67°
Mostly Sunny
0%
63
New Hanover County, NC · Atlantic Ocean
Wrightsville Beach
321 Causeway Dr, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
A 4-mile barrier-island beach 15 minutes east of Wilmington — one of the cleanest beaches in the Southeast (consistently rated A+ by NRDC). Restaurants and rentals on the south end, quieter residential on the north end. The dawn surfing scene is real.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
69°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. North wind around 12 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind around 12 mph.
Weather
- 67°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
63 /100
good
53 Swim
68 Sunbathe
79 Walk
67 Fish
75 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.8 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
67°F
Clear
Wind
12 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
65°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
69°F
Refreshing
Next Low Tide
11:58 PM
0.1 ft · in 5.4h
Wave Height
4.9 ft
10s · ESE swell
Barometer
29.93 inHg
1014 hPa · buoy 41013
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:36 AM
Sunset
5:13 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:31 AM | High | 5.1 ft |
| 11:52 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 5:45 PM | High | 4.3 ft |
| 11:58 PM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 6:14 AM | High | 5.2 ft |
| 12:39 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 6:27 PM | High | 4.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:40 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 6:55 AM | High | 5.2 ft |
| 1:23 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 7:07 PM | High | 4.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:19 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 7:37 AM | High | 5.1 ft |
| 2:03 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 7:49 PM | High | 3.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:56 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 8:19 AM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 2:42 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 8:32 PM | High | 3.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:31 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 9:03 AM | High | 4.7 ft |
| 3:19 PM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 9:17 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:05 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 9:47 AM | High | 4.5 ft |
| 3:57 PM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| 10:04 PM | High | 3.3 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8658163, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
65°
Sunny
0%
70
69°
Sunny
0%
75
69°
Sunny
0%
75
69°
Mostly Sunny
0%
75
68°
Mostly Sunny
8%
71
61°
Sunny
14%
52
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
9:20 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 public lots at major accesses; metered street parking on Lumina Ave. App-based payment.
Dogs
Dogs prohibited entirely on the beach April 1 – September 30 (24 hours). Leashed access October 1 – March 31.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
321 Causeway Dr, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Wrightsville Beach today?
Wrightsville 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 Wrightsville Beach dog-friendly?
Dogs prohibited entirely on the beach April 1 – September 30 (24 hours). Leashed access October 1 – March 31.
Is there an entry fee at Wrightsville Beach?
Entry to Wrightsville Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Wrightsville Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Wrightsville Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Wrightsville Beach?
Amenities at Wrightsville Beach include lifeguards, public restrooms, showers, restaurants nearby, piers (Crystal Pier and Johnnie Mercer's).
When is the water warmest at Wrightsville 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 Wrightsville Beach located?
Wrightsville Beach is in New Hanover County, NC, at 321 Causeway Dr, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS