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Driving an off-road vehicle (ORV) on the beach can be fun and
adventurous, but where beach driving is permitted, there are general rules to follow:
The Standard speed limit is
25mph; enter and leave the beach only at designated, open ramps - never between or on the dunes; drive only on that portion
of the beach which lies between the foot of the dunes and the ocean; proceed with caution and consideration for other beach
users; open containers of alcohol are prohibited in vehicles; your vehicle must have a state road registration and valid license
plate; the operator must have a current driver's license.
Tips for Beach Driving
BEFORE YOU PULL into the access
ramp you should decrease the air pressure in your tires to 20-25 pounds. DO NOT BLOCK RAMP TO LET YOUR AIR OUT.In softer sand
you may need to go lower. When you lower the air pressure it gives the tire a wider, softer foot print which causes the vehicle
to ride higher on top of the sand instead of digging down into it. This also helps to reduce the amount of strain on the engine
since you're rolling on top of the sand and not plowing through it. Be sure to inflate your tires when returning to the roadway.
Driving with underinflated tires can be dangerous.
Drive at a slow, even pace. The maximun speed limit on all beaches
is 25 MPH. Trying to take off too fast will cause loss of traction and bury you to the axle. If this happens, it's time to
break out the jack and shovel.
Try to stay in the ruts made by other vehicles unless they are deep enough to let you
bottom out. The sand in these ruts is more compact than other sand
In the event that you do lose traction, DO NOT spin
your wheels to try to dig out of it. It only takes a couple of pumps on the gas to sink you down to your axle. The best solution
is to decrease your tire pressure, shift to low range and back out of the rut you came in on before trying to proceed.
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