Hyde County, NC · Atlantic Ocean

Ocracoke Beach

Sixteen miles of pristine, undeveloped barrier-island beach on Ocracoke Island — accessible only by ferry. The village at the south end is one of the most charming on the East Coast. Pony pen with the descendants of the Banker ponies. National Geographic and Dr. Beach have repeatedly named this a top US beach.

Eats & Drinks 22 Stay 20 Shops 11 Charters & Tours 7 Rentals 6

Today's Conditions

Great day for a beach walk.

64°F air · 74°F water

Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon

Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. North wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Weather

64°F air — chilly for a beach day
Sunny skies — mostly sunny

Water

74°F water — swimmable, refreshing
5.9ft waves — real surf — fun for confident swimmers, dicey for kids

64 /100

good

52 Swim

58 Sunbathe

74 Walk

64 Fish

73 Photo

Best for walking today

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Atmosphere

Air Temp

64°F

Clear

Wind

10 to 15 mph

Rain

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 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

5:04 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

Today Nov 7

64°

Mostly Sunny

Sun Nov 8

62°

Sunny

Mon Nov 9

65°

Sunny

Tue Nov 10

67°

Sunny

Wed Nov 11

66°

Mostly Sunny

Thu Nov 12

66°

Mostly Sunny

12%

Fri Nov 13

60°

Slight Chance Rain Showers

19%

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

NPS lots at the lifeguarded beach. ORV access elsewhere with permit.

Dogs

Leashed at all times. Prohibited on protected sections during plover nesting.

Entry Fee

No beach entry fee. Free Hatteras–Ocracoke ferry; Cedar Island & Swan Quarter ferries $15-30/vehicle.

Address

NC-12, Ocracoke, NC 27960

Amenities

lifeguards (one staffed beach)restroomsferry accessvillage restaurants & shopspony pen

Frequently Asked

Is it safe to swim at Ocracoke Beach today?

Ocracoke 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 Ocracoke Beach dog-friendly?

Leashed at all times. Prohibited on protected sections during plover nesting.

Is there an entry fee at Ocracoke Beach?

No beach entry fee. Free Hatteras–Ocracoke ferry; Cedar Island & Swan Quarter ferries $15-30/vehicle.

Are there lifeguards at Ocracoke Beach?

Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Ocracoke Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.

What amenities are at Ocracoke Beach?

Amenities at Ocracoke Beach include lifeguards (one staffed beach), restrooms, ferry access, village restaurants & shops, pony pen.

When is the water warmest at Ocracoke 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 Ocracoke Beach located?

Ocracoke Beach is in Hyde County, NC, at NC-12, Ocracoke, NC 27960.