ORV Annual Reports and Related Documents

The off-road driving corridor at Cape Cod National Seashore is comprised of miles of unspoiled beaches managed by the National Park Service to accommodate off-road vehicle (ORV) enthusiasts and other beach goers. Outlined are requirements and regulations for driving off-road at Cape Cod National Seashore. All applicable federal and state laws and regulations apply and are enforceable.

CURRENT ORV ROUTE MAP

Annual ORV Permits went on sale March 26, 2008.

Maximum of 150 annual permits issued per day
(Tickets will NOT be issued starting at 6am for the 150 available permits. Due to the success of the changes made to the permit issuing procedure, the 150 daily sales limit was never reached and seasonal and 7-Day permits were available throughout the year.)

Hours:
8:00am to 4:30pm
Seven days a week (including all holidays)

Price:
ORV Annual - $150
ORV 7-Day - $50
SCV Annual - $225
SCV 7-Day - $75

There will be up to 400 7-Day permits active at any time and 3000 annual permits available.

An Advanced Sales System is available for 7-Day permits. Two hundred (200) of the 400 7-Day permits offered will be available through the Advanced Sales System. The remaining 200 7-Day permits will be issued, in person, on a first-come, first-served basis at the Oversand Station at Race Point.

Only 7-Day permits may be obtained through the Advanced Sales System. Weekly permits will go on sale through the Advanced Sales System on March 1, 2008.

7-Day permits through the Advanced Sales System must be purchased at least one week before the date of issue; the completed request form, with credit card/payment information, must be received by the Oversand Office no later than seven calendar days prior to the requested issue date. More than one week may be requested through the Advanced Sales System or in person.

To obtain an Advanced Sale System form, click here.

The Advanced Sales Form will be accepted in person at the ORV station in Provincetown;
via FAX, to (508) 487 - 7259; 
U.S. mail to: Cape Cod National Seashore
99 Marconi Site Road
Wellfleet, MA 02667
Attn: Oversand Office. 

Call the Off-Road Information Line for station hours, current driving conditions, closures and other information: (508) 487-3698

The direct phone number to the Oversand Office is: (508) 487-2100, ext. 110. This office is staffed daily, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, from late March through November 15th.

When considering a 7-Day permit, be aware that as the Piping Plover population increases, the amount of ORV corridor may decrease significantly during June and July. There will be no refunds.

Operators:
Registered owners and other operators must have a valid state operator's license; view an educational orientation program each season; and abide by all Seashore and off-road regulations.

Vehicles:
4-Wheel/All Wheel Drive Vehicles or Self-Contained recreational vehicles must have: a valid state registration, inspection sticker, insurance, tires meeting standards outlined in this brochure and all required accessory equipment.

Rental vehicles are prohibited.

Vehicles will be inspected for required accessory equipment:

• Shovel: Heavy-duty shovel equal to a military folding shovel 
• Towing Device: Any of the following which are at least 14 feet long:
  Tow Strap: 11/2"; Rope: 3/4"; Chain 5/16"; Cable 1/4" 
• Jack: Standard size (e.g., vehicle manufacturer's jack) 
• Jack Support Board: Wood: 10" x 12" x 11/2" or Plywood: 10" x 12" x 3/4" 
• Tire Pressure Gauge: Must register to 5 p.s.i. or lower 
• SCV's and pick-up truck campers must also have a fire extinguisher and permanently mounted holding tanks.
• Spare Tire: Must meet tire standards outlined below. 
• Tires: All 5 tires, including the spare tire, must meet or exceed the standards outlined below. These standards are minimum acceptable tire standards. 

Dual-Wheel Standards for R/V's and
Pick-Up Campers (including spares):

Driving Corridor:
The Off-Road Corridor includes the beach route from Race Point Lighthouse in Provincetown to Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro. Coast Guard Beach to Longnook Beach in Truro is open for night fishing only. See designated off-road routes and definitions on the maps and diagrams. Travel may be restricted at the discretion of park rangers because of changing beach conditions and shorebird nesting activity.

For enjoyment of Cape Cod National Seashore's off-road route today and in future years, every operator must know, understand and abide by all seashore regulations.

All ORV traffic is limited to the backshore area of the beach, a marked corridor defined by a 10 foot offset from the spring high tide line to the berm crest at the normal high tide line. Check with rangers if in doubt. All applicable federal and state laws and regulations apply and are enforceable. Foreshore and foredune areas are off limits EXCEPT travel in the foreshore area when passing a beach cut that has eliminated the legal off-road vehicle corridor. Driving through inner dune routes, posted shorebird nesting areas and lifeguard-protected beaches is prohibited.

Driving Season & Hours:
The off-road vehicle corridor is open from April 15 through November 15. Portions of the beach may be closed to driving because of changing beach conditions and/or shorebird nesting activity.

Speed Limits:
15 m.p.h. on the beach unless otherwise posted and 5 m.p.h. through self-contained camping areas and posted shorebird nesting areas.

Right of Way & Safety:
When two vehicles meet on the beach, the operator of the vehicle with the water on the right has the right of way. Riding on fenders, tailgate, roof, or any exterior portion of a vehicle not designed to carry passengers is prohibited.

Alcoholic Beverages:
All applicable State and Federal roadways laws, including OUI and open containers, will be strictly enforced.

Pets:
Pets are allowed on beaches except in posted shorebird nesting areas and lifeguard-protected areas. They are also permitted on fire roads. Pets must be leashed or otherwise caged. Please remove all pet fecal matter. Pets are not permitted on certain National Seashore bike trails, designated nature trails, fresh water pond areas, lifeguarded swimming areas, and posted shorebird nesting areas.

