Corolla Beach — Attraction in Corolla

The combination of rugged terrain and luxury houses is different.. but the beauty of this place lies with it's wild inhabitants of 500 years: the horses 😁 the wander a huge stretch of the island, somewhat oblivious to the humans parading around them in their 4x4 vehicles (and you will need one to visit.. no joke, attempting to go on 4x4 beach without a 4x4 is tempting fate 😋 I foolishly tried to get to our rental in a CR-V, and luckily met some incredible friendly people that pulled me out 👍). During the 5 days I spent there the horses wandered around the house everyday, it was so cool. It was quiet, scenic, friendly, and relaxing. I met some incredible locals and plan to visit again very soon. This is how I remember OBX as a kid 🤘 but all the places we used to go back in the 80s and 90s are so crowded now down by Buxton and Avon to the South. This place is very popular during the summer, and the beach can get very crowded with all the 4x4s and people, but we came at the end of season to avoid just that, and the result was perfect. From the great fishing on the beach to just watching the horses wandered the island this is a great place to get away. Thank you to the residents of Corolla Beach ✌️ you have a...

Of course hearing about the Wild Horses & the ability to drive on the beach was a pull to come here! Nice, large bathroom facilities to use before hitting the beach. You must air down before getting to the beach. So, ensure you have a good spot picked out to do so. There are signs prohibiting this along the road near the neighborhoods right before beach entry. A Police was also stationed right at the entrance to ensure there was no stopping along the roadside to air down. It was my first experience driving on a beach. It could be extremely bouncy in some places, so drive with care. We just drove, and did not put try to obtain a parking pass. Overall, it was a nice experience, but I was disappointed we did not see any Horses. The beach may have been a bit too busy at that time of day. I did see piles along the dunes, so I knew they had been around. I really felt sorry for the people that paid for the Horse Tours, as they sped past us on the beach. They didn’t see any on that trip either. Guides took them into the housing area, and stopped on parts of the beach pointing out different things. I would love to go again one day, and pick a quieter time to see if we can see the...

I visited in late January very early in the morning, before the sun came up...it was mystical and weird because the road (NC 12) simply disappeared into sand at Corolla Beach. It was cold and the wind whipped and whistled, but I stepped out of the car with the headlights shining to the gorgeous ocean, the light dim upon curling rhythmic waves lapping the shore. I felt the isolation and beauty of a world at the end of the road... and then I turned around and drove back down NC 12 as the sun began to rise. Very otherworldly atmosphere. The wildness is master, with houses nestled among towering dunes, cars parked in narrow driveways lined by tall, firm dunes dotted with grasses and sea plants, higher than the 4WD SUVs parked there. You could tell that the dunes had been there forever and that the houses were imposing themselves amongst the ancient sand hills. Wild white tail rabbits darted across the two lane road, escaping into grassy dunes 10 feet high or more. Although it was just a short visit, an overnight stay, it was a mystical amazing...