Dawn patrol surfing in Rodanthe

Rodanthe, North Carolina

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

First light in Rodanthe means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 1 spots are worth the 5am alarm.

Sunrise

6:53 AM
First Light: 6:23 AM

Day length: 12h 28m

+3 min vs yesterday

Sunrise

6:53 AM

First light: 6:23 AM

Sunset

7:21 PM

Last light: 7:51 PM

Data from S‑Turns · Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

6:