or less from raleigh."

You guys must have been going really slow. I can get to Beaufort in about 2 hours, sometimes less.

Awesome B&Bs in Beaufort!

9/21/2009 11:38:14 AM

i can get there in 45 minutes. from raleigh.

[Edited on September 21, 2009 at 11:40 AM. Reason : ]

9/21/2009 11:40:30 AM

RAWR RAWR RAWR
KING DOUCHEBAG HERE
I CAN GET TO THE BEACH IN 30 MINUTES FLAT
RAWR RAWR RAWR

9/21/2009 1:41:30 PM

43 for me

9/21/2009 1:45:34 PM

I've seen cars, trucks (four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive), etc on the beach before and here are some tips I've put together from observations and experiences.

Tips:
The tires on cars aren't aggressive so they shouldn't dig in too much.
Lower your tire pressure to about 15 psi.
Accelerate slowly in loose sand.
Where the sand is firmer, near the water table, you can drive faster (45 or 50).
Bring a shovel.
Re-inflate your tires once you get back on to the asphalt.
Wash the underside of your car when you head back home. The salt and sand are a bad combination for the stuff under there.

Quote :

"However, you can get on a ferry in Davis that will take you to the Core Banks where you can drive on the beach. I don't remember how much it costs to take your vehicle across..."

http://davisferry.com/Sched_Rates.htm

[Edited on September 21, 2009 at 3:51 PM. Reason : -]

9/21/2009 3:49:27 PM

Quote :

"You guys must have been going really slow. I can get to Beaufort in about 2 hours, sometimes less."

I don't buy it. Not unless you're speeding like a fucking mad dog. It takes 2 hours (maybe a little less on a good day) to get to New Bern (where I live), and that's going 10-15 mph over the speed limit. Beaufort is another 45 minutes or close to it.

Quote :

"People stick 4x4 trucks on our beaches all the time although 99% of those could have been prevented"

True. I stuck my Ram 2500 out there about a month ago. My waverunner broke down (buddy flipped it, got air in a fuel line), so I had to take the truck out on the beach to retrieve it. Everything was easy money, even with the tires at street pressure (55-60 psi in that truck), until we got stopped by an Atlantic Beach cop for driving on the beach. He insisted that my buddy get out and walk in front of my truck as a ground guide to ensure that we didn't run anyone over (more dangerous, in my opinion, as then I had to watch my buddy in addition to watching everyone else). At that point we were limited to a walking pace (not ideal when driving on loose sand), and I was towing my waverunner on the trailer. We could've probably still made it, but I took a poor line and stuck it. Since I hadn't intended to drive in sand, I didn't have a shovel, so we ended up having to call and get winched out by a new Power Wagon.

[Edited on September 21, 2009 at 4:21 PM. Reason : ]

[Edited on September 21, 2009 at 4:22 PM. Reason : ]

9/21/2009 4:15:43 PM

Quote :

"I don't buy it. Not unless you're speeding like a fucking mad dog. It takes 2 hours (maybe a little less on a good day) to get to New Bern (where I live), and that's going 10-15 mph over the speed limit. Beaufort is another 45 minutes or so."

Yeah, I'm from almost the midpoint between New Bern and Beaufort and it takes a solid 2.5 hours. I've made it in 2 flat once but it was a horrible idea, and Beaufort was still another 20 miles down 70.

Nonsense.

9/21/2009 4:19:18 PM

I have been known to go way too fast in that stretch of nothingness on 70

9/21/2009 4:39:52 PM

I know you can get a permit to drive on the beach in Emerald Isle during the off-season. At least you could a couple years ago, but maybe they changed it now.

Nonetheless, I wouldn't attempt it in a Honda Fit.

9/21/2009 4:46:50 PM

^2 so have I, and have done so ever since I got a license... but be warned, they're starting to set up shop on that stretch now and I got a fucking ticket. -.-

9/21/2009 4:52:47 PM

i've seen cars out on the OB's before... it's not recommended, but if the sand isn't too soft and you don't have to big of a dune to clime to get over, then it shouldn't be a problem...

9/21/2009 5:02:15 PM

I would advocate heavily against driving on our beaches

i dont give a damn what the law says, nothing about that is good not from a safety standpoint of patrons and riders, and certainly not from the standpoint of environmental conservation

9/21/2009 5:19:03 PM

What I want to know is: what is so special/appealing about driving on the beach?

9/21/2009 5:22:38 PM

wasn't it pwrstrkdf250 that totaled his truck and got fucked up pretty bad driving on the beach? He hit a buried piece of a pier or some shit.

[Edited on September 21, 2009 at 5:36 PM. Reason : a]

9/21/2009 5:28:48 PM

^^ No clue.

