Live tide predictions for Buxton, NC — home of Cape Point and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Tide times reference the Hatteras NOAA primary gauge (station 8654467 — sound side, Hatteras Village harbor). For ocean surf timing at Cape Point, NOAA’s Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier (station 8654400, MN 2.99 ft) is the appropriate ocean reference. Critical info for surf fishing the Point and timing beach driving on Ramps 43, 44, and 45.
About tides at Buxton
Buxton is the heart of Hatteras Island surf fishing. Cape Point — where the warm Gulf Stream meets the cooler Labrador Current offshore — is one of the most productive shore fishing spots on the entire East Coast. The harbor gauge (8654467) shows a mean range of about 0.5 ft on the sound side. The ocean surf range at Cape Point is approximately 3 feet, per NOAA station 8654400 (Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier). Currents around the Point are dominated as much by wind, swell direction, and longshore drift as by astronomical tide, so always factor in conditions.
Reference station
Tide times here are predicted from the Hatteras (8654467) primary gauge with a local offset of approximately +2 minutes (Buxton is essentially Hatteras Village timing). Important: station 8654467 is the sound-side Hatteras Village harbor gauge — it accurately predicts tide timing for the harbor and inlet but understates the ocean surf range at Cape Point. For surf fishing or beach driving timing, also consult station 8654400 (Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier). For the interactive tide chart with high/low markers, use the parent station page.
Best tides for surf fishing at Cape Point
Cape Point at Buxton is famous for big red drum (citation-class fish are landed every fall), king mackerel from the beach, cobia in spring, and pompano in summer. The hot tide is the last two hours of falling water into slack low, when bait gets pinned against the bar and predators move shallow. Read our full OBX surf fishing guide for rig and bait specifics.
Beach driving and tides at Buxton & Cape Point
Cape Point access requires an NPS Cape Hatteras National Seashore ORV permit. Ramp 43 is the standard access point, with Ramp 44 closer to the Point itself. Both ramps see seasonal closures for sea turtle and shorebird nesting (typically late spring through late summer). Drive on the falling tide. See our permits guide.
Need a 4x4 for Cape Point and the Buxton ramps? Beach4x4 rents permitted, sand-ready Jeeps and 4WD SUVs equipped for Cape Hatteras National Seashore — ORV permit and recovery gear included.
How to use the Buxton tide chart
Reading the Buxton tide chart is straightforward once you know what the numbers mean. Each day shows two high tides and two low tides, with the predicted time and the height in feet above mean lower low water (MLLW). The difference between a high and the following low is the tidal range — at Buxton’s harbor gauge (8654467, sound side) that is usually about a half foot. On the ocean side at Cape Point, the range is closer to 3 feet (station 8654400). Both are modest compared with tidal ranges in other East Coast locations. Because the range is small, wind and swell often move the water more than the astronomical tide does, so treat the predicted heights as a baseline rather than a guarantee.
For planning a day at Cape Point, work backward from the low tide on the Buxton tide chart. The two hours of falling water leading into slack low concentrate bait against the outer bar and give wade fishermen the most exposed sand to reach the slough. If you are driving the beach, the same falling tide gives you the widest, firmest sand and the most margin before the water turns and starts cutting off the soft upper beach.
Buxton tide chart FAQ
What tide station does the Buxton tide chart use?
Buxton does not have its own NOAA gauge, so the Buxton tide chart is derived from the Hatteras (station 8654467) primary gauge with a small local offset of about +2 minutes. In practice, Buxton and Hatteras Village tides run on essentially the same schedule.
What is the tidal range at Buxton?
The average tidal range as reported by the derived harbor gauge (8654467) is roughly 0.5 feet. On the ocean beach at Cape Point, the actual surf range is closer to 3 feet, referenced from NOAA station 8654400 (Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier, MN 2.99 ft). Two highs and two lows per day; spring tides run a little larger, neap tides smaller.
What is the best tide for fishing Cape Point?
Most Cape Point regulars favor the last of the falling tide into slack low, when bait stacks against the bar. That said, current direction, wind, and swell at the Point matter as much as the tide itself, so always check conditions alongside the Buxton tide chart before you commit to a session.