Alerts & Conditions

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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
 

Beach Access Status

Last Update: February 17, 2021 at 1:02 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: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 4 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

-South: Open to ORVs until vehicle free boundary (roughly 1.3 miles)

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions
 

Hatteras Island

Ramp 23
-North: Seasonal ORV route open until April 15, 2021

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

-South: Seasonal ORV route open until April 15, 2021

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions


Ramp 25 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions.

-South: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 27 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. Shipwreck visible at ramp.

-South: Pedestrian only access

Ramp 30
-North: Pedestrian only access
-South: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 32
-North: Closed to ORVs due to significant erosion at the ramp. See photo below. Travel south from Ramp 30 to access the beach route.

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

-South: Closed to ORVs due to significant erosion at the ramp. See photo below. Travel south from Ramp 30 to access the beach route.

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Ramp 32 temporarily closed due to significant erosion 01-15-2021

Ramp 34
-North: Seasonal ORV route open until April 15, 2021

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

-South: Seasonal ORV route open until April 15, 2021

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

Ramp 38
-North: Seasonal ORV route open until April 15, 2021

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

-South: Open to ORVs for 1.5 miles

  • Hours: ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access) for 1.5 miles
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 43 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs until the vehicle free boundary

  • Hours: ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Soft sand and deep ruts along the route. Steep ramp coming on and off ramp.

-South: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. Soft sand along route.

Ramp 44 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. Soft sand along route.

-South: Open to ORVs. Cape Point is open. The short ORV route west of the hook is currently not accessible due to beach erosion.

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Bypass Road is closed due to a large escarpment.

Inside Road
-Open

  • Hours: Inside Road is available for ORV use 24 hours a day.
  • Conditions: Closed between between Ramp 44 and South Beach Road due to large puddles of rain water. Use Cape Point Campground as alternate route to Inside Road.

South Beach Road (Old Ramp 45)

-East: Open to pedestrians
-West: Open to pedestrians

Ramp 48 (Priority Ramp)
-East: Open to ORVs until the vehicle free boundary

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

-West: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

Ramp 49 (Priority Ramp)
-East: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

-West: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

Ramp 55
-East: Seasonal ORV route open until April 15, 2021

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

-West: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. If you want to cut through to Pole Road, pay close attention to signs.

Pole Road
-Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Pole Road is open for ORV use 24 hours a day
  • Conditions: Road is flooded from ocean overwash and rain water
 

Ocracoke Island

Ramp 59
-North: Pedestrian access only
-South: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 63
-North: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

-South: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 67
-North: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

-South: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
  • Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 68
-North: Seasonal ORV route open until April 15, 2021

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

-South: Pedestrian access only


Ramp 70 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

-South: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

Ramp 72 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

-South: Open to ORVs

  • Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
 
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
 

Mileage Summary

Last Updated: November 5 at 4:25 p.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 5.90 100%
Vehicle Free Areas 2.00 2.00 100%
ORV Areas 3.90 3.90 100%
Temporary Resource Closures 0.00
Hatteras Island 43.80 43.80 100%
Vehicle Free Areas 14.10 14.10 100%
ORV Areas 29.70 29.70 100%
Temporary Resource Closures 0.00
Ocracoke Island 17.00 17.00 100%
Vehicle Free Areas 6.20 6.20 100%
ORV Areas 10.80 10.80 100%
Temporary Resource Closures 0.00
Seashore Mileage Totals
Vehicle Free Areas 22.30 22.30 100%
ORV Areas 44.40 44.40 100%
Temporary Closures 0.00
 

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Last updated: February 17, 2021

Contact the Park

Mailing Address:

Cape Hatteras National Seashore
1401 National Park Drive
Manteo, NC 27954

Phone:

(252) 473-2111

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