Right Beaches › Outer Banks › Nags Head
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
4.9★ · 73 Google ratings · Nags Head, North Carolina
✓ Parking✓ Short walk✓ Restrooms✓ Showers✓ Picnic tables
At a glance
Parking
230 ft away
Walk
500 yd · 6 min
Restrooms
Yes · 225 yd away
Water
83°F
Tide
1 ft range today
Sand
175 yd from the water to the back
Crowds
Quietest Wed 10am
Map of Cape Hatteras National Seashore
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1Parking230 ft from the listing2Restrooms225 yd from the listing3Showers225 yd from the listing
Guide
Good to know
Go for shells and wildlife viewing
Reviewers report unusually large shells and frequent sightings of seabirds, waterfowl, and crabs along the shoreline.
Visit on weekdays for solitude
Reviewers consistently report the beach feels uncrowded and peaceful during the week, unlike weekend conditions.
Bring 4WD or plan a long walk
Vehicle access to the water requires deflating tires below 20 PSI, and those without 4WD face substantial walking distances.
Check lighthouse access before visiting
The Bodie Island Lighthouse requires online reservations and is periodically closed for renovation; confirm hours beforehand.
Watch for speed traps on NC-12
State troopers enforce rapid speed limit drops on the highway approaching the seashore, with multiple enforcement zones.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
81°F · clear
Water
83°F
Waves
1.7 ft · 4 s apart
Wind
15 mph from the SW
Shelter
Offshore · wind blowing off the land
UV index
7 peak today
| Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 01:28 | High tide | ↑ |
| 08:16 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 14:23 | High tide | ↑ |
| 21:20 | Low tide | ↓ |
Last updated Sep 4, 4:11 AM.
Crowds
When it gets busy
| 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | |
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QuietBusy
Practical
Plan your visit
📍 Cape Hatteras National Park Road, Nags Head, NC 27959
🅿 Parking 230 ft from the listing
🌊 Water 500 yd away, about 6 min walk
🚽 Restrooms 225 yd away
Nearby
Other beaches close by
2.7 miles away · shorter walk
7.5 miles away
11 miles away · shorter walk
13 miles away
14 miles away
15 miles away
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Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at Cape Hatteras National Seashore?
The nearest mapped parking area is 230 ft from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at Cape Hatteras National Seashore?
300 ft in a straight line from the listing to the mapped shoreline, about 1 min. Soft sand and dune make the real walk longer than the straight line.
Does Cape Hatteras National Seashore have restrooms?
Restrooms are mapped 225 yd from the listing.
When is Cape Hatteras National Seashore least busy?
Google visit patterns put the quietest hour at Wed 10am and the busiest at Tue 6pm.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
