Many new tourists often have questions about beach driving in Virginia state. Imagine driving along the pristine beaches of Virginia with your personal vehicle as subtle winds gently strike you through the window. I must say that the idea sounds pretty amazing but can you drive along beaches in Virginia or will this thought be a dream forever? Driving on beaches in Virginia is only allowed at some beaches through a permit. But, it is banned at most beaches by the government to protect these natural treasures. However, you can drive on the roads nearby the beach.
In addition, it is important to know that even for beaches which allow tourists to drive, there are serious restrictions involved . While some would have driveways for tourists all the way, others restrict it only to designated areas of the beach. But, the real question is where is driving along the beach allowed in Virginia? Assateague Island, the home to exotic wildlife and breath-taking horses, is one such beach that allows driving through permit.
How to drive along the Assateague Island Seashore?
Before you drive along the Maryland or Virginia units of the Assateague Island seashore, you must purchase a OSV (Over the Sand Vehicle) or Bullpen permit. These permits are available online on the recreation.gov website. Once you get the standard OSV or Bullpen permit , you are good to go. The permit fee can cost you around $110 to $200. Price goes up as more access is demanded. You must also possess some required equipment like shovels , tow rope, tire gauge etc. Scroll down to see them.
Here’s a free tip: Make sure to purchase these tickets online from home as it’s more convenient. However, in case you forgot it , you can get internet access from Toms Cove Visitor Centre or Ranger Station upon your arrival and fill the online application.
How long is the OSV permit valid and what can I do with it?
On a standard OSV permit, once you avail it you can drive for 24 hours. However, you must actively fish from midnight to 5am. From the time of purchase, the permit does not expire for up to a year.
Before availing your OSV permit you must be aware of the OSV boundaries to avoid breaking any rules or regulations. The OSV zone map will help you with this.
Vehicle Requirements to get an OSV permit
Your vehicle must fulfill the requirements below before you get the OSV permit. Make sure to fulfill all of these demands to avoid inconvenience at the last minute. Do not take a rental car.
| Number of Axles per automobile | 2 |
| Allowed wheels per axle | 4 |
| Minimum ground clearance | 7 inches |
| Maximum Vehicle Weight | 10,000 lbs. |
| Vehicle width | 8 feet |
| Vehicle Length | 26 feet |
| Least tire tread width in contact to ground for two wheeled automobiles | 8 inches |
Required Equipment for availing OSV permit
- Jack
- Jack support
- Tire gauge
- Tow rope
- Strap
- Chain
- Cable
- shovel
The Bullpen Permit-What to do when I wish to camp?
You can’t camp with vehicles using the OSV permit. That’s when the Bullpen Permit comes to your rescue. My friends and I personally got this one for our trip. Here you just need to get a vehicle approvals before you can go forth with the perfect camping night in the Bullpen Area. Again, it includes all other amenities of an OSV permit and is valid for 24 hours.
You won’t be required to fish from midnight to 5am. Plus, you don’t need to purchase both of these at the same time.
For detailed information, you can read about beach driving along Assateague Island on its official website of National Park Service.
Parting Thoughts-Can you drive along beaches in Virginia?
“Can you drive along beaches in Virginia” was a common question I found from possible tourists on a post I made across platforms like Quora and reddit. Finally, you are aware of some of the important details regarding beach driving in Virginia. However, while beach driving is loads of fun, do know that it can deteriorate the beauty of these natural treasures. So make sure that you don’t abuse such permits and avoid beach driving. Filling your vehicles with smoke filters will also be a great measure. In addition, while driving be cautious of not hitting wildlife species that add depth to the beach and its beauty.