Both beach permits, pre-installed
Currituck County (Corolla/Carova) and Cape Hatteras National Seashore ORV — saves $50–$120 and the permit lines.
Open-sky roof, always
Bestop Skyrider on a factory hardtop: one slide opens the sky over both rows. Open-air from the driveway to the dune line.
Weekly rentals
Saturday-to-Saturday weeks that match OBX cottage turnover days.
Recovery gear in every vehicle
Jack, support board, shovel, tow strap, tire gauge, and air compressor — standard.
Pets ride free
All sizes and breeds welcome, no pet fees. Sandy paws included.
Free parking at our lot
Leave your personal vehicle with us in Kill Devil Hills for the whole rental.
Why a Bronco out here
The Outer Banks trim was named after this place. It belongs here.
Four doors, five seats, and enough cargo room for a family's worth of chairs, coolers, and umbrellas — with the roof slid back so everyone rides in the salt air.
Room for the whole crew
Four doors, five seats, and real legroom in the back — nobody draws the short straw on the ride to Carova.
Cargo for beach days
Chairs, umbrellas, coolers, boogie boards. The tailgate swallows a full family loadout with room to spare.
Sand is its home turf
Long wheelbase, locking 4x4, and terrain modes made for soft sand. It floats over the ruts other SUVs fight.
Front-row wildlife seats
High seating and big glass for spotting the wild horses of Corolla — quiet enough not to spook them.
The great beach rivalry
Bronco vs. Wrangler
Both are icons. Both will get you down the beach. But there's a reason Ford named a trim after these islands — here's the honest head-to-head.
Our verdict, with love for both
The Wrangler earned its beach legend status over 35 years, and we tip our caps. But for a week on the Outer Banks with the family — more shoulder room, a quieter highway ride up to Corolla, and a Skyrider roof that slides open in seconds — the Bronco is the one we'd hand you the keys to.
Local knowledge
Beach driving, the OBX way
We're Bret & Diane, and we live here. Every rental leaves our Kill Devil Hills lot with both beach permits pre-installed, tires set to 18–20 psi, recovery gear stowed, and a straight answer about where you can and can't drive this week — from the wild-horse beaches north of Corolla to the ferry-only sands of Ocracoke. Questions mid-trip? Call or text us at (252) 564-4218.
Plan your week →Air down to 18–20 psi
Soft sand rewards low tire pressure. Every rental includes an air pump, so airing back up is easy.
Carova & the wild horses
North of the Corolla pavement it’s 4x4-only beach for 11 miles. Keep 50 feet from the horses — it’s the law, and they bite.
Know your seasons
Some beaches are permit-only in summer; Cape Hatteras ramps open and close for nesting birds. We’ll brief you on the current map.
Tides run the schedule
Drive the lower beach at low tide, stay off the soft upper berm, and never park below the wrack line.
Ocracoke is covered too
Take the free Hatteras–Ocracoke car ferry — your Cape Hatteras permit works on Ocracoke’s beaches as well.
4.9★ from 110+ Google reviews
Read them all →"Great experience with Beach4x4! We cruised around town and in Corolla to see 40 wild horses!"
"Pick up and drop off was very easy — it made the whole vacation!"
"I so recommend this! Everything went smoothly. The owner service was smooth and easy."
The gallery
A week on the sand
Before you book
Good to know
Age & insurance
Renters must be 25+ with a valid license and full-coverage personal auto insurance that extends to rentals.
Automatic transmission
Every vehicle is automatic — easy for any licensed driver in your group.
Roof slides back, doors stay on
Our Broncos are factory hardtops with a Bestop Skyrider insert — the fabric roof section slides back for the open-air feel. Doors and hard sides stay on for safety and liability.
Pickup in Kill Devil Hills
2101 Colington Road (shared driveway with U-Haul). Open 7 days, 7 AM–8 PM, year-round — about 30–35 min from the Corolla 4x4 ramp.
Questions we get every week
What’s the difference between AWD and 4x4?
AWD splits power between wheels but has no low-range gearing — true 4x4 with low range is what gets you through soft OBX sand without sinking. Standard rental cars, even AWD crossovers, aren’t insured for beach driving.
How easy is pickup?
Text us proof of insurance, grab the keys, and you’re on the sand within minutes. We brief you on tire pressure and the current beach rules before you go.
Can I rent same-day?
Often, yes. We’re open 7 days a week, 7 AM–8 PM, year-round, and can usually accommodate last-minute reservations.
Do I need to buy beach permits?
No — both the Currituck County (Corolla/Carova) and Cape Hatteras National Seashore permits come pre-installed on every rental.
What about my dog?
No pet fees, all sizes and breeds. Sandy paws are part of the deal.
The horses are waiting north of Corolla.
Request through Beach4x4 — family-owned, 4.9★ on Google from 110+ reviews. Both permits included, pets welcome, and comparable beach-ready 4x4s for any week.