Confirm current access status at NPS Cape Hatteras beach access before you drive.
Where It Is
Ramp 68 is just south of the Park Service’s Ocracoke Campground, about three miles from Ocracoke Village. You reach it from North Carolina Highway 12, the road that runs the length of the island, at the campground.
The Route
Ramp 68 is a seasonal vehicle ramp: open to vehicles October 15 to April 14 only. In those months you drive north from the ramp onto the year-round route that runs up toward Ramp 67. South of the ramp is walk-on only; to drive toward South Point, use Ramp 70 at the airstrip. Walkers can use Ramp 68 all year.
Some visitor guides list Ramp 68 as a year-round vehicle ramp. It is not; in summer it is a footpath to the beach.
What’s Typical Here
Fall brings red drum and bluefish to the Ocracoke beaches, and the vehicle season here lines up with the fall run. For the island’s reports and live water, see the Ocracoke fishing report.
The Read
The campground ramp. Handy if you are camping next door, and the easiest walk-on beach on the middle of the island in summer.
Access Requirements
NPS ORV permit required ($50 for 10 days, $120 for the year, sold online at recreation.gov). See the ORV permit walkthrough for details.
Need a 4WD for Hatteras or Ocracoke?
Our rental company, Beach4x4, runs weekly beach-ready Jeeps, SUVs and full-size 4WD pickups with both beach permits, recovery gear, tire gauge, and compressor included — and the same rental rides the Hatteras–Ocracoke vehicle ferry (free through 2026).
Parking and Walk-On Access
A large parking lot with a sandy path to the ramp, plus a restroom, recycling and exhibits. The Ocracoke Campground is next door; Ramp 70 by the airstrip also has a restroom.
Current Closure Status
The Park Service closed every ramp on the seashore after the late-September 2026 nor’easter. As of October 30, 2026 the route north of Ramp 68 was open to vehicles 24 hours, and the seasonal route closes again April 15, 2027.
Closure status changes weekly during nesting season (typically March through August) and after major storms. Always check the live NPS status before you drive:
