66°
Mostly Sunny
0%
67
Carteret County, NC · Atlantic Ocean
Cape Lookout National Seashore
131 Charles Street, Harkers Island, NC 28531
A 56-mile string of undeveloped barrier islands stretching from Ocracoke Inlet to Beaufort Inlet, Cape Lookout is reached only by ferry. It features the iconic black-and-white diamond-pattern lighthouse, the wild Banker horses of Shackleford Banks, and certified International Dark Sky Park status for exceptional stargazing.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
74°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. North wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. North wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Weather
- 66°F air — cool but workable
- Sunny skies — mostly sunny
Water
- 74°F water — swimmable, refreshing
- 5.9ft waves — real surf — fun for confident swimmers, dicey for kids
67 /100
good
55 Swim
64 Sunbathe
77 Walk
67 Fish
75 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
66°F
Mostly Cloudy
Wind
9 to 14 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 10 AM & after 03 PM
Tomorrow
64°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
74°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
5.9 ft
10s · ESE swell
Barometer
29.91 inHg
1013 hPa · buoy 41025
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (AMZ156)
The MHX office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- NCZ203 Northern Outer Banks — Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, n/a
- NCZ205 Hatteras Island — Rodanthe, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, n/a
- NCZ204 Ocracoke Island — Ocracoke n/a
- NCZ196 East Carteret — Cape Lookout National Seashore and n/a
- NCZ195 West Carteret — Fort Macon, Atlantic Beach, n/a
- NCZ199 Coastal Onslow — Hammocks Beach and North Topsail Beach n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:32 AM
Sunset
5:07 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
64°
Sunny
0%
65
67°
Sunny
0%
69
68°
Sunny
0%
72
68°
Mostly Sunny
1%
74
67°
Mostly Sunny
10%
69
61°
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
18%
52
What to Bring Today
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 74°F
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
Free parking at the Harkers Island Visitor Center and at private ferry operator lots on the mainland. No parking on the barrier islands.
Dogs
Pets allowed on a 6-foot leash at all times, including on Shackleford Banks. Not permitted in buildings (rustic cabins excepted). Some ferry operators may refuse pets.
Entry Fee
No NPS entrance fee. Ferry fees vary by operator. America the Beautiful passes not accepted.
Address
131 Charles Street, Harkers Island, NC 28531
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Cape Lookout National Seashore today?
Cape Lookout National Seashore shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. No lifeguards are on duty, so check the day's conditions and swim with caution. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Cape Lookout National Seashore dog-friendly?
Pets allowed on a 6-foot leash at all times, including on Shackleford Banks. Not permitted in buildings (rustic cabins excepted). Some ferry operators may refuse pets.
Is there an entry fee at Cape Lookout National Seashore?
No NPS entrance fee. Ferry fees vary by operator. America the Beautiful passes not accepted.
Are there lifeguards at Cape Lookout National Seashore?
No lifeguards are stationed at Cape Lookout National Seashore. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.
What amenities are at Cape Lookout National Seashore?
Amenities at Cape Lookout National Seashore include visitor center, lighthouse (seasonal climbing), rustic cabins (rental), beach camping, historic villages, wildlife viewing.
When is the water warmest at Cape Lookout National Seashore?
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 Cape Lookout National Seashore located?
Cape Lookout National Seashore is in Carteret County, NC, at 131 Charles Street, Harkers Island, NC 28531.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS