88°
Sunny
5%
67
Carteret County, NC · Atlantic Ocean
Cape Lookout National Seashore
131 Charles Street, Harkers Island, NC 28531
A 56-mile string of undeveloped barrier islands stretching from Ocracoke Inlet to Beaufort Inlet, Cape Lookout is reached only by ferry. It features the iconic black-and-white diamond-pattern lighthouse, the wild Banker horses of Shackleford Banks, and certified International Dark Sky Park status for exceptional stargazing.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
NWS alert active · 86°F water · 88°F air
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 88. Heat index values as high as 105. Southwest wind around 23 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 83. Heat index values as high as 101. Southwest wind 23 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
Weather
- 88°F air — ideal beach weather
- 23 mph wind — breezy — anchor everything
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 86°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- UV 10 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued july 18 at 2:38pm edt until july 20 at 6:00am edt by nws newport/morehead city nc
52 /100
ok
36 Swim
54 Sunbathe
75 Walk
41 Fish
72 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.7 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.
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued July 18 at 2:38PM EDT until July 20 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Newport/Morehead City NC
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 4 to 7 ft expected. * WHERE...The coastal waters from Ocracoke Inlet to Surf City. * WHEN...Until 6 AM EDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
88°F
Clear and Windy
Wind
23 mph
SW
Rain
5%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
10 Very High
High 11 AM–04 PM · burn in ~20m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
87°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Water
Water Temp
86°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
2.3 ft
SW swell
Barometer
29.97 inHg
1015 hPa
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (AMZ156)
The MHX office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- NCZ203 Northern Outer Banks — Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, n/a
- NCZ205 Hatteras Island — Rodanthe, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, n/a
- NCZ204 Ocracoke Island — Ocracoke n/a
- NCZ196 East Carteret — Cape Lookout National Seashore and n/a
- NCZ195 West Carteret — Fort Macon, Atlantic Beach, n/a
- NCZ199 Coastal Onslow — Hammocks Beach and North Topsail Beach n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:06 AM
Sunset
8:18 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:41 AM | Low | -0.1 ft |
| 11:52 AM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 5:54 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:09 AM | High | 3.5 ft |
| 6:30 AM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| 12:44 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 6:55 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:54 AM | High | 3.2 ft |
| 7:19 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 1:33 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 7:55 PM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:39 AM | High | 3.0 ft |
| 8:06 AM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 2:24 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 8:54 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:26 AM | High | 2.7 ft |
| 8:53 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 3:17 PM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 9:50 PM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:19 AM | High | 2.6 ft |
| 9:40 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 4:15 PM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 10:42 PM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:18 AM | High | 2.5 ft |
| 10:27 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 5:10 PM | High | 3.4 ft |
| 11:32 PM | Low | 0.8 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8656483, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
87°
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
21%
27
86°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
58%
21
87°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
54%
11
86°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
59%
6
83°
Showers And Thunderstorms
84%
3
83°
Rain Showers Likely
59%
50
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high
- recommended Beach shelter or anchored canopy 23 mph wind — umbrellas will flip
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 86°F
- critical Extra water / electrolytes 88°F - heat risk
- recommended Cooling towel or hat sustained heat
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.
Minor
10:10 PM - 11:10 PM
Major
3:40 AM - 5:40 AM
Minor
10:10 AM - 11:10 AM
Major
3:50 PM - 5:50 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Free parking at the Harkers Island Visitor Center and at private ferry operator lots on the mainland. No parking on the barrier islands.
Dogs
Pets allowed on a 6-foot leash at all times, including on Shackleford Banks. Not permitted in buildings (rustic cabins excepted). Some ferry operators may refuse pets.
Entry Fee
No NPS entrance fee. Ferry fees vary by operator. America the Beautiful passes not accepted.
Address
131 Charles Street, Harkers Island, NC 28531
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Cape Lookout National Seashore today?
Cape Lookout National Seashore shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. No lifeguards are on duty, so check the day's conditions and swim with caution. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Cape Lookout National Seashore dog-friendly?
Pets allowed on a 6-foot leash at all times, including on Shackleford Banks. Not permitted in buildings (rustic cabins excepted). Some ferry operators may refuse pets.
Is there an entry fee at Cape Lookout National Seashore?
No NPS entrance fee. Ferry fees vary by operator. America the Beautiful passes not accepted.
Are there lifeguards at Cape Lookout National Seashore?
No lifeguards are stationed at Cape Lookout National Seashore. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.
What amenities are at Cape Lookout National Seashore?
Amenities at Cape Lookout National Seashore include visitor center, lighthouse (seasonal climbing), rustic cabins (rental), beach camping, historic villages, wildlife viewing.
When is the water warmest at Cape Lookout National Seashore?
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 Cape Lookout National Seashore located?
Cape Lookout National Seashore is in Carteret County, NC, at 131 Charles Street, Harkers Island, NC 28531.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS