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4X4 only! Canal front. Ocean AND sound views! Decks and porches on all levels.

Photo gallery for 4X4 only! Canal front. Ocean AND sound views! Decks and porches on all levels.

Exterior
Smart TV, fireplace, books
Bar (on property)
Property grounds
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

View map
Corolla, NC
  • Place, Currituck National Wildlife Refuge
    ‪5 min drive‬

Room options

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About the area

Corolla

With a stay at this vacation home in Corolla, you'll be on the waterfront, within a 10-minute drive of Outer Banks Beaches and Currituck National Wildlife Refuge. .This vacation home is 9.7 mi (15.7 km) from Corolla Beach and 2.6 mi (4.1 km) from False Cape State Park.
View more Holiday homes in CorollaOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Currituck National Wildlife Refuge - 5 min drive - 1.1 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Mc's bar - ‬19 min drive
  • ‪North End - ‬200 min drive
  • ‪farfrumworkin - ‬20 min walk
  • ‪Second Thoughts Beach Redoubt - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Second Thoughts Beach Redoubt - ‬9 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

4X4 only! Canal front. Ocean AND sound views! Decks and porches on all levels.

THIS HOUSE IS LOCATED IN THE 4X4 BEACH ACCES AREA - MUST HAVE 4X4!! You will be driving on the beach in sand.
Newly updated water system! Totally remolded, new appliances, new furniture!! Low traffic Canal front with a Boat slip. 500 yards from the fire station. 6 minute walk to the beach ( 4 minutes if you are really excited!) . beach parking pass included. Decks , decks and more decks for your enjoyment!! Rain or shine you can take in all of nature’s beauty under the cover of a deck on every level. The bottom level includes a large covered deck great for entertaining, an outside shower, a utility room with a fridge , microwave, washer /dryer and a half bath. A large handmade surfboard bar welcomes you to unwind after a long day on the beach . Walk up the stairs to the second floor which is also surrounded by covered decks and fun seating including a large hammock , double seated swing hammock and a bistro table . The interior entry on the second floor accesses the bedrooms . Both sides of the hallway have a matching floor plan with 2 bedrooms on each side with a shared bathroom between for a total of 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths on this level . All rooms have smart TVs and WiFi. Go up the interior stairs to the third floor which is an open room including the kitchen , living room and a third full bath. From the interior of this level Step out of one of the 3 sliding doors onto the screened in porch Or to the open deck for a birds eye view . Take one more flight of steps up to the crows nest to enjoy ocean and sound views, bistro lighting to savor the moment while enjoying sunsets and moonlit nights . There is plenty of yard space including a fire pit, a park style charcoal grill and plenty of room for games and entertaining. 2 kayaks, miscellaneous boogie boards, Beach toys and beach chairs staged on the bottom deck under cover. With a surplus of amenities The Rusty Crab is sure to offer something for all. You must have 4x4 !! This house is located in the 4x4 beach Access area. You will be driving on the sand and beach .
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, which features a fireplace and a Smart TV. There's a private balcony or patio. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Conveniences include a microwave and a coffee/tea maker.
Take in the views from a garden and make use of amenities such as barbecue grills.
Guests will find features like wireless internet access and onsite parking.

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby
  • Beach loungers

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Hob
  • Ice maker
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 3.5 shared bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Outdoor shower
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Smart TV

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washer/dryer

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only
  • 2 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • No lift (single-level property)
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near the bay
  • Near the sea
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Kayak
  • Water sports equipment
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Garden

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM

Contactless check-in available

Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

Pets allowed

Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees

Welcoming dogs and cats only

2 total pets

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

PRIVATE_VACATION_HOME

New Listing totally Renovated!! Escape Reality at the Rusty Crab

4X4 only! Canal front. Ocean AND sound views! Decks and porches on all levels. Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 100 out of 109 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 109 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 109 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 109 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 109 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Kelleen L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Absolutely fantastic trip for my family with three teenagers. A great blend of relaxation and things to do. The host was very friendly and responsive. Would highly recommend.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2026

10/10 Excellent

AnnMarie D.

Liked: Cleanliness
We had a delightful stay. Is very clean and cozy
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2026

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amber C.

Liked: Cleanliness
The Carte’s were extremely pleased with our stay for the 2025 Labor Day holiday. The house was amazing, clean and Phil was extremely helpful with answering our questions about the area. The best part of our trip was by far the wild horses and the seclusion of the Rusty Crab. We recommend booking a visit at this house and giving it a 10 out of 10!!!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca M.

