Alerts & Conditions

On This Page Navigation

 

Beach & Ocean Info

• Beach Access Map
• [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.
• Text "Join OBXBeachConditions" to 30890 to sign up for text alerts on beach conditions.
• Night driving restrictions go into effect on May 1. From August 1-September 30, priority ORV ramps (see ramp info below) open daily at 6:30 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. Starting September 15, transition to night driving (24 hours a day) could occur if there are no sea turtle nests remaining along a route; updated night driving information is listed below.

• 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

---

 

Beach Access Status

Last Update: November 14 at 6:17 a.m.

Attention: All routes on Ocracoke Island remain closed while park staff assess damages caused by Hurricane Dorian.

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 ORV

• Night Driving: open
• Conditions: beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

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

• Night Driving: open

• Conditions: beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

-South: Open to ORV for 1.4 miles

• Night Driving: open
• Conditions: beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

 

Hatteras Island

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

• Night Driving: open

-South: Seasonal ORV route open until April 15

• Night Driving: open
• Conditions: beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

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

• Night Driving: open
• Conditions: beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

-South: Open to ORV

• Night Driving: open
• Conditions: beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

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

• Night Driving: open
• Conditions: beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

-South: Pedestrian access only

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

• Night Driving: open
• Conditions: beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. Soft sand near ramp entrance.

Ramp 32
-North: Open to ORV

• Night Driving: open
• Conditions: beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. Extremely soft sand and deep ruts along route.

-South: Open to ORV until the seasonal ORV route begins

• Night Driving: open
• Conditions: beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. Soft sand along route.

Ramp 34
-North: Seasonal ORV route open until Apriil 15

• Night Driving: open

-South: Seasonal ORV route open until April 15

• Night Driving: open

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

• Night Driving: open
• Conditions: beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

-South: Open to ORV

• Night Driving: open
• Conditions: beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 43 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORV

• Night Driving: open
• Conditions: soft sand along route

-South: Open to ORV

• Night Driving: open
• Conditions: deep ruts and soft sand along the route

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

• Night Driving: open
• Conditions: sand is extra soft, consider airing down more than normal. Deep ruts at the entrance to beach. Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions.

-South: Open to ORV. Cape Point opened the morning of August 5.

• Night Driving: open

Inside Road
-Open

South Beach Road (Old Ramp 45)
-East: Pedestrian access only
-West: Pedestrian access only

Ramp 48 (Priority Ramp)
-East: Open to ORV until the vehicle free area boundary.

• Night Driving: open

-West: Open to ORV

• Night Driving: open

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

• Night Driving: open

-West: Open to ORV until the vehicle free boundary.

• Night Driving: open

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

• Night Driving: open
• Conditions: beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. Do not enter the dunes.

-West: Open to ORV until the vehicle free area boundary.

• Night Driving: open
• Conditions: beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. Soft sand and ruts in some sections of beach. Do not enter the dunes.

Pole Road
-Open

 

Ocracoke Island

Ramp 59
-North: Pedestrian access only. Beach route may be impassable at high tide.
-South: Open to ORV through the use of an ORV corridor at 0.85 miles (ST). Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. Ocean is reaching ramp at high tide.

Ramp 63
-North: Open to ORV through the use of an ORV corridor at 0.58 miles (ST). Corridor may be impassable during high tide conditions.
-South: Open to ORV for 0.56 miles through the use of an ORV corridor at 0.23 miles (ST). Corridor may be impassable during high tide conditions.

Ramp 67
-North: Open to ORV for 1 mile
-South: Open to ORV for 0.44 miles (ST)

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

Ramp 70 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORV
-South: Open to ORV

Ramp 72 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORV
-South: Open to ORV. South Point is open.

 

---

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: October 31 at 3 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	100.0%
ORV Areas	29.70	28.89	97.3%
Temporary Resource Closures		0.00
Ocracoke Island - Current Closed due to Hurricane Dorian Damage	17.00	17.00	100%
Vehicle Free Areas	6.20	6.20	100.0%
ORV Areas	10.30	10.80	100.0%
Temporary Resource Closures		0.00
Seashore Mileage Totals
Vehicle Free Areas	22.30	22.30	100.0%
ORV Areas	44.40	44.40	100.0%
Temporary Closures		0.00

 

On This Page Navigation