Beach Driving: Stay Safe at the Ocean

Visiting the ocean can be a lot of fun. There are many different kinds of beaches, from rocky, steep beaches, to sandy, gentle beaches. In some locations, you can drive on the beach. At Ocean Shores, for example, beach driving is very common, and part of the beach becomes a highway for much of the day. Although beach driving seems safe in some places, there are a few things that you need to be aware of before you take your car for an ocean drive. A recent experience that I had while driving at Ocean Shores almost resulted in the loss of my car.

Cars Get Stuck

You probably know that the tide goes in an out at the ocean. The tide can affect driving conditions at the beach. If you drive on the beach and stop in one spot for a fun afternoon of ocean play, you may find that the driving conditions have changed when you decide to leave. When the sand is too soft, your car might get stuck. Up at the top of the beach, the soft sand in the dunes area might be difficult to drive in. Next to the waves, the sand might also be soft. The wet area in between has the most compact sand, and is the best to drive on. It is also the area where most of the other cars are driving. If you drive somewhere else, you might discover that you car gets stuck.

If you have been to the ocean quite a few times, you may have seen cars that have gotten stuck in the ocean. I've always wondered how these cars end up half-covered in sand, but if you drive on the wrong place on the beach at the wrong time, you might find your car getting stuck too.

Know the Tide

If you're planning on staying at the beach for quite a while, especially at night, you should find out when high tide is going to hit. As the tide comes in, the sand becomes softer up the beach, and the drivable area will change. At high tide, there might be very little drivable area. During my recent trip to Ocean Shores, there was no drivable road left. We had gone to the beach to watch the fireworks for the fourth of July, and ended up getting stuck in the sand several times. At one point, the tide was still coming in when I was stuck. After we got my car unstuck, we drove up to higher ground to wait for the tide to go out again so there would once again be drivable road.

Don't Stop in Soft Sand

If you are driving in the sand and the sand starts to get a little soft, try not to stop. Driving on soft sand feels a lot like driving on snow, but once you stop, you might have trouble getting started again. If you drive through sand that is a little too soft, your car might get stuck anyway, but stopping is not advised. If you are stuck, you may need someone to help you push the car out. What you don't want is for your car to start spinning in one place and digging itself into the sand.

Other Tips

Once I escaped the sand, I learned some more about driving in the sand. Lowering your tire pressure can help you gain traction. You'll need to have some way to reinflate your tires when you get out of the sand. Another thing that you might want to do if you get stuck is reverse your car and drive to an area where the sand is more compacted. If you have to wait out the tide, do so if it is safe. It is better to be safe and a little inconvenienced to have your car get covered in sand.