The Outer Banks with it's spectacular natural beauty and unique environment offers visitors opportunities to enjoy pleasures that are far from commonplace. Not all the places to visit are on well-paved roads. Here, you can drive your off-road vehicle along the many miles of accessible beach as you search for that perfect fishing spot or explore our pristine beaches, as the waves lap at your tires. you can sit around a bonfire and share ghost stories with the backdrop of the ocean waves rolling onto the shore. Or, you can feed the seagulls from the back of a ferry. All this can be enjoyed, but there are a few regulations that must be followed. Off-Road Vehicles Driving an off-road vehicle (ORV) on the beach can be fun and adventurous, but where beach driving is permitted, there are general rules to follow: To provide more information about the rule and its requirements, the NPS has prepared a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) information sheet and a map showing designated ORV routes as well as pedestrian areas where ORVs are not authorized. The map is available here and the FAQ is now available here Regulations as they pertain to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, each individual town and Currituck County. The Final Off Road Ruling has just been announced (Jan 23, 2012) and is in the process of being implemented ... see January UPDATE from NPS It becomes effective February 15, 2012. New permits and fees are required for ORV usage along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. For further information contact: Mike Murray, Superintendent, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, 1401 National Park Drive, Manteo, North Carolina 27954. Phone: (252) 473-2111 (ext. 148). Final Off Road Vehicle Ruling Details .. effective February 15, 2012. The Use of off-road vehicles (ORV) on the beaches along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore is permitted year round with some limitations. Future permits are required to drive on the National Park Service (NPS) beaches at night and during the day so it is advisable to check with a ranger to understand NPS guidelines and assure you are not entering a closed zone. Please note that driving in the Pea Island Wildlife Refuge is strictly prohibited. For current information on open zones and guidelines, contact the National Park Service Headquarters, Cape Hatteras Group at (252) 473-2111 or visit any NPS visitor center located throughout the park. Cape Hatteras National Seashore ORV Brochure Regulations and Requirements for Off-Road Vehicles OUTER BANKS, NC Click for an updated version of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Off-Road Vehicle brochure that summarizes the current regulations and requirements. This brochure will be used until the National Park Service, working with partner organizations, can develop a new, full-color ORV driving brochure based on the current requirements, including those implemented as a result of the consent decree. Cape Hatteras National Seashore Off-Road Vehicle Brochure [pdf format] National Park Service Off Road Vehicle Use Each township located north of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore has its own requirements for beach driving. The towns of Southern Shores and Kitty Hawk do not allow ORVs on the beach at any time. The towns of Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head allow beach driving, but only between October 1 and April 30. In order to operate an ORV on the beach in Nags Head, visitors must apply for and receive a permit from the Nags Head town hall. Kill Devil Hills does not require a permit. For further information, contact the respecitive town's administrative office at: Kill Devil Hills (252) 480-4000 Kitty Hawk (252) 26103552 Nags Head (252) 441-5508 Southern Shores (252) 261-2394 Currituck County and the Northern Beaches No vehicular traffic is permitted on the beach strand south of the North Beach Access Ramp between May 1 and September 30. Only 4-wheel drive vehicles are permitted on the beach strand north of the North Beach Access Ramp year-round. The speed limit is 35 mph unless located within 300 feet of pedestrians, then it is 15 mph. All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are no longer allowed on the beaches of Currituck County, except for residents and property owners. Contact the County Manager's office for more information, (252) 232-2075. Vehicles parked on the beach must be parked in the area east of the dune line and west of the hard packed sand strip, adjacent to the waters edge. No chairs, coolers, fishing lines, holes, trenches, or any other items are permitted to block the foreshore*. This would restrict vehicular movement in a north-south direction along the dune line or along the waters edge. *The foreshore is the hard packed sand from the last high mark to the low water mark. No vehicle of any type may park or unload at the North Beach Access Ramp at any time. This must be done on the beach past the 1/2 mile mark. VIOLATORS SHALL BE TOWED. Operators must be 16 years of age and possess a valid drivers license. Commercial Fishermen are exempt from beach driving regulations while actually engaged in fishing or setting of seines in the Atlantic Ocean. Pets On The Beach Whether you're playing catch, swimming in the ocean, running along the shore or simply enjoying their company, the beach can be fun and rewarding for both pets and their owners. The towns and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore each have their own restrictions pertaining to pets on the beach. Corolla Dogs are allowed on the beach with a year round leash law. Your pet must be on a leash at all times. Pet owners/handlers are responsible for removal of pet waste. Duck Dogs are allowed are the beaches year round. Dogs may run freely on the beaches, while under the control of the owner. They must be leashed, with a leash not exceeding 10 ft. while in the town limits. Southern Shores Dogs must be leashed at all times when off the owner’s property. No animals are allowed on the beach May 15th to September 15th. From September 16th until May 15th dogs must be on a leash and cleaned up after on the beach. Kitty Hawk Dogs are permitted on public beaches. The owner/handler is responsible for and must remove all feces and possess a bag/container