Cape Lookout National Seashore Orv Permits

Cape Lookout National Seashore

Explore Cape Lookout National Seashore

Cape Lookout National Seashore is a dynamic barrier island ecosystem that protects unique plants and wildlife. Stretching approximately 55 miles along the southern Outer Banks of North Carolina, the Seashore encompasses North Core Banks (Portsmouth Island), South Core Banks (Davis Island), and Shackleford Banks. Visitors are drawn to its soft sandy beaches, renowned fishing, excellent shelling, historic lighthouse and village, wild horses, and ever-changing coastal landscapes. To drive any vehicle, including ATVs and UTVs, on South Core Banks or North Core Banks, an Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Permit is required. 

How to Obtain an ORV Permit:

• Educational Video: Watch a short video on off-road driving at Cape Lookout National Seashore here .
• Permit Access:
• Log into your Recreation.gov account.
• Go to My Reservations, select Cape Lookout ORV Permit, and click Print Permit.
• Important: If printing from a mobile device, the document may appear blank. If you lack a printer, ask the rangers at the cabin office for assistance.
• Permit Copies:
• Keep a printed or digital copy of the permit in your vehicle at all times.
• Decal Distribution
• Permits Purchased Between January 4 – February 28
• Your ORV decal will be mailed to you.
• Permits Purchased on or After March 1
•  Decals are issued upon arrival at the islands.
• Decal Pickup Locations:
• Great Island Cabin Camp Office 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.
• Law Enforcement Park Rangers upon showing your printed permit.
• Decal Placement
• Place the ORV permit decal on the upper-driver-side corner of the outside of vehicle windshield.

By following these steps, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit to Cape Lookout National Seashore while helping preserve this remarkable environment for generations to come.

Notifications and Alerts

• The Cape Lookout 2025 ORV season will run from March 13, 2025 to December 31, 2025. There are currently some incorrect dates populating on permits that we are working to correct.

Permit & Season Information

The National Park Service Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Management Plan permits the use of vehicles on designated ORV routes to help protect the park's treasured resources. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended due to the soft and sandy conditions. If a vehicle gets stuck, commercial towing companies are not readily available and are cost prohibitive. National Park Service staff are not allowed to pull or tow stuck vehicles. At Cape Lookout National Seashore vehicles may only be driven on the oceanside beaches, ramps, and the Back Road of North Core Banks (Portsmouth Island) and South Core Banks (Davis Island). The only way to get your vehicle onto the islands is by vehicle ferry.

The permit is valid for the calendar year. The season runs from mid-March through December 31st of each year. Permits purchased between January 4th - March 12th will cost $35.00. Permits purchased from March 13th - December 31st will cost $75.00.  

Need to Know

To obtain an ORV permit, your vehicle must:  

• Be registered, licensed, and insured and comply with inspection requirements for the state, country, or province where the vehicle is registered. 
• ATVs/UTVs are not required to be licensed or insured in the state of NC. When purchasing an ORV permit for an ATV or UTV, please enter your driver's license number when asked for a license plate. 
• Watch a short educational video on off-road driving at Cape Lookout National Seashore here . 

Driving Regulations

• Speed limit is 25 mph, unless otherwise posted. Slow down when passing vehicles parked on the beach as they may have young children or pets that may dart out from the vehicles without seeing you.    
• Driving in or on the dunes is prohibited. Parking in between dunes is prohibited. This includes campers, trailers, etc. Driving or parking on vegetation is prohibited.  
• Sound side driving is prohibited.    
• All vehicles must follow all NC state laws – wear your seatbelts and no open containers of alcohol anywhere in the vehicle, to include the bed of a truck or UTV. Passengers riding in the beds of pickups and UTVs MUST sit flat on the bed of the truck and not on side rails, wheel wells, camp chairs, coolers, etc.  
• All vehicles must follow the posted signs regarding wildlife protection zone closures.    
• ATV operators must be at least 16 years of age, wear a DOT approved helmet, wear safety glasses/goggles, and have only the manufacturer’s recommended number of riders. 
• Reckless driving, such as cutting circles, throwing sand into the air, or defacing the beach is prohibited.    
• Driving on beaches or back road at night with accessory light bars illuminated is prohibited. 

Beach Rules 

• Pets must be restrained on a leash not to exceed 6 feet or otherwise confined at all times. Pets are prohibited within any resource protection zone closure.    
• Camping on top of dunes or on heavily vegetated areas is prohibited. Camping for more than 14 consecutive days is prohibited.    
• Beach fires must be below the high tide line and no more than 3 feet in diameter. Beach fires must be fully extinguished with water. If you have a fully contained fire pit or stove, you may have it between the high tide line and the dune line, but not within the dunes.  
• Fireworks, drone use, and metal detectors are prohibited.   

Safety 

• Do not drive between vehicles parked near the water line and the ocean. You may snag a fishing rod line.    
• When parked on the beach, leave room for two-way traffic to pass safely. Park along the shoreline in a single row of vehicles no more than one vehicle deep.    
• Stay informed about current and anticipated weather conditions and high tide events. Some sections of beach become impassable during high tide.  
• Do not attempt to drive through any wildlife closures, or along the water’s edge in front of closures. For ramp-to-ramp closures, you must detour to the back road; for partial closures, you must drive behind the closure, along the edge of the dunes.  
• Do not approach, feed, or disturb any wildlife. Report beached marine mammals to the National Park Service.  

Recommendations 

• Recommended equipment within the vehicle includes: low-pressure tire gauge, shovel, jack and jack support board.   
• Before driving on designated off-road vehicle routes, Cape Lookout National Seashore strongly recommends that tire pressure be lowered to 15-20 PSI. The softer the sand, the lower the pressure needed. Re-inflate tires to normal pressure after returning to paved roads. Many local businesses have air pumps.   
• Optional equipment includes a full-sized spare tire, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, trash bag or container, flashlight (if night driving) and tow strap. 

Fee Policy

Recreation Fee: January 4th - March 12th, the permit is $35.00 for the 2025 Season. March 13th - December 31st, the permit is $75.00 for the 2025 Season.

Cancellation Policy

Park Policy

• Cancellation : There are no changes or refunds allowed.
• Lost Decals: Will not be re-issued.
• ORV Permit Assignment and Transfer Policy: Your ORV Permit is assigned to the vehicle registered at the time of purchase and cannot be transferred to another vehicle. If the registered vehicle is sold, a new ORV Permit must be purchased for the replacement vehicle. ORV Permits are non-transferable under any circumstances.

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