71°
Mostly Sunny
0%
73
Brunswick County, NC · Atlantic Ocean
Holden Beach
110 Rothschild Street, Holden Beach, NC 28462
A primarily residential barrier-island town with over eight miles of clean, gently sloping beach, Holden Beach is a family-oriented community with minimal commercial development and a strong sea turtle nesting program from May through October.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
69°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. North wind 7 to 10 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. North wind 5 to 8 mph.
Weather
- 71°F air — cool but workable
- Sunny skies — mostly sunny
Water
- 69°F water — swimmable, refreshing
- 4.9ft waves — real surf — fun for confident swimmers, dicey for kids
73 /100
great
59 Swim
77 Sunbathe
83 Walk
73 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
71°F
Mostly Clear
Wind
7 to 10 mph
N
Rain
0%
This Afternoon
Air Quality
66 Moderate
PM2.5 (fine particles) · New Hanover County
UV Peak
4 Moderate
Peaks 12 PM · burn in ~50m
Burn-free before 10 AM & after 03 PM
Tomorrow
66°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
69°F
Refreshing
Wave Height
4.9 ft
10s · ESE swell
Barometer
29.93 inHg
1014 hPa · buoy 41013
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:38 AM
Sunset
5:15 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:41 AM | High | 6.1 ft |
| 12:01 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 5:53 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:08 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 6:24 AM | High | 6.2 ft |
| 12:45 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 6:35 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:47 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 7:04 AM | High | 6.2 ft |
| 1:26 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 7:15 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:25 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 7:42 AM | High | 6.1 ft |
| 2:06 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 7:53 PM | High | 4.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:03 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 8:20 AM | High | 5.9 ft |
| 2:45 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 8:30 PM | High | 4.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:41 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 8:59 AM | High | 5.7 ft |
| 3:25 PM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| 9:09 PM | High | 4.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:20 AM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| 9:42 AM | High | 5.4 ft |
| 4:06 PM | Low | 1.1 ft |
| 9:52 PM | High | 4.3 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8661070, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
66°
Sunny
0%
71
72°
Sunny
0%
77
73°
Sunny
0%
79
73°
Mostly Sunny
0%
78
71°
Mostly Sunny
8%
74
64°
Mostly Sunny
12%
64
What to Bring Today
- recommended SPF 30 sunscreen clear day + warm temps
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
9:20 PM - 11:20 PM
Minor
4:40 AM - 5:40 AM
Major
9:40 AM - 11:40 AM
Minor
3:40 PM - 4:40 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Paid parking 9am–5pm daily via SurfCAST by Otto: $5/hour (up to 4 hrs), $20/day, $80/week, $175/annual. Free outside enforcement hours. ADA spaces free with placard.
Dogs
Dogs prohibited on the beach May 20 – September 10 between 9am and 5pm. Otherwise allowed but must be leashed at all times. Service dogs exempt.
Entry Fee
Free beach access; paid parking required 9am–5pm
Address
110 Rothschild Street, Holden Beach, NC 28462
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Holden Beach today?
Holden Beach 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 Holden Beach dog-friendly?
Dogs prohibited on the beach May 20 – September 10 between 9am and 5pm. Otherwise allowed but must be leashed at all times. Service dogs exempt.
Is there an entry fee at Holden Beach?
Entry to Holden Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Holden Beach?
No lifeguards are stationed at Holden Beach. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.
What amenities are at Holden Beach?
Amenities at Holden Beach include restrooms, showers, fishing pier, public access ramps, kayak launches.
When is the water warmest at Holden Beach?
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 Holden Beach located?
Holden Beach is in Brunswick County, NC, at 110 Rothschild Street, Holden Beach, NC 28462.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS