This paper deals with the conflict between two goals of coastal zone management: preservation and increased access to the shoreline for recreation purposes. Foot traffic and off‐road vehicles are used as examples of recreational activities which can harm dune areas. A number of field studies, dealt with in the scientific literature, are cited, and the carrying capacity concept is discussed. Coastal zone management policies of certain federal, state and local government entities are examined. A two‐stage methodology is proposed to aid in decision making on the local governmental level and a possible implementation scenario is presented.