Policies for COVID-19
Posted on: Tuesday, March 8, 2022 - 4:22pm |
Fees/FAQs/Rules
The main park entrance and dune are open from 8:00am to 9:00pm. The Soundside access and swim beach are open from 8:00am to 7:00pm. Please be advised that the parking lot at our Soundside Access fills up very quickly. We recommend arriving as early as possible as the parking lot is the only designated area where you may park to enjoy our Soundside beach area. You may be ticketed or towed if you park along Soundside Road or in any other undesignated area. Please look for alternative access sites such as those located on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
After 27 years, our Visitors’ Center is being renovated! Please excuse our appearance while we are remodeling. Unfortunately, the Visitors’ Center will be closed to the public during this time. However, the Park, the public restroom building located near the Visitors’ Center, and the Soundside Access will be open during normal operating hours. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Trails and restrooms at both park accesses are open. Please follow the 3-Ws and any posted guidelines.
With 24-hour advance notice, and dependent upon weather and ranger availability, we are offering dune rides to visitors with mobility restrictions on a limited basis, please call the park for more details.
When visiting, please follow the North Carolina State Parks Guidelines listed above.
Please monitor this page for additional information.
Last updated on: Sunday, June 19, 2022
Contact the park
252-441-7132
jockeys.ridge@ncparks.gov
Addresses
Visitor center
300 W. Carolista Drive
Nags Head, NC 27959
GPS: 35.9642, -75.6330
Soundside access
330 W. Soundside Road
Nags Head, NC 27959
GPS: 35.9525, -75.6320
Hours
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- November to February:
8:00am to 6:00pm
- March to April:
8:00am to 8:00pm
- May to September:
8:00am to 9:00pm
- October:
8:00am to 7:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
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- October to March:
8:00am to 5:00pm
- April to September:
8:00am to 7:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
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- The park visitor center is currently under construction for renovations and is CLOSED until next spring.
- October to March:
9:00am to 5:00pm
- April to September:
9:00am to 6:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
Additional information
There are no entrance fees to enjoy the park. In addition to park-specific rules, please read the systemwide Park Rules for all North Carolina State Parks.
Hot Sand
Shoes are a must to protect tender feet from hot sand and sandspurs - sand temperatures may be as much as 30 degrees higher than air temperatures.
Fulgurites
Fulgurites are glass tubes formed when lightning hits the sand. Please don't remove the fulgurites.
Hang Gliding
Hang gliding is regulated by park staff for the safety of participants and other visitors. Only persons with a USHPA Hang 1 or other agency-approved rating card may hang glide on Jockey's Ridge. All hang gliders must register with the park office. Hang-gliding activity stops one hour before the park closes.
Visitors may take hang gliding lessons from the private hang-gliding concession located near the park visitor center. Additional information can be found on the Kitty Hawk Kites website.
Permits
Event permits. Some events—such as weddings, athletic contests, company parties, etc.—may require a Special Activity Permit. If you're unsure whether such a permit is necessary for your event, call the park office beforehand. You can download a Special Activity Permit application or obtain one from the park office.
Research and collection permits. A permit is required for any project involving the collection, removal or disturbance of any natural or cultural resource of any state park unit and for projects that require placing monitoring equipment in any state park unit. Learn more about research and collection permits or fill out a permit application online.
A $25 fee will be charged for all returned checks.
Park Maps and Brochures:
