Ramp 32

A quiet ORV beach ramp north of Avon, steps from the historic Little Kinnakeet Life-Saving Station

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Avon, NC

About

Ramp 32 is one of Cape Hatteras National Seashore's numbered beach-access points, sitting a couple of miles north of Avon village on the oceanside of NC-12. It's built primarily for permitted 4x4 traffic, but the same access point includes a pedestrian footpath from the parking lot out to the sand, so it works for a beach walk even without an ORV permit. A small six-vehicle parking area at the entrance gives visitors room to air down their tires or carpool before heading onto the beach, and the historic Little Kinnakeet Life-Saving Station — a life-saving outpost dating to the 1870s — sits a short walk south of the ramp if you want a bit of history with your beach day.

Like every ORV ramp on Hatteras Island, Ramp 32 requires a current Cape Hatteras National Seashore ORV permit — sold as an annual pass or a 10-day pass through Recreation.gov — and it's designated a non-priority, year-round ramp, meaning access hours shift with the season: daytime-only during the busy summer months, opening up to round-the-clock access in the off-season. The ramp is also subject to the same wildlife-protection closures that apply seashore-wide: stretches of beach near active piping plover, American oystercatcher, least tern, or sea turtle nests can close on short notice, especially from spring into late summer, so it's worth checking current ramp status before you head out.

Best Time to Visit Ramp 32

Ramp 32 is designated a non-priority, year-round ramp, which means its vehicle access hours shift with the season: expect daytime-only access during the busy summer months, opening up to round-the-clock access once the off-season arrives. Timing matters for another reason too — like the rest of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, stretches of beach near Ramp 32 can close on short notice to protect active piping plover, American oystercatcher, least tern, or sea turtle nests, and these wildlife closures are most common from spring into late summer. Visiting in the off-season generally means fewer access restrictions on both fronts.

Tips for Visiting Ramp 32

Use the ramp's small six-vehicle parking area to air down your tires or carpool with other vehicles before driving onto the beach — it's a good spot to stage before your run.
Check current ramp status before you head out.

Getting to Ramp 32

Ramp 32 sits on the oceanside of NC-12, a couple of miles north of Avon village on Hatteras Island within Cape Hatteras National Seashore. If you plan to drive onto the beach, you'll need a current Cape Hatteras National Seashore ORV permit, sold as either an annual pass or a 10-day pass through Recreation.gov, before you head out. If you're arriving on foot for a beach walk instead, the pedestrian footpath from the parking lot to the sand doesn't require this permit — just park at the ramp entrance and walk out from there.

What to Expect at Ramp 32

Ramp 32 is one of Cape Hatteras National Seashore's numbered beach-access points on Hatteras Island. It's built primarily for permitted 4x4 traffic, so most visitors arrive by vehicle to drive out onto the beach, but the same access point includes a pedestrian footpath running from the parking lot to the sand, making it usable for a straightforward beach walk as well. History fans can add a short detour south of the ramp to the Little Kinnakeet Life-Saving Station, a life-saving outpost dating back to the 1870s, for a bit of history alongside the beach.

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