The Beach Road Corolla NC

Thursday, March 19, 2026

The Beach Road Corolla NC

The village of Corolla is between the Currituck Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. We visited the Outer Banks last year, spending a day in Corolla. Wild horses roam through the village, along the beach and over the sand dunes. After having no luck last year, we returned to hike and, hopefully, see the horses.

Highway 12 is a 148 mile road traversing the Outer Banks of North Carolina. An 11 mile beach road begins where Highway 12 ends in Corolla. It runs all the way to the Virginia State line but only four wheel drive travel is allowed. Vehicles are required to lower the air pressure in their tires before going out on the sand. There are free air down/air up stations in Corolla.

The road is above the high tide line in somewhat packed sand. We walked along the shore as cars drove next to us. The speed limit is 35 mph and vehicles are supposed to stay a minimum of 50 feet away from pedestrians and animals but the road can be narrow at high tide. There is no parking along the first 1.5 miles. Beyond this point, parking permits are required. We were surprised at how many vehicles use the road to drive north. Construction vehicles, including a cement truck, drove right beside by. The road provides access to the Carova beach neighborhood which is tucked into the dunes and has unpaved roads. The wild horses are known to hang out there.

The Corolla beach is dotted with remnants of 100+ year old ghost forests. The pines and cedars were destroyed by salt water and swallowed by the surf as the sea level rose. The power of the ocean is incredible. We discovered a massive green marker, sitting high in the dunes. It was most likely placed there during a storm.

We had a great day hiking the beach road in spite of not crossing paths with any wild horses. Maybe next time! We are certain that we will return.