82°
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
23%
79
Carteret County, NC · Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Beach (NC)
125 W Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512
The easternmost town on Bogue Banks and the gateway to Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach is the busiest Crystal Coast beach town, anchored by the Circle area with its boardwalk, paid parking, bathhouses, and one of the few NC beaches with seasonal lifeguards.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
81°F water · 82°F air
Full NWS forecast for Today
A slight chance of rain showers between 2pm and 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Southeast wind 5 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Weather
- 82°F air — ideal beach weather
- 23% rain — pop-up showers possible
- Sunny skies — mostly sunny
Water
- 81°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
76 /100
great
76 Swim
73 Sunbathe
79 Walk
67 Fish
77 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.6 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
82°F
Clear
Wind
5 to 12 mph
SE
Rain
23%
Today
UV Peak
10 Very High
High 11 AM–04 PM · burn in ~20m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
85°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
81°F
Swimming weather
Next High Tide
5:42 PM
3.4 ft · in 2.9h
Barometer
30.09 inHg
Rising 0.9 hPa / 3h
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
5:55 AM
Sunset
8:23 PM
Moon · 80%
Waxing Gibbous
Neap tides — smaller range
Today's Tides
7-day chart →| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:57 AM | High | 2.5 ft |
| 11:02 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 5:42 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
85°
Sunny
12%
85
85°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
49%
24
85°
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
57%
34
83°
Mostly Sunny
11%
85
84°
Sunny
2%
85
85°
Sunny
6%
85
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high
- recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 5 to 12 mph wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 81°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
8:10 PM - 10:10 PM
Minor
2:00 AM - 3:00 AM
Major
8:40 AM - 10:40 AM
Minor
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Paid parking April 1 – September 30. The Circle Regional Beach Access has 300+ paid spaces. Season passes via ab-ncparking.com.
Dogs
Carteret County rule: dogs must be leashed (max 6 feet). Dogs not allowed in lifeguard-protected swim areas during beach season.
Entry Fee
Free beach access; paid parking April 1 – Sept 30
Address
125 W Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512
Amenities
7-Day Tide Chart →
Full high/low predictions for the next week at Atlantic Beach (NC).
7-Day Weather →
Extended forecast for Atlantic Beach (NC) from the National Weather Service.
Frequently Asked
Is Atlantic Beach (NC) dog-friendly?
Carteret County rule: dogs must be leashed (max 6 feet). Dogs not allowed in lifeguard-protected swim areas during beach season.
Is there an entry fee at Atlantic Beach (NC)?
Entry to Atlantic Beach (NC) is free.
Are there lifeguards at Atlantic Beach (NC)?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Atlantic Beach (NC) during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Atlantic Beach (NC)?
Amenities at Atlantic Beach (NC) include lifeguards (seasonal), restrooms, showers, boardwalk, three bathhouses, playground, fishing.
When is the water warmest at Atlantic Beach (NC)?
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 Atlantic Beach (NC) located?
Atlantic Beach (NC) is in Carteret County, NC, at 125 W Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS