Surf spot

Shackleford Banks

Forecast conditions and map view for Shackleford Banks in USA, South East, North Carolina. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, South East, North Carolina
Coordinates: 34.6679, -76.5948

Metric
Metric	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00
Wave height (m)	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.3
Wave direction	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	SSW	S	S	S	S	S	S	SSW	S	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	ENE	ENE	ENE	E	E	ENE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	ESE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE	SE
Wave period (s)	3.4	3.1	3.1	3.2	4.7	3.9	4.8	4.5	3.5	3.6	3.5	4.1	4.7	4	3.8	3.5	3.8	3.6	3.4	3.4	3.5	4.1	4.5	4.5	4.2	4.3	4.7	5.8	5.3	5.1	5.3	5.5	5.6	4.5	4.8	5.5	5.7	5.5	5.3	5.2	4.9	5	5.1	5.4	6	4.8	4.8	4.4	3.8	3.9	4	3.9	3.8	3.6	3.8	3.9
Wave energy (kJ)	5	5	4	3	5	4	7	6	5	6	7	7	8	6	7	8	6	7	5	4	4	4	4	3	2	4	6	3	5	5	8	8	8	14	12	13	18	18	19	19	25	24	21	12	15	14	14	10	6	5	5	4	4	3	3	2
Wind speed (km/h)	9.8	7.2	4.4	7.9	14.3	18.2	19.2	18.3	18.3	18.8	19.6	19.5	18.7	15.8	18.6	19.9	14.8	10.9	7.7	4.8	13.2	23	27.9	27.8	28.2	24.5	26.2	27.7	26.8	28.6	26.2	21	19.1	21	24.4	26.9	30.3	29.6	27.9	21.3	12	9.3	9.5	12.1	10.7	9.9	9.2	11	9.8	8.4	6.2	7.7	12.6	13	10.3	10.1
Wind direction	WCross-off	WSWCross-off	WGlassy	SSWOffshore	SSWOffshore	WSWCross-off	SWOffshore	SWOffshore	SWOffshore	SWOffshore	SWOffshore	SWOffshore	SWOffshore	SWOffshore	SSWOffshore	SWOffshore	WSWCross-off	WCross-off	WCross	NNEGlassy	ENECross-on	ENECross-on	NNEOnshore	NEOnshore	NEOnshore	NNEOnshore	NEOnshore	NNEOnshore	NEOnshore	NEOnshore	NEOnshore	NEOnshore	NNEOnshore	NNEOnshore	NOnshore	NNEOnshore	NEOnshore	NNEOnshore	NNEOnshore	NEOnshore	NEOnshore	NECross-on	ECross	ESECross	SECross-off	SECross-off	ESECross	ESECross	SSECross-off	SSECross-off	SECross-off	SECross-off	SSECross-off	SECross-off	SECross-off	SECross-off

Shackleford Banks, North Carolina (USA) is a remote, uncrowded surf spot on a long barrier island just offshore from the southern Outer Banks, near Beaufort and Harkers Island.

Spot character

Type: Beachbreak
Setting: Wild, undeveloped, and protected island coastline
Crowd factor: Usually very low compared with mainland NC breaks
Access: By boat, ferry, or private water taxi; this remoteness is part of its appeal

Wave quality

Best for: Small- to medium-sized swells when conditions line up
Wave shape: Can be punchy and fun, but generally less consistent than more exposed Outer Banks surf spots
Bottom: Sandy, so it’s safer than reef or rock breaks, though sandbars can shift a lot
Conditions: Works best with clean wind and a swell direction that wraps into the island

Typical vibe

Peaceful, scenic, and very natural
You may share the water with wildlife, including the famous Shackleford Banks wild horses
Because it’s so isolated, it often feels more like an adventure than a standard surf session

Things to know

No amenities: Bring everything you need, including water, food, and a plan for getting back
Weather and tides matter: The island is exposed and can become unpleasant in strong wind or rough seas
Best for experienced visitors: The remoteness means you should be self-sufficient

Summary

Shackleford Banks is a beautiful, lightly surfed beachbreak with an adventurous, off-the-grid feel. It’s not the most consistent wave in North Carolina, but it offers a memorable session when swell, tide, and wind all align.