Reading the tide
Outer Banks tides: ocean beaches and the inlet
One chart for the Banks: three ocean stations and the marina inside Oregon Inlet, for any day of the next month.
| Station | High tides | Low tides | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duck | 9:46 AM 4.2 ft · 10:01 PM 3.3 ft | 3:16 AM 0.5 ft · 4:08 PM 0.7 ft | 3.7 ft |
| Nags Head | 9:41 AM 4.4 ft · 9:56 PM 3.4 ft | 3:17 AM 0.8 ft · 4:09 PM 1.0 ft | 3.6 ft |
| Oregon Inlet | 10:13 AM 1.4 ft · 10:54 PM 1.1 ft | 4:32 AM 0.6 ft · 5:23 PM 0.5 ft | 0.9 ft |
| Hatteras | 9:38 AM 3.9 ft · 9:56 PM 2.9 ft | 3:09 AM 0.3 ft · 4:08 PM 0.5 ft | 3.5 ft |
Published by Radif Partners · How the tides are computed · predictions downloaded October 13, 2026
On the Outer Banks the ocean tide is moderate and nearly the same from Duck to Hatteras, about three and a half feet on an average day: 3.5 ft at the Duck pier and 3.4 ft at the Cape Hatteras pier. Behind the barrier islands, the sounds keep almost none of it. The Oregon Inlet marina, inside the inlet on the sound side, averages 0.9 ft, and deeper in Roanoke, Pamlico and Currituck sounds the lunar tide fades to inches while the wind moves the water. This chart draws the four stations on one scale for the day you choose, with their highs, lows and ranges side by side, so you can see at a glance which tide applies to the beach, the pier or the dock you are heading to.
One ocean tide, many sound levels
The ocean side of the Banks follows a regular Atlantic tide, and the three ocean stations on this chart turn within minutes of each other. The difference that matters is between the ocean and the sounds. The sounds are vast and shallow and connect to the sea through a few inlets, Oregon, Hatteras and Ocracoke, so only a fraction of the tide gets through. A southwest wind can pile sound water against the islands and flood roads on the sound side; a northeast wind can drain the western shores. Those changes can exceed the ocean's tide.
Picking the right curve
For a beach walk, a surf session or pier fishing between Corolla and South Nags Head, use Duck or Nags Head. For Hatteras Island and Cape Point, the Cape Hatteras pier. For boats at the Oregon Inlet marina or in the channels behind the inlet, Oregon Inlet, whose curve is flat and lopsided next to the others. The chart's red line marks the current time when the day shown is today.
Inlets and storms
The inlets move and shoal after storms, and their currents run hard. Overwash on Highway 12 comes with storms and high surf, often around high tide, not with the tide alone. Predictions include no weather; follow local warnings during nor'easters and hurricanes.
Sunrise and the pier
The ocean piers of the Banks face east, and the first light over the water is the time many anglers and walkers choose. Combine the chart with the sunrise time on each station page: a low tide near sunrise gives the widest beach and the firmest sand for a morning walk, while a rising tide in the hour after dawn is the classic window for the surf.