Entire home

Booking for Summer 2025.Visit OBX! Free beach parking passes!

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Exterior
Living area
Living Area
Dining Table Seats 8 - Breakfast bar seats 4
Large Kitchen

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms4 bathroomsSleeps 14241.9 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Hot tub
  • Pool

Explore the area

Map
Corolla, NC
  • False Cape State Park
    ‪18 min drive‬
  • Swan Beach
    ‪53 min drive‬
  • Corolla Beach
    ‪96 min drive‬
  • Elizabeth City, NC (ECG-Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County Regional)
    ‪204 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 5

3 Single Bunk Beds

4 bathrooms

1st Floor Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

2nd Floor Hall Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

2nd Floor Master

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

3rd Floor Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Booking for Summer 2025.Visit OBX! Free beach parking passes!

Hot to Trot is a vacation home in Corolla 4WD beach (also known as Carova) located in the heart of where the Corolla Wild Horses roam freely. You need a 4WD or AWD vehicle (preferably truck or SUV for ground clearance) to get to the house. Additional reviews on FB Hot to Trot Carova Vacation House.

We are located approx 9 miles from the end of highway 12 at Milepost 21.5 and ACCESSIBLE BY 4WD/AWD ONLY. You will be driving on sand at the end of the paved road. This canal front home is an updated 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom vacation rental that sleeps 14 guests comfortably. The home was remodeled in 2017 and received many additional updates in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, we invested in a charcoal filtration with reverse osmosis water system installed in our home to combat the infamous Carova water. Contrary to previous reviews, the home’s water system has been overhauled and the water quality has been vastly improved. Other recent home updates include new sleeping mattresses, granite countertops, new deck railings, new smart TVs in 3 bedrooms, smart TVs in living room and game room, new bathroom faucets and shower fixtures, new ceiling fans, new kitchen fridge with ice maker, a new microwave and more!

Hot to Trot is located approximately 950 feet to the ocean. Upgraded with luxury flooring throughout, there are 4 bedrooms with queen beds on the 2nd and 3rd floors. On the 1st floor there is a cozy bunk bed getaway with 3 sets of bunk beds to sleep up to 6 guests. Linen service is available for an additional fee or bring your own.

This house is a 2 minute drive to the beach...you can tailgate all day. Get in your 4WD/AWD vehicle and open your trunk and enjoy the day! No need to hand carry your supplies. We provide beach chairs, cornhole boards (bring your own bags) and kayaks during your stay (over $500 in saved costs compared to renting your own items!)

The kitchen is well-stocked with most tools to prepare a gourmet meal! In the great room on the upper level, there is a large dining table and breakfast bar to accommodate guests at meal time. Want to do some outdoor cooking? There is a park style charcoal grill available on the ground level.

At Hot to Trot, there is a fun game room with a pool table and foosball to keep kids of all ages entertained. Want to explore the canals or the Currituck Sound? Borrow any of our 3 kayaks that come with your rental and paddle around- 1 tandem and 2 single kayaks are available to explore the surrounding areas. Bring your fishing poles on vacation to the beach or use them in the canal. You could catch both saltwater fish and freshwater fish. There is even hiking in nearby False Cape State Park. What an adventure!

On the outside of the home, there is seating for outdoor dining and ultimate relaxation. On the ground level, you will find an outdoor shower to wash away the sand from your beach day. If you feel like relaxing at home, there is a private pool and hot tub to soak in the rays. Enjoy the beautiful outdoors on 2 large decks that wrap around the home. You will see wild horses frolicking around the canal and witness breathtaking sunsets from these spacious decks and outdoor seating.

Want to connect with something other than the beautiful outdoors? There is wifi in the home along with 5 smart flat screen TVs. A library of movies is available, along with numerous board games and books.

Come visit Hot to Trot and make memories for a lifetime!

Dogs are considered on a case by case basis. $150 fee per approved dogs. No other pets allowed please.

High chair available. Please make arrangements prior to arrival.

Property manager

Jocely Musial
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Pack and Play & High Chair upon request
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs (limit 2 total)
Pending Owner Approval. $150 fee per pet.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Corolla

Located in Corolla, this holiday home is on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Outer Banks Beaches and Corolla Beach. Travelling with kids? Consider Currituck National Wildlife Refuge and Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Corolla, NC

What's nearby

  • False Cape State Park - 18 min drive - 4.6 km
  • Swan Beach - 53 min drive - 7.1 km
  • Wild Horse Museum - 59 min drive - 16.5 km
  • Corolla Beach - 96 min drive - 12.9 km
  • Currituck Beach - 104 min drive - 14.5 km

Restaurants

  • ‪Carova Beach - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪Ole Mexican Foods - ‬190 min drive
  • ‪Moonrise Bay Vineyard - ‬192 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Booking for Summer 2025.Visit OBX! Free beach parking passes! have a pool?

Yes, this property has a pool.

Is Booking for Summer 2025.Visit OBX! Free beach parking passes! pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).

What time is check-in at Booking for Summer 2025.Visit OBX! Free beach parking passes!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Booking for Summer 2025.Visit OBX! Free beach parking passes!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Booking for Summer 2025.Visit OBX! Free beach parking passes! located?

This family-friendly Corolla holiday home is located on the waterfront, within 1 mi (2 km) of Outer Banks Beaches and Currituck National Wildlife Refuge. False Cape State Park and False Cape Beach are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 57 out of 65 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 65 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 65 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 65 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 65 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

leslie m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great experience

Jocely was easy to communicate with and the house was well stocked with everything we needed. The beds are very comfortable and we enjoyed the 4x4, more remote, location. Would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful vacation spot!

This is a beautiful home located on such a peaceful spot on the canal. The kids & adults loved kayaking on the canal both in the early morning and evening after the beach day. Great to have water from the filtration system that we could drink and use for ice.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Diane K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relax & count your blessings

We had a large group varying in ages from 8 yrs old -60 years old & all of us hated to leave this slice of paradise! The description of the place is true to fact…. Whether you want to spend a few hours at the beach or a full day- it’s just around the corner… we like spending a few hours either before after after pool time- we loved the outdoor shower! Many beach supplies come with this place - I am older with a bum knee so in order to get into our kayaks we would’ve had to go to the boat launch area around the corner. We also bought an outdoor charcoal grill that we set up beside the park grill located on the property because with such a large group it would’ve been too diff to cook steaks & chicken for everyone. We had the BEST family time hanging by and in the pool!! We highly recommend Hot to Trot!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Emily C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beach Getaway

This house was a perfect fit for my family and friends beach getaway week. The location is fantastic with daily sight of the wild horses. We took the kayaks out for a spin to see the sound, and the kids loved it. Very quiet location. I was worried about bugs since it’s right on the canal but found them to be no worse than any of the other places I’ve stayed in the area. The host was very responsive although we really did not have any needs during the trip. We had 5 kids (ages 6-11) who stayed in the bunkhouse room. The bunkhouse room is on the bottom floor without any other bedrooms, which would have been a problem if our kids were any younger. We did walk to the beach once which was doable but most times we drove for convenience. I would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Stefanie S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Bonding in Isolated Beauty

Remote home base for family bonding, epic drives to and on the beach, oceanfront horseshoes and spike ball battles, kayaking, hanging on the decks and pool time. House could use some updating, but owners were quick to respond to maintenance issues over a holiday week. Our crew loved it :)
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Katherine S., STURGEON LAKE

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wish I didn't have to leave.

The house was perfect, comfortable and well stocked. The communication with the host was super fast. The beach AMAZING. We saw a ton of horses, some in the yard. We took kayaks through the canal. I LOVE OBX!!! I did only give the "location and neighborhood" 4 stars because there are sand spurs everywhere and they stick to everything, make feet bleed, and are a real pain. Don't let this stop you but be cautious with dogs and children.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

terry l.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fun in the sun

Perfect location and lots of horses and beautiful sunsets.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Penny G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Highly recommend!

Great vacation house in a wonderful location on the canal. Whether you want to relax or keep busy with activities, this house has it all! Tailgate or walk to the beach, kayak or fish in the canal, swim in the pool, relax in the hot tub or just lounge one of the decks and enjoy the view. The wild horses are everywhere! We saw them multiple times each day. They even came into the yard multiple times. The owner is wonderful to work with. She will answer any questions instantly. Definitely recommend this house and plan on staying again in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Morgan R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful time was had.

