63°
Sunny
0%
52
Dare County, NC · Atlantic Ocean
Nags Head Beach
S Virginia Dare Trail (NC-12), Nags Head, NC 27959
The heart of the Outer Banks — 11 miles of wide Atlantic sand fronted by Beach Road. Soundside one block back, Jockey's Ridge State Park (the largest natural sand dunes on the East Coast) is two miles inland. Endless beach-cottage rentals, fishing piers every couple of miles, classic OBX vacation in concentrated form.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
63°F air · 74°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 52. Northwest wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Weather
- 63°F air — chilly for a beach day
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 74°F water — swimmable, refreshing
- 5.9ft waves — real surf — fun for confident swimmers, dicey for kids
52 /100
ok
45 Swim
51 Sunbathe
71 Walk
61 Fish
70 Photo
Best for walking today
Atmosphere
Air Temp
63°F
Clear
Wind
10 to 17 mph
N
Rain
0%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
3 Moderate
Peaks 11 AM · burn in ~67m
Burn-free before 10 AM & after 02 PM
Tomorrow
62°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
74°F
Swimming weather
Next High Tide
6:47 PM
1.1 ft · in 14m
Wave Height
5.9 ft
10s · ESE swell
Barometer
29.91 inHg
1013 hPa · buoy 41025
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:30 AM
Sunset
5:01 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:24 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 6:16 AM | High | 1.4 ft |
| 1:15 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 6:47 PM | High | 1.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:05 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 6:55 AM | High | 1.4 ft |
| 2:01 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 7:31 PM | High | 1.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:43 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 7:34 AM | High | 1.3 ft |
| 2:43 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 8:12 PM | High | 1.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:20 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 8:10 AM | High | 1.3 ft |
| 3:23 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 8:52 PM | High | 0.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:57 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 8:46 AM | High | 1.3 ft |
| 4:02 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 9:28 PM | High | 0.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:34 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 9:22 AM | High | 1.2 ft |
| 4:41 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 10:01 PM | High | 0.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:12 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 9:58 AM | High | 1.1 ft |
| 5:19 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 10:31 PM | High | 0.8 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8652587, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
62°
Sunny
0%
65
65°
Sunny
0%
67
68°
Sunny
0%
74
67°
Mostly Sunny
0%
76
66°
Mostly Sunny
11%
70
60°
Slight Chance Rain Showers
22%
41
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
4:30 AM - 5:30 AM
Major
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Minor
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Free public lots and ocean-side accesses every few blocks along NC-12. Some lots fill by mid-morning on summer weekends.
Dogs
Dogs allowed year-round on a leash (max 10 ft). No off-leash voice-control window; owners must clean up.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
S Virginia Dare Trail (NC-12), Nags Head, NC 27959
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Nags Head Beach today?
Nags Head 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. 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 Nags Head Beach dog-friendly?
Dogs allowed year-round on a leash (max 10 ft). No off-leash voice-control window; owners must clean up.
Is there an entry fee at Nags Head Beach?
Entry to Nags Head Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Nags Head Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Nags Head Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Nags Head Beach?
Amenities at Nags Head Beach include lifeguards, public restrooms at major accesses, fishing piers, rentals nearby.
When is the water warmest at Nags Head 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 Nags Head Beach located?
Nags Head Beach is in Dare County, NC, at S Virginia Dare Trail (NC-12), Nags Head, NC 27959.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS