Alerts & Conditions

Alerts

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Text CAHAORV to 333111 to receive beach access text alerts.

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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.

  • Let's Fill Beach Holes. Learn more at: go.nps.gov/beachholes.
  • Recreational shellfishing advisories - N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries info

 
Graphic showing waves and text that says Beach Access Updates.
 

Updated
September 30 at 12:52 PM

Dates & times change only when there are updates to report.

 

Bodie Island

Ramp 2 (Priority Ramp)

North: Pedestrian access only
Hours:
Ramp to north open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes:

South: Open
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes:

Ramp 4 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes:

South: Open to ORVs for 1.2 miles
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes:

 

Hatteras Island

Ramp 23 (Seasonal ORV Ramp open from October 15-April 14)

North: Open to pedestrians only
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day to pedestrians-only until Oct. 15
Notes:

South: Open to pedestrians only
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day to pedestrians-only until Oct. 15
Notes:

Ramp 25 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open to ORVs for 0.80 miles
Hours: Ramp open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Notes: Night driving not permitted due to sea turtle nest in hatch window

South: Open
Hours: Ramp open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Notes: Night driving not permitted due to sea turtle nest in hatch window

Ramp 27 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open
Hours: Ramp to north open 24 hours a day
Notes: Open to night driving for 1.47 miles

South: Open to pedestrians only
Hours: Ramp to south open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes:

Ramp 30

North: Open to pedestrians only
Hours: Ramp to north open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes:

South: Open
Hours: Ramp open to south 24 hours a day
Notes:

Ramp 32

North: Open
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes:

South: Open
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes:

Ramp 34 (Seasonal ORV Ramp open from October 15-April 14)

North: Open to pedestrians only
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day to pedestrians-only until Oct. 15
Notes: Seasonal ORV ramp opens Oct. 15

South: Open to pedestrians only
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day to pedestrians-only until Oct. 15
Notes: Seasonal ORV ramp opens Oct. 15

Ramp 38

North: Open to pedestrians only
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day to pedestrians-only until Oct. 15
Notes: Seasonal ORV ramp opens Oct. 15

South: Open
Hours: Ramp to south open to ORVs 24 hours a day
Notes:

Ramp 43 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open
Hours: Ramp open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Notes: Night driving currently not permitted due to sea turtle nest

South: Open
Hours: Ramp open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Notes: Night driving currently not permitted due to sea turtle nest

Ramp 44 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open
Hours: Ramp open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Notes: Night driving to the north of ramp currently not permitted due to sea turtle nest


South: Open
Hours: Ramp open to the south 24 hours a day
Notes: Cape Point is open 24 hours a day



Inside Road (Located between Ramps 44 and 49)

Open
Hours: ORVs can use Inside Road year-round, 24 hours a day.
Notes: ORV permit not required to drive across Inside Road

South Beach Road (ORV permit not required to access parking)

East: Open to pedestrians only
Hours: Open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes:

West: Open to pedestrians only
Hours: Open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes:

Ramp 48 (Priority Ramp)

East: Open
Hours: Ramp open to ORVs from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Notes: Night driving currently not permitted due to sea turtle nest

West: Open
Hours: Ramp open to ORVs from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Notes: Night driving currently not permitted due to sea turtle nest

Ramp 49 (Priority Ramp)

East: Open
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes: Open to night driving for 1.2 miles

West: Open to ORVs until the seasonal vehicle free boundary
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes: Seasonal portion of ORV route opens Oct. 15

Ramp 55

East: Open to pedestrians
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day to pedestrians-only until Oct. 15
Notes: Seasonal ORV route opens Oct. 15

West: Open
Hours: Ramp open to west 24 hours a day
Notes: Closed to night driving from 0.49 miles to 1.26 miles (1st & 2nd spur)

Pole Road (Located near entrance to Ramp 55)

Open to ORVs and pedestrians 24 hours a day




 

Ocracoke Island

Ramp 59

North: Open to pedestrians only
Hours: Ramp to north open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes:

South: Open to ORVs for 0.62 miles
Hours: Ramp open to ORVs from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Notes: Night driving currently not permitted due to sea turtle nest

Ramp 63

North: Open to ORVs for 3.53 miles
Hours: Ramp open to ORVs from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Notes: Night driving currently not permitted due to sea turtle nest

South: Open
Hours: Ramp open to ORVs from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Notes: Night driving currently not permitted due to sea turtle nest

Ramp 67

North: Open
Hours: Ramp open to ORVs from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Notes: Night driving currently not permitted due to sea turtle nest

South: Open
Hours: Ramp open to ORVs from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Notes: Night driving currently not permitted due to sea turtle nest

Ramp 68 (Seasonal ORV ramp)

North: Open to pedestrians
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day to pedestrians-only until Oct. 15
Notes: Seasonal ORV ramp opens Oct. 15

South: Open to pedestrians
Hours: Ramp open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes:

Ramp 70 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes:

South: Open
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes:

Ramp 72 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes:

South: Open
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes: Access to South Point is open 24 hours a day

 
Pedestrians have access to all ORV areas, unless otherwise noted
 

Mileage Summary

Last Updated: September 19, 2024

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 5.90 100%
Vehicle Free Areas 3.30 3.30 100%
ORV Areas 2.60 2.60 100%
Temporary Resource Closures 0.00
Hatteras Island 43.80 43.80 100%
Vehicle Free Areas 27.70 27.70 100%
ORV Areas 16.10 16.10 100%
Temporary Resource Closures 0.00
Ocracoke Island 17.00 14.24 83.8%
Vehicle Free Areas 6.70 6.70 100%
ORV Areas 10.30 7.54 73.2%
Temporary Resource Closures 2.76
Seashore Mileage Totals
Vehicle Free Areas 37.70 37.70 100%
ORV Areas 29.00 26.44 90.5%
Temporary Closures 2.76

Last updated: September 30, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Cape Hatteras National Seashore
1401 National Park Drive

Manteo, NC 27954

Phone:

252 473-2111

Contact Us