Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
WAVY News 10
NC coast after Labor Day — more beach driving and pets now OK
By Rodney Overton,
9 hours ago
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — As the summer starts to draw to a close, many in North Carolina still long for the beaches and coast while the weather is still nice.
Although the traditional end of summer has arrived, there’s still good news for folks at many beaches.
Generally starting after Labor Day, many North Carolina coastal communities allow driving on beaches – and pets are now allowed on many beaches or for longer hours.
The sand driving and pet rules are linked to fewer crowds on the beaches as summer fades.
NC beaches give pets more freedom
First, the pet rules: Many North Carolina beaches either don’t allow pets on the strand or ban them during prime daytime hours in the summer.
Starting after Labor Day as fewer folks relax on beaches, some communities – such as Sunset Beach in Brunswick County – allow pets on the beach at any time (as long as they are on a leash).
Other beaches with relaxed off-season pet rules include Ocean Isle Beach, Southern Shores, and Kill Devil Hills.
In some towns, such as Wrightsville Beach, pets are banned during the summer — and only allowed on the shoreline from October 1 to March 31.
Photo from town of Carolina Beach
Beach driving season in North Carolina
Also after Labor Day or mid-September, driving on beaches in some North Carolina communities is allowed, usually with a permit.
Driving on beaches can be tricky – and motorists must follow designated routes, avoiding dunes, vegetation, and marked nesting areas.
In Carteret County, Emerald Isle and Indian Beach start allowing driving on the beaches in mid-September.
At Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, in a week, there will be expanded hours for driving on the beach.
The driver of a bright yellow Lamborghini got stuck on the Avon beach in the summer of 2023. The Lamborghini Huracán has a low-end price of $333,633. Photo courtesy Corolla Beach Idiots
The driver of a bright yellow Lamborghini got stuck on the Avon beach in the summer of 2023. The Lamborghini Huracán has a low-end price of $333,633. Photo courtesy Corolla Beach Idiots
The driver of a bright yellow Lamborghini got stuck on the Avon beach in the summer of 2023. The Lamborghini Huracán has a low-end price of $333,633. Photo courtesy Corolla Beach Idiots
At the Outer Banks, Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills begin beach driving on October 1. In Corolla, driving south of N.C. 12 along the beach is only allowed after the start of October.
Year-round driving is allowed at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and starts in the spring at Cape Lookout National Seashore.
North Topsail Beach allows beach driving on the north end while Topsail Beach only allows beach driving after October 1.
A truck that drove off the beach and off a trail damaged the dunes and the driver was given a citation at Cape Lookout National Seashore. (Photo from National Park Service)
“If you’re planning to drive on our beautiful beaches, make sure you’re familiar with the rules and regulations to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience,” Emerald Isle police said.
Officials said four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended however, two-wheel-drive vehicles are allowed if, “in your judgment, the vehicle is capable of off-road use in deep, soft sand.”
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.