Nags Head Tide Chart, Tide Times & Tide Schedule
Live tide predictions for Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills, NC. High and low tides for the central Outer Banks beaches, Jennettes Pier, and the Kitty Hawk to South Nags Head stretch.
About tides at Nags Head and Jennettes Pier
Nags Head does not have its own primary NOAA gauge – tide times here are derived from Duck (35 miles north) with a small time correction. High tide at Nags Head runs roughly 10 minutes after high tide at Duck, and the range is slightly compressed (about 3.1 ft mean vs. 3.3 at Duck). For practical fishing and beach driving purposes, the times shown above are accurate to within a few minutes.
Best tides for fishing
Jennettes Pier (Nags Head), Kitty Hawk Pier, and Avalon Pier are all best fished on the moving water of the tide cycle. The trough just outside the breakers along this stretch holds drum, blues, sea mullet, and pompano on the right tide. 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
The most popular OBX beach driving zone in this stretch is South Nags Head and Coquina Beach (Bodie Island, Ramp 1 through Ramp 4). Beach width is generous compared to Hatteras but the same rules apply. 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.
Nags tide FAQ
What time is high tide today?
The chart above shows today high and low tide times based on NOAA prediction for station 8651370. 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 ~3.1 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.
Nags Head Tide Schedule — Today’s High & Low Tides
This Nags Head tide schedule shows today’s high and low tides for Nags Head, NC, with hourly predictions and the next high tide and next low tide for Nags Head. The Nags Head tide schedule on this page updates daily using NOAA tide predictions.
Use the Nags Head 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 Nags Head tide schedule above makes easy to spot.
How to read this Nags Head tide schedule
- High tide Nags Head NC — peak water level; best for boat launching in shallow areas and fishing the outgoing tide that follows.
- Low tide Nags Head NC — minimum water level; safest window for beach driving on soft sand and for searching tide pools.
- Tide times Nags Head — tides at Nags Head follow a semidiurnal pattern (two highs and two lows roughly every 24 hours and 50 minutes), so the Nags Head tide schedule shifts about 50 minutes later each day.
Bookmark this Nags Head 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 Nags Head tide schedule predicts.
Nags Head Tide Schedule FAQ
What time is high tide at Nags Head today?
Today’s high tide times for Nags Head, NC are listed in the Nags Head tide schedule at the top of this page. Nags Head typically sees two high tides per day, roughly 12 hours and 25 minutes apart.
When is the next low tide at Nags Head?
The next low tide at Nags Head is shown in the “Next Low Tide” box above. Low tide at Nags Head occurs about 6 hours and 12 minutes after the previous high tide.
How accurate is this Nags Head tide schedule?
Tide predictions for Nags Head 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 Nags Head tide schedule by a foot or more.