Avon Tide Chart, Tide Times & Tide Schedule
Today’s tide table and tide schedule for Avon, Buxton, and Frisco, NC – the southern Hatteras Island villages. See live high and low tide times for Avon Pier, the Salvo-to-Buxton stretch, and the Cape Point area.
About tides at Avon (Kinnakeet) and Buxton
Avon (historically Kinnakeet) sits on the long stretch of Hatteras Island north of Buxton, between Salvo and Cape Hatteras. Tide times are derived from the USCG Hatteras station 8654467 a few miles south. High tide in Avon runs about 5–10 minutes before high tide at Cape Hatteras. Note: station 8654467 is the sound-side Hatteras Village harbor gauge. For ocean surf and beach driving timing at Avon Pier, treat the predicted times as approximate ocean timing but use station 8654400 (Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier) for the correct ocean range (~3 ft).
Best tides for fishing
Avon Pier is famous for fall king mackerel, cobia in late spring, and red drum on the right tide year-round. The trough running along this stretch of beach is particularly productive on the last 2 hours of incoming. 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
Ramps 27 and 30 (north of Avon, near Salvo) and Ramp 38 (north of Buxton) are the main 4x4 access points in this zone. The same Hatteras-area tide pinch points 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.
Heading to Cape Point or Ramp 44? Both require a permitted 4x4. Beach4x4 rents sand-ready Jeeps and 4WD SUVs by the week out of Kill Devil Hills — Cape Hatteras ORV permit included.
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.
Avon tide FAQ
What time is high tide today?
The chart above shows today’s high and low tide times based on live NOAA predictions for station 8654400 (Cape Hatteras (ocean)). 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 ~0.5 ft (sound-side gauge — ocean surf ~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 water on the beach well past the predicted high. Always cross-check with the wind forecast.
Live Beach Cams
Avon Pier — Live Cam
Avon Soundside — Live Cam
Live feeds courtesy of SurfChex. See all OBX live cams →