Alerts & Conditions

Alerts

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Text CAHAORV to 333111 to receive beach access text alerts.

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COVID-19 Mask Status:
Based on CDC's COVID-19 Community Level tool, and consistent with direction from the Department of the Interior, masks are required in National Park Service facilities at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Dare & Hyde Counties).

 

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Beach & Ocean Info

• Beach Access Map
• Off-road vehicle (ORV) Frequently Asked Questions
• Before driving on designated off-road vehicle routes, we strongly recommend that tire pressure be lowered to at least 20 psi. The softer the sand, the lower the pressure needed. Reinflate tires to normal pressure as soon as possible after returning to paved roads. Many local businesses have air pumps.
• [Daily Rip Current Forecast] [Rip Current Safety Info]

  • Low risk means that wind and/or wave conditions are expected to support the development of rip currents.

  • Moderate risk means that wind and/or wave conditions support stronger or more frequent rip currents. Only experienced surf swimmers should enter the surf on moderate risk days.
  • High risk means that wind and/or wave conditions support dangerous rip currents. Rip currents on high risk days are life-threatening to anyone entering the surf.
• Recreational shellfishing advisories - N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries info

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Beach Access Status

Last Update: August 10, 2022 at 1:33 p.m.


Dates and times only change when there are status updates to report.
Consider the info below to be current, even if the date listed above is not today's date.

 

Bodie Island

Ramp 2 (Priority Ramp)
North: Pedestrian access only
South: Open to ORVs Hours: Ramp opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

Ramp 4 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open to ORVs
Hours: Ramp opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

South: Open to ORVs for 0.20 miles. Open to pedestrians for 0.75 miles.
Hours: Ramp opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

 

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Hatteras Island

Ramp 23 (Seasonal ORV Ramp)
North: Open to pedestrians (Seasonal ORV ramp will reopen October 15, 2022). Ramp closed to pedestrians; however, access is available by walking 0.28 miles to the north of the ramp using walking path before the dunes. Conditions: An area near the north end of the route is closed due to unsafe houses. Beware of beach debris from houses that collapsed in early February and May 10, 2022.
South: Open to pedestrians (Seasonal ORV ramp will reopen October 15, 2022). Ramp closed to pedestrians; however, access is available by walking 0.30 miles to the south of the ramp using walking path before the dunes. Conditions: Beware of beach debris from houses that collapsed near the north end of the route in early February and May 10, 2022.

Ramp 25 (Priority Ramp)

-North: Open
Hours: Ramp opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

-South: Open
Hours: Ramp opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

Ramp 27 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open
Hours: Ramp opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

South: Open to pedestrians

Ramp 30

North: Open to pedestrians

South: Open to ORVs for 0.57 miles (sea turtle nest within hatching window)

Hours: Ramp opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

Ramp 32

North: Open to ORVs for 0.99 miles (sea turtle nest within hatching window)
Hours: Ramp opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

South: Open to ORVs until vehicle free boundary. Open to pedestrians for 1.48 miles.
Hours: Ramp opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

Ramp 34 (Seasonal ORV Ramp)

North: Open to pedestrians for 0.66 miles (Seasonal ORV ramp will reopen October 15, 2022)

South: Closed to pedestrians (Seasonal ORV ramp will reopen October 15, 2022)

Ramp 38

North: Open to pedestrians (Seasonal ORV route will reopen October 15, 2022). Parking lot has reopened after being closed during the Avon beach nourishment project.

South: Open to ORVs for 1.44 miles
Conditions: Parking lot has reopened after being closed during the Avon beach nourishment project.
Hours: Ramp opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

Ramp 43 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open
Hours: Ramp opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

South: Open
Hours: Ramp opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

Ramp 44 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open
Hours: Ramp opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

South: Open for 0.16 miles
Info: Cape Point is temporarily closed to ORVs and pedestrians due to an American oystercatcher nest. Approximately 0.36 miles of south facing beach to the west of Cape Point is open to pedestrians after a short walk down Bypass Road (look for signs near the dune line).
Hours: Ramp opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

Inside Road (Located between Ramps 44 and 49)

Open
Hours: ORVs can use Inside Road year-round, 24 hours a day. An ORV permit is not required to simply drive across Inside Road to access South Beach Road (Old Ramp 45) from the Cape Point Campground.

South Beach Road (Old Ramp 45)

East: Open to pedestrians for 0.22 miles

West: Open to pedestrians for 0.80 miles

Ramp 48 (Priority Ramp)

East: Open to ORVs until vehicle free area. Open to pedestrians for 1.05 miles.
Hours: Ramp opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

West: Open
Hours: Ramp opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

Ramp 49 (Priority Ramp)

East: Open
Hours: Ramp opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

West: Open to pedestrians (Seasonal ORV route will reopen October 15, 2022)

Ramp 55

East: Open to pedestrians (Seasonal ORV route will reopen October 15, 2022)

West: Open for 0.18 miles (sea turtle within hatching window). Use Pole Road to access beach west of the temporary turtle closure.
Hours: Ramp opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

Pole Road (Located near entrance to Ramp 55)

Open to ORVs 24 hours a day

 

Ocracoke Island

Ramp 59

North: Pedestrian-only access

South: Open to ORVs for 0.15 miles
Hours: Ramp opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

Ramp 63

North: Open to ORVs for 0.12 miles (sea turtle nest within hatching window)
Hours: Ramp opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

South: Open
Hours: Ramp opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

Ramp 67

North: Open for 0.48 miles (sea turtle nest within hatching window)
Hours: Ramp opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

South: Open to ORVs for 0.30 miles (sea turtle nest within hatching window)
Hours: Ramp opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

Ramp 68 (Seasonal ORV ramp)

North: Open to pedestrians (Seasonal ORV ramp will reopen October 15, 2022)

South: Open to pedestrians

Ramp 70 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open
Hours: Ramp opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

South: Open
Hours: Ramp opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

Ramp 72 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open
Hours: Ramp opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

South: Open for 0.61 miles. South Point is temporarily closed.
Hours: Ramp opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

 

Pedestrians have access to all ORV areas, unless otherwise noted

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Mileage Summary

Last Updated: August 5, 2022 at 10:33 a.m.

The mileage summary is updated every Thursday from the beginning of the shorebird nesting season through the end of sea turtle nesting season.

	Total	Current	% Open
Bodie Island	5.90	5.36	90.8%
Vehicle Free Areas	3.30	2.76	83.6%
ORV Areas	2.60	2.60	100%
Temporary Resource Closures		0.54
Hatteras Island	43.80	40.10	91.6%
Vehicle Free Areas	27.70	24.24	87.5%
ORV Areas	16.10	15.86	98.5%
Temporary Resource Closures		2.44
Ocracoke Island	17.00	10.99	64.6%
Vehicle Free Areas	6.70	5.70	85.1%
ORV Areas	10.30	5.29	51.4%
Temporary Resource Closures		6.01
Seashore Mileage Totals
Vehicle Free Areas	37.70	32.70	86.7%
ORV Areas	29.00	23.75	81.9%
Temporary Closures		8.99