5 of the best beaches you can drive on
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Ready your Myers Manx or your 4x4, for here are five of the most fabulous beaches in the world that you can legally drive on.
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Daytona Beach, Florida, USA
Racing first came to this Florida beach as far back as 1902, while NASCAR can trace its roots to the 23 miles of sand where bootleggers would hoon their hotted up cars between moonshine runs. You can still drive on parts of Daytona Beach today at a more modest 10mph, for a fee of $20 per day.
Pendine Sands, Wales UK
The historic home of British Land Speed Records will still let visitors drive on the beach when the weather and the tide is favourable, but you won’t be going home with a trophy as the speed limit is 10mph, unless you sign up for an organised race such as the Vintage Hot Rod Association’s annual meeting.
Find out more about Pendine Sands.
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75-Mile Beach, Fraser Island, Australia
On Fraser Island off Australia’s Queensland coast, the beach is the main highway. And the airport. As its name suggests 75-Mile Beach is a massive stretch of sand that runs the full length of the island’s eastern side. Although it’s legally classed as a public road a 4x4 is required to drive on it.
Find out more about Fraser Island.
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Benone Strand, Northern Ireland
Benone Strand is one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK. Seven miles of golden sand stretch out along the coast with a panorama of mountains and cliff faces behind them. The award-winning beach allows parking, so low-speed driving to your chosen spot is also permitted. Just be careful not to get stuck or you’ll be using your bucket and spade for more than just sandcastles.
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Oceano Dunes, California, USA
Take a Detour off the Pacific Coast Highway south of San Luis Obispo and you’ll find the six-smile stretch of Oceano Dunes. It’s designated a State Vehicular Recreation Area so you can speed along the sand on a bike, 4x4, dune buggy or ATV for a fee of just $5 a day. If you don’t own a suitable vehicle there are plenty of places nearby to rent one. And when your day in the dunes is done you can alway spend the night at the mad Madonna Inn.
Italy's little-known Basilicata region lays claim to two coastlines, one on the Tyrrhenian Sea and one on the Ionian. You can drive between the two directly in around two hours, but the area has a knack for making travellers pause, stop, detour and digress.