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.