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

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Beach Access Status

Last Update: May 7, 2021 at 9:51 a.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

• Conditions: Pedestrians should use caution near large escarpment

-South: Open to ORVs

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions
  

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

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

-South: Open to ORVs for 0.20 miles. Open to PED for 1 mile

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. Bodie spit not accessible during any tide.
• Protection buffer in place in vehicle free area for American oystercatcher breeding activity

 

Hatteras Island

Ramp 23
-North: Seasonal ORV route closed to ORVs until October 15, 2021. Pedestrian only access until the seasonal ORV route reopens.
-South: Seasonal ORV route closed to ORVs until October 15, 2021. Pedestrian only access until the seasonal ORV route reopens.

Ramp 25 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs for 0.50 miles

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions.

-South: Open to ORVs for 1.4 miles

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions
• Protection buffer in place for shorebird breeding activity

Ramp 27 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs for 0.40 miles

• Hours: ORV route is open from from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. Shipwreck visible at ramp.
• Protection buffer in place for shorebird breeding activity

-South: Pedestrian only access for 1 mile

• Protection buffer in place for shorebird breeding activity

Ramp 30
-North: Pedestrian only access for 0.40 miles

• Protection buffer in place for shorebird breeding activity

-South: Open to ORVs

• Hours: ORV route is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 32
-North: Open to ORVs

• Hours: ORV route is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

-South: Open to ORVs

• Hours: ORV route is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Ramp 34
-North: Seasonal ORV route closed to ORVs until October 15, 2021. Pedestrian only access for 0.67 miles.

• Protection buffer in place for shorebird breeding activity

-South: Seasonal ORV route closed to ORVs until October 15, 2021. Pedestrian only access until the seasonal ORV route reopens.

Ramp 38
-North: Seasonal ORV route closed to ORVs until October 15, 2021. Pedestrian only access until the seasonal ORV route reopens.

-South: Open to ORVs for 1.5 miles

• Hours: ORV route is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions
• Protection buffer in place for shorebird breeding activity

Ramp 43 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs for 0.33 miles

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Conditions: Soft sand and deep ruts along the route
• Protection buffer in place for shorebird breeding activity

-South: Open to ORVs

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Conditions: Soft sand along route. Standing water in parking area.

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

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

-South: Open to ORVs. Cape Point is open to ORVs and beach walkers via the bypass road. A stretch of beach starting at 0.23 miles south of Ramp 44 is closed to protect an American oystercatcher nest.

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Conditions: The short ORV route west of the hook is currently not accessible to ORVs due to beach erosion.
• Protection buffer in place for shorebird breeding activity

Inside Road
-Open

• Hours: Inside Road is available for ORV use 24 hours a day

South Beach Road (Old Ramp 45)

-East: Open to pedestrians for 0.14 miles

• Protection buffer in place for shorebird breeding activity

-West: Open to pedestrians for 0.20 miles

• Protection buffer in place for shorebird breeding activity

Ramp 48 (Priority Ramp)
-East: Open to ORVs for 0.20 miles

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Protection buffer in place for shorebird breeding activity

-West: Open to ORVs

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

-West: Open to ORVs

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Ramp 55
-East: Seasonal ORV route closed to ORVs until October 15, 2021. Pedestrian only access until the seasonal ORV route reopens.

-West: Open to ORVs

• Hours: ORV route is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Conditions: Small drop off from base of ramp. 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

 

Ocracoke Island

Ramp 59
-North: Pedestrian access only
-South: Open to ORVs for 1.16 miles (an ORV corridor is in place between ramps 59 and 63). Pedestrian access for 0.63 miles.

• Hours: ORV route is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions
• Protection buffer in place for shorebird breeding activity

Ramp 63
-North: Open to ORVs and pedestrians for 1.54 miles

• Hours: ORV route is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions
• Protection buffer in place for shorebird breeding activity

-South: Open to ORVs

• Hours: ORV route is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 67
-North: Open to ORVs for 0.80 miles

• Hours: ORV route is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Protection buffer in place for shorebird breeding activity

-South: Open to ORVs

• Hours: ORV route is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Ramp 68
-North: Seasonal ORV route closed to ORVs until October 15, 2021

-South: Pedestrian access only

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

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

-South: Open to ORVs (an ORV corridor is in place between ramps 70 and 72). Pedestrian access for 0.91 miles.

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Protection buffer in place for shorebird breeding activity

Ramp 72 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs (an ORV corridor is in place between ramps 72 and 70). Pedestrian access for 0.65 miles.

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Protection buffer in place for shorebird breeding activity

-South: Open to ORVs and pedestrians for 0.70 miles. South Point is not currently accessible due to shorebird breeding activity.

• Hours: ORV route is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions
• Protection buffers in place for shorebird breeding activity

 

Pedestrians have access to all ORV areas, unless otherwise noted

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Mileage Summary

Last Updated: May 5 at 12:55 p.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	5.70	96.6%
Vehicle Free Areas	3.30	3.10	93.9%
ORV Areas	2.60	2.60	100%
Temporary Resource Closures		0.20
Hatteras Island	43.80	39.68	90.6%
Vehicle Free Areas	27.70	23.96	86.5%
ORV Areas	16.10	15.72	97.6%
Temporary Resource Closures		4.12
Ocracoke Island	17.00	13.00	76.5%
Vehicle Free Areas	6.70	5.70	85.1%
ORV Areas	10.30	7.30	70.9%
Temporary Resource Closures		4.00
Seashore Mileage Totals
Vehicle Free Areas	37.70	32.76	86.9%
ORV Areas	29.00	25.62	88.3%
Temporary Closures		8.32

 

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