Alerts & Conditions

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Beach & Ocean Info

• Beach Access Map
• July 23, 2019: HIGH risk of rip currents from Cape Point south through Ocracoke Island. Low risk of rip currents north of Cape Point.
  • 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.
• [Daily Rip Current Forecast] [Rip Current Safety Info]
• Text "Join OBXBeachConditions" to 30890 to sign up for text alerts on beach conditions.
• Night driving restrictions went into effect on May 1. From May 1-July 31, priority ORV ramps (see ramp info below) open daily at 6:00 a.m. and close at 9:00 p.m. All other designated ORV ramps open daily at 7:00 a.m. and close at 9:00 p.m.

• 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.

• Recreational shellfishing advisories - N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries info

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Beach Access Status

Last Update: July 23 at 7:29 a.m.

Date & time 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: PED Access Only
-South: Open to ORV. Ramp exit is steep.

Ramp 4 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORV. During high tide conditions it may be difficult to drive through narrow sections of beach.
-South: Open to ORV for 0.2 miles

 

Hatteras Island

Ramp 23
-North: Ramp is temporarily closed to pedestrians. A pedestrian path has been established at 0.50 miles north of ramp (CW). Shoes strongly suggested on beach access path due to vegetation. Seasonal ORV route closed until October 15.
-South: Ramp is temporarily closed to pedestrians. A pedestrian path has been established at 0.50 miles south of ramp (CW). Shoes strongly suggested on beach access path due to vegetation. Seasonal ORV route closed until October 15.

Ramp 25 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORV for 0.6 miles (ST). Caution - Steep sloping near shoreline.
-South: Open to ORV. Caution - Intermittent one-foot cliff banks and steep sloping near shoreline.

Ramp 27 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORV. Caution - Steep sloping near shoreline.
-South: Pedestrian access only. Open to pedestrians for 1.2 miles (AO)

Ramp 30
-North: Pedestrian access only. Open to pedestrians for 0.3 miles (AO)
-South: Open to ORV; no through access to Ramp 32 (ST)

Ramp 32
-North: Open to ORV; no through access to Ramp 30 (ST). One foot sand cliff along waterline.
-South: Pedestrian access for 1.27 miles (AO, CW)

Ramp 34
-North: Ramp is temporarily closed to pedestrians. Seasonal ORV route closed until October 15. Pedestrian acces for 0.56 miles (AO)
-South: Ramp is temporarily closed to pedestrians. Seasonal ORV route closed until October 15. No pedestrian access due to (CW) nesting.

Ramp 38
-North: Seasonal ORV route closed until October 15. Pedestrian-only access between April 15 and October 14.
-South: Open to ORV; open to pedestrians for 2.2 miles (AO). Beware of soft sand.

Ramp 43 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORV; sand is extra soft, consider airing down more than normal. Deep ruts.
-South: Open to ORV, no through access to Ramp 44 (ST); sand is extra soft, consider airing down more than normal. Deep ruts.

Ramp 44 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORV, no through access to Ramp 43 (ST); sand is extra soft, consider airing down more than normal. Deep ruts along the route.
-South: Open to ORV for 0.61 miles (CW). Deep ruts along the route.

• A protection buffer remains in place at Cape Point to protect dozens of least tern eggs and more than 20 least tern chicks.

• Only the last quarter mile of the Ramp 44 beach route is closed to ORV and pedestrian access.

• Bypass Road is open.

• Seashore staff continue to monitor the Cape Point area. Once nesting activity has concluded, the protection buffer at Cape Point will be removed. There is no estimated date.

• There are close to 26 miles of oceanside beach routes open for ORV access across the seashore.

Inside Road
-Open

South Beach Road
-East: Open to PED for 0.39 miles (AO, CW)
-West: Open to PED for 0.57 miles (AO)

Ramp 48 (Priority Ramp)
-East: Open to ORV for 0.22 miles (AO, CW)
-West: Open to ORV

Ramp 49 (Priority Ramp)
-East: Open to ORV
-West: Open to ORV until the vehicle free area begins.

Ramp 55
-East: Seasonal ORV route closed until October 15. Pedestrian-only access between April 15 and October 14.
-West: Open to ORV; some areas of the beach route may be impassable at high tide.

Pole Road
-Open; detour from 0.48 to 1.15 miles west of Ramp 55 (WP). An escarpment has formed on the beach along the detour route and may be impassable at times.

 

Ocracoke Island

Ramp 59
-North: Pedestrian access only. Beach route may be impassable at high tide.
-South: Open to ORV. Beach is extremely narrow just south of ramp. May be impassable during high tide conditions. Approximately 1-2 foot cliff about 20 yards along the base of dune at this narrow section.

Ramp 63
-North: Open to ORV
-South: Open to ORV for 0.27 miles

Ramp 67
-North: Open to ORV for 1 mile
-South: Open to ORV for 0.71 miles

Ramp 68
-North: Seasonal ORV route closed until October 15. Pedestrian-only access between April 15 and October 14.
-South: Pedestrian access only

Ramp 70 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORV for 0.39 miles (AO)
-South: Open to ORV for 0.93 miles (AO). Some cliffs are present near shoreline approximately halfway between Ramp 70 and 72.

Ramp 72 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORV for 0.53 miles (AO). Some cliffs are present near shoreline approximately halfway between Ramp 72 and 70.
-South: Open to ORV for 0.39 miles (AO, CW)

 

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ORV: Off-Road Vehicle; AO: American Oystercatcher; CW: Colonial Waterbird; PP: Piping Plover; ST: Sea Turtle; WP: Wilson's Plover

Pedestrians have access to all ORV areas, unless otherwise noted

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Mileage Summary

Last Updated: July 18 at 7:30 a.m.

The mileage summary is updated weekly from the middle of April through the end of sea turtle nesting season.

	Total	Current	% Open
Bodie Island	5.90	5.40	91.5%
Vehicle Free Areas	3.30	2.80	84.8%
ORV Areas	2.60	2.60	100%
Temporary Resource Closures		0.50
Hatteras Island	43.80	38.19	87.2%
Vehicle Free Areas	27.70	23.43	84.6%
ORV Areas	16.10	14.67	91.1%
Temporary Resource Closures		5.61
Ocracoke Island	17.00	13.99	82.3%
Vehicle Free Areas	6.70	5.70	85.1%
ORV Areas	10.30	8.29	80.5%
Temporary Resource Closures		3.01
Seashore Mileage Totals
Vehicle Free Areas	37.70	31.93	84.7%
ORV Areas	29.00	25.65	88.4%
Temporary Closures		9.12

 

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