Outer Banks ORV Ramps Corolla To Ocracoke
The Outer Banks ORV ramps are a fun way to enjoy the Outer Banks of North Carolina. In your own vehicle, you can access a ramp, drive on the beach, pick your spot, park and enjoy the beach. Whether you want to fish, sit and relax, play in the water or launch your watersports equipment, it can all be done from your parking space on the beach. But before you head to the beach it helps to know where to go and how to do it.
Four Wheel Drive Recommended
Driving on the sand at the Outer Banks of North Carolina is tricky. You must have the right type of vehicle and you must know what to do to make driving on sand hassle-free. The vehicle should be a 4-wheel drive. That’s not to say other vehicles will not get stuck, but having a 4-wheel drive vehicle is HIGHLY recommended. Some all-wheel access vehicles can do alright. Never take a front-wheel-drive vehicle or a two-wheel drive on an Outer Banks beach.
Also important is the amount of ground clearance the vehicle has. The higher the ground clearance the better. Beach erosion and tracks from other vehicles can make ruts in the deep loose sand. Some ruts can be very high and as a result hard to cross. The higher the ground clearance your vehicle has the better chance of not getting stuck.
ORV Access – Where To Go
There are numbered ORV ramps along the Outer Banks. The numbered ORV ramps are all in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. There are some ORV access points that are not numbered such as the beach access entrance in Corolla. At the end of Highway 12 North in Corolla, the pavement ends and there is nothing but sand. There is no true ramp. The highway ends and the beach driving on sand begins.
Corolla
Corolla is located in Currituck County. There are some different beach driving rules that apply on this Outer Banks beach as opposed to those in Dare County. Once you enter the beach you can only park on the beach after riding about 1 mile (watch the signage). This prevents traffic congestion. The speed limit is 35 mph; 15 mph if within 300 feet of a person or animal. For the protection of the wild horses that roam the area, you can not get within 50 feet of the wild horses. Citations will be issued in order to protect the horses.
Kitty Hawk and Nags Head
The towns of Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills allow beach driving from October 1 through April 30. You must purchase a beach driving permit either from the Town of Kill Devil Hills or the Town of Nags Head. Each town recognizes the beach driving permit issued by the other. For more details go to Nags Head Beach Driving and Kill Devil Hills Beach Driving.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Beach driving on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore also requires you to purchase an ORV permit. The ORV permit must be displayed on the dash or windshield of the driver’s side of the vehicle. The permit information must match the vehicle’s description. It can not be used for multiple vehicles. There are two types of permits, a 10 day or an annual pass. These permits are purchased from the ORV permit online site on the National Park Service website.
Bodie Island and Oregon Inlet Area
Ramp 2 – near entrance to Coquina Beach in South Nags Head
Ramp 4 – Across from Oregon Inlet Fishing Center
Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Area
Ramps 23 – South of Salvo near Salvo Day Use Area
Ramp 30 – Between Salvo and the Little Kinnakeet Lifesaving Station
Ramp 34 – just north of Avon
Ramp 38 – just south of Avon near Askins Creek Store
Cape Point-Buxton-Hatteras Area
Ramp 44 – Entrance at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse across from Red Drum Tackle in Buxton
Ramp 45 – Entrance at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse across from Red Drum Tackle in Buxton
Ramp 49 – Entrance across from Frisco Gun and Tackle
Ramp 55 – Near Hatteras Inlet. Adjacent to Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum
Ocracoke Island Area
Ramp 59 – Just south of ferry terminal
Ramp 67 – just north of Ocracoke Campgrounds
Ramp 70 – At Ocracoke Island Airport just before entering Ocracoke Village
Ramp 72 – At the end of South Point Rd near Howard’s Pub and Raw Bar
The ramps may not always be open. Sometimes a ramp is closed for improvements, repairs, storm damage, ocean overwash, or standing rainwater leaving puddles too deep to drive through. If in doubt turn around. Getting stuck in the sand can be costly. Saltwater is corrosive and can easily result in vehicle damage. Not to mention towing is very expensive.
Outer Banks ORV Gallery
Driving On The Beach Tips
- Air down your tires to 18-20 psi
- Have a shovel in your vehicle to dig out your vehicle.
- Drive on the beach located just below the high tide mark. Avoid wet red sand.
- Know when times for high tide and low tide. They change daily!
- Drive slow, the speed limit is 15mph
- Enter and leave the beach only at designated numbered ramps. Driving over dunes is prohibited.
- Have a jack and jack support
- Vehicles must be registered, licensed, and insured for highway use
- You must have an ORV permit to drive on the beach (NPS)
Don’t be these guys!
