Cape Point Campground- Opens April 14
Hatteras and Bodie Island Lighthouse- Opens April 21
Museum-Opens April 21
Frisco Campground-Opens April 21

Morning opening times for ORV use for some “popular” ramps which were currently identified as 2,4, 25,27,43,44,48,49,70, and72 will be open during May, June, and July at 6 am, during August and September they will open at 6:30 am. All other ramps will still open at 07:00 am. These changes will hopefully be updated and distributed soon in the Designated Off-Road Vehicle Routes pamphlets to provide to visitors as well as being posted at the Ramp entrances.

Seasonal ORV routes in front of villages will be posted closed on April 15th.

Current Access/Closures:
-South of Ramp 44/Cape Point-Approximately one tenth of a mile after the end of the bypass road enroute to Cape Point is now temporarily an ORV only corridor (no pedestrians) in order to protect all breeding activity of American Oyster Catchers. Please do not stop or park in this area, it is designated for ORV’s to drive through only. The space available to park varies on the tides and swell from day to day.
-South Beach (south/west of Cape Point) From 0.33 - 1.26 mi W of Old Ramp 45, a full beach closure was implemented. There is still pedestrian access below posted signage.
-Ramp 38-A full beach closure was temporarily implemented through the entire length of the area (1.6 - 2.8 mi S R38) in order to protect all breeding activity. Once nests have been observed there will be a re-evaluation of buffer distances to allow for any possible pedestrian access.
Frisco bathhouse- Project started to redo boardwalk and beach access, part of parking lot fenced off and current boardwalk. There is still an accessible sand social trail on southern end with 6 carsonite posts with green arrows added to point toward beach access foot trail. Hope to be completed by mid May.

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The new ORV permit process is in efect.  Annual permits are now valid for one year from the date of purchase. Yes, that means if you purchase an Annual ORV permit on April 4, 2017, it will be valid until April 4, 2018.  The prrof-of-permit sticker that is displayed on the windshield will have the date of expiration clearly visable on it.  The cost for the Annual Permit remains at $120.

The process for obtaining a permit has not changed.  Permits can be obained in-person at the Bodie Island Visitor Center & Lighthouse in Nags Head, NC, the Hatteras Island Visitor Center & Lighthouse in Buxton, NC or the Ocracoke Island Visitor Center, Ocracoke, NC.  you can skip watching the 7 minute video if you bring last year's permit (the paperwork, not the prrof-or-permit sticker) with you.    Permits are also available on-line at https://www.recreation.gov/wildernessAreaDetails.do?page=detail&contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70853

Getting the permit on-line requires a print-out of a temporary permit, which is valid for 30 days until your annual proof-of-permit sticker is mailed.  The temporay permit can be used for ORV access immediately.  A hard copy of the temporary permit and proof of permit must be carried in the vehicle.