News Release

Cape Hatteras National Seashore urges visitors to sign up for rip current forecast text alerts and swim at lifeguarded beaches

Text OBXBeachConditions to 77295 for ocean safety text alerts.

Dare County

News Release Date: May 21, 2025

Contact: Mike Barber, 252-475-9032

MANTEO, N.C. — Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) is urging its visitors to sign up for Dare County Emergency Management’s rip current forecast text alerts and swim at any of the Seashore’s five lifeguarded beaches.

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

Love The Beach, Respect the Ocean Website
Another helpful tool for planning a safe visit to the beach is Dare County’s Love the Beach, Respect the Ocean website. Whether you are planning a visit to a Seashore beach in Dare County or Hyde County’s Ocracoke Island, www.lovethebeachrespecttheocean.com is a one-stop, online destination for learning the rip current risk for the day, beach conditions, and more. The website also includes many potentially life-saving videos featuring local lifeguards and Outer Banks residents.

Lifeguarded Beaches
Lifeguarded beaches are the safest places to swim at the Seashore. There are five beach locations that are staffed with lifeguards from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). The locations of the five lifeguarded beaches are:

• Coquina Beach Access (Bodie Island)

  • Located across from the Bodie Island Lighthouse site

• Rodanthe Beach Access (Hatteras Island)

  • The Rodanthe Beach Access, provided by Dare County, is located at 23732 N.C. Highway 12, Rodanthe.

• Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach Access (Hatteras Island)

  • Adjacent to the Old Cape Hatteras Lighthouse site

• Frisco Beach Access (Hatteras Island)

  • Located just south of Frisco Village

• Ocracoke Beach Access (Ocracoke Island)

  • 1 ½ miles south of the Seashore campground or ½ mile north of Ocracoke Village

Ocean and Beach Safety Tips

• Swim at beaches patrolled by lifeguards.

• Bring something in the water with you that floats.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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