Oregon Inlet Tide Chart, Tide Times & Tide Schedule
Live tide predictions for Oregon Inlet, NC (NOAA Station 8652587). High and low tides and slack water windows for boating, surf fishing, and kayaking the inlet between Bodie Island and Pea Island.
About tides at Oregon Inlet Marina
Oregon Inlet is the busiest navigable inlet on the Outer Banks and one of the most current-driven. Tides at the marina lag Duck by about 20-30 minutes, but the strong jet of water moving in and out of the inlet means current is what actually controls fishing and boating windows – not just water height.
Best tides for fishing
The bridge and rip lines at Oregon Inlet are prime for striped bass in late fall and winter, false albacore and Spanish in early fall, and red drum year-round on the right tide. Outgoing tide pulls bait out of Pamlico Sound and concentrates it along the inlet edges. 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
Beach driving on Bodie Island and Pea Island either side of the inlet (Ramps 4, 23, 27) is heavily tide-dependent. Pea Island in particular has narrow drivable beach that pinches at high tide. Always plan the return trip around the next high. 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.
Oregon tide FAQ
What time is high tide today?
The chart above shows today high and low tide times based on NOAA prediction for station 8652587. 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 ~2.2 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.
Oregon Inlet Tide Schedule — Today’s High & Low Tides
This Oregon Inlet tide schedule shows today’s high and low tides for Oregon Inlet, NC, with hourly predictions and the next high tide and next low tide for Oregon Inlet. The Oregon Inlet tide schedule on this page updates daily using NOAA tide predictions.
Use the Oregon Inlet 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 Oregon Inlet tide schedule above makes easy to spot.
How to read this Oregon Inlet tide schedule
- High tide Oregon Inlet NC — peak water level; best for boat launching in shallow areas and fishing the outgoing tide that follows.
- Low tide Oregon Inlet NC — minimum water level; safest window for beach driving on soft sand and for searching tide pools.
- Tide times Oregon Inlet — tides at Oregon Inlet follow a semidiurnal pattern (two highs and two lows roughly every 24 hours and 50 minutes), so the Oregon Inlet tide schedule shifts about 50 minutes later each day.
Bookmark this Oregon Inlet 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 Oregon Inlet tide schedule predicts.