Hatteras Beach 55

Total Miles
3.3

Elevation

4.17 ft

Duration

--

Technical Rating

6

Moderate

Best Time

Spring, Summer, Fall

Trail Overview

Hatteras Beach Ramp 55 is at the southwest end of Hatteras and runs closest to Hatteras Inlet. Located within Cape Hatteras National Seashore, ORV permits need to be purchased to drive the many designated beach access points. Annual and 10-day permits may be purchased at Recreation.gov. A list of required safety equipment must be met before driving on the beach, and a visual printed or filled out permit must be displayed on the windshield. 4WD is required for beach driving, along with a good set of tires aired down to 20psi minimum. This is a fun beach driving experience with deep loose sand and incredible views of the wind-sculpted dunes and the Atlantic Ocean. The inside road can be the most difficult with very deep sand and whoops. It's best to drive within existing runts to put less stress on your vehicle. The winds can be very harsh out here, so packing a good windbreaker and layers is recommended, along with lots of sunscreen. Make sure to hold on to door handles securely before opening or closing any doors. ATVs, UTVs, and motorcycles are not allowed.Required Equipment: Low-pressure tire gauge, shovel, jack and jack support board, 20psi minimum tires.Optional Equipment: full-sized spare tire, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, trash bag, flashlight, tow straps, recovery boards.

Difficulty

This is a fun beach driving experience with deep loose sand and incredible views of the wind sculpted dunes and Atlantic Ocean. The inside road can be the most difficult with very deep sand and woops. It's best to drive within existing runts to put less stress on your vehicle. Going up the ramps off the beach can be very challenging with deep loose sand. When leaving we saw a 2WD truck being winched from the beach due to not being able to climb up the ramp.

Technical Rating

6

Status Reports

Kevin Hardy
Jul 14, 2023
4x4
Open
Normal

Access Description

ORV permits need to be purchased to drive the many designated beach access points. Annual and 10-day permits may be purchased at Recreation.gov. Permits can be purchased through QR codes on site and permit forms are available for display at the many campgrounds and lighthouse visitor centers on the island.

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