Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach Reviews

This is a beautiful wide white sandy beach similar to those found on much of the Outer Banks. This one is more remote because visitors need to get to Ocracoke island by ferry. There is a restroom changing area with outside showers and a big parking lot. The beach has a lifeguard in season but did not when we visited. We walked on the beach a while with our dog on leash and it is lovely. However an unexpected rain made us race to the car. The rain drops were huge and stung like bullets so watch out in fall when it rains on the beach as the winds are usually strong and that makes for unpleasant rain.

If your looking for the nicest seashore on the east coast, this has to be it! The dunes get higher and higher as you walk north on the beach! Its pristine in every sense, seashells, sea mist, fabulous waves and basically private as soon a you leave the lifeguard area! Much much nicer then the Hatteras part of the outer banks!

After seeing Ocracoke's ranking on the 2018 Dr. Beach list, we made a point of catching the ferry from Hatteras to check it out. It is indeed a beautiful beach with lush sand and clear water. The sand bars perhaps make it calmer and more swimmable than other beaches up the coast. And the lifeguards give a measure of comfort, as they are constantly monitoring swimming conditions. However, visitors should know that there are currently no restrooms, showers, or changing stations available--only two vault toilets and one shower column. Also, there are no trash cans. Plan to carry out all your waste (and please do!).

We visited in May, and the new restroom building was only half-constructed. Hopefully it will be finished soon and operational before the end of the summer season.

Very celan beach.lots of people around so noghing to fear.very seculaded beach but please watch rip currents

Had some warm weather in the beginning of December so we took advantage of it. The beaches of Ocracoke are gorgeous.

Perfect ocracoke beach. Wide, flat expanses of sand and sea...shell hunting in abundance and lots of fun family time!

At first, I didn't think driving 1 and 1/2 hours to the ferry and then waiting 1 hour for the ferry and then a 45 minute ferry ride would be worth the trip until I spent the day at this beach. It's about 12 miles from the ferry drop off and you could blink and miss it. Wow! Crystal clear water, fish floating around you and shells to die for. The sand was a white powder and really soft to walk on. the ocean was calm and very warm. We were there for hours. Eat before you leave because the ferry ride back could be hours of waiting!

I have no idea what this place is like during season, but it's amazing during the off-season. It's gorgeous and there were only a few other people around. One of my favorite beaches in the world, hands down!

The wide shore gave everyone plenty of room to play, walk, and sit. The children loved building sandcastles and dancing in the tides. Beautiful sunsets here!

We went to the 1st beach after the Airport.
Beach was clean and you could walk forever in either direction.
Great sense of security with their presence.

The beaches of Ocarcoke on the Atlantic side have got to be some of the best in the United States. Nice, sandy beaches. Miles and miles (13, to be more precise) so you can find an exclusive spot somewhere. Good wave action. Some lifeguarded areas - recommended for families.

Visited the beach during the Irene evacuation. Clean beach with parking and area to wash off. Would be nice if someone would fix the washing station outside the bathrooms as we couldn't get it to shut off (seems to waste water). Couples and families at the beach.

We visited the island one afternoon during our vacation and wanted to see what the beach here was like. I was pleasantly surprised there was a lifeguard on duty. The beach was clean and comfortably full. The day was a hot one and many beach goers were enjoying the waves.

Dr. Beach is right -- ocracoke has the most incredible beaches and with life guards ot make sure you don't get caught in rip currents it is perfect!

The reconstruction of the boardwalk out to the beach should be finished for the onset of summer, but in the meantime, don't let it dter you from climbing the little path over the dunes. The beach is spectacular, and completely natural. We love it!

The lifeguards have a very big job. The water is warm but can be extremely dangerous. My hat is off to those who watch out for our lives!

This beach was one of the farthest walks but has a nice boardwalk to help along. Its not for the elderly or those who have issues walking. For those that can you are in for a treat. The waves are great for body boarding and those who like shelling its a nice location to have fun. There are showers and changing room which is a plus.
I gave this a 3 star because of the walk; its too far to lug beach gear.

Really pristine and gorgeous. Dogs not allowed, but we did walk by the lifeguard toward the end of the day and he let us through. The "airport" beach allows dogs but it's a long walk through soft sand (if you have 4-wheel drive, you can drive on the beach).

This was a fantastic beach to visit, but very crowded. One thing that was nice was the beach was very large, dogs are allowed, and there are lifeguards. There were some areas roped off in red that are sea turtle nesting sites and are protected areas on the beach. This place was awesome, but crowded.

Very clean beach, lots of space so you are not crowded. Clean restroom/changing facilities.

This beach has plenty of parking, a wonderful (no stairs) boardwalk to the beach. The beach itself is clean and I love the fact that it's just a beach....nothing else. A nature lover's delight. There are restrooms and showers near the parking lot. Lifeguards on duty at times....loved it!

Drive on the beach if at all possible as you have to bring everything. Great sand, great surf...just glorious.

We love coming to Ocracoke every year. The beautiful beach is the number one reason. It's clean, not developed, quiet, and there aren't a lot of people. Depending which ramp you chose, it's possible you could be the only person on the beach. The day use area closest to town has showers, rest rooms, and a changing areas, but the beaches closest to the Hatteras ferry has better shelling locations. You won't be disappointed.

This beach is not only beautiful but long. Has area's for 4 wheel drive also. Very clean area and bath house area's are great. A great place for family vacation on the beach.

Just totally unspoiled, gorgeous sand. Nice ramp to and from beach. Shower and changing facilities. Not crowded because the island isn't in general. Amazing amazing beach.

It's one of my favorites to visit! I love going to Ocracoke Island, just not during tourist season as some of the tourists are so very rude and lack all manners unfortunately.

Very less crowd compared to other commercial beaches.During sunset, water becomes very warm, and a nice orange radiance falls on the sand. Perfect for shell picking. Could have given 5 stars if they had some vending machines also, as shops are not so near.

the finest beach on the east coast! Clean, white sand as far as the eye can see. The waves are gentle and enjoyable. Warm water.

Being so far out in the Atlantic and with the ocean floor rising so much more quickly here than, say, Atlantic Beach, the waves here are very strong. Get ready for a workout if you're playing in the surf.

Beautiful and not crowded beach. Walking distance from the airport. We enjoyed swimming and sunning all afternoon.

Such beautiful beaches on Ocracoke. Spent almost every morning and afternoon here. Fun for all ages!!

PS this beach as bathrooms and a shower to rinse off the sand

This beach has access for those people that do now have an SUV to drive on the beaches on Ocracoke. There is plenty of parking, bathrooms and a ramp over the dunes to a platform that overlooks the ocean. It's a really beautiful view and there's several benches there for seating.

The beach is really wide and the sand is great. Some days the surf is very calm and others it can be rough - use caution when getting in the rough water. There were lots of shells on the beach this year. The kids had a great time.

There is not handicap access to the sand or the water from this location, just to the platform at the top of the ramp to view the ocean.

This was a great beach and it was not very crowded. We were here for a photo shoot with 101 magazine. It was our first time on the island and it certainly will not be our last.

You can find a somewhat crowded or empty stretch of beach with plenty of sunlight and relatively warm water

It took us about 3 hrs to get there from Kill devil hills, which includes a free 40min ferry that transported the cars. The wait for the ferry can be quite long. The beach was pretty awsome, plenty of room for everybody. Water was comfortable temperature. Husband was able to catch some nice waves, it was however too choppy for me. I enjoyed lounging on the beach instead.

Before sunrise, head over to the beach, (Hwy 12) you'll find a few folks, sitting on the sand, with travel mugs in hand, a few w/camera's, awaiting a magnificent sunrise, better still, if the Island, had a late night storm, you will see folks at low tide, zigzagging, up & down the beach, hunting for seashells.
Enjoy!
FYI
There is No Lifeguard at this time, wear beach/water shoes, broken shells) a bag for shells, a bag for trash you find on the beach. Don't forget your sunblock!

Took an early ferry over in the morning and then a short drive to this beach and my family loved it! My whole family said it was way more beautiful then the beaches in Avon by us. Sand is beautiful and waves were great! Would love to have stayed a night in Ocracoke

Who doesn't love a beach? This one is clean, not overly crowded and there is a lifeguard. This time we sat outside the lifeguard area because I had my dog. Parking and bathrooms available. An awesome day!

About a mile and half out of the village .
Walkable but driving is recommended for the people not so fit.
A great beach with lots of area for all that go.
A life guard is on duty and children need to be watched
Beautiful day trip for picnic and sea swimming
A must visit if you are staying in village

Easy access with plenty of parking, changing rooms, bathrooms, outdoor shower, water fountains and lifeguards. If you continue up the road a mile or so there is a neat pony enclosure on the left.

Recently rebuilt ramps make this beach accessible to anyone; there is even a look-out point that is sand-free. The flat beach bordered by natural dunes is gorgeous, and the water entry is pretty flat. The natural dunes combined with the ocean waves, clean water, and seabirds make this a great place for swimming , provided you are an ocean swimmer, beach walks, and relaxing. Because it is also equipped with restroom and shower facilities (even a doggie shower and water fountain, this stop can get crowded,

Gorgeous, free, public beach. Lifeguards are friendly, helpful, attentive, and are proactive on educating beach-goers about the conditions and dangers of the beach at the current time.

Finally introduced my family to Ocracoke and they instantly fell in love. Great beaches and not crowded, plus excellent surf fishing.

I've been going to Ocracoke Island for 28 years and I tell you this is one of the best beaches in the world. Located south of Hatteras Island, the only way there is by ferry. If you are looking for a off-the-beaten-path kind of beach vacation, Ocracoke is for you. The beaches are secluded and the fishing, boating, and water activities are off the charts. Selected beaches have bathroom, outdoor showers and lifeguard on duty. I highly recommend swimming in designated beach for peace of mind. The island due to it's isolation, is filled with quaint shops, wonderful restaurants, hotels and cottages, several campgrounds and a village so quaint and charming that it will leave you with memories burned forever in your brain. I especially love the fact that you can park your car in the village, walk or ride a bike (except if going to the public beach.) A great place for a honeymoon, family reunion or anytime you need to get away and recharge your batteries to get a new perspective on life. The village due to it's size and isolation has been spared the commercialization of the Outerbanks and this is at the root of it's southern charm. When I think of all my beach vacations, Ocracoke is the top of the list. Trust me, I'm a hard sell but Ocracoke gets 10 stars in my book.

Beautiful, undeveloped beach. The waves and surf were strong. It was fun to play in. However, I would not recommend this beach for young children because of how strong the waves are. Before trying other beaches in Ocracoke, try out this lifeguarded beach before trying other beaches on the island. We were staying in Rodanthe and the waves were way stronger in Ocracoke. Get there early. It takes a whole day from Rodanthe. Go to Ocracoke. It was one of our best days in the Outerbanks. Way worth the trip.

I have been to the OBX a few times but just went to the beach on Ocracoke for the first time on this trip. It was great, plenty of sand/space for people to lay out without feeling over croweded. The beach itself is rather level so it is great for running or long hikes. You can walk for miles picking up/looking for seashells of which there are plenty. It is just a nice relaxing beach with beautiful water.

I have been going to Ocracoke Beach for over twenty years and I love it. Nothing compares. Beautiful water, sand, sand dunes. Everyone is quiet and minds there own business. Whether I drive my 4-wheel truck and set up for a day of fun, fishing, and food; or just grab a beach chair and towels and stay for an hour....it it the best.

Enjoyed the clean beach and rolling surf. Improved boardwalk and outdoor showers appreciated. Easy to get to.

Lifeguards leave after Labor Day. There was no charge in Sept. Read a review that said they only had porta pottys, not true. There are 3 or 4 Pit Toilets, each in a separate room that was clean with hand sanitzer. Outside showers and outdoor changing booths. Laqrge parking lot and concrete walkway all the way from parking to the beach. The sand on the beach was terrific, not full of shells-just soft sand. Would definitly go back, we used this beach every day of our weeks vacation.

We went here for the day and it was the best beach that we went to in the whole holiday on the OBX.It was relatively quiet and we enjoyed the surf,it had a life guard on duty but you could walk up the beach for complete seclusion.it was quite rough the day we were there with strong tow....but it was the warmest due to the Gulf Stream being so close....just great.

We go to Ocracoke Island every year from Pennsylvania. There is no other place like it that I have traveled. The beach is amazing, the water is warm and the people are friendly. There isn't a better place to take your family then Ocracoke!

Not overcrowded, clean with good facilities. There were lifeguards on duty with gear. Be aware that it’s windy, and the surf is rough. We loved it! Our son is 8 and we brought a vest for flotation for him. If you have 4x4 bring it to the island, there are lots of places to go.

My wife and my Grandkids loved the beach, even though the water was very cold the first two days. I had trouble getting the three of them out of the water

Absolutely beautiful wide beach. A new walkway was near completion to make access easier, although it wasn't overly difficult to access the beach via the trail over the dunes.

I usually stay away from crowds of people and super public places but the campfire on the beach is really nice. You don't have to do anything but bring your marshmallows and chairs. Stay as long as you like no charge just watch the waves come in and out alongside the campfire. The kids can run around and you still feel they're safe so you can relax.

I'm not sure what I can say that hasn't already been said.

Everything about the beach was great -- It was virtually adjacent to the town of Ocracoke, there were showers & changing stations, plenty of parking, and a ramp over the dunes. We were there over the week of Labor Day, so we only had a few days with the life guards.

The life guards were incredibly polite and professional, the beach was virtually empty, and was very clean. There were also very nice and warm tidal pools, which were great for our toddler.

The only downsides, depending on how you look at it, was that the waves were rough and even a bit scary (for someone used to the Jersey shore), and there were constant warnings for rip currents. The life guards personally warned us about them, after they had to perform several rescues the previous day.

This is a great way to spend some quality time with the family. If I had known how wonderful the evening was gonna be the night we visited lifeguard beach. This is the only open fire oceanfront on Ocracoke. We cooked hot dogs and smores , but will definitely go 2 more times next year and cook seafood and burgers. The wood burns real fast so I do suggest digging a little deeper in the sand than we did. Also, make sure you get a pass from the park ranger for each night and fill it out.

This beach is large. To access it you will cross a long boardwalk which is nice. When we visits there was ALOT of people on the beach but everyone had room. It was a nice people and dog watching beach ( yup my FAVORITE thing to do-giggling-) Pack a snack and stay for HOURS. There is a bathroom at the entrance. Parking was adequate. When you are done go about 10 minutes up the road to the town. You can get a beer, seafood pretty much anything. Hope this reviews helps.

The sand and water at this beach are gorgeous! We parked at the airport and walked back to the beach. It was far since we had a wagon with two kids to pull to our spot at the beach. It wasn't very crowded but there was a honeymooning couple next to us. They were a little too affectionate since my 1 and 4 year old girls were with us.

Great place to just lay back and forget about everything. Everyone there is very friendly and so laid back. Not a lot of traffic or loud noise. I really love the ferry ride if you drive down to Hatters it's only 45min.Take an extra card for your pictures there is so many beautiful sites, Drive all the way down on the end of the beach and watch the sun set over the water. WOW to pretty to miss.

This is an amazing beach! Beautiful dunes and grasses, you will love it! Perfect place to relax and enjoy a hot summer day but not touristy.

The Changing and restroom facilities were clean and well kept. There is a shower area to rinse off after your day at the beach. The beach area is beautiful. The sand is white and clean. The ocean water is also clean and clear. Family friendly atmosphere and not crowded at all. Absolutely perfect ending to our day at Ocracoke!!

One of my all-time favorite beaches - very clean. A crowded day here may have 50 people in view...walk a hundred yards up the beach and you may have it all to yourself. Great for shelling, fishing, walking, swimming, or sandcastle building. There is a boardwalk from the parking lot, and changing rooms/outdoor showers available.

Lovely beach with lifeguard on duty during daytime hours. Nice parking lot with outside shower and changing room available. You walk on a well maintained boardwalk from the parking lot to the beach. We were there on calm days so the swimming was delightful. A great place for a long walk.

We visited Ocracoke for the 4th of July week. Everyone said it was their busiest season, yet the beach was not crowded! The lifeguard beach is a short walk from the parking lot, clean well kept. Has restrooms, shower area and few minutes driving from town.

If you feel more adventurous you can get an off road permit and drive your car pretty much to the edge of the beach and just bring out your chair!

Anyone looking for beach life need only travel a mile or so away from the town center. A long boardwalk takes you to an excellent beach, with lifeguards present during business hours. I'm sure there are miles of beaches on the island for those who want to find them, but this works well for those staying in Ocracoke.

You definitely want to go here! Take the ferry from Cape Hatteras over to Ocracoke Island. It's completely gorgeous! It's non-commercialized and it doesn't have cell phone reception so it's calm and relaxing. There are plenty of good restaurants. We stayed at the Blackbeard hotel; supposedly where Blackbeard the pirate stayed and even haunts. We also went to Teach's Hole which is supposedly where Blackbeard was killed. We definitely want to go back-we love the outer banks!

Not hard to get parking, very clean, not too crowded. Spent quite a bit of time there for a few days.

This beach is so beautiful! Not crowded. We will be back. Good for shell-searching. The sand is so soft.

We went daily and never felt crowded. Could walk to a point of privacy. Clean, inviting - good for the family

The parking lot here at this beach is partially fenced off and that includes the access to the boardwalk out to the beach. There was a trail that went over the sand dunes to the beach. Once on the beach we had a restful, relaxing time. The beach was beautiful with endless shells and miles of sand. The sounds the waves were wonderful.

Thankful for a stretch of beach that doesn't allow trucks. Also really like the brand new walkway to the beach over the dunes & the outdoor showers for rinsing off! Not a fan of composting toilets but you're on the island, so you deal :)

Lots of room to enjoy. Not sure about lifeguards as if someone was in trouble they have no boats, rafts, preservers to help someone.

Who doesn't love the beach? Ocracoke lifeguarded beach was beautiful, clean, and one of the few spots on OBX that is lifeguarded. There is plenty of room for all - which leads me to one complaint I had while on the beach. This experience may be a one-time thing but I feel it's worth mentioning. There were some people fishing right where the lifeguards were stationed. With miles of open beach, it baffled me as to why someone would want to cast a fishing line right where families are swimming. I overheard someone complain to the lifeguard and nothing was done. Possibly they could have mentioned something to those folks who were fishing...it just didn't make sense. The only other small drawback is that you must drive to this area of the beach, it's just too far to walk and they don't allow the golf carts to go out that far. Otherwise, it was a beautiful day at the beach, I highly recommend it!

The beaches on Ocracoke are beautiful!! The immediate areas around the beach accesses can get a little crowded, but if you move 100 years further you will have plenty of space to yourselves! The water stays shallow for a while so it is a great place for kids!

Although no lifeguard was there, the beach was so visually pleasing, prompting us to relax there. It was too cold to swim. It was fascinating to see the ocean currents move southward. It was sheer pleasure to have the breezy winds sweep our faces.

When it comes to rate & review beaches, After I have been in Vieques Island, Culebras Island, and Mona Island,(at 50 feet you could see the sand and think is only 5 -6 feet deep) you will not give too many 5's to any other Beach, for the East Coast of the Continental US of A it is an Above average beach, border line great , when it comes to the sand and the serenity, there are parts of the beach that you might be the only one in up to a mile, and all that is AWESOME, but the water is not Kristal Clear, actually is kind of murky and Brown, you can't see your feet at waist deep water, and that is why I don't put any beach in NC, VA, MD, at more than 4, plus is too windy, and in the Summer the Moskitos will have a feast with you, Best part of my trip was the Bed & Breakfast we stayed, "The cove" voted in 2009 one of the top 100 B&B in the Country and the Best in NC.
WE (me and my Wife) were celebrating OUR 20 yrs Anniversary in The Outer Banks. And drove down the Coast from Norfolk, VA 136 mile all the way to OcraCoke Island, NC. The Ferry is FREE.

if you're in need of a lifeguard after September, bring a friend who is a strong swimmer and loves to watch --- sunrise, sunsets, yoga, meditate, sound of the waves and the salt air -- what more could you possibly want ---

It was a nice beach to visit, but just be prepared to lug your beach supplies a long haul to and from the car to the sand. The beach was clean, and beautiful but fairly crowded near the lifeguard stand for a midweek visit. But we would definitely do it again!

We rode our bicycles from the village to this beach. There are nice rest rooms there and a good observation deck.

All of the beach in Ocracoke is nice. I prefer the beach access across from the Pony Pens, which is further north but less people. However, Lifeguard Beach has more/slightly better bathrooms. Much better than that nasty ol' overrated Myrtle Beach.

If you don't have a 4 wheel drive, this is the place to go. Also, check out the campground beach. It's what everyone comes here for.

I liked that it was only 1 mile from our apartment and if you are so inclined you can have a fire on the beach.

Fantastic beach. Read other reviews about there being a long walk. If someone were in a wheelchair or disabled in some way, I could see that being the case. But this was an easy walk consisting of mostly boardwalks (which are cement, actually). It is not a long walk on the sand to plant your umbrella and call it a day. One can really make two or three trips between car and beach without taking too long. The entrance is directly behind the lifeguard stand, and if one wanted fewer people, they could walk either direction to find a more private spot. However, this would not be lifeguarded. Either way, there seems to be plenty of room and the beach itself is gorgeous

One thing I didn't realize about Ocracoke is that there are no houses actually on the beach. You drive or ride a bike to the beach. There is plenty of parking here and it's only about 3 minutes outside of the village. The lifeguard stand is right there and most of the people who have kids tend to gather there so it's a bit busier, but not at all "crowded" like a Myrtle Beach, Va Beach, or even Nags Head. Also, if you don't mind going away from the lifeguards you can just take a short walk down the beach and it's practically deserted. There were 3 lifegaurds that I saw on duty the whole time, and they were each very attentive. You could tell they took their jobs seriously. The beach is clean; there were a few bugs, but nothing bug spray can't take care of. I definitely recommend this beach if you have kids because there can be a tendency in the OBX to have rip currents and you'd want to be sure you have trained lifeguards on hand if needed.

My daughter summed up our latest visit to the Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach: 1. No crowds ever. 2. A beautiful clean sandy beach where there are no houses or structures in sight at all. 3. Walk to the beach on a nice boardwalk and clean up at the efficient bathhouse. 4. Great island panoramic views from the boardwalk deck. And this beach is maybe a mile tops from the rental houses in Ocracoke; some people just ride their bike out. Ocracoke has it nailed as my favorite beach experience.

We loved visiting this beach, it's gorgeous. Lots of space, clean sand
However be aware of the rip tide with the sea it really can pull you out in minutes.

come to surf, shell collect, just laze in the sun, or walk the beach for hours on end. Beaches are endless along the road. Enjoy!

Water was clear, lots of whole/unbroken shells to pick. Although there were moderate crowds near the lifeguard stand, 50 yards up the beach there was plenty of unoccupied sand. Just as pretty as a picture.

We really only visited this beach at night, since we had a (CHNS) campsite on the beach and house in town. It was full moon, so we headed the whole 1.5 minutes from town to beach several times after sundown.

The beach is spotlessly clean, perfect width from dune to water, there is an ACCESSIBLE RAMP that runs from parking lot into the sand, nice observation deck, showers, plenty of parking, clean restrooms.

From observation, there is no way this beach could ever be crowded, with all the National Seashore areas on the island. Cape Hatteras NS is quickly becoming my favorite ocean getaway spot.

Great beach, sand is beautiful, not very steep which great for the kids, a must while in Ocracoke. You won't regret.

Great beach just a bike ride from town. This access also offers a bath house allowing for an area to change out of your wet bathing suit before heading back. Lifeguards allow you to have the extra set of eyes on the kids. While we were visiting there was a turtle nest to the left on the beach.

Just another beach, you can drive a vehicle on parts of it, if you get a permit, pets must be kept on lease.

Clean, safe, family oriented, prefer swimming here over the more isolated beaches on the island.

Never crowded. Always pristine. And if you are a walker, you head north along the shore and before long you are completely alone and your footprints could very well be the first of the day in the sand. An American jewel.

This was my favorite beach in the Outer Banks. It wasn't too crowded, there were tons of shells and beautiful white sand, and you get to take an awesome ferry ride to get there if you're coming from Nags Head. Try to time your day so you catch a later ferry (free!) back to see the sunrise. It's worth driving back to Nags Head in the dark.

Lots of parking. Showers. Changing stalls. Lifeguards. Seashells. What more can you ask for! Fun 1hr ferry trip from Hatteras.

Our family went to this beach to relax. Wasn't crowded. Being near the water is refreshing and relaxing.

The beach is beautiful! There is lots of room to spread out and have your own space. There's also room for 4WD to drive along the beach, park, and enjoy the beach. OI is one of a kind. Lots of beach, dunes, privacy. You cannot go wrong vacationing on this beach!

Lovely, spacious beach. We spent HOURS here and would gladly go back any time. It’s a great beach with soft sand and seashells galore.
Bathrooms and rinse facilities available too so you can truly have an entire day here.

We saw two rays in the ocean!

The water was a bit rough so not really swimming quality but it’s shallow and you can wade out.

This beach as well as all the beaches on Ocracoke Island are the most beautiful I've ever seen. They are wide with good distance of sandy beach before getting to the water. They were clean and maintained and hidden behind sand dunes all along the island. So from the main road, you can't see the beach but must take little foot paths from the road (or parking lots) to the beach. Its was isolated when I was there in Oct in off season. Perfect for a sheller or someone wanting some private time. We spent hours on the beach while only seeing a few people. They do allow SUV and trucks on the beach with a permit but that didn't bother me too much as it was slow season and I did not find it bothersome. Note that some beaches do not have restrooms. If you are a sheller and don't find shells here just pack up and go to another beach on the island. I am not sure how crowded it would be high/busy season but I would certainly go back in off peak season again. Stunning wide sandy beach with dunes, very beautiful. I wish I had taken pics of it.

White sandy beach, clean and gorgeous. Lifeguarded section is a small portion of the beach. Generous parking lot, located right of Rt 12

Its a pretty nice place but sometimes over crowded, and the waves are really dangerous sometimes

The sand is white and clean - not rocky. There are plenty of shells for the kids to collect. It was nice to have a restroom. It's a pit bathroom, but at least there's a spot to go. They also have outdoor showers.

Lifeguards seem inattentive.

There is no place better to relax and enjoy a vacation, I have been going to this piece of Heaven since 1979, I would choose no other place to stay, long beach with plenty of room and sea to look at, no worries or frustration, JUST PARADISE, if you are one of those who likes to walk a board walk and go shopping, well this beach is not for you, just peace and enjoyment, no hustle, no bustle, be prepared to want to LIVE on Ocracoke. A must to do if you enjoy PEACE AND QUIET

Nice bathroom (ok it is a very nice port o john) outdoor shower, good boardwalk to the beach. Never croweded, always nice. Never any complaints that humans have any control over.

My boyfriend and I drove down from NY to Hattaras Village where we rented a house for the week. Although all the beaches in Cape Hattaras are beautiful, the Ocracoke beaches are especially gorgeous. We took the free ferry to Ocracoke a few times. It takes almost an hour one way to get there on the ferry but well worth the trip. The ferry ride is pleasant and there are shops and restaurants in Ocracoke. But the real reason to go is the beauty of the beaches-fine clean sand, warm water, few people-almost private, the air and water temperature is a few degrees warmer and the surf is a little less rough. You can also drive on the beach with a $50 permit and a four wheel drive vehicle( which is convenient if you have s lot of beach gear).
A beautiful beach experience!

We visited at low tide around 6pm. I was shelling and found some nice whole ones but nothing unique. The two 13 year old girls loved riding the waves with their boogie boards. They did not want to leave. Had the whole beach to ourselves. Peaceful. The only downer was it was a rainy day.

Absolutely gorgeous and well maintained beach on Ocracoke. It was clean, the water was clear, and there were certain areas if you walk down just a ways that were secluded. The warm water made it possible to get in and have a little fun. I wish it hadn't rained so much while we were there because I would have loved to enjoy the beach more.

Clean, uncrowded, and free! Was a great place to spend the day enjoying the sun and waves. Surfing is hit or miss, as with anywhere, but the waves are consistent and a great place for beginners and veterans alike. You can surf anywhere but between the two flags on either side of the lifeguard chair. You are allowed to have an open fire (wood only) on the beach until 10pm by obtaining a free fire permit from the Ocracoke visitors center which is by Silver Lake Harbor at the end of Irvin Garrish Highway in Ocracoke Village.

Updated walkway to the beach sets the pace for this beautiful beach. Great parking and bathrooms and showers on site.

Ocracoke represents the most remote outpost on the Eastern Shoreboard. There are no roads leading to the island. The only way to reach the island is by sea (i.e. ferry boat) or by air. Because Ocracoke is so out-of-the-way, its beaches are pristine and never crowded. Ironically, vehicles are allowed on the beach (just like Daytona Beach in Florida). As an aviator, I will land at Ocracoke Island Airport (W97), which essentially lies on the oceanside beach, park my airplane on the tarmac and walk to the beach. It’s too easy and makes for a great day trip.

It is just a beach, but also a very nice one. One of the best shelling beaches in all the outer banks.

This is our favorite beach on the East Coast. By all means, go to the lifeguarded beach if you plan to swim on Ocracoke. There are other beach access points on this 14-mile island, but you are truly alone if you bathe elsewhere. The beach isn't crowded, the lifeguards are very helpful, and the slope is fairly gradually in the water at most times. The waves are usually gentle, but it can get rough. Use common sense if the waves are high. The best part of this beach is that you can walk away for MILES on the National Seashore and be totally alone. We usually walk northeast along the shore for 30-35 minutes, putting us out of sight of the lifeguarded area. We occasionally encounter another human being enjoying the isolation and looking for shells, jogging or just having a nice walk. If you want to get away from crowded beaches and yet have a lifeguard around, this is a great place to go. And yes, there was a shark attack there several months ago, but it was the only one there this summer. It doesn't deter us. We are just a bit more cautious in the water and look for the signs.

Without a 4 wheel drive, the beach is not convenient. It's a long walk to the bathroom and the section with a lifeguard is small. Ocracoke is one of my favorite places on earth. I'm just not a fan of the section with a lifeguard. Give me all the rest!

The best thing about the federally-protected Ocracoke shore is that it's so overlooked. This means that it's not usually crowded, and it can't be developed. I hope it stays this way forever--miles and miles of beautiful sand, shells, and surf. In my opinion, it's the best beach in the U.S. to get away and have some alone time.

The main beach entrance (just north of the town) has bathrooms/changing rooms, and outdoor shower to wash off sand, and a water fountain, which is nice. Other than that, there are no facilities.

If you have kids or aren't a great swimmer, stick to the part that's guarded by the lifeguards, and PLEASE pay attention to the warning flags--they aren't kidding.

This beach this year has a brand new ramp/walkway which is a nice addition. When down here on vacation we always go to Ocracoke for the beaches as they just seem "better" for some reason. We usually go 1st week in September which is less packed, but this year we came down in June and although more people were here we still were able to walk down a little further and find some privacy. I will mention that once you've worked up an appetite head on down to Eduardo's just a few minutes away from the beach. I'll bottom line it for you, if you're staying in the outer beaches you gotta visit the island at least one time.

Gorgeous natural beach! The beach was very nice and clean. We went on a day trip from Nags Head. It was about an hour drive from Nags Head to to the Hatteras to Ocracoke ferry. Took about 45 minutes to get on the ferry and 45 minutes to get to the island. We spent a few hours in the village of Ocracoke and then a couple of hours at the beach. It was cool seeing the 4 wheel drive area farther down the beach. People had their jeeps and trucks on the beach.

We visited Ocracoke in June. Although we could not stay on the water, the beach was only a short drive from town. We have two young kids and wanted to make sure that we went to a beach with a lifeguard. This is the only area of beach in Ocracoke that is lifeguarded. Just make sure to get there early as the lifeguarded section is small. They put up flags and you have to stay within those flagged areas for the most part. They are typically on duty from 10 am - 5 pm. The beach is clean, plenty of parking, showers and toilets.

We have a vacation home on Ocracoke and the Lifeguarded Beach has always been our "go to" place for swimming when staying there during the summer months. I am just back from two weeks on the island and despite it being well into summer it was not that crowded. I was able to boogie board right in front of the lifeguard tower. It is a short walk on a wooden boardwalk from the parking lot to the beach and the parking lot also features shower and changing facilities.

After coming to this beach for years ,it never gets old. Just sit back and relax or come with the pups at night and run like the wind.Love it

Ocracoke has a natural sloped beach that is great for swimmers, surfers and waders. The sand is very fine grained and gentle on your feet when walking. The life guarded area may get crowded but unless you are a strong swimmer and understand waters with shoals and wells it may save your or your children's lives to stay in this area. At low tide people like to go out to the outer breakers and ride them across a shoal. As the water flows off the flat it will gradually move you toward a well where you get caught in a strong rip current. Each day we watched the life guards dash out and drag people of all ages to safety. The crews on this beach certainly earn their keep when the surf is up.

A beautiful place to watch sunrise. Almost deserted this time of year. Nice boardwalk over dunes to beach. Unfortunately the bathrooms by parking lot were locked and water turned off. Oh well, the view was worth it.

Very beautiful beach with very few people! The sand here is very clean and soft. There are changing rooms, bathrooms (more like porta potties), and showers. Definitely recommend spending the day here!

Having to get to Ocracoke by ferry keeps out a lot of day trippers, and what a blessing for those of us who love this unspoiled island. The beach is long and never crowded. We like the beach opposite the wild pony corral; there is no lifeguard but our adults outnumber the kids, and some of us are always nearby in the surf to watch. This summer, with the shark attacks, we all kept to the near side of the breakers, and the kids still had a great time. The sand and water are pristine. Dolphins, pelicans, sandpipers, seagulls abound. This is like turning the clock back fifty years to how beaches used to be.

We visited the lifeguard beach to participate in the Easter Sunrise service. Beautiful location and time. This year there was a baptism held the surf. It was a very special morning.

I have to admit the National Park Service really did this right. This beach is beautiful and great for families. It is life guarded, has plenty of parking, showers, bathrooms and changing facilities. There was plenty of room to spread out and not be on top of the other guests. My kids and I did a nice walk in the afternoon and found lots of fun shells. We did not run into anyone but a few birds and crabs along the way. The ocean was really calm with sandbars for kids to enjoy (and adults too). Overall this is a great beach and highly recommend when you visit the island.

This island and beach are beautiful and it is like going back in time. Very peaceful and very remote. Prepare to spend a half-day or more here due to ferry rides over. We loved the beach and the island.

About 2 miles from the village. Get there by car or bicycle. Its got all the essentials (showers, rest and changing rooms, drinking fountain) and miles and miles of sand. It has to be one of the top rated beaches in the US.

Calm and clean beach where you can relax and let the kids have fun? Can have a small picnic. Kids would love this beach

When visiting Ocracoke, you must experience ghost crab hunting after dark. Bring a flashlight or two and prepare to see the "night life" come out. We saw dozens and dozens of ghost crabs walking around the beach and were treated to a lightning storm a few miles off the beach as well.

Very beautiful and uncrowded beach. Having grown up going to the New Jersey shore every summer the beach is definitely my happy place but these days I find most of the New Jersey beaches way too crowded for my taste. I was traveling with my two teenagers and my parents and Ocracoke was a stop for a few days on our way to visit family in Georgia. Everybody was happy, no crowds and decent boogie boarding for me; my son,who is very into marine biology, had a great time exploring and collecting specimens, my dad said our visit was the best beach fun he had in a long time. I'm ready to visit again.

Really liked the laid-back nature of the island! The people are actually really friendly if you don't come at them with a grunt and a scowl. Are there a few who probably would like to see all the tourists gone? yes... but all you have to be is NOT THAT TOURIST they want to see leave.

This beach is just outside the village on Ocracoke. It is wide with nice sand. The best thing about it is that it is the only beach on the island that has lifeguards during the summer. There is a short walk over a boardwalk to the beach itself. The parking lot accommodates a large number of cars. This is a nice beach to stop by on the way out of the village.

Beautiful beach with nice facilities. Unfortunately the day I went the waves were way too big. A local young woman said she had managed to dive under one but was frightened by how long it took to come up. And when she tried to get out of the water, she was knocked down several times. I was glad I hadn't tried.

We go to OBX every year. This past September we went to Ocracoke beaches and it was, for us, the perfect beach experience. Quiet, empty and beautiful shells. We were so taken with the island that we will be staying there next year. The island that time forgot. Go... if you want peace and quiet and magical beaches.

Absolutely beautiful, not very crowded & a nice flat beach without a big drop off like at Hatteras. Liked having the showers to wash the sand off and of course lifeguards is always a wonderful plus.

This was a nice beach; we visited after labor day so no lifeguard (but we're used to that with NC beaches). Plenty of sand during high tide; clear markers for those driving on beach to stay in their section, and this beach had no driving (which was nice with little kids).

Where else can you be on a beautiful beach and no one else is there as far as the eye can see?

We stopped at the beach at the end of a rainy day and there were people swimming and shelling. It was a beautiful beach and the lifeguards were very friendly advising us where the shallow water was for the kids to swim.

My family loves the water but be advised if you plan on swimming there are some strong cross current right off the beach. We actually used this to our advantage and started high on the beach and floated down to the lifeguarded area. The beach itself is beautiful and we had fund swimming. You should know how to get out of a cross current and be very careful. This would not be a good beach to leave the little ones unsupervised.

Natural beach with showers, and walkway to the beach. Always clean and the beach is flat backed by sand dunes. Lifeguards on duty for designated swimming zone. We loved it for morning beach walls. Monitored turtle nests line the dunes and we enjoyed learning more about the turtles from the park rangers . Really it can’t be beat 👍☀️😃

My favorite thing in the world is an empty beach! Unspoiled without the people, umbrellas, beach chairs, and thousands of other things folks feel the need to bring to the beach. The few patrons we did see were far off in the distance creating a private experience for my family to kick back and just enjoy the ocean. If you're into bringing everything but the kitchen sink, there was ample parking right up front and a nicely done wooden ramp from the parking lot over the dunes to help you move all your crap!

We made the long drive to Ocracoke from Kitty Hawk early in our vacation week. The day we went there was a surf advisory for Kitty Hawk, but not Orcacoke, so we knew we would be able to swim. After having lunch in town, we headed to the beach. It was stunning, a long stretch of perfect, uncrowded beach. Highly recommend.

The beach was not crowded. It is very wide. Very clean. We walked along the beach and later, at night, stopped to see the stars. The moon was out, so it wasn't possible to see as many stars as when we went at around 5 a.m. and then, we saw many stars. That was the highlight of our stay in Ocracoke. We live in a city in NC and wanted to see the stars without any city lights around. We also felt safe in Ocracoke to be out at that time in the morning.

This beach is the only beach access for the island. Most of the island beaches are protected. This might make it some like it would be crowded, but it’s not! Plenty of room for everyone.
There is a small parking lot, bathrooms, and even a paved trail from town to the beach (if you’re willing to bike that far).
There is also part of the beach where you can drive your vehicle up to the water, but a permit is needed.
There is a lifeguard on duty, which is a job I would want. Low stress, and working on your tan.

You can't go wrong anywhere on Ocracoke- the beach is fantastic. Compared to other well known beaches (think Myrtle Beach, Destin, et al) there is no comparison. Even if it's a "crowded" day, there is still TONS of room and everyone is friendly. None of that littering, smoking, walking all over your towel, etc.!! And.... I say go here to get wet because rip currents are real and present. Deaths along the Carolina coasts happen because Mainlanders or "dingbatters" don't know how to handle them - the lifeguards are the best and I've seen them help many a person.

we love ocracoke. we love the beach. we always go just a bit past the lifeguard area.
the beach is wide , beautiful, and wild. no houses, no noisy boardwalks, no shops. just
sand, surf, and sun. we do enjoy that there is a little outdoor shower and a changing facility. we use that before we go to eat
I hope it never changes. developers must stay AWAY!

I did not go to a lifeguarded Beach, but there is white sands beach all the way from the ferry landing to the actual town. I was there for a week, but I went to the beach by just pulling over where there was access and going out on the beach with the seagulls. It was like being on another planet. No people just beautiful water and sands. I was staying at a house that backed up to the Sound so I was able to go kayaking from there. You can rent bicycles and kayaks for the week, but I had brought my own. Everyone rides bikes around the town. It is small enough to walk or ride a bike everywhere.

Nothing bad nothing great. Nice beach to hang out or catch some waves. No shells to collect and hopefully you don’t need a lifeguard as they spend most of the day talking to each other and playing on the phone.

The NPS Life Guards provide the security and water safety to old and young alike. As this section prohibits motor vehicles children can roam in safety.

Our family of six had a SUPER visit here last week. Having lifeguards on duty inspired additional confidence in our boogie-boarding 8 year old grandson. The beach sand as you wade into the ocean is especially smooth and free of shells-at least where we were swimming. The changing areas were clean and handy, but note: no running water, chemical toilet facilities only. This did not detract from our stay at all. Kite flying is not permitted at this beach (probably due to the proximity to the airport?) Just the perfect place to cool off after a day touring Ocracoke.

This beach is a wonderful spot to come and enjoy the ocean. We didn't stay in the life guarded section, since we were all comfortable where we were in the water. The beach isn't crowded, even at peak time on a sunny day, and ithe mornings and the evenings were our favorite times to be there. Such natural beauty and light....ahhhhh!

This beach is relatively small but very nice. There are very efficient lifeguards on duty in season. While there the rip currents we're bad and seen two different rescues. They have restrooms and ample parking. You are able to take dogs on a leash at the appointed areas as well as surfcasting fishing.

Great parking , clean bathrooms and dressing rooms, outside shower, boardwalk to the beach! I never saw a lifeguard but did see a forest ranger patroling the parking lot and beach area. Beautiful clean beaches.

This beach at this place is so wild and beautiful. There are endless shells and long beach strips all around the island. The sunshine just sparkles on the waves. The wind blows the sand around. It was such a great experience!

Nice place for the family a little crowded in the summer, but a good place to go especially if you can't drive your vehicle on the beach.

Great location one of my favorite beaches. There is a good ramp access and bathrooms. Always glad to be on a beach with a lifeguard.

Wow. If you get to swim in the ocean just once or twice a year like we do, choose Ocracoke. The beach has lifeguards. The beach is not too crowded. The dunes go for miles without houses or hotels. You take a short drive or bike ride from Ocracoke. In fact, there is a totally separate bike lane that many people were using to get to the beach.
Its a national park beach with restrooms. Wow I can still feel the warmth of that water.
Ocracoke!

We went to Ocracoke for the day. I had never been there before, after walking around the marina and shops, we went to the beach and watched the sun set, because we had no agenda. Since Ocracoke is a small island, there is not much light pollution. This made it PERFECT for stargazing.

We could see the Milky Way beautifully and clearly, and even a novice stargazer could identify it, no problem. If you are a photographer, it's a great place to practice shooting the stars, if you aren't--the ocean and the stars is a stunning site. It is tranquil and serene. Bring your telescopes, binoculars, DSLRs, beach chairs, pillows and blankets as you will want to snuggle with your family under the stars. I can't wait to go back to see this again.

This a nice and clean beach. A small section is life guarded. It did not get very crowded and seemed to be popular with families. It is a bit of a walk from the parking lot to the beach but the walkway is well maintained.

If you are looking for a nice quiet secluded spot on the beach, no matter what time of the year, then Ocracoke Beach is the place to be. Lifeguarded area is the most highly populated, I choose to pick a spot far from the hustle and bustle of mass tourists. These spots are readily available all down Hwy 12............ have fun

No lifeguard in April . Good walking beach. Sand not difficult to walk on. Reminded us of the National Seashore beach in Eastham, MA.

Nice place to park with bathroom facilities and a foot shower for sand. Sand was a bit deep when getting to the water but sitting on the beach was beautiful listening and watching the waves. Clean beach.

You can walk for miles looking for that perfect shell, play in the surf, or just enjoy life under your umbrella. There are restrooms with changing facilities & showers. A relatively short walk on a wooden walkway ramp takes you over the dunes to the beach. Ramp with a sitting area is nice for those physically challenged but there are stairs down to the beach itself.

Beautiful beach and well attended. Wish they had a trash bin near the lifeguard station for all the bits of trash that wash up on the beach.

This is our go to Ocracoke beach for our first dinner of our trip, which is Thai Moon or Jason’s pizza on the beach at sunset! Not many shells, but convenient to restaurant pick up!

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore is special because it is allowed to be natural and undeveloped. The Lifeguarded Beach offers security to swimmers in this area where undertows are possible. It also offers facilities, including a cold-water outdoor shower for rinsing off salt and sand before you change or get in your car.
Ocracoke is cute, quaint, quiet, friendly, great for long undeveloped beaches, great for fishing, great local fish being served in tacos and in good restaurants, perfect for biking/cycling, great for 4WD beach driving (only with permit $60/week or annual); mostly dog-friendly, has inexpensive options and reasonably priced food...... even has some surfing, a good campground, and a little airport. However, there happened to be some biting flies while I was there that were a bit irritating; and I didn't like having to drive to the beaches but it was worth it. Here are some things to consider:
If you are thinking of going to Ocracoke for the first time, here is what you need to know: all the rooms and cottages are in the village, spreading out from the harbor (called Silver Lake) but the beaches are away from town along Hwy 12 (which is the only highway on the island; serves as the main street of the village; and is also called Irvin Garrish Hwy). The Lifeguarded Beach is the closest beach to the village but not "walking distance" for most people with their beach gear ( 2+ miles from the ferry/harbor). It was a nice bike ride for me from the ferry, but it would be a long walk in the sun for a family. There are lots of bikes and golf carts for rent around the harbor, although I don't think you can take the rental golf carts to the beach.
The island is great for seeing by bike. I think that the next time I come, I will leave my car at the Cedar Island or Swans Quarter parking lot and just come over on the ferry with my bike ($3 versus $15 for a car). I would think that not having a car would secure a place on the ferry even when it is full. The 2 hr ferries (Cedar Island & Swans Qtr) require reservations and will fill-up during tourist season; but the 45min-1hr ferry to Hatteras does not accept reservations and I saw a line of cars that looked to be about 2 ferry loads, meaning a wait of an hour or more to catch the ferry back to Hatteras during mid-day on Memorial Day. Leaving early or late or on Tuesday (like I did) will help. Other than the ferry line, the island did not look or feel too crowded over the weekend. There were people on the Lifeguarded Beach, but nothing like Atlantic Beach or Emerald Isle a few days earlier; and there were times I had areas of the beaches all to myself. Just outside the perimeter of the Lifeguarded Beach; however, there were 4WD vehicles lined up down the beach with their surf-fishing gear set up. When I tried to take a long walk down the beach from the campground, I came to a barrier prohibiting entry in order to protect the shore birds. Even with the areas cutoff for protection and the many beach vehicles, I still found places where I was alone on the beach and my dog could run off-leash for awhile. (Even when you are alone on the beach, the Rangers are never far away so pay attention to the rules about no cars or parking on the 4WD ramps and careful about drinking. I was passed once when my dog was off-leash but I put the leash back on and the ranger didn't stop.)
A very nice walk or bike ride (almost 6 miles round-trip from ferry/harbor to beach and back) is to take Ramp 72 (the first 4WD entry point from town on the way to Lifeguarded Beach). The sand road is wide and well-packed so that it is easy to ride a bike on almost all the way to the beach. There are small canals along the roadside where birds and ducks were active; and once on the beach there were vast, wide views in both directions with nobody in site. From 6am until almost 8am we saw nobody other than a passing Ranger, and the tracks of various animals. However, a horsefly started biting my dog and she threw herself into the canal to hide.

One of the most beautiful there is and they still manage to have great creature comforts such as a lifeguard, decent parking, and restrooms.

Easily one of the best beaches in the US that I have visited. I live it here and will be back every chance I get. A very special place

love this beach!
October was a great time to visit - few folks on the beach with blue sky and perfect water temp

Easy to see why this is one of the top rated beaches in the US. It is clean, undeveloped and never feels crowded, even during peak hours.

This is the most beautiful beach and not crowded at all. The sand is perfect and the beach is so large that you can put your umbrella/chairs in a spot and not be bothered by others. The lifeguard area is large and when you get beyond that you have a large beach to yourself. Definitely go there.....we have been to many beaches in the US and Asia and this is the best one by far.

Lots of parking & easy access to beach. Life guards on duty all day. Restrooms are available next to the parking lot, along with showers and changing rooms. There is a board walk and steps to get over the dunes to the beach. There is also a look-out platform above the dune that is handicapped accessible. Lot is only about a mile out of town and easy to find.

If having a lifeguard nearby is important to you, it's good to know that this part of the beach exists. However, if you want to avoid crowds, drive about 5-10 minutes further down the road and park across from the pony pens. No lifeguard, same beach, way fewer people.

Outer Banks beaches are lovely, but the Ocracoke beach is especially nice. It is wide, clean, and easy to access.

We visit every year at multiple times - I can't say whether I adore the winter beach more or the summer. Sixteen miles or so of mother nature - whether just before a storm (I have the most awesome photos) or a sunny day with children and seagulls swooping - the beach has amazing sand, sun, boardwalks with tall swaying grass, and one can walk and walk and walk and feel one with nature. My favorite beach hands down along the coast so far.

The Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach is a very wonderful place along the Atlantic seaboard. I have been to most every significant beach from Maine to Florida and this beach is uniquely beautiful. Since it is on a barrier island about 20 miles from the mainland accessible only by ferry, boat, or air, it feels wild and remote. The sand is white and soft which is different than most other OBX beaches. The grass covered dunes are very beautiful.
The most recent time we were in Okracoke this August the beach was relatively crowded and there was what appeared to be a diversified mix of young and old folks on the beach. The previous time we were there a few years ago was in early September the week after Labor Day and the beach was almost empty (but no lifeguards so we did not swim). I consider the beaches of the outer banks in general to be some of the most treacherous beaches on the east coast due to shifting sands underwater and rip currents. So do not swim without lifeguards present.

There are more secluded beaches, but they don't have the additional safety of lifeguards. The parking lot was almost full, but the beach did not seem crowded. Very nice restrooms and showers, including outdoor showers to remove sand before you get back into your car.

After dark, you can build a campfire on the beach with and easy Park Service permit ---. roast marshmallows and gaze the stars as ghost crabs scamper about.

The beautiful long sandy beaches on Ocracoke are the best beaches we have found in the OBX. I personally love that you can always find away to get away from the crowd. With several miles of beaches, there is always a place that you can get some alone time. The Lifeguard beach is the only one you should allow kids to swim at since there are some undertows along some of the beach areas.

We got a permit to go off road, we found the prefect place and we parked and enjoyed ourself to the max, with no one on site!

Go at sunrise for the best chance of shelling. Best places for shells are the farthest North point and then park at the Airport and walk towards the southpoint you'll find a good shell line in the morning after high tide!

One of the best beaches anywhere. The new ramp makes beach access super easy. The beach is pristine. The crowds were not overpowering. There was one day the biting flies were attacking even with bug spray. Go at night and chase the crabs and turn off the lights and star gaze.

We visited Ocracoke Island in September 2015. We went to several beaches but came to the life guarded beach several times. The beach was ours from 8am till about 9:45 when others started coming. We were there after a storm one morning and the beach had a drop off of 8"-18" from the waves pounding the night before and had created low wall with shells sticking out of it. Easy pickings for some cool shells. This beach is the first right after the airfield on the way North towards the ferry. It has a nice board walk over the dunes to the beach. It is also the only beach with a changing area and outside water stations to rinse off the sand. For that reason, and the beach to ourselves early in the morning makes this our favorite beach on Ocracoke.

We took a bike ride to this beach and had a great time. We walked on the beach for a while as well. This seemed to be one of the more popular beaches but still not crowded.

This is the only legal place to have a bonfire on the beach. So, grab a burning permit from the park service, go down by the water within the posts and light up some logs. You have to be off the beach by nine but it so worth it.

I live near beaches a little farther south along the Outer Banks that can only pretend to be this pristine. Wonderfully long and amazingly uncrowded. Outdoor showers were a big plus. Highlight of my weekend.

Beautiful unspoilt beaches...absolutely fabulous!

We stayed here during our east coast road trip and absolutely fell in love with Ocracoke. Since we got home and reflected on our trip, which included New York, Virginia beach, Miami, Daytona etc... This is the place we loved the most. We ❤️ Ocracoke 😎😎

The beach was beautiful, with huge rolling waves! After vacationing at overcrowded beaches for so many years, I was totally spoiled with the room to move freely!

The waves here make boogie boarding and swimming a pleasure. Water temperatures are always great, and if you have little ones having the guards is important.

Nice beach with plenty of space. Not overcrowded at all. Waves were not great for surfing.

Take bikes or a short drive and use this fantastic spot with kiddoes. The lifeguards are wise and friendly. Rips and strong undertoes are very common, so the guards are a key security for you and yours.

We totally loved coming over on the Free Ferry Ride from Cape Hatteras! I was surprised just how much this Island was Developed and was Quite a Resort Spot.
We enjoyed the Beaches and Touring the Island..was Glad to go back however to Hatteras and finish off our stay in Buxton.

It is so nice to go to a beach that is not crowded, dirty and loud! This beach is peaceful, clean and you don't have to fight for a space to put your stuff. Love it!

If you want to be alone on a beach, just take a walk. My favorite type of beach, empty. Ok, so we were there in April.

You are protected by a lifeguard, easy bike ride from Ocracoke village, lots of paved parking with a short walk to beach, changing rooms, outdoor showers to rinse off and restrooms.

Most beaches on Ocracoke require 4WD vehicles to get there, plus a permit to drive on them. But, there are plenty of places to rent such vehicles at reasonable rates. This particular beach requires no special vehicle. All are welcome to park and walk up over the dune to the endless shoreline. The beach there, not unlike most all the beaches along the Outer Banks are seemingly endless and sparsely covered with people. If you like walking a beach, you are gonna LOVE this area. Good waves, and in this instance, supremely delightful water temps! No pain getting in, and no desire to get out! I can't say whether or not this is typical in September.

I like a good lifeguarded beach because I feel safer. Went in Mid June so was gorgeous, no jellyfish, no other big fish, skates...or sh**rk* so felt very safe. There was one day with a moderate undertow but still swimmable and one day with rip currents so we didn't get in. If you have a week here, it's perfect because you get to experience a little bit of the best and the worst, more than likely. You have to drive and park here, but not bad. Lot was never full to capacity, and therefore, neither was beach. New Walkway over the dunes is very nice and can be done barefoot. Restrooms and rinsing stations easy and convenient. Love, love this beach. Moderate to low for shelling, but big on mid-size waves for boogie boarding and dunes and scenery are lovely. Great for kids, families, retirees...not as many 20 somethings probably bc of travel distance and cost, lack of bars right on beach or houses right on beach...but the town's and local restaurants' summer economy is driven by a huge college age population so I know they must like it here. Chill vibe.

Would live here if I could ! Great beach...great island...a bit far to walk from the town but we had a car so just fine. Superb day !

This is our go to beach spot. There are bathrooms and a shower to wash the sand off your feet. It's a short walk to the beach. There is a ramp and a higher viewing area overlooking the beach. Even in the height of tourist season, this area isn't overcrowded.

The beach was fantastic and very relaxing. Must stop when on the island. The beach was white and water warm.

The wind was blowing the foam off the top of the waves - gorgeous views.

Big beach, warm water and soft sand. Summer relaxation 101. There is only one guarded beach on Ocracoke Island so if you have children and/or non-swimmers, this is the place to go to enjoy the sea. No badges needed. Plenty of parking plus bathrooms with changing area and outdoor showers to rinse off under. Easy bike ride from the village with bike lock area. Please read signs, be respectful and clean up after yourselves. The Hatteras Seashore is a national park so it's carry in/carry out. Bags ares supplied at the entranceway to the beaches, use them! It's a great privilege to have beautiful beaches to enjoy let's be sure to maintain that privilege for future generations.

Spent about 6 hours on this beach on a very hot day . Lifeguards on duty all day. Great land/ sea scape . It was low tide and you could walk out forever. Beautiful scenery . Clean showers and toilet area. People surfing and surf fishing or just sunbathing like us . Bring your own food , water and lots of sunscreen . Enjoy 😊

Liked that there was a lifeguard nearby. This spot was very crowded , but well-kept. Even the fiddler's crabs are harmless, just curious. Has a adequate restroom & shower. And the walkway keeps your feet from getting burnt. There is also a Notice of tides for that day & safety precautions.

This lifeguarded beach was surprisingly empty and serene during the day. It would be very safe to bring children here for swimming.

Drove down from Kill Devil Hills and this beach was the highlight of my May OBX trip. Even though it was over 90 degrees outside the entire week I was in OBX, the water was colder than ice and unbearably cold. However this wonderful beach in Ocracoke gave me the wonderful ocean swim I was dreaming of. The water is warmer here due to the Gulf Stream - even in May it just feels like a swimming pool. The sand is nearly white and really soft. The beach wasn't crowded at all. I can't wait to come back!

Great beach to walk down, catch some waves, and look for shells. the water is usually warm due to the Gulf Stream, warmer than on Hatteras Island. The sand here is nice and soft also.

Lifeguards are important here. There was a drowning earlier this season on the north beach, a victim of rip tides. Swimming can be hazardous anywhere along the OBX, so why take the risk of swimming without lifeguards?

There is a clean place to change, outdoor showers and a huge parking lot. The dunes are very wide at this point, but there is a nice boardwalk to take you across to the beach.

Bugs can be a problem, especially if the winds die down. Take bug spray. One day we were bitten by some kind of green-nosed fly. Quite an unpleasant bite. (True all along the OBX.) If you're lucky, there will be a strong breeze to keep them away, but don't depend on it.

Aside from that, it's a lovely, wide beach. Enjoy.

This is a very nice beach. Of course the lifeguards make it much safer. Ocracoke is extremely laid back and a fun place to visit.

This is a beautiful beach ranked by Dr. Beach as one of the top beaches in the United States. Close to the village yet wonderfully remote. Great sand. Excellent ocean seascape.

Just stunning - definitely understood why it is so highly rated. Not our first time there, and not our last either!

we spent an hour collecting she'll sit is a really beautiful beach unfortunately it was so windy we had to have our hoods up on our jackets on the plus side there was only one 4x4 on the beach which was about a mile away, so in the summer it would be great to spend several hours there.

I certainly wouldn't rate this beach one of the best based on the day I visited. The wind was blowing so strong that you felt sandblasted. When I returned from walking the beach, my towel was buried in the stuff. It is pretty, but the wind and sand just made it not much fun or relaxing. Not having the showers ready was also dissapointing.

It was nice to have a lifeguard on duty while we were there. I think they leave the stand at 5 p.m. It was windy and we couldn't go swimming. However, there is a wide beach to spread out, a nice board walk to the beach and shower house.

Certainly this is a beautiful beach, but .................. The area covered by lifeguards is limited. We felt like we were in the middle of a sports arena. Within a short distance there was a wiffleball game, bocce tournament, soccer game, and a juggler. If you like peace and quiet and a relaxing day at the beach, there many other places where you can find that on this wonderful island.

