68°
Sunny
0%
65
Carteret County, NC · Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Beach (NC)
125 W Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512
The easternmost town on Bogue Banks and the gateway to Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach is the busiest Crystal Coast beach town, anchored by the Circle area with its boardwalk, paid parking, bathhouses, and one of the few NC beaches with seasonal lifeguards.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
69°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 68. North wind around 9 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind 7 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph.
Weather
- 68°F air — cool but workable
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 69°F water — swimmable, refreshing
- 5.9ft waves — real surf — fun for confident swimmers, dicey for kids
65 /100
good
55 Swim
72 Sunbathe
81 Walk
72 Fish
79 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.5 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
68°F
Mostly Cloudy
Wind
9 mph
N
Rain
0%
This Afternoon
Air Quality
19 Good
Ozone · Carteret County
UV Peak
4 Moderate
Peaks 12 PM · burn in ~50m
Burn-free before 11 AM & after 03 PM
Tomorrow
65°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
69°F
Refreshing
Wave Height
5.9 ft
10s · ESE swell
Barometer
29.91 inHg
1013 hPa · buoy 41025
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:33 AM
Sunset
5:08 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 6:02 AM | High | 4.0 ft |
| 12:22 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 6:15 PM | High | 3.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:20 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 6:45 AM | High | 4.0 ft |
| 1:09 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 6:57 PM | High | 3.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 7:26 AM | High | 4.0 ft |
| 1:51 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 7:38 PM | High | 3.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:38 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 8:06 AM | High | 4.0 ft |
| 2:30 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 8:19 PM | High | 3.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:14 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 8:47 AM | High | 3.9 ft |
| 3:08 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 9:01 PM | High | 2.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:50 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 9:29 AM | High | 3.7 ft |
| 3:47 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 9:44 PM | High | 2.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:27 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 10:13 AM | High | 3.6 ft |
| 4:29 PM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 10:29 PM | High | 2.7 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8656483, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
65°
Sunny
0%
70
68°
Sunny
0%
72
69°
Sunny
0%
73
70°
Mostly Sunny
1%
76
68°
Mostly Sunny
7%
71
61°
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
16%
53
What to Bring Today
Nothing unusual - conditions are unremarkable today.
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Major
9:10 PM - 11:10 PM
Minor
4:40 AM - 5:40 AM
Major
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Minor
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Paid parking April 1 – September 30. The Circle Regional Beach Access has 300+ paid spaces. Season passes via ab-ncparking.com.
Dogs
Carteret County rule: dogs must be leashed (max 6 feet). Dogs not allowed in lifeguard-protected swim areas during beach season.
Entry Fee
Free beach access; paid parking April 1 – Sept 30
Address
125 W Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Atlantic Beach (NC) today?
Atlantic Beach (NC) shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Atlantic Beach (NC) dog-friendly?
Carteret County rule: dogs must be leashed (max 6 feet). Dogs not allowed in lifeguard-protected swim areas during beach season.
Is there an entry fee at Atlantic Beach (NC)?
Entry to Atlantic Beach (NC) is free.
Are there lifeguards at Atlantic Beach (NC)?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Atlantic Beach (NC) during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Atlantic Beach (NC)?
Amenities at Atlantic Beach (NC) include lifeguards (seasonal), restrooms, showers, boardwalk, three bathhouses, playground, fishing.
When is the water warmest at Atlantic Beach (NC)?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Atlantic Beach (NC) located?
Atlantic Beach (NC) is in Carteret County, NC, at 125 W Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS