ORV Ramp 72 (Ocracoke South): Access, Fishing, and What to Expect
Last updated: May 2026. Confirm current access status at NPS Cape Hatteras beach access before you drive.
Where It Is
Exact ramp location: see the NPS beach access map.
What’s Typical Here
Drum, pompano, sea mullet, sharks.
The Read
South Point access. Some of the least-pressured surf on the OBX.
Access Requirements
NPS ORV permit required. See the ORV permit walkthrough for details.
Need a 4WD for Hatteras or Ocracoke?
Our rental company, Beach4x4, runs weekly beach-ready Jeeps and SUVs with both beach permits, recovery gear, tire gauge, and compressor included — and the same rental rides the free Hatteras–Ocracoke vehicle ferry. That crossing is seventy minutes of dead time, and Blackbeard’s Gold: The Crossing is built to fill it — a self-guided hunt you start in the ferry line, play across the sound, and finish on the thirteen miles of NC-12 down to the village. $29 a team, also ours. Your signal drops mid-crossing; the game expects it.
Parking and Walk-On Access
Amenities at NPS ramps are minimal and vary by ramp — confirm current facilities on the NPS beach access page before you go, and plan to pack out everything.
Current Closure Status
Closure status changes weekly during nesting season (typically March through August) and after major storms. Always check the live NPS status before you drive — a closed ramp ends a trip fast:
