Brew Thru Jockey's Ridge

Brew Thru Jockey's Ridge is a drive-thru convenience and beverage store on the Beach Road (S. Virginia Dare Trail) in Nags Head, part of the small Outer Banks-only chain that's run the same format up and down the barrier island for decades: pull up, place your order at the window, and you're back on the road in a couple of minutes.

• Beer, wine, and liquor
• Ice, mixers, and cold drinks
• Snacks and basic beach sundries

That setup matters more than it sounds like it should on a family beach trip. Nobody has to get unbuckled from a car seat, dried off, or talked into leaving the sand for a restock run. It's open daily from 8am to 10pm, covering both the morning ice run before the cooler gets packed and an after-dinner top-off. The location sits along the Beach Road corridor in the Jockey's Ridge area of Nags Head, a short drive from the dune itself. Stock at a store like this can shift day to day, so call ahead if you need something specific, but for the basics — cold drinks, ice, and beer or wine for the cooler — it's a fast, no-parking-lot option that beats a full grocery run.