Alerts & Conditions

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Beach & Ocean Info

• Beach Access Map
• May 21, 2019: Moderate risk of rip currents along all Outer Banks beaches.
  • 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 am and close at 9:00 pm. All other designated ORV ramps open daily at 7:00 am and close at 9:00 pm.
• A protection buffer remains at Cape Point to protect nesting colonial waterbirds (least terns and black skimmers). There are also piping plover nests and American oystercatcher nests near Cape Point. Staff will continue to monitor the Cape Point area and will remove the protection buffer as soon as possible. There are over 25 miles of oceanside beach routes open for ORV access across the Seashore.

• Before driving on designated off-road vehicle routes, we strongly recommend that tire pressure be lowered to at least 20psi. 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: May 21 at 4:04 PM

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; beach route may be impassable at high tide.

Ramp 4 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORV; beach route may be impassable at high tide.
-South: Open to ORV for 0.2 miles; beach route may be impassable at high tide.

 

Hatteras Island

Ramp 23
-North: Seasonal ORV route closed until October 15. Pedestrian access located at 0.50 miles north of ramp (AO).
-South: Seasonal ORV route closed until October 15. Pedestrian access located at 0.50 miles south of ramp (AO).

Ramp 25 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORV for 1.5 miles; beach route may be impassable at high tide. Ramp surrounded by soft sand and can be difficult to exit.
-South: Open to ORV for 1.74 miles (AO); beach route may be impassable at high tide. Ramp surrounded by soft sand and can be difficult to exit.

Ramp 27 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORV or 0.08 miles (AO); beach route may be impassable at high tide.
-South: Pedestrian access only. Open to pedestrians for 0.6 miles (AO)

Ramp 30
-North: Pedestrian access only. Open to pedestrians for 0.3 miles (AO)
-South: Open to ORV; there is a one foot cliff bank along the beach route.

Ramp 32
-North: Open to ORV
-South: Pedestrian access for 1.58 miles (AO)

Ramp 34
-North: Seasonal ORV route closed until October 15. Pedestrian access for 0.64 miles (AO)
-South: Seasonal ORV route closed until October 15. Pedestrian-only access between April 15 and October 14.

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 1.89 miles (AO).

Ramp 43 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORV; sand is extra soft, consider airing down more than normal.
-South: Open to ORV; sand is extra soft, consider airing down more than normal.

Ramp 44 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORV; sand is extra soft, consider airing down more than normal.
-South: Open to ORV for 0.61 miles (see note above) (AO, CW, PP)

Inside Road
-Open

South Beach Road
-East: Open to PED for 0.42 miles (AO, CW)
-West: Open to PED for 0.27 miles (AO)

Ramp 48 (Priority Ramp)
-East: Open to ORV. From the vehicle free area sign, pedestrian access for 0.06 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; beach route may be impassable at high tide.

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

Pole Road
-Open

 

Ocracoke Island

Ramp 59
-North: Pedestrian access only for 0.15 miles (AO). 18 inch cliffs at vehicle free area, impassable during high tide conditions.
-South: Open to ORV for 2.53 miles (AO). Ocean is cutting off access just south of ramp during high tide conditions.

Ramp 63
-North: Open to ORV for 1.54 miles (AO)
-South: Open to ORV for 0.50 miles (ST)

Ramp 67
-North: Open to ORV for 0.53 miles (AO); ramp is extra soft at entrance to the beach (lower tire pressure)
-South: Open to ORV; ramp is extra soft at entrance to the beach (lower tire pressure).

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. Soft sand at entrance to the beach (air tires down)
-South: Open to ORV for 0.93 miles (AO). Soft sand at entrance to the beach (air tires down)

Ramp 72 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORV for 0.53 miles (AO)
-South: Open to ORV for 0.64 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: May 16 at 7:13 AM

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	5.70	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	39.43	90.0%
Vehicle Free Areas	27.70	23.99	86.6%
ORV Areas	16.10	15.44	95.9%
Temporary Resource Closures		4.37
Ocracoke Island	17.00	12.89	75.8%
Vehicle Free Areas	6.70	5.16	77.0%
ORV Areas	10.30	7.73	75.0%
Temporary Resource Closures		4.11
Seashore Mileage Totals
Vehicle Free Areas	37.70	32.25	85.5%
ORV Areas	29.00	25.77	88.9%
Temporary Closures		8.68

 

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