2014 ORV permits go on sale Dec. 1 and will be offered online

The National Park Service announced today that annual and weekly off-road vehicle permits for designated ORV routes in Cape Hatteras National Seashore for the 2014 season will go on sale Dec. 1 and for the first time will offer the option to purchase the permit online.

Offering the online option will further streamline the process for many visitors and local residents, the Park Service said in a news release.

Beginning Dec. 1, the 2014 annual permits will go on sale online and in all three permit offices located in the seashore.  The 2014 annual permit can be used during the transition month of December 2013 and is valid through December 31, 2014. 

Also, beginning Dec. 1, weekly permits for 2014 may be purchased up to two calendar months in advance. 

Obtaining an ORV permit is an easy process that takes only minutes and can be accomplished one of two ways:

By visiting one of the three NPS off-road vehicle permit offices located at:

 –Bodie Island at the north end of the Coquina Beach parking lot (8101 Highway 12 in Nags   Head.

–Hatteras Island by the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Visitor Center (46368 Lighthouse Road, Buxton

–Ocracoke Island by the NPS Visitor Center (40 Irvin Garrish Highway, Ocracoke).

All three permit offices are open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., year-round, seven days a week, except Christmas Day.

Beginning Dec. 1, 2013, you may obtain an ORV permit online by visiting www.recreation.gov.  If you request a permit using the recreation.gov website, you can choose to pick up the permit at any of the three ORV offices or have it mailed directly to you for an additional fee.

The cost of an annual permit (valid for the calendar year) is $120.  A seven-day weekly ORV permit (valid for seven consecutive days) costs $50.  For online pickup orders, add $4.50 for processing. For online shipping orders, add $11 for processing and shipping.  Orders must be placed at least one day in advance for pickups and 14 days in advance for shipping.

For more information on off-road vehicle use in the Seashore, see the park’s website link at:  http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/off-road-vehicle-use.htm 
or call park headquarters at 252-473-2111.