8 Southern Beaches You Can Drive Right Up To The Water

Grayton Beach FL — Photo:
Robbie Caponetto

The idea of beach driving can be an appealing adventure for anglers, off-roading enthusiasts, campers, and day-at-the beach tourists. Yet, the ability to drive on beaches is dwindling, as communities phase out the practice or increase restrictions in an effort to balance tourism. Even though over-sand driving has its precautions—no one wants to get stuck in the sand or swept in by a tide!—it can also make for a fun new experience and alleviate the exhausting work of hauling your chairs and umbrellas on foot.

Before you go, always make sure you're up to date on Off Road Vehicle (ORV) guidelines, which vary by park and county, and may require fees, permits, or vehicle requirements. If you're ready to get some sand in your treads, check out these 8 Southern beaches, from national seashores to beach party hot spots.

01 of 08

Outer Banks and Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina

Truck and Airstream Bambi on sands of Ocracoke Island, NC — Peter Frank Edwards

Long stretches of shoreline between Carova, North Carolina, and the Hatteras Inlet—plus parts of Ocracoke Island—are open to drivers with off-road vehicle permits either seasonally or year-round. During the winter, you can even drive at night on the beaches of the national seashore, where beach bonfires are permitted. The northern end of the Outer Banks is especially remote.

02 of 08

Padre Island, Texas

Aransas Pass Texas Ship Channel cutting across Padre Island

Only in Texas would all beaches be considered public highways—a quirk of state constitutional law that mandates "free and unrestricted access" to the beach. The longest stretch of beach road is on North Padre Island, where a 60-mile drive south of Corpus Christie on Park Road 22 highway will take you along the Gulf of Mexico and through Padre Island National Seashore, into an undeveloped and downright desolate coastal region inhabited by countless seabirds as well as coyotes and sea turtles. Park officials warn a GPS might not get you there—Park Road 22 dead ends to the park entrance, and if you get lost, contact Malaquite Visitor Center. Also, the only way to get to the South Padre Island, a resort community, from North Padre Island, is a three to four hour trip inland.

03 of 08

Daytona Beach, Florida

"A souped up hot rod cruises Daytona Beach, FL." — Taarnes/Getty

Fun fact: long before there was NASCAR and the Daytona 400, people were driving on the hard-packed sands of Daytona Beach, which hosted its first auto and motorcycles race in 1902. A $20 pass will get you and your car access to the beach during daylight hours via ramps off Highway A1A in Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, and Ormond Beach. Interspersed "no drive" areas mean you can't set off on a day-long cruise along the beach, but families will love being able to drive right to their sunning spot rather than lugging beach gear across the sand.

04 of 08

New Smyrna Beach, Florida

New Smyrna Florida — Getty Images/Walt Harden

Just a small drive from Daytona Beach in the same county, New Smyrna Beach is also located along Florida's State Road A1A. The bustling district's Flagler Avenue dead-ends at a popular beach access point, where 20 bucks will get you and your vehicle onto the sand for daytime access. You'll also spot surfers with their boards in hand, making their way down a long and meandering boardwalk at Smyrna Dunes Park, which has an Atlantic overlook and steps down to the beach.

05 of 08

Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland

Assateague Island Maryland Seashore — Getty Images / VW Pics

There's more than 12 miles of unspoiled beaches accessible to OSV (Over Sand Vehicles) drivers in the Maryland district of the Assateague Island National Seashore. Drivers must purchase a permit, which lasts a year, stay within OSV zones, carry safety equipment, and follow driving-safety rules. Aside from over-sand beach cruising, this national park, shared by both Maryland and Virginia, offers camping, fishing, hunting, crabbing, or spotting herds of wild horses, which, according to lore, either arrived by shipwreck or were left behind by farmers avoiding fencing rules and taxes.

06 of 08

The Sands Beach, South Carolina

South Carolina Beach — Getty Images/Dan Reynolds Photography

Conveniently located at the southern tip of Port Royal, a tiny town near Beaufort, this tucked-away beach is a local favorite. Fun fact: It's the only beach in South Carolina where you can drive right up on the sand. The water is very calm, and the beach is well-known for being the best spot to go searching for shark teeth. You can find The Sands Beach via 7th Street through Old Port Royal, which turns into Sands Beach Road.

07 of 08

Grayton Beach, Florida

The sugar-white sands of Grayton Beach are set along Florida's iconic Highway 30A and adjacent to Grayton Beach State Park. It's a prime destination for fishing, boating, walking, gazing out into the turquoise waters of the Gulf, and yes—driving on the beach — but there's a catch. Only around 150 beach driving permits are offered each year, and there are strict qualifications that must be met, including possessing a driver's license, proof of property ownership, proof of current property taxes, proof of Walton County voter registration, and current 4-wheel drive vehicle registration for the state of Florida. Eligible applicants are entered into a lottery, and if they are selected, they can purchase a permit.

08 of 08

St. Augustine, Florida

Boardwalk crossing over sand dune leading too the beach of the south atlantic ocean at "crescent beach" St.Augustine FL — ideeone/Getty Images

In fact, you can count on all of the St. John's County Beaches. With the exception of sea turtle nesting season, from May 1 to October 31, vehicle access is allowed, with day or season passes, on St. John's County beaches, including Vilano, Surfside, Usina, and St. Augustine beaches, which run along Northeast Florida's "historic coast." Vehicle access spans more than 16 miles, and access points, maps, and passes are available from the county. Popular beach activities in the area include surfing, biking, swimming, shell collecting, and fishing.

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