Arrived to the house after the drive down the beach, very easy check in process which was provided earlier that day. Great location, great views. The house was decorated very nicely and not to in your face beachy like some other places. Beds were comfortable, kitched was nice and big, with tons of storage and plenty of amenities and tolls to use. Lots of activities to do as well here. Will be back again soon amd I am already looking forward to that. Thanks for the amazing experience!!!
Stayed 8 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nikki F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect location!!

It was perfect!! In 4x4 area, on a canal, easy drive or walk to beach! We enjoyed kayaking, fishing in canal directly from backyard. Could take great walks with our dogs! And we saw the wild horses every day! House has everything you need and host was amazing!
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rachel S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Hot to Trot is fantastic

We had a great stay in Carova Beach. The house is well stocked with all items. The outside is breathtaking. The wild mustangs visited us outside in the front lawn of the house each morning and evening. We had a wonderful, peaceful getaway.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Melanie C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Memorable adventure and relaxation

House was perfectly located, an adventure getting to but we had no issues! Everything we could think of or want was equipped in the house and more! Nicely decorated. Extra fridge and washer dryer were a nice perk. Used the pool and hot tub daily. Had fun with all the games at night. Host was super communicative and very gracious!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Wendy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous place!

Loved this house! Very inviting and clean! Great location to the 4x4 beach and the owners were so nice and helpful!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nora M.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great time at Hot to Trot: wonderful!

Pool, game room, canal, hottub, kitchen all wonderful! Ages 5 to 65 in our family & something for everyone. The drive to the house was an adventure we will never forget! Loved seeing the horses! We are extremely picky in terms of cleanliness & why we gave it a 3 (it was certainly clean but we look at everything including cleanliness of windows & some cobwebs but owners offered to have cleaners come out). Well equipped kitchen, plenty of space indoors & out...no need to go anywhere as the house has it all & short distance to the beach!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michael C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great home with great communication from the owner

This was such a wonderful location. The house was great!We had a great time on our vacation and the owner was extremely responsive anytime I reached out. Unfortunately, there was some damage that occurred during our stay, but she was extremely helpfulIn getting us all of the information we needed to properly submit our claim with the VRBO insurance company. We would rent this home again in a heartbeat!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Perry J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

From VA-PA-TN to Carova

The hosts provided outstanding customer service! A++ And the house location was great, easy access as advertised! We had a wonderful vacation and were well accommodated!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bobbi C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Horses!

We loved our stay, we seen horses everyday! Driving the beach was a lot of fun but not for the inexperienced driver.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mesha B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome Family Vacation

We enjoyed Hot to Troy so very much! There were plenty of linens, the home was very clean, we saw wild horses everyday, and there was room for everyone! We all loved the pool and hot tub! The proximity to the beach was amazing! This was our first time in the 4 x 4 area of Corolla and we enjoyed the experience! Thank you for sharing your home with us!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Becky N., Cheektowaga

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice quiet getaway

We booked the house last minute. The owner quickly replied to my inquiry and we were able to get it even though it was less than a week before we would be there. The house is nice, big and just as the pictures show. We had family coming from different places and this house offered many room choices. You should be very aware that you will need to drive on the beach. This is noted in the description but I still didn't quite understand until we got there. I had looked on google Earth and the sandy roads did not look that bad. The ride is not on sandy roads but actually right on the beach. The ride was a little nerve-wracking but also exciting. Luckily we had shopped prior to going out to the house because the drive on the beach was about a half hour and lowering the tire pressure took about a half hour so you would not want to make many trips back and forth. Once at the house, it had everything that we needed. The house was very spacious and plenty of room for all of us. The outside decks are wonderful for a cup of coffee or just some relaxing time. We got some great sunset pictures. We enjoyed the kayaks and the gaming tables too. For me it was perfect. It was a relaxing time with family that we don't get to spend much time with. The teenagers, I think wanted to be closer to some action. Since it was April, the pool was not open yet and the hot tub was not working while we were there but they would be great additions during the summer months. I would recommend it to other families. Thank you for sharing your beautiful house with us.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tatjana V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home and great communication from owners.