Parking:
Parking is permitted only on the legal off-road vehicle corridor. All vehicles and boat trailers must be parked without obstructing traffic. Parking is not permitted on the inner route at the Race Point Lighthouse (north beach). Parking overnight is restricted to registered self-contained vehicles who are camping in the designated camping areas.

Boats & Personal Water Craft:
Boats may be trailered to and launched from anywhere on the ORV corridor. Personal watercraft (e.g., Jet Skis, Sea Doos, etc.) are prohibited from being trailered, launched and/or landed on any portion of the ORV corridor.

Beach Fires:
By permit only - now issued at the Oversand Station at Race Point. Permits may be reserved 3 days in advance. Self-contained stoves or grills are allowed without a permit.

Route Maintenance:
If your vehicle becomes stuck in the sand, you are responsible for filling in all ruts or holes and removing debris used to extricate the vehicle. Dumping trash and other debris is prohibited. Please leave no trace by packing out what you pack in.

Tire Pressure:
You are required to decrease tire pressure before entering the beach Off-Road Corridor. Tire pressure is critical for successful oversand driving. 12 p.s.i. is recommended. Friction may cause pressure to increase while you drive making it necessary to stop and reduce pressure again. Your beginning tire pressure should not exceed 15 p.s.i. An air compressor for inflating tires is located in the parking area between the north and south beach access areas at Race Point.

BEACH CAMPING IN A SELF-CONTAINED VEHICLE:

Camping is restricted to self-contained vehicle permittees and allowed in self-contained camping areas only on Race Point Beach. Camping is limited to 100 vehicles per night and restricted to 21 days per vehicle from July 1 through Labor Day. Variable beach conditions and temporary beach closures may result in temporary or permanent changes in the locations and boundaries of the designated camping areas. Tents and camping trailers are prohibited.

Advanced Sale System:
SCV owners have the option of purchasing 7-Day permits. These weekly SCV permits are included in the total number of 400 7-Day permits, and may be purchased in person, or through the Advanced Sale System.

The following rules apply to the Advanced Sale System:
1) SCV Annual permit holders will not be able to purchase a 7-Day SCV permit at any time.
2) The advanced sales for SCV 7 -Day permits will not exceed 20 permits issued per week. Additional SCV 7-Day permits may be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis as space allows.
3) Users purchasing 7-Day SCV permits or the annual SCV permit MUST remember they are not guaranteed one of the 100 spaces available on the beach.
4) There will be NO REFUNDS for weekly or annual permits purchased. Do not request weekly permits for any date prior to April 15th, or after November 9th, since the ORV corridor is open April 15th through November 15th.
5) When using the Advanced Sale System, be certain that you give all information on the request form. The contact information you give will be used to promptly inform you of the status of your permit request. It may be necessary to contact potential permitees when the 200 Advanced Sale System permit limit has been reached.

Inspection/equipment information will be included on the Advanced Sale permit request form. By indicating on the request form that one has all the required equipment, and that all 5 tires meet the ORV size requirements, the user assures compliance with equipment requirements. The limit of 100 SCV’s will remain in effect, and spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

To obtain an Advanced Sale System form, click here.

Time Limits & Holding Tank Regulations:
All self-contained beach camping spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis except July 4 and Labor Day weekends when reservations are required. All self-contained vehicles arriving for an overnight stay must register at the Off-road Vehicle Station before going onto the beach. An overnight authorization permit will be issued at this time. If arriving after hours you must register by 9 am the following morning.

If overnight authorizations are not renewed, the vehicle must be removed from the beach by 4 PM on the day the authorization expires. Authorizations must be posted with the expiration date clearly visible.

Self-contained vehicles may be parked in the designated areas for a maximum total of 21 days during the period from July 1 through Labor Day.

Self-contained vehicles MUST exit the beach after each 72 consecutive hours in order to empty holding tanks and gray water at an established septage dumping facility.

SCV reservations for July 4 & Labor Day Weekends are no longer required.


Travel to Beach & Camping Areas:
Self-contained vehicles may only travel the beach from either the Race Point north or Race Point south access ramps to the boundaries of the self-contained vehicle areas. The foredune and foreshore areas are off limits to all vehicles.

• You are required to decrease tire pressure before entering the beach ORV driving corridor. Tire pressure is critical for successful off-road driving. 12 p.s.i is recommended. Friction may cause pressure to increase while you drive making it necessary to stop and reduce pressure again. Your beginning tire pressure should not exceed 15 p.s.i.
• Always check tides before entering the off-road corridor. Portions of the beach may be impassable at high tide.
• If you feel you are in danger of getting stuck - check your tire pressure and let air out if necessary; try backing up in your tracks before moving ahead. Do not spin tires, this will only cause the vehicle to dig in. 
• Do not speed - excessive speed endangers you, your vehicle, other beach users, and wildlife. Experienced beach drivers know that a slow, steady speed and correct tire pressure are more effective than faster speeds. 
• Always be alert for wildlife when driving on the beach - tern and plover chicks may attempt to hide in vehicle tracks when frightened. 

Piping plovers, least terns and other shorebirds nest on the beaches of Cape Cod. Protection of the threatened piping plover and their habitats is administered jointly by the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Signs are posted near nests and exclosures are erected around nests to protect the chicks. Please check with a ranger for current beach closures.

Seals and seal pups rest on shore. Although they may appear to be tame, these animals are wild. Please do not approach them under any circumstance - this creates stress for the seal and may cause injury to you and the animal. If you suspect an animal is injured, please contact a ranger at 508-487-2100 or 508-349-3785.