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Does anyone know of a better way to get to the 4x4 beach areas of the Outer Banks (North of Corolla) from Cary then RT 64 to the coast then the beach road from Nags Head north? Can we take a car ferry from anywhere to bypass that stuff to get to Corolla?? If not what time of day should we leave from Cary to get there and bypass some of the traffic? Any info would be great! Thanks :-)
I'm pretty sure that's your only option. We've made it from Falls River in N. Raleigh to the Harris Teeter on the south side of Corolla in 4 hours flat. Its actually rare that you'll have traffic on 64...the worst traffic comes once you're on 12 heading north from Nags Head. Another option is to head through Elizabeth City, however it really doesn't save you any time, just provides some different scenery. The slowest part of your drive will be on the beach. If your house is pretty far north near the VA border you can expect another 30-40 minutes of driving on the beach to get there. Once you're there, though, you will have arrived at arguably the best beach on the east coast...so enjoy!!!
I'm extrapolating here, but I have been to Nags Head and plan to go to Corolla with family later this summer. Since most house rentals are Saturday start, most keys are given out at 4 p.m., and most traffic is on Highway 12, I'm thinking we would do best to try to get there a couple of hours before our keys are available. Sadly, we weren't strategic enough to get a house with a non-standard start date...
I'm extrapolating here, but I have been to Nags Head and plan to go to Corolla with family later this summer. Since most house rentals are Saturday start, most keys are given out at 4 p.m., and most traffic is on Highway 12, I'm thinking we would do best to try to get there a couple of hours before our keys are available. Sadly, we weren't strategic enough to get a house with a non-standard start date...
Good strategy - that's what we do. Go straight to the rental agency and they'll call to see if the house is ready. If it is...you're in! If not, you'll just have to wait. Thankfully we rent from Twiddy and the office is right in the heart of Duck, so there's plenty to do to kill time!
There is another way which I find to be quicker than going out 64 through Manteo and Nags Head.
As mdp_az suggested, you can go through Elizabeth City. We just did this Sunday and made it to the Wright Memorial Bridge in 3 hours flat. Once there there are no alternate routes to the Corova beaches, it's 12 all the way.
When we rent up there we always pay for the early check-in option which doesn't "guarantee" early entry but we've never been denied it and have always gotten in at 1pm.
Best thing to do to avoid traffic is to leave RDU area early and get out there early -- spend the day on the beach, shopping, have lunch whatever it's all better than fighting the traffic!
yep the only way yo make the trip quicker is to leave at odd times (non weekend or very early in the morning). its pretty there but its a PITA to get thru the duck area.
Another slightly more expensive and exclusive option would be a helicopter direct to the off-road beach house, or a private plane to the Southern Shores airstrip. Of course, these options are entirely out of reach for most of us!
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