Coquina Beach

Coquina Beach is one of the few beaches north of Bonner Bridge that is undeveloped. With no rental houses lining the dunes, it appears wild and untouched, but it is only 8 miles south of the town of Nags Head. It is a lovely place to go on a walk in the evening or enjoy midday when the sun is overhead. Sometimes shallow pools will form on the beach as the tide recedes, creating a fun environment for kids to play in. On the other side of the dunes, but invisible from the beach, there is a large parking lot and facilities with showers and bathrooms. Please only use the designated trails to get to and from the beach, as sand dunes are degraded by foot traffic.

While the beach accessible from the parking lot is for foot traffic only, the area just south of it (Ramps 1 and 2) is open to four-wheel drive vehicles. To take your vehicle on the beach, a beach driving permit must be obtained from the National Park Service ORV Permit Office. They can also be purchased online for $50 per day or $120 for the season. Permits must be attained for bonfires as well.