^^^^ Good to know!

9/21/2009 6:17:38 PM

Quote :

"What I want to know is: what is so special/appealing about driving on the beach?"

It's something different...A way to see a lot of beach without having to hike it the whole way. You can carry all your gear very easily and just set up camp around the vehicle which is pretty convenient.

9/21/2009 7:14:35 PM

Quote :

"What I want to know is: what is so special/appealing about driving on the beach?"

It's def a different way to experience the beach. Like with Freeman park at Carolina Beach when you can wake up from camping and be the only people in either direction for a 100 yards and not have hotels and a road directly behind you.

9/21/2009 7:40:09 PM

man, i'm all about camping, but camping on the beach (tent camping) just seems like youd get sand on everything.

I'd still do it though...falling asleep to the sound of waves sounds heavenly

[Edited on September 21, 2009 at 7:44 PM. Reason : f]

9/21/2009 7:43:41 PM

Camping on the beach is awesome. I used to do it in Buxton at the campground there. If you go by yourself it can be very meditative. Just make sure you camp where there's a lot of wind, otherwise you end up with flies devouring your flesh

9/21/2009 8:18:36 PM

damn, that does sound good.

I've been wanting, for some time now, to sea kayak to some barrier islands and camp for a few days...

chill...fish, eat, drink...play some blues...that's some vacation right there

9/21/2009 8:30:55 PM

Quote :

"but camping on the beach (tent camping) just seems like youd get sand on everything."

Nah...Just sit in chairs and kick your shoes off every time you go in the tent and it's not so bad. You do need to do a little cleaning when you get home, but not much worse than anywhere else.

Quote :

"Just make sure you camp where there's a lot of wind, otherwise you end up with flies devouring your flesh"

lol, but know the limits of your Coleman tent...Not fun when that thing collapses on you in the middle of the night.

I like camping on Carolina Beach a couple of times per winter. It's a good way to get out of the house. You can carry tons of gear to make it more posh than hike camping and it's always fun to throw out a fishing line, drink a few by the camp fire, and pass out in a sleeping bag.

[Edited on September 21, 2009 at 8:34 PM. Reason : l]

9/21/2009 8:33:43 PM

Beach camping sounds cool, but like I said, I still don't get the whole driving business. After I finally beach camp, I might sing a different tune, I guess.

Quote :

"lol, but know the limits of your Coleman tent...Not fun when that thing collapses on you in the middle of the night. "

Fucking. Truth.

9/21/2009 9:21:57 PM

^ lol...I have a REI Taj 3 tent, but when it comes to car camping I'm too lazy so I just take the Coleman.

9/21/2009 10:37:33 PM

Quote :

"What I want to know is: what is so special/appealing about driving on the beach?"

There really isn't anything that is special or appealing about it but there is some practicality behind it.

Here's what my family does when we go over to core banks for a weekend:

Friday:
Catch the midday ferry from Davis to south core banks.
Unpack at the cabin at the fish camps.
Pile in the beach buggy and head to the northern most part of the island, Drum Inlet (takes about 45 mins to an hour).
Watch the sun set, pick up shells, enjoy the wildlife, cook dinner, go fishing.
Drive back to the cabin and go to bed.

Saturday:
Eat, get the coolers packed up with enough food for lunch and snacks.
Drive to the southern part of the island, Cape Lookout (takes about 1.5 hours)
Hang out there for till about lunch or a little afterwards.
Keep driving south to the rock jetty, coast guard station, and the cape.
Head back up to the camp and cook dinner.
Relax and go to bed.

Sunday:
Maybe hit up some morning fishing or swimming.
Get packed up and take the ferry back to the mainland before, or right after, lunch.
Drive back to Havelock.


It's a great little vacation but you couldn't do it without driving on the beach. If you attempted to do it by boat you'd spend a shitload of money on gas.

9/21/2009 10:49:50 PM

Quote :

"You guys must have been going really slow. I can get to Beaufort in about 2 hours, sometimes less."

From Raleigh? IIRC that's about 160 miles, so your AVERAGE speed would be around 80mph or more. As many stoplights, cops, towns to drive through and other slow going there is between those two places I'd say that's impossible.

I make the drive from Raleigh to Morehead many times per year and if traffic's not too bad it takes about 3 hours.

9/22/2009 1:48:20 PM

I've averaged above 80 to Wilmington, but I-40 and Highway 70 are two very different roads.

9/22/2009 2:46:50 PM

Quote :

"I swear i have seen just an average car on a beach somewhere, but i don't remember where or when."

Subaru Impreza maybe?

9/22/2009 7:29:01 PM