Ocracoke Tide Chart, Tide Times & Tide Schedule
Live tide predictions for Ocracoke Island, NC (NOAA Station 8654792). High and low tides for the village, Silver Lake Harbor, and the Ocracoke beaches and inlet.
About tides at Ocracoke Island
Ocracoke is the southernmost developed island in the OBX system, accessible only by ferry. The Silver Lake gauge inside the protected harbor shows a smaller tide range than the open ocean beach (~1.3 ft vs. ~2 ft on the beach side), and high tide on the soundside lags ocean-side high by an hour or more.
Best tides for fishing
Ocracoke beach is one of the quieter surf fishing destinations on the OBX – long stretches of open beach with very few people. Drum, blues, and Spanish all fish on the same incoming/outgoing windows that work elsewhere. Pair the chart above with the bait reports and rig diagrams at OuterBanksSurfFishing.com, and see our dedicated guide to best tides for surf fishing the OBX.
Beach driving and tides
Ocracoke has several beach driving ramps along NC-12 (Ramps 59, 67, 68, 70, 72). The south end of the island near the inlet routinely gets cut off by tide and overwash – never drive there without a clear plan to return well before high tide. For permits, ramp status, and current zone updates, see our beach driving and tides guide and the up-to-date zone guides at OuterBanksBeachDriving.com.
What affects tides here
Tide height and timing on the Outer Banks is driven by:
- Lunar and solar gravity – the main astronomical driver.
- Wind and barometric pressure – can push tides 1-2 ft above or below prediction.
- Inlets and bathymetry – particularly relevant on the OBX.
- Storms and nor-easters – the dominant wildcard for OBX water levels.
- The Gulf Stream – closer to shore on the OBX than anywhere on the East Coast.
- Seasonal sea level trends – water sits higher in late summer and early fall.
Ocracoke tide FAQ
What time is high tide today?
The chart above shows today high and low tide times based on NOAA prediction for station 8654792. The current time is marked with a red line; the next high is labeled in the summary below the chart.
How much does the tide rise and fall here?
The mean tide range at this location is about ~1.3 ft. Spring tides (around the new and full moon) produce the largest swings; neap tides (first and last quarter moon) are smaller. A strong nor-easter can add 2 to 5 feet of storm surge on top of the predictions.
Is the tide here semi-diurnal or diurnal?
Semi-diurnal – two roughly equal high tides and two roughly equal low tides every 24 hours and 50 minutes. See our tide glossary for more.
How do I know if it is a spring or neap tide?
Spring tides happen around new and full moon (largest swings); neaps happen at quarter moons. See our lunar and solar gravity page.
Does the chart account for wind and storms?
No – the predictions are astronomical only. A strong NE wind can hold high tide on the beach for hours past the predicted low. Always cross-check with the wind forecast.
Ocracoke Tide Schedule — Today’s High & Low Tides
This Ocracoke tide schedule shows today’s high and low tides for Ocracoke, NC, with hourly predictions and the next high tide and next low tide for Ocracoke. The Ocracoke tide schedule on this page updates daily using NOAA tide predictions.
Use the Ocracoke tide schedule to plan surf fishing, beach driving on the Outer Banks, kayaking through Pamlico Sound or Currituck Sound, crossing inlets safely, and timing photography at low tide. Many anglers fish the two hours either side of a tide change, which the Ocracoke tide schedule above makes easy to spot.
How to read this Ocracoke tide schedule
- High tide Ocracoke NC — peak water level; best for boat launching in shallow areas and fishing the outgoing tide that follows.
- Low tide Ocracoke NC — minimum water level; safest window for beach driving on soft sand and for searching tide pools.
- Tide times Ocracoke — tides at Ocracoke follow a semidiurnal pattern (two highs and two lows roughly every 24 hours and 50 minutes), so the Ocracoke tide schedule shifts about 50 minutes later each day.
Bookmark this Ocracoke tide schedule and check it the night before any trip on or near the water. Conditions like wind, storms, and barometric pressure can push real water levels a few inches to over a foot above or below what the Ocracoke tide schedule predicts.
Ocracoke Tide Schedule FAQ
What time is high tide at Ocracoke today?
Today’s high tide times for Ocracoke, NC are listed in the Ocracoke tide schedule at the top of this page. Ocracoke typically sees two high tides per day, roughly 12 hours and 25 minutes apart.
When is the next low tide at Ocracoke?
The next low tide at Ocracoke is shown in the “Next Low Tide” box above. Low tide at Ocracoke occurs about 6 hours and 12 minutes after the previous high tide.
How accurate is this Ocracoke tide schedule?
Tide predictions for Ocracoke are based on NOAA harmonic constants and are typically accurate to within a few inches and a few minutes for normal conditions. Storms, sustained winds, and unusual barometric pressure can shift the Ocracoke tide schedule by a foot or more.