Beautiful home with a short walk to the beach. Lots of horses passing by and stopping by. The home is very family oriented and offers games, books, and a fun family room. It’s a great place to relax if you are looking for an area that isn’t filled with tourists. We had a great stay and will return. Owners are great communicators and address any concerns amd questions quickly.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

James H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Outstanding

Great property. Owners were awesome. Highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2021

10/10 Excellent

Haley S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful getaway

We loved our time at Carova. The listing was accurate and the owner was very easy to work with.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Brad R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect fishing spot!

We recently spent 3 nights at "Hot to Trot" for a father & son fishing trip. We didn't catch a lot of fish but we had a great time! The home was perfect for what we needed. Plenty of room and a great location. We will definitely be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

4/10 Poor

Janene P.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Not Great

This house has the potential to be a fantastic vacation home. The location was perfect-short walk to the beach. We had horses everyday in the yard, a swimming pool. its very spacious. However, when we arrived-late evening, the odor from the water was unbearable. The next day the owner was quick to get someone out there to have a look. The maintenance guy told us that a check valve that injects chlorinator into the water system to keep it from stinking had corroded. Every one of the water fixtures throughout the home were corroded most likely due to the amount of chlorinator that needs to be used to stop the smell. Although the smell within the house dispensed after the fix, the odor was still awful when the water was used. You could barely shower - by the end of the week, everyone was anxious to get into a clean fresh shower. I could easily see someone with a weak stomach not being able to stay because of the water situation. Though there is a polar water system in the kitchen - the owner provided 3 jugs of fresh water. We had 15 people with us - drinking that, using it to cook with, etc. It was quickly gone and the fire station did not have any for us to purchase all week. The drive for water after that is easily 45 minutes. I would have thought that with 15 people, the owner would have supplied plenty of drinking water given the water situation of the home. The cleanliness of the home was definitely not up to any decent standard. There are 4 bathrooms - all were filled with bugs in the shower area. Even though the checklists that were in the kitchen state there are cleaning supplies , we could not find any. We had to buy the supplies to clean - I cleaned one of the bathrooms for all of us to use through the week. The home was dirty - full of cob webs & bugs. We spent nearly everyday at the beach & then back to the house & swam in the evening. By Wednesday, the day that the pool cleaner came, the pool definitely needed a refreshing. Though to no fault of the owner - the maintenance guy for the pool came that day & simply put one chlorine tablet in the pool. The pool needed swept & probably a little more water as the water level seemed to be going down a bit. He left a tag on the outside table that said he did all those things but he did not. Even the one chlorine tablet was not enough to freshen the water. Overall, the house is simply "not great". We definitely would not choose this home again given the water situation.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Gregory N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

OBX family getaway

We had a fun week. Everything with the property was as expected and the property owner was quick to fix the only issue we had. Wish we could have stayed longer.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

About the host

Hosted by Jocely Musial

Host profile image

Why they chose this property

Carova is renowned for its miles of privacy, including clean white beaches, and wild mustangs that roam freely from the ocean to Carova's small residential neighborhoods. Carova's seclusion is easy to explain, as there are no paved roads leading to this vacation spot, just miles of sand tracks that border the Atlantic Ocean. Vacationers who love the beach and don't need all the extra fuss flock to the area in small crowds, soaking up private stretches of beaches, and enjoying the peace and quiet.

Because Carova is literally off the beaten path, it's important to stock up on your beach essentials before you check into your vacation home. Neighboring Corolla features several chain grocery stores for food and beach supplies, and there are even several grocery delivery services that cater to the 4WD areas for vacationers who want to truly relax.

Popular Carova beach activities include:

Lounge under an umbrella or canopy, catch up with friends and family
Sip a beverage and watch the kids play
Throw frisbees, play bocce ball
Wade, swim, surf and body board
Surf fish
Pick up seashells
Take a relaxing walk along the shore
Spot and photograph wild horses

On cloudy days, vacationers can easily take an excursion a few miles off the sand to Corolla and Duck and enjoy an afternoon of shopping, sightseeing at the Currituck Lighthouse and Whalehead in Historic Corolla, and an evening of dining and drinks before heading back home to Carova.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests