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Where are lifeguarded beaches on the Outer Banks?


A lifeguard truck is parked in the sand in front of a building

Lifeguards prepare staff and equipment for the summer season at Ocean Bay Boulevard Beach Access in Kill Devil Hills on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The Town of Kill Devil Hills has 21 lifeguarded beach accesses, more than any other Outer Banks ocean rescue jurisdiction. (Photo by Corinne Saunders)


By Corinne Saunders

 

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From Carova to Ocracoke Island, the Outer Banks beaches stretch over 100 miles and three counties.

 

These beaches play a significant role in annually attracting millions of visitors to the area. However, the Atlantic Ocean can pose serious risks to swimmers.

 

Rip currents, which are powerful currents of water moving away from shore, account for about 80% of all ocean rescues, according to the National Weather Service website. Rip currents cause an estimated 100 fatalities annually in the United States.

 

Beachgoers can check the local rip current forecast at www.weather.gov/beach before heading out.

 

While ocean rescue services vary by Outer Banks locale, from the number of lifeguarded beaches available to the hours they are staffed, safety tips unanimously agreed upon include swimming at a lifeguarded beach.


Corolla Surf Rescue covers 23 miles of beach, and its staff alone performed 173 rescues last summer, according to its website.

 

Cape Hatteras National Seashore issued a press release to area media outlets on Wednesday titled, “Cape Hatteras National Seashore urges visitors to sign up for rip current forecast text alerts and swim at lifeguarded beaches.”

 

Outer Banks Insider compiled the following list of lifeguarded beaches across the Outer Banks from north to south, with links to each ocean rescue agency.

 

For the purposes of this list, a lifeguarded beach is one with a stationary lifeguard stand. Most agencies also operate roving patrols. The hours are when lifeguards are present during what is considered the summer season locally, which is Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.


Additionally, visitors and locals can sign up for ocean and beach condition text alerts from Outer Banks lifeguards, ocean rescue agencies and the National Weather Service by texting OBXBeachConditions to 77295. Text alerts cover conditions in both Dare and Hyde counties.

 

Dare County’s award-winning “Love the Beach, Respect the Ocean” campaign website includes the rip current risk for the day, current beach conditions, informational beach safety videos featuring lifeguards and Outer Banks residents and more.

 

Swimmers should also be aware of the beach flags: Yellow flags mean weaker swimmers should not enter the ocean, while red flags discourage all swimmers from entering. Double red flags mean it’s unlawful to enter the ocean, except for surfers and for bodyboarders with fins.


Corolla (Currituck County)


Lifeguarded beaches:

18


Hours:

9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.


Locations:

  • Ocean Hill Court

  • Bismark Street

  • Corolla Village Road

  • Corolla Light

  • Shad Street

  • Sturgeon Street

  • Herring Street

  • Bonito Street

  • Sailfish Street

  • Dolphin Street

  • Buck Island

  • Section P Ocean Sands

  • Section O Ocean Sands

  • Section F Ocean Sands

  • Section D Ocean Sands

  • Section B Ocean Sands

  • Southern Beach Access

  • Hampton Inn


Website:

A lifeguard is pictured in a lifeguard stand

A Corolla Surf Rescue lifeguard is pictured at work. (Photo courtesy Corolla Surf Rescue)


Duck (Dare County)


Lifeguarded beaches:

Six or 14 (see below)


Hours:

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.


Locations
Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend:

  • Caffey’s Inlet

  • Sprigtail Drive

  • Barrier Island Station

  • Schooner Ridge Drive

  • Christopher Drive

  • Four Seasons

Mid-June through mid-August:

  • Ocean Pines

  • Mallard Drive

  • Widgeon Drive

  • South Snow Geese

  • Dune Road

  • Scarborough Lane

  • Plover Drive

  • Charles Jenkins Lane


Website:

A map of beach access names in Duck and dates there are lifeguards on duty

Lifeguarded beaches in Duck, North Carolina, for the 2025 season. (Map courtesy Town of Duck)


Southern Shores (Dare County)


Lifeguarded beaches:

Two or four (see below)


Hours:

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.


Locations
Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend:

  • Hillcrest Drive

  • Chicahauk Trail

Mid-June through mid-August:

  • East Dogwood Trail

  • 142 Ocean Boulevard


Website:

Kitty Hawk (Dare County)


Lifeguarded beaches:

Four


Hours:

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.


Locations:

  • Byrd Street

  • Eckner Street

  • Lillian Street

  • Kitty Hawk Bath House (3840 North Virginia Dare Trail in Kitty Hawk)


Website:

Kill Devil Hills (Dare County)

 

Lifeguarded beaches:

21

 

Hours:

10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

 

Locations:

  • Helga Street

  • Hayman Street

  • Eden Street

  • 5th Street

  • 2nd Street

  • 1st Street

  • Coral Drive

  • Asheville Drive

  • Woodmere Avenue

  • Carlow Avenue

  • Ocean Bay Boulevard

  • Oregon Avenue

  • Clark Street

  • Martin Street

  • Atlantic Street

  • Neptune Drive

  • Lake Drive

  • Eighth Street

 

Website:

beach access information on top of a photo of the beach

Beach access information for the Town of Kill Devil Hills (Infographic courtesy Town of Kill Devil Hills)


Nags Head (Dare County)

 

Lifeguarded beaches:

10

 

Hours:

10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

 

Locations:

  • Abalone Street

  • Bonnett Street

  • Hollowell Street

  • Epstein Street

  • Forrest Street

  • Enterprise Street

  • Gulfstream Street

  • Hargrove Street

  • Indigo Street

  • Juncos Street

 

Website:

beach flags and explanations

Beach flag information (Graphic courtesy Town of Nags Head)


Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Dare County and Hyde County)

 

Lifeguarded beaches:

Five

 

Hours:

9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

Locations:
Website:

No dedicated website; a contractor is used.


Cape Hatteras National Seashore’s press release included the following tips for ocean and beach safety:

 

  • Swim at beaches patrolled by lifeguards.

  • Bring something in the water with you that floats.

    • Rather than struggling through a rip current and exhausting yourself, bring something into the ocean that floats and easily float away from the rip current. Float don’t fight.

  • Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean is not the same as swimming in a pool or a lake. Ocean swimming can be very physically taxing and may exacerbate underlying medical issues in older swimmers.

  • A perfect day on the beach doesn’t always mean that it’s a perfect day in the ocean. If in doubt, don’t go out.

  • Never swim alone. Swim with a buddy and have adult supervision for all children. Have someone on shore keep an eye on you while you swim/surf/wade in the water.

  • Be aware that the ocean presents additional hazards, such as lightning, high surf and shore break. Learn more at www.lovethebeachrespectheocean.com.

  • Avoid wearing shiny objects that may attract sharks and other fish.

  • Avoid swimming where danger is present: in rough seas; inlets; around fishing piers and surfers; at night; or during thunderstorms.


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