Alerts & Conditions

Alerts

Park Closure

• Approximately three-tenths-of-a-mile stretch of beach in Buxton temporarily closed due to hazards

  Alert, Severity, closure, Approximately three-tenths-of-a-mile stretch of beach in Buxton temporarily closed due to hazardsAn approximately three-tenths-of-a-mile long stretch of beach, and adjacent parking lot, in Buxton is temporarily closed due to petroleum contamination and remnant military infrastructure.more

 

Beach Access 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.
• Text CAHAORV to 333111 to receive beach access text alerts.

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Beach Access Status

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

Updated
April 25 at 1:11 PM

 

Bodie Island

Ramp 2 (Priority Ramp)

North: Pedestrian access only
Hours: North of ramp 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 0.20 miles
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes: Open to pedestrians for 0.90 miles

 

Hatteras Island

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

North: Open to pedestrians. Seasonally closed to ORVs.
Hours: Ramp open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes: Seasonal ORV route opens October 15, 2025

South: Open to pedestrians for 0.20 miles. Seasonally closed to ORVs.
Hours: Ramp open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes: Seasonal ORV route opens October 15, 2025

Ramp 25 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open for 0.80 miles
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes:

South: Open for 1.4 miles
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes:

Ramp 27 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open for 0.40 miles
Hours: North of the ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes:

South: Open to pedestrians only for 1.45 miles
Hours: South of the ramp open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes:

Ramp 30

North: Open to pedestrians-only for 0.50 miles
Hours: North of the ramp open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes:

South: Open
Hours: Ramp open 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. Seasonally closed to ORVs.
Hours: Ramp open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes: Seasonal ORV route opens October 15, 2025

South: Open to pedestrians. Seasonally closed to ORVs.
Hours: Ramp open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes: Seasonal ORV route opens October 15, 2025

Ramp 38

North: Open to pedestrians. Seasonally closed to ORVs.
Hours: North of ramp open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes: Seasonal ORV route opens October 15, 2025

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

Ramp 43 (Priority Ramp)

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

South: Open
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes: Visitors can walk 0.26 miles south of ramp

Ramp 44 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open to ORVs via ORV-only corridor
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes: Pedestrian access north of ramp for 0.19 miles

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

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 for 0.48 miles
Hours: Open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes:

Ramp 48 (Priority Ramp)

East: Open
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes: Pedestrian access for 0.94 miles

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

Ramp 49 (Priority Ramp)

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

West: Open
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes: Seasonal portion of ORV route opens October 15, 2025

Ramp 55

East: Open
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes: Seasonal ORV route opens October 15, 2025

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

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: North of ramp open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes:

South: Open for 1.12 miles
Hours: South of ramp open to ORVs 24 hours a day
Notes:

Ramp 63

North: Open for 0.01 miles
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes:

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

Ramp 67

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

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

Ramp 68 (Seasonal ORV ramp)

North: Open to pedestrians. Seasonally closed to ORVs.
Hours: Ramp open to pedestrians 24 hours a day
Notes: Seasonal ORV route opens October 15, 2025

South: Open to pedestrians for 0.60 miles
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: Open to pedestrians for 1 mile

Ramp 72 (Priority Ramp)

North: Open
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes: Open to pedestrians for 0.56 miles

South: Open to ORVs for 1.78 miles and pedestrians for 0.87 miles
Hours: Ramp open 24 hours a day
Notes:

 

Pedestrians have access to all ORV areas, unless otherwise noted

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Mileage Summary

Last Updated: April 25, 2025

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	5.80	5.45	94.0%
Vehicle Free Areas	3.20	2.85	89.1%
ORV Areas	2.60	2.60	100%
Temporary Resource Closures		0.35
Hatteras Island	43.80	42.31	96.6%
Vehicle Free Areas	27.70	26.52	95.7%
ORV Areas	16.10	15.79	98.1%
Temporary Resource Closures		1.49
Ocracoke Island	16.75	13.19	78.7%
Vehicle Free Areas	6.45	5.95	92.6%
ORV Areas	10.30	7.22	70.1%
Temporary Resource Closures		3.56
Seashore Mileage Totals
Vehicle Free Areas	37.35	35.34	94.6%
ORV Areas	29.00	25.61	88.3%
Temporary Closures		5.40

 

Ocean Info

• [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.