
Closed areas are clearly marked in the field with closure signs or “symbolic fencing” consisting of posts, closure signs, string and flagging tape.Īlways be aware of tidal changes before driving on the beach, and take note note of our beach driving tips to avoid getting stuck in the sand. On-site signage, rather than online information, is the most accurate and current indication of what is open or closed to the public.

Check the Park Service’s Facebook page for the most up-to-date information on any closures.Ĭlosure conditions may change in the field on short notice. ORV Access Ramp ClosuresĪccess does change frequently during the breeding seasons of protected birds and sea turtles.

#CAPE HATTERAS NATIONAL SEASHORE N.C FULL#
For a full list of ramp locations and Hatteras beach driving regulations please visit the Cape Hatteras National Seashore website. ORV ramps are available all along Hatteras Island and are designated access roads that allow 4-wheel drive vehicles to drive directly onto the beach. See our Beach Driving page for more information on how and where to purchase a permit.
#CAPE HATTERAS NATIONAL SEASHORE N.C FREE#
Parking is free at Hatteras beach access points and many offer bathrooms, showers and handicap access. At 193ft (or 198ft to the lighting rod), this striking black-and-white-striped edifice is one of North Carolinas most. Hatteras Island beach access is available at numbered ramps which will be marked for pedestrian or off-road vehicle use. Surfing, sea shells, and sunbathing all await you on Cape Hatteras. Much of the southern portions of the Outer Banks is owned by the National Park Service so it’s guaranteed you’ll be closer to nature and whatever brought you here. Reward yourself with wide stretches of desolate beaches, wildlife refuge areas, and miles of empty sand dunes. Four campgrounds are located across Cape Hatteras National Seashore, providing an immersive experience of the barrier islands. The seashore spans from the soundside to the oceanside, and is open to everyone who adores a pristine and undeveloped length of seashore, as well as some of the Outer Banks' best birding, surfing, fishing,shelling and all around beach-going activities. The park's fishing and surfing are considered the best on the East Coast. From the third Friday in April through Columbus Day, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the Bodie Island Lighthouse are open for climbing.Take a drive past famous Whalebone Junction in Nags Head and keep driving south. Cape Hatteras is a combination of natural and cultural resources, and provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities. 12, but outside the national seashore boundaries, are Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and several communities, such as Rodanthe, Buxton, and Ocracoke. Included within this section of barrier islands along N.C.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a United States national seashore which preserves the portion of the Outer Banks of North Carolina from Bodie Island to Ocracoke Island, stretching over 70 miles (110 km), and is managed by the National Park Service.
