Escape to the End of the Outer Banks in Carova

While the Outer Banks may be known as a popular beach resort destination, not every town along these charming barrier islands is overflowing with tourists and beach bums during the prime summer months. All you need to do is check out Carova, and you can discover a side of the Outer Banks you may have never known existed.

Considered the “final frontier” of Currituck County and the Outer Banks, Carova lies north of Corolla near the Virginia state line. Difficult to access since there are no paved roads leading into the town from Virginia Beach or Corolla, you need either a boat or a four-wheel drive vehicle to make your home in a Carova vacation rental.

However, once you have made it to the northernmost of the Outer Banks communities, large stretches of undeveloped land and beachfront lie before you and simply beg for exploration. Maritime woods, white sandy beaches and, of course, the stunning wild horses of the barrier islands are all a part of this untouched environment, where traffic congestion is never a problem and you can truly getaway from it all.

Although the untamed scenery is certainly spectacular, you can also fill your itinerary with plenty more than simply sunbathing and swimming. Hiking enthusiasts will appreciate the convenience of False Cape State Park and Back Bay Wildlife Refuge, which lie just around the fence that marks the Virginia border.

To the south are the Currituck Banks Estuarine Research Reserve and the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge, a popular tourist spot that protects the piping plover and loggerhead sea turtle. A stop by the wide, flat sands of Swan Beach is another great option since it is easily accessible from Carova via a system of dirt roads.