Routes in front of villages reopen Oct. 15, Transition to night driving in process

On September 15, the transition to night driving (24 hours a day) occurs each year along beach routes that do not contain sea turtle nests.

The beach routes that are currently not open for night driving will open for night driving once the sea turtle nests along the routes have hatched.

Additional dates of interest:

• On October 1, all designated ORV ramps, including priority ramps, that haven’t already opened for night driving, will open at 7 a.m.
• On October 15, seasonal ORV routes in front of the villages will reopen. They will stay open through April 14, 2020.

ORV ramps that are currently accessible after 9:00 p.m. include the following:

Bodie Island

Ramp 2 
Conditions: Ramp exit onto beach steep with ruts on the south side. Beach route may be difficult to pass during high tide conditions

Ramp 4
North: Conditions: Beach route may be difficult to pass during high tide conditions
South: Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions.

Hatteras Island

Ramp 25
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. Large mound of sand on ramp.

Ramp 27 
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. Standing water across much of the beach.

Ramp 32
Conditions: No alerts at this time

Ramp 44 – South:
Night Driving: Open starting at 0.3 miles, use the Bypass Road to access the night driving area and Cape Point.
Conditions: Standing water at Cape Point during high tide conditions.

Ramp 48
Conditions: No alerts at this time. Note that Ramp 49 is NOT open for night driving.

Ramp 55
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Note that all ORV routes on Ocracoke Island continue to be closed after Hurricane Dorian.

ORV routes throughout the Cape Hatteras National Seashore will seasonally close to night driving beginning on May 1, in anticipation of nesting sea turtles and hatchlings.

For more information on current ORV access and alerts, visit https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.