89°
Sunny
5%
67
Carteret County, NC · Atlantic Ocean
Indian Beach
1400 Salter Path Road, Indian Beach, NC 28512
A small, low-key town in the middle of Bogue Banks straddling the Salter Path community, Indian Beach offers one of the quietest stretches on the Crystal Coast with a 4WD access ramp at its Regional Beach Access and big regional bathhouses serving nearby Salter Path.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
NWS alert active · 85°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 89. Heat index values as high as 106. Southwest wind around 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 82. Heat index values as high as 101. Southwest wind 21 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.
Weather
- 89°F air — hot — hydrate and seek shade
- 22 mph wind — breezy — anchor everything
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 85°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
71 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
89°F
Clear and Windy
Wind
22 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 Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Water
Water Temp
85°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 (AMZ158)
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
6:07 AM
Sunset
8:19 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 Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
40%
20
86°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
70%
15
87°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
51%
14
86°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
59%
7
82°
Showers And Thunderstorms
83%
11
83°
Chance Rain Showers
54%
54
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 10 — very high
- recommended Beach shelter or anchored canopy 22 mph wind — umbrellas will flip
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 85°F
- critical Extra water / electrolytes 89°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
10:20 PM - 11:20 PM
Major
3:40 AM - 5:40 AM
Minor
10:20 AM - 11:20 AM
Major
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Public parking at Indian Beach Regional Access (1425 Salter Path Rd, 36 spaces, 4WD ramp), Ocean Club Access (10 spaces), and Old Pier Access (10 spaces). Salter Path Regional Access nearby has 75 spaces.
Dogs
Carteret County rule: dogs must be leashed (max 6 feet). Not allowed in any lifeguard-protected swim areas during beach season.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
1400 Salter Path Road, Indian Beach, NC 28512
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Indian Beach today?
Indian Beach 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 Indian Beach dog-friendly?
Carteret County rule: dogs must be leashed (max 6 feet). Not allowed in any lifeguard-protected swim areas during beach season.
Is there an entry fee at Indian Beach?
Entry to Indian Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Indian Beach?
No lifeguards are stationed at Indian Beach. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.
What amenities are at Indian Beach?
Amenities at Indian Beach include restrooms, showers, picnic tables, 4WD access ramp at Regional Access.
When is the water warmest at Indian Beach?
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 Indian Beach located?
Indian Beach is in Carteret County, NC, at 1400 Salter Path Road, Indian Beach, NC 28512.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS