Right Beaches › Outer Banks › Buxton
Haulover Day Use Area
4.7★ · 289 Google ratings · Buxton, North Carolina
✓ Parking✓ Short walk✓ Restrooms✓ Showers✓ Good for kids✓ Free
At a glance
Parking
On-site lot · 40 ft away · free
Walk
170 ft · under a minute
Restrooms
Yes · 280 ft away
Cost
Free
Water
87°F
Tide
0 ft range today
Children
Reported good for young kids
Water quality
Mixed · 11% of 54 over the limit · 2025
Crowds
Quietest Mon 8am
Map of Haulover Day Use Area
Guide
Good to know
Reported good with little kids
Visitors often mention shallow or calm water. This is what reviewers report, not a safety assessment.Mentioned by 22 visitors · 2015–2026
Free parking reported
Visitors report no charge to park here.Mentioned by 5 visitors · 2015–2026
Check wind conditions first
Afternoon winds make this a world-class windsurfing and kitesurfing spot, but mornings are calm for swimming.
Visit at sunset
The sound-side location offers exceptional sunset views, particularly on Saturday evenings with fewer crowds.
Watch for seaweed and algae
Brown wrinkled seaweed regularly washes ashore; avoid wading if algae blooms or high bacteria levels are reported.
Facilities are seasonal
Restrooms, showers, and changing areas are available but operate seasonally, so verify before visiting off-season.
Conditions
How it is right now
Air
83°F · clear
Water
87°F
Waves
2.4 ft · 5 s apart
Wind
15 mph from the SW
Shelter
Onshore · wind blowing straight in off the water
UV index
7 peak today
| Time | Tide | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 03:39 | High tide | ↑ |
| 10:14 | Low tide | ↓ |
| 17:34 | High tide | ↑ |
| 23:12 | Low tide | ↓ |
Last updated Sep 4, 4:10 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
📍 North Carolina Hwy 12, Buxton, NC 27920
🅿 Parking 40 ft from the listing, Haulover Day Use Parking Area
🌊 Water 170 ft away, under a minute walk
🚽 Restrooms 280 ft away
Nearby
Other beaches close by
3.2 miles away
4.4 miles away
4.7 miles away
5.6 miles away
6.8 miles away
6.8 miles away
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Questions
Common questions
Where do you park at Haulover Day Use Area?
The nearest mapped parking area is 40 ft from the listed location. Positions come from OpenStreetMap, not from review text.
How far is the walk to the water at Haulover Day Use Area?
170 ft in a straight line from the listing to the mapped shoreline, under a minute. Soft sand and dune make the real walk longer than the straight line.
Does Haulover Day Use Area have restrooms?
Restrooms are mapped 280 ft from the listing.
When is Haulover Day Use Area least busy?
Google visit patterns put the quietest hour at Mon 8am and the busiest at Sat 2pm.
Measured from OpenStreetMap, public aerial imagery and live conditions data, and counted from visitor reviews. Every source, in full.