This has to be one of the best beaches on the east coast. Totally undeveloped and unspoiled. It was a short walk from the parking lot, maybe 150 yards. It seemed like our own private beach it is so isolated.

i went early. life guard turned up each day at 9am. the water was murky and waves wind blown. not a pleasant swim for long distance ocean swimmer, but cool and salty

The powdered-sugar sand on the Ocracoke Beach make a kind of musical tone when you scuff your feet through it. I've only encountered this phenomenon a few times and it never fails to delight.

The Outer Banks is all about the ocean, and nowhere is the interface more perfect than on this, my very favorite OBX beach. The invasion of motorized sand vehicles has made quiet beaches a rarity, so it's a joy to spend time on sand free from the sound of passing traffic. It's well-worth a drive down from the congested northern beaches, and the water tends to be much warmer than at Nags Head or Coquina. That said, this is still a pretty exposed beach, and waves can be large. Folks who most enjoy this beach are surfers, strong swimmers with ocean experience, and families with sharp-eyed parents who can keep their kids safely away from the rollers.

Pack a lunch, bring your kite. This one of America's truly great beaches--though, as noted by others, Beach #2--equally lovely though not guarded--does not sit next to a parking lot.

If it is a beautiful as rest of shorline it was probably excellent. However, the government closed it while we were there!!! Now I have a reason to return! Shh...I would anyway!

Great beach for swimming in May of 2017! Water was warm. Weather was beautiful. Very clear waters. Perfect Day.

There's nothing like walking up and down a nearly deserted (and beautiful) beach and enjoying the sounds of the waves. One of my favorite beaches on the East Coast.

We visited the lifeguarded portion of the beach the day after we visited the beach by the private airport access. The first beach there were plenty of trucks along the sand, but it was still easy to spread out. There were not nearly as many vehicles on the lifeguarded beach area, but it was a bit noisier as there were many more children there (which makes sense, since it is lifeguarded). It wasn't very hard for us to make our way down the beach a little bit from the noise, and we had a great time. The water was so warm and felt nice after trudging through the hot sand to get there.

In addition to being a beautiful beach, the nice facility in the parking lot for changing in and out of bathing suits and going to the bathroom or even washing off your sandy feet under the outside shower make the drive from area accommodations comfortable and easy. The ramp to the beach makes it wheelchair friendly and it is not hot to walk on. Shell wise, when we were there in late July, there were not many special ones, but the beach is clean and not over crowded.

All of the Ocracoke beaches are beautiful. This one has a good bathhouse and a nice boardwalk. Speaking as someone who doesn't come with an SUV to drive right onto the beach, I would have preferred that the Park Service separate the area where people do that from this beach--they are adjacent. Still, we drive all the way down to Ocracoke from Baltimore frequently and part of the appeal is the pristine beaches. Separate from town, but that's fine. Beach #2, a few miles further back up the beach towards the ferry is I don't think lifeguarded but has fewer people and the natural beauty is not married by the 100s of SUVs lined up within sight.

We typically vacation on the Gulf and we were shocked at how few people were at this beach. It was lovely and clean and a great experience all around.

We love Ocracoke beaches. The water is usually warm. We normally, go to the beach across from the wild ponies. But this year we checked a little more ahead of time and found that there was a lifeguarded beach with a boardwalk to the beach and showers, changing rooms and bathrooms. Due to these conveniences and extra safety we enjoyed this beach better.

My kids wanted to do the 2 hr plus ttrip from Nags Head every day just to go to this beach. There are TONS of shells to collect. There is a littlr sandbar that breaks the waves before they get to the beach creating a great calm swimming area. There is also a simple outside shower and private changing rooms so you don't have to do the trip home covered in sand. If you do have a 4x4 you could go further dwon or up the beach for the same experience with more privacy.

The beach was clean, access was easy, it accessible for all. The daily temp and tides are posted for all to see along with the lifeguards that are on duty for the day.

We utilized this beach access as its closest to the village. Half the parking lot was fenced off which included the boarded walkway to the beach. Instead they had a sand walkway marked that guided us over a dune. It seemed like the path guided us over the highest, steepest dune they had. I'm still left wondering what was going on--construction or sea turtles--I have no idea. But the nice beach access was anything but. Of course the ocean was great.

Wow. Clear water! Even fewer people than in Buxton. I went in the ocean up to my head, which I've never done before. If you are interested in shelling, this is the spot!

We went to the second beach access that you come to after the ferry and found it to be a magical place! The beach was almost deserted, and the sand was so soft it felt like silk under your feet. There were a lot of shells strewn about on the beach, and we found a few that weren't broken. There is no lifeguard or bathroom at this beach, but we only were wanting to walk the beach and look for shells, so we didn't need them.

The beach was really windy when we were there. That was the only downside. Otherwise it is really nice. You can't find a lot of undeveloped beaches like this. I liked that there were lifeguards with the kids, they even advised us at one point that there might be lightening coming which was really nice. It wasn't that crowded despite being mid-summer. Overall we spend several very nice beach days here.

From Nova Scotia to Florida, this is the best beach for relaxation and non-party beach experience. Warm water. Lots of shells. Beautiful dunes. It's summer yet no crowds, no rowdy partying college kids, no fashion shows and attention seekers on the beach.

beautiful beach on a national park service run barrier island, natural dunes, no hype.. just outside of town but too far for the golf carts.

We enjoyed these beaches. Clean water and sand. We went seashell hunting. Found some nice ones! Possible fossil too. Uncrowded, friendly visitors. Only warning is that is was very rough. Watch young kids carefully. Water temperature was outstanding. Like bath water. Lots of porpoises to watch. I would definitely recommend a vacation here. The water is a pretty color. A lot of light greens.

We thought for sure that this would be the super packed beach with it being the only life guarded beach - glad we were wrong! Parking is easy (you get closer early in the day and later at night).

There is a nice, clean ramp from the parking lot to the beach, which goes over the dune. The ramp splits so you can go to the overlook and see the beach or it goes down and deposits you on the other side of the beach and right behind the lifeguard station.

There are signs that say if you swim within the parameters of these signs you're within their sights. People are super friendly and the water and sand are just wonderful and clean. The views are amazing - it's even fun to see a few planes take off and land.

There is a water station to fill your water bottle, an outside shower, 4 changing rooms and 2 bathrooms. As an FYI, the bathrooms are glorified port-a-potties as they don't have lights, running water or flushing toilets. But they were super clean and we were thankful they were there. If you're feeling adventurous (re: not carrying typical beach paraphernalia) there is a path over the dune from next to the showers, which is very pretty.

Overall a great experience!

A very nice area to visit. Lifegaurded area was large enough for the kids have fun. Very few people so there was plenty of space for everyone to spread out there 'stuff'. The water was warm, the waves gentle, and the beaches clean of everything . The sun was hot, hot, hot so be prepared!

Beach is nice and very clean. Parking is good, bit of a walk to the beach but walkway provided. Unfortunately we were there when there was a high danger of rip currents. Lifeguard was on duty and made sure no one ventured too far.

One of the best beaches I have ever been on - and I am from Rhode Island where we have plenty of beaches. The Ocracoke beaches are so expansive and clean - a true paradise!

The new group of guards seems to change daily. One set was spending way too much time on their own physique, doing sit ups and squats when folks were out swimming. The later one this week were much better!!

This was the best beach experience I have ever had.

The beach was clean, uncrowded, sandy, full of shells and full of waves. As others have said, during the day this beach is populated, but not with the normal hoards that you will find at other coastal towns. You have to drive/bike (a mere 3min) from the village, but there are no crowds descending from beach house upon beach house, no drive-ins there for the day, no crazy co-eds or frat boys crushing beer cans on their foreheads. Or rather, if they are there the beach has space for them all.

The sunsets are also spectacular.

It is worth the drive and the ferry ride.

Lovely beach. Ample parking in lot next to walkway. Great access with excellent wood walkway. Dunes add tons of character. Short drive from the villiage.

...you should probably make this one. Fine sands and a plethora of shells will be there to greet you. It's clean and breathtakingly beautiful. You can walk for miles along the shore if you like without running into a crowd of folks.

I've been there about 5 times during my trip. It aways smells like dog poop for about 5 minutes then you get accustomed to it. Maybe all beaches & oceans smell like that and I just don't frequent them enough to know better. I would also like the lifeguards to announce when they are done for the day. I imagine people with little kids would like to know when that extra layer of protection is gone. Outside of those two things it's great. Ocean aways has nice waves, the sand is littered with shells and the water is great.

If stopping at the beach, this is the place to go. The view is great and the beach offers plenty of beauty to take in.

ALWAYS go to the lifeguard beach if you have kids swimming. The fifeguards here are the best. Always attentive. Safest place to swim on Ocracoke.

Arriving here in the early morning will allow for some wonderful quiet time. The water was calm when we were there and we found some of the best shells! The life guard arrives about 9:00 A.M. It was an easy drive from our hotel on Ocracoke.

Perhaps he was due to it being the end of August but there were almost no people on this beach. It was great having 2 lifeguards but one exercised while the other watched. The beach was great for shells

The beach area was natural which made it beautiful. Although February, the sun was shining and the temperature of almost 70 degrees made it perfect for a quiet walk along the sand.

The lifeguards on the beach at Ocracoke are truly lifeguards. They were in the water, walking the beach and observing from their stand the entire time. We saw them rescue a young girl from a rip current and go out to swim to others to check on them and warn them of the rip current. Both guards were in excellent shape and took their jobs seriously.

Our favorite beach in the world. We appreciate that the dunes are protected and that you must take the Park Service boardwalk to reach the beach. We pack up all our stuff and make the hike for the day. You can walk north as far as you like to escape the crowds that gather around the lifeguarded area. For the most part, people are thoughtful about distractions but...you'll sometimes get smokers or people playing music too loud. Then we just move further down the beach.

The entire east coast of Ocracoke Island is one long beach. This one is close to town and has changing rooms and an outdoor shower. After parking, take the boardwalk across the dunes. You will come upon a pristine beach that goes on and on. Never crowded, warm water (September), lots of shells to collect, birds to see, a must if you want a primo beach experience. Reminder - bring a beach umbrella if you want to spend some time. Otherwise there is no other shade.

We took the ferry to the Island from Hatteras during our first trip to Outer Banks so this was also my first trip the Island. It has exceptional beaches with beautiful, cream-colored sand. The Lifeguarded beach was naturally the most crowded but if you plan to be in the water, it's the necessary choice. Even on a perfect day in mid-June it was nowhere near overly crowded.

We walked for two hours, NO litter! Just sand with shells. Very few people on the beach. We had our dog with us, and found the other dog owners to be courteous. No dog poo.
The bathhouse was clean.
A highlight of our visit.

Ocracoke Island is a historic island with magnificent beaches! It has to be one of the nicest beaches along the East Coast that we’ve seen. We love Frisco beach but this is a close second. If you have time while nearby you should visit at least for one day. When we went to Hatteras Island for a week we spent Monday at Ocracoke. I would recommend going early in the week because it seems like more people decide to go toward the end of the week. Monday afternoon we went to the beach after touring the island and it wasn’t crowded.
The ferry between Hatteras and Ocracoke was free both ways taking your vehicle! In the past we’ve been to places like Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. They require a fee per person and vehicle if you take one. It seemed a short ferry ride although it was around 45 minutes. The view of the Pamlico Sound and sand bars was gorgeous. The kids enjoyed the ferry ride as much as seeing the sights on Ocracoke.
On the Island we visited the British Cemetery, Pony enclosure, beach, a few shops, welcome center, lighthouse, silver lake and the preservation museum. We finished off with an early dinner at Howard’s Pub then the beach. The entire Island is relaxing and there didn’t appear to be any commercial chains or restaurants. Plus all the houses and hotels seemed average no chain hotels or super mansions. We loved touring the Island by going up and down all the side streets. The locals and shop owners seemed extremely down to earth happy to share information on the Island. Our only complaint was Island Rentals where you can rent a golf cart. We rented 2 golf carts since we were a party of six. We never drove a golf cart before. The attendant seemed very nice explaining everything. However once we began driving we noticed a variety of problems. The tires were bald on both, neither had a working horn, and one had no rear view mirrors. We took the carts back an hour later and the attendant who was no longer being very nice explained there are no refunds (for the other hour we paid for) but he could give us another golf cart although most of their carts have the same issues. Instead we called it a day and returned the carts. Since the golf carts are allowed on the road with other cars throughout town I feel they need to fix the issues their carts have. Overall it was a fantastic trip we plan to do again except the golf cart rental. I would recommend spending at least 2 days here one for sightseeing and one for the beach.

The new boardwalk that just opened last week hopefully will make the beach more accessible to a variety of individuals, and also for families toting wheeled beach carts or coolers. No stairs! New observation deck with benches will greatly facilitate dolphin-sightings or just watching the waves roll in. The lifeguard crew seems young, energetic, eager to answer questions. An easy bike ride from the village. Free to public. Cold showers, foot spigot, changing stalls and restrooms adjacent. Plenty of parking and bike rack.

Boardwalk, restrooms, and rinse station are very convenient, but what's most important is the beautiful, unspoiled beach and views. Water is pristine. Go at low tide for access to shallow tide pools which are just perfect!

This beach is one of the nicest on the east coast. Wide, nice sand, pretty dunes, no development. If you walk even a very short distance you can walk past the crowds and have space to yourself. One note is that the they allow vehicles on the beach right up to the lifeguard beach on the south side. So when walking you have to head north unless you want to be walking on a beach with lots of trucks and fishing lines.

Unfortunately we got to see the lifeguards in action as a young girl got into some trouble while playing in the surf. It was amazing to see how quickly the lifeguard ran out into the water and swam to the girl. Everything ended up ok but it does show why swimming in a guarded area can have it benefits. The surf can be very strong along Ocracoke, especially before or after storms have come through the area.

If you are looking for another beach area that is just as beautiful but a little more remote, head north on the island to the parking lot across the highway from the pony pens. It is a small lot with a boardwalk that leads over the dunes. There are no lifeguards on this beach so swim at your own risk. However this stretch of beach may be even more beautiful than the lifeguard beach if that is possible. It is also in a ORV free zone so you don't have to worry about trucks on the beach.

Ocracoke seashore is so pristine and the sunsets are absolutely amazing! The ride out to the Hatteras free ferry, the beach is winding & remote, with the Pamilico sound on the other side. This is a very uninhabitated area that is well-maintained and gives you peace of mind with only sea & sand in view.

Ocracoke's shoreline is gorgeous, the lifeguarded swimming area is not huge, but it does not feel over crowded either. Very friendly and attentive lifeguards who let visitors know if the surf is rough on any particular day. Lots of car and bike parking as well as restrooms, outdoor showers and changing rooms.

There aren't many beaches left that are completely undeveloped...no buildings at all. Perfect. The lifeguard beach is a great way to enjoy this pristine area. Parking area, bathrooms and sand showers right off of the beach, and a nice ramp to get to the sand. Lifeguard there during the summer which is great. Stop by The Back Porch Lunchbox or Eduardo' s for lunch on the way.

This is a great beach, with lifeguards, an outdoor shower, bathrooms, good parking, great at night time, can build a fire on the beach, see the ghost crab and the bioluminescence, not to mention see the Milky Way and the constellations.

This was well worth the drive and ferry ride from Kitty Hawk to get to this beach! Absolutely stunning, enjoyed over 1/2 day doing nothing but sunning and swimming here. The water had more of a blue tint than the waters in the Myrtle Beach area...I was expecting the currents to be a little stronger, but they were about the same, and the lifeguards had identified a rip current area, and had blocked off swimming in that area. The water was a little cool in July, but not too cold to swim, The beach sand was powdery and fine for building sand castles, too :) The lifeguarded section was busy but not crowded with families and all ages. There was ample parking, restrooms and changing rooms located near the walkway out to the beach, and outdoor showers to wash the sand off before leaving,

Also saw an older gentleman being wheeled out onto the beach in a "beach wheelchair" made of large pneumatic tires and plastic piping. Do not know where, but was told that those could be rented. Was pleased to see that there was access for handicapped visitors.

Found many beautiful seashells on this beach - took a short walk towards the north and very few people were up that way - more secluded. To the south, the beach changed into an area for 4 wheel drive vehicles which were on the beach, and people appeared to be fishing down that way.

Will definitely return - this is the best (in my opinion) area of the OBX for those who want to spend their time on the beaches.

Beautiful sight to see! Very relaxing! Very well taken care of clean! Even to entrance to gain access to it was very accessible!

My husband and I spent an afternoon at this beach... It is beautiful! Expansive beach and great surf! The dunes and sea grasses are lovely against a background of blue sky and luminous clouds!

We went every day. This is convenient, well maintained, and safe.

The waves were at times exciting and at times calm. My swimming child loved going out a ways for the crashing waves and my child that can't swim loved the shallows. The shells provided interest and the guards were friendly and attentive.

A quick walk takes you turtle nesting areas.

It was also a great place to run. The sand near the surf provided a firm enough surface to run long distances. I ran more than 50 miles while on the island and only a few miles were not on this beach. The surf provided a great backdrop for running and it was free of bugs and cars.

Lovely beach with no shells so the sand is smooth and easy to walk on. Waves are nice for surf or wakeboarding.

Lots of white little fish (could not figure out what they are called), Piper fish, butterflies, etc.

There’s showers and good bathroom facilities. There’s horseflies by the showers though so be careful.

Dolphins(porpoises), Shells, Sun. This time of year practically deserted.(like we wanted). Sorry it was our last day and we could not stay longer.

The beach was big but the area the lifeguards covered was very small.

Such a great feeling to have lifeguards at the beach. They are friendly, helpful and professional. You can walk on the beach and never run into another person. Would recommend taking a 4 wheel drive vehicle on the beach to carry all of your equipment. So beautiful to see a beach with huge dunes and no homes on it. The swimming was excellent!

This beach is so awesome. When I visit the island, I go running in the am and to watch the sunrise. I had the beach to myself for the last 2 mornings. It is very convenient to the village and has lots of parking. It also has changing rooms and public restrooms. Great place to spend the day enjoying the beach.

Gorgeous beach, no crowds. Drive on if you get a permit. Relax, relax, relax. Highly recommend this piece of paradise.

This beach is gorgeous. I didn't have the luck of shell hunting that others did. I didn't see hardly any shells. However, this is a well kept beautiful beach! I hope to visit again.

My husband and I stayed a week, took our bicycles, loved the lifegaurded beach. Showers and bathrooms and everything is incredibly convenient.

No lifeguards in the off season as expected but it was quiet and tucked away. Easy parking, clean restrooms but ever so windy as the Outer Banks can sometime be.

Nice access and parking. Beautiful beach, but a bit far from the village.

As we spent the majority of our OBX time north of Ocracoke, we had only one afternoon on Ocracoke Beach. In comparison to the other OBX beaches, this was, by far, our favorite. The sand was soft and the water was warm. There were many sea shells along the beach for the children to gather. I hadn't intended to spend much time in the water, but it was so pleasant, that I found myself chest deep and having fun! The only drawback was the biting flies by the bathhouse. If I find myself on Ocracoke again, time at this beach would be a very high priority.

We went to this beach access, as it was after labor day, and there were no crowds. Of course, there was no lifeguard either. Wide, beautiful beach with lots of room.

peace and quiet and one of the best health and wellness retreats on the east coast --- bicycle and sunscreen, don't leave home without it

Locals can drive on the beach. Visitors please watch the FLAGS! Red flag means NO SWIMMING. Look at the surf - you can tell when it's not safe. It's a beautiful beach and there are lifeguards in certain areas just pay attention to the flags for your safety and that of first responders!

Great beach for family. Great there is a lifeguard especially when you see rip current warnings all over. Gives you an extra piece of mind. Also great that you can have campfires right on the beach. Love that even and it's busiest it doesn't seem overpopulated!

Crabs at night are a blast. Watch out for the sea turtle nests; and campfires on the beach are still a thing.