Driving on the beach is something of an American tradition. The sprawling sands of the Pacific Northwest served as the area’s coastal highways before roads were built, and stock car races used to buzz Florida’s shores from Daytona Beach to New Smyrna Beach. Even now many beaches across the country still allow driving, both seasonally and year round, giving those with 4×4 capabilities an unconventional alternative to the usual Sunday drive. To inspire you to see America’s coasts this summer—or whenever—here are 10 beaches around the country best explored by vehicle. Before you drop your tire pressure and head off-road though, be sure to pick up the necessary permits for each location and grab the proper equipment: a shovel, jack, full-sized spare, tow strap, and flashlights.
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
The Outer Banks offer some of the top beach driving in the country. On the Cape, windswept seagrass-covered dunes give way to expanses of open shores where occasionally you’ll need to slow down for a group of wild horses. With more than 67 miles of shoreline to explore, beach driving at Cape Hatteras requires careful attention to both the tides and weather—on windy days, sands can overtake highways and high tides mixed with onshore winds can make for a tight squeeze in certain sections.
Silver Lake State Park, Michigan
Lake Michigan is home to some of the most underrated beaches in the country, and most locals would like to keep it that way. Wholly unspoiled, uncrowded, and breathtaking, Silver Lake State Park (about three and a half hours from Detroit) boasts four miles of pristine, sugary-sanded shoreline. The 3000-acre park is home to rolling dunes that look more Sahara than Midwest, and they’re ideal for testing your truck’s capabilities (again, remember to pack a shovel).
Tierra del Mar, Oregon
Oregon’s coastline is nothing short of epic. Seaside cliffs punch through vast beaches with offshore rock spires, while surrounding forests add to the unique vibe of the state’s coast. At Tierra del Mar, which lies some 90 miles southeast of Portland, the sandy expanse offers an unparalleled beach-driving experience for those seeking solitude. Although it’s just off the highway, this is one beach where civilization can feel miles away.
Oceano Dunes, California
A few miles south of San Luis Obispo on California’s Central Coast lies Oceano Dunes, the only park in the region that allows vehicles on the beach. With nearly six miles of open beach to explore, there’s no shortage of terrain here to enjoy. Prevailing onshore winds create snowdrift-like dunes, and it’s not uncommon to see dune buggies catching air off these naturally occurring ramps.
East Beach, Rhode Island
Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the union, but it packs some serious waterfront. With some 4000 miles of coastline in the Ocean State there’s plenty to explore. East Beach is bordered by the Atlantic on one side and Ninigret Pond, a key shellfish cultivation site and habitat, on the other. Stretching three miles, the state park is where pristine sands meet the clean, cool waters of the Atlantic and is among the top driving beaches in the state.
Crescent Beach, Block Island, Rhode Island
Although it’s only 14 miles off the eastern tip of Long Island, Block Island feels like another world. Decidedly unspoiled, with around 40 percent of the island set aside as a nature conservancy, its 17 miles of beautiful coastline offer some of the country’s top beaches. On the island’s east coast, Crescent Beach presents two and a half miles of drivable shore just outside town.
Island Beach State Park, New Jersey
The Garden State may not have the best reputation, but New Jersey is home to miles of beautiful, unspoiled shoreline—and you won’t find any hair-gelled fist-pumping at Island Beach State Park. Instead, look forward to 10 miles of narrow, white-sand barrier-island beaches with vibrant ecosystems.
Long Beach Peninsula, Washington
Known largely as the site where Lewis and Clark’s historic expedition ended, Long Beach Peninsula also is home to some of the Pacific Northwest’s most picturesque coastline. The area offers roughly 20 miles of drivable coast with iconic lighthouses and seaside cliffs. While some of the coast is only open to driving seasonally, much of it is open all year, as the Peninsula shoreline is a Washington State Highway.
Malaquite Beach, Texas
When we think of Texas, beaches generally aren’t the first thing that come to mind. However, the Lone Star State’s Gulf Coast boasts beaches that offer the quintessential coastal escape. Malaquite Beach, a 60-mile stretch of drivable coast, makes for a remote getaway where the pavement literally turns to sand. Be sure to keep an eye on tidal changes and weather though, as there’s only one way off this barrier beach.
New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Driving on the beach doesn’t always mean ditching civilization. At Florida’s New Smyrna Beach, the hard-packed sands area place to see and be seen—you won’t even need four-wheel drive to hit these smooth beaches. Up until the 1950s, the beach was home to daring stock-car races; today, there’s a strictly enforced speed limit.
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