Live tide predictions for Kill Devil Hills, NC. KDH tide times reference the Duck NOAA primary gauge to the north. Critical info for surf fishing the Avalon Pier area, paddleboarding, and timing beach driving in the off-season.
About tides at Kill Devil Hills
Kill Devil Hills (KDH) sits between Kitty Hawk and Nags Head on the central Outer Banks. The famous Wright Brothers National Memorial is here. Ocean tide range averages about 3.2 ft with semi-diurnal highs and lows every 12 hours 25 minutes. Avalon Pier is the main surf fishing landmark and its tide-driven bite mirrors Duck almost exactly.
Reference station
Tide times here are predicted from the Duck FRF Pier (8651370) primary gauge with a local offset of approximately 0 minutes (Kill Devil Hills tracks Duck very closely). For the interactive tide chart with high/low markers, use the parent station page.
Best tides for surf fishing in Kill Devil Hills
KDH surf fishing is most productive on the rising tide that pushes bait over the inner bar into the trough. Spring drum runs hit hard at Avalon Pier on the dropping tide. Pompano season (late spring through summer) favors the moving water on either side of slack.
Beach driving and tides in Kill Devil Hills
Kill Devil Hills requires a town-issued beach driving permit and is closed to driving from roughly mid-April through mid-September. The permit is sold online by the town. See our permits guide.
Renting a 4x4 in Kill Devil Hills? Beach4x4 is based right here in KDH and rents permitted, sand-ready Jeeps and 4WD SUVs for the Corolla/Carova and Cape Hatteras 4x4 beaches. See the fleet and book by the week — beach permits and recovery gear included.
Kill Devil Hills tide FAQ
What time is high tide today in Kill Devil Hills?
The chart above shows today’s high and low tide times for Kill Devil Hills, predicted from NOAA data for the Duck FRF Pier reference station (8651370). The current time is marked with a red line, and the next high tide is labeled in the summary beneath the chart. Kill Devil Hills tracks Duck very closely, with an offset of about 0 minutes.
How much does the tide rise and fall at Kill Devil Hills?
The mean tide range here is about 3.2 ft, with semi-diurnal highs and lows roughly every 12 hours and 25 minutes. Spring tides around the new and full moon produce the largest swings, while neap tides at the quarter moons are smaller. A strong nor’easter can add 2 to 5 feet of storm surge on top of the predictions.
When is the best tide for surf fishing at Avalon Pier?
Surf fishing in Kill Devil Hills is most productive on the rising tide that pushes bait over the inner bar into the trough. Spring drum runs hit hard at Avalon Pier on the dropping tide, and the tide-driven bite mirrors Duck almost exactly. Fish the two hours either side of a tide change for the most action.
Is the tide here semi-diurnal or diurnal?
Semi-diurnal – Kill Devil Hills gets two roughly equal high tides and two roughly equal low tides every 24 hours and 50 minutes. This is typical of the Outer Banks oceanfront.
Do the predictions account for wind and storms?
No – the predictions are astronomical only. A strong northeast wind can hold high tide on the beach for hours past the predicted time, and storm surge is not included. Always cross-check with the wind and surf forecast before timing beach driving or fishing.