for waste removal at all times. From the Friday before Memorial Day until the day after Labor Day between the hours of 10:00 am and 6:00 pm dogs must be on a leash not exceeding 6 feet. At all other times during the year, dogs must be restrained on a leash retractable to 12 feet. Dogs must be taken off the leash only if they will not disturb other people on the beach. Unleashed dogs must be controlled by the handler, who must remain within 30 feet of the dog at all times. A leash must be with owner/handler at all times. Kill Devil Hills Between May 15 and September 15 no dogs shall be permitted on the public beach between the hours of 9:00 am and 6:00 pm., unless being used to aid a handicapped person. At all other times, no dogs shall be permitted on the public beaches except upon a leash and under the control of the owner or handler. Pet owners must remove all pet waste and dispose of properly. Nags Head Dogs are allowed on the beach year round with a leash. Pet owners/handlers are responsible for removal of pet waste and are to maintain control of their pets at all times. Pet waste is not to be buried in the sand or put in the ocean. Horses are allowed on the beach from October 1st through April 30th. Currituck County Dogs are not allowed to run at large in subdivisions. Pets are allowed on Currituck County beaches, but must be under the owner's control, either by leash or voice command. Ocracoke Island Dogs are allowed on the beach year-round if they are restrained on a 6 ft. leash. Pets are prohibited on designated swimming beaches. Guide dogs for the visually impaired are permitted to remain with their owners at all times. Cape Hatteras National Seashore DOGS ON NATIONAL SEASHORE MUST BE LEASHED Dogs are allowed on the beach year round, if they are restrained with a leash 6 feet or less. Park Rangers and Beach Ambassador Volunteers will provide information to pet owners and encourage voluntary compliance. Park Rangers can issue violation notices carrying a $125.00 fine to any pet owners who do not comply with the leash requirement. Call 252-429-3100 for more information on National Seashore regulations. Beach Bonfires Sitting around a bonfire on the beach can be romantic and relaxing and it's certainly not something you get to do everyday. Although not allowed on the beaches in Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk or Kill Devil Hills, bonfires are allowed with regulations, on the beaches in Nags Head and along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The regulations are as follows: Nags Head Permits are required and are obtained from the Nags Head Fire Department located at 5314 South Croatan Highway after 5:00 pm on the specific day the fire is requested. Fires will not be permitted if winds are 10 knots or more. A picture ID, the address of applicant, and the location for the requested fire are required.Fires cannot be built within 50 feet of any combustible material, including buildings, beach grass, sea oats and driftwood. In addition, the hollowed-out pit must be no larger than 3 feet in diameter and not less than 1 foot in depth. The fire must be attended by a competent adult and must be extinguished prior to leaving the site. Currituck County Beach fires are illegal on the Currituck Outer Banks. Also, glass is NOT permitted on the beach. Cape Hatteras National Seashore Ground fires are permitted on the beach below the high tide line and a permit is not required. And, as above, the fire must be attended by an adult and be completely extinguished before leaving the site of the bonfire. National Park Service Campgrounds National Park Service News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2011 CONTACT: 252-473-2111, ext. 146 LATEST NEWS RELEASES Cape Hatteras National Seashore 2011 Campgrounds Season Outer Banks Group Superintendent Mike Murray announced today that Oregon Inlet, Frisco, and Ocracoke Campgrounds will open to the public on Friday, April 1, 2011. Oregon Inlet and Frisco Campgrounds will remain open through Columbus Day, October 10, 2011. Ocracoke Island Campground, on a reservation system, will remain open through October 31, 2011. Cape Point Campground in Buxton, on Hatteras Island, will open Friday, May 27, 2011 for Memorial Day weekend and close on September 5, 2011. Cape Hatteras National Seashore has four campgrounds. All campgrounds accommodate tents, trailers, and motor homes up to 35 feet. Each campground provides rest rooms, potable water, unheated showers, grills, and picnic tables. No hookups (utility connections) are available. Camping fees at Oregon Inlet, Frisco and Cape Point are $20 per night. The camping fee at Ocracoke Campground is $23 per night. Holders of the Interagency Senior or Access passes and the Golden Age or Golden Access passes receive a 50% discount on their campsite. Group camping is only available at Oregon Inlet Campground. Fees for group camping are $4.00 per person per night (for groups of 7-30 people) including infants and toddlers. The group camping reservation number is 252-441-0882 and reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance. Ocracoke is the only National Park Service campground on the Outer Banks where visitors can make advanced reservations for non-group campsites. Reservations can be made by calling 1-877-444-6777 or on the Internet at www.recreation.gov and can be made up to six months in advance. Campsites at Oregon Inlet, Frisco and Cape Point Campgrounds are assigned on a first come first served basis. No more than 6 persons and two vehicles may occupy a single campsite. Camping trailers, including pop-up campers, are considered vehicles. Parking space for extra vehicles is limited, so please make arrangements to park your extra vehicle outside the park or rent an additional campsite. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, all camping is limited to a total of 14 days within a 30-day period. Quiet hours are between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Please be considerate of fellow campers. Generators may not be operated during these hours. Camping in Cape Hatteras National Seashore is permitted only in designated campgrounds. Camping on beaches is prohibited. Pets must be physically restrained at all times on a leash not exceeding 6 feet in length. 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