Liked: Cleanliness
The house is well equipped for a family stay. Lots of beach chair and toys, games in the living room and the beach super close. We didnt have internet while we were there because of a lightening strike that fried the modem the wk before but honestly we didnt even need it. Phil dropped off a jet pack for us but we didn't even use the tvs.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Scott E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Place was great! Highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kenneth H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Best Vacay, Ever!

This house made us into diehard Carova beach fans and I cant imagine wanting to go anywhere else in the world besides there, including this particular home. EXACTLY like the pictures, but better. All outdoor areas were amazing, decorated impeccably with seating areas and absolutely breathtaking views. From the adorable surfboard seating area on the 1st floor, to the hammock swing i never wanted to leave on the 2nd, to the screened in porch and open air area on the third, to the amazing crows nest on the 4th, complete with a built in bench and views of the ocean, the amazing inlet in the backyard and the osprey nest with mom, dad and babies! Wild horses visited us frequently, chomping away at the grass in the yard. The inside was just as great as out, clean, comfortable, complete kitchen with anything you may need. The house is very spacious and absolutely perfect. Comfortable beds and furniture, linens provided, along with bath towels. The owner was so responsive and helpful, check in and out was a breeze. The perfect, most chill and relaxing getaway...the only noise we heard every night was the croaking of frogs. Kayaks provided, which literally made our lives worth living. We saw so much amazing wildlife, dolphins, turtles, frogs, herons, osprey, deer. The house is close to the beach and driving there made beach days (everyday!) incredibly easy. Couldn't have asked for a better spot. Thanks so much for letting us enjoy your home, Phil, we cant wait to come back next summer!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jenny S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Wonderful beach house

We really enjoyed the area, the property, & the ease of communication with the host. Would highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ellen S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Memorable week

A wonderful property in a great location. It is close to the beach and the canals. It has views of the Sound and the beach from the rooftop deck. A really comfortable and well-kept home with panoramic views of the area. We watched the horses and foals from the decks on several days during our stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kyle D.

Liked: Cleanliness
fantastic stay. Phil is a great host. can not beat the location.
Stayed 13 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Heather C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Excellent and quiet stay!

We stayed as a family for our spring break. House was clean, beds were comfortable, and location was great! The kids loved seeing wild horses right off the deck and we found more by driving around. We spent one day on the beach and that was a lot of fun. Weather was a bit chilly, but nothing we could control!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Debra C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Thanksgiving Getaway

Our family of 4 enjoyed a quiet time in the outer banks at this lovely beach house. November isn't exactly the time most folks visit the beach, but we've spent most of our lives in the far north, so the "chilly weather" didn't prevent us from enjoying kayaking in the inner channels and viewing the sunset from the crow's nest. We found the kitchen very adequate; we were able to cook a lovely thanksgiving dinner and ate quite well the entire time. We packed all our needs/food for the weekend so we wouldn't have to make the drive back into town for anything. We did bring our bikes, but the soft sand proved too difficult for fun, so I would discourage anyone from bothering with hauling those out. The views from the deck were great and the glass doors allowed so much light in. The wild horses visited us directly on the property on our first night and on the morning of our departure. They were such an added bonus to the trip. The drive wasn't too difficult (in our 4x4 F150)- it's much easier if you can time your drive to be during low tide, however the on and off ramps to the beach are soft sandy dunes, so it can still get you into trouble if you stop in those areas. I really liked the remoteness of the property, my kids really enjoyed their own bedrooms, kayaks and the horses. My husband enjoyed the crow's nest the most, especially when our girls played their flute and clarinet at sunset. Overall, an excellent visit, my kids want to come out again when it's beach season!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

James A.

Liked: Cleanliness

Relax

Quiet, relaxing weekend with friends. Great house and location.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Jason H.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Location

Property was perfect for a small family trip to the beach. Just a short walk to a beautiful beach. House was clean and well appointed
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeff D.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Beach Getaway

We greatly enjoyed our stay. The house was perfect and the location was unique. My wife and daughters loved seeing the horses in the yard each morning. We hope to come back.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kyle D.

Liked: Cleanliness

Fantastic as always

Great property in a great location. Phil is extremely nice and has everything ready the minute you pull in. Always a great stay!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Sharon R.

Great location

This was a great location! It was a 2.5-hr drive from Norfolk airport. The house rooms are nicely arranged. Plenty of bathrooms. We cooked breakfast and lunch at home and ate supper in town. About 45-minute one-way beach/sand ride into town, returning to the house before dark, so we wouldn’t have to drive on the beach at night. Great restaurants in the towns.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joshua A.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect relaxing family vacation

Our family of 5 had a great time. The 4x4 area is a great place to go if you want to hit the beach but not do all the touristy things. It's a much quieter spot. We didn't have many questions but Phil quickly answered the ones we had. The home has a deck on 4 different levels and we hung out on each. The crows nest had great views. Our daughter picked this vacation because of the horses and we saw horses every day we were there. About 2/3 of those from the home and 1/3 from walking around. The beach itself is out an 8 minute walk. We chose to bring all of our food so we didn't drive anywhere once we arrived. If you do make sure you check the tide charts and plan to go towards the low tide times. If you have a very capable vehicle you can get by going whenever during good weather. If you have a borderline vehicle errors towards caution. There are a few places with limited beach where you really want that extra low tide space on the beach. Remember to air down your tires (16ish PSI). We brought an AWD Durango and despite pushing a little sand from the lower front splitter it did well in the flat areas up to about 12-14 inches of sand. The kitchen is well stocked for most anything normal you might need. The water in the area is harsher well water so bring your own to drink (some is provided). Well kept home. Well decorated. Everyone in the family would love to go back! If you are looking for a get away from the daily grind and want to put your feet up, this is a great place.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anthony G.

Liked: Cleanliness

Excellent Property and location

Property was very nice and communication with owner was excellent. Highly recommended.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Adrienne N.

Liked: Cleanliness

Spring break getaway

Going to OBX in spring is unpredictable! The weather did not cooperate with us for our trip, but Phil was super helpful in letting us know what was predicted and what the conditions were! We still enjoyed the house and the location. Loved the decor and extra little touches. Would love to come back when its warmer so we could enjoy everything it had to offer.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect stay!

We had a wonderful time in Carova. The beach is a short walk from the property, and there is plenty of room for everyone inside the house. There is a rooftop area that provides a good view of the ocean and a nice downstairs area/bar. Phil was great with communication. Would recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tori S.

Liked: Cleanliness

Beach side Getaway

We absolutely loved the property!! We saw horses every day and the beach was less than a 5 minute walk. The house was gorgeous and perfect for our group of 5. Definitely want to have a 4x4, and check the tide charts to plan your outings. We would absolutely stay again!!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sonya D., Charleston, SC

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing!

This was a dream trip and a bucket list item for my best friend. After getting over the initial fear of driving on the sand It wasn't amazing experience. We left the beach area once and went into town to take a tour but we honestly saw more horses on her own than we did the tour. We had heard that the house had daily visitors from some of the harem's but we didn't get to see it until the afternoon before we left. They did not disappoint there was 5 of them and they stayed for over an hour and a half. It was such an incredible experience for all of us. The house had everything we needed except we forgot to bring ice with us and Other than that everything was absolutely perfect!! 💯 If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle and see nature at its finest then I suggest you book this home. The owner was amazing and calmed my fears of driving on the sand and dunes. We all lived!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Angela D., Chester

Liked: Cleanliness

Amazing stay!

We had a wonderful time at the Rusty Crab. The house was great and very clean. Tons of decks and the crow’s nest is the best for watching the sunrise and sunsets! The tiki bar was a favorite as well. Close proximity to the beach & canal. Great communication with the owner, very responsive! The wild horses were a joy to watch! It was definitely a highlight. Everyone had an amazing vacation. Highly recommend, you will not be disappointed.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sherry W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Wild horse saloon

Amazing location. We enjoyed all the free amenities which included wild horses everyday, kayaks, peddle boat, grill and charcoal, fire pit, parking passes, beach chairs, and fresh spring water to drink. Beautiful house with convenience to the beach and bay. You can see and hear the beach from the Crows nest at top. Phil is a great host and very respondent when I had questions. Weather and water was fantastic. This was our first vacation to the OBX. Get groceries on the way in so that there is no need to leave, just fun and family. The place was stocked with everything we needed and more even down to a potato peeler, pizza cutter, and spice rack! Definitely well worth the money. Great experience, thank you Phil! Sherry W.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023