Dawn patrol surfing in Kitty Hawk

Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

Sunrise and first light times for planning your dawn patrol session.

First light in Kitty Hawk means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 4 spots are worth the 5am alarm.

Sunrise

6:38 AM
First Light: 6:08 AM

Day length: 10h 19m

-2 min vs yesterday

Sunrise

6:38 AM

First light: 6:08 AM

Sunset

4:58 PM

Last light: 5:28 PM

Data from Bennett Street · Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

6:38 AM

Sunset

4:58 PM

Day Length

10h 19m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

6:39 AM

Sunset

4:57 PM

Day Length

10h 18m

Sun, Nov 15

Sunrise

6:40 AM

Sunset

4:56 PM

Day Length

10h 16m

Mon, Nov 16

Sunrise

6:41 AM

Sunset

4:56 PM

Day Length

10h 14m

Best dawn patrol spots in Kitty Hawk

Loading map...

Dawn patrol access guide for Kitty Hawk

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

Bennett Street
beach
intermediate

Bennett Street is an Atlantic sandbar surf zone at Kitty Hawk in Outer Banks. The representative coordinate marks nearshore water, not a fixed takeoff; sandbars, currents, and access conditions can change.

Early access

Use the official public access serving this shoreline and obey closures, dune protections, and seasonal surf-zone rules.

Parking

Use signed public access and legal parking; verify posted restrictions before leaving the vehicle.

Eckner Street
beach
intermediate

Eckner Street is an Atlantic sandbar surf zone at Kitty Hawk in Outer Banks. The representative coordinate marks nearshore water, not a fixed takeoff; sandbars, currents, and access conditions can change.

Early access

Use the official public access serving this shoreline and obey closures, dune protections, and seasonal surf-zone rules.

Parking

Use signed public access and legal parking; verify posted restrictions before leaving the vehicle.

Kitty Hawk Pier
pier
intermediate-advanced

Kitty Hawk Pier is a pier-influenced surf zone at Kitty Hawk in Outer Banks. The representative coordinate marks nearshore water, not a fixed takeoff; sandbars, currents, and access conditions can change.

Early access

Use the official public access serving this shoreline and obey closures, dune protections, and seasonal surf-zone rules.

Parking

Use signed public access and legal parking; verify posted restrictions before leaving the vehicle.

Old Station / Laundromats
beach
intermediate

Old Station / Laundromats is an Atlantic sandbar surf zone at Kitty Hawk in Outer Banks. The representative coordinate marks nearshore water, not a fixed takeoff; sandbars, currents, and access conditions can change.

Early access

Use the official public access serving this shoreline and obey closures, dune protections, and seasonal surf-zone rules.

Parking

Use signed public access and legal parking; verify posted restrictions before leaving the vehicle.

Dawn patrol tips

  • Glassy morning conditions before onshore winds
  • Less crowded lineups at sunrise
  • East-facing beaches for sunrise views
  • Spots with easy parking for early arrivals

Surf Guides for Kitty Hawk

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Kitty Hawk

Dawn patrol in Kitty Hawk typically starts at first light, around 30 minutes before sunrise. This gives you the glassiest conditions before onshore winds develop.
Early morning offers glassy conditions, fewer crowds, and calmer winds. Water temperature is also warmer relative to air temperature at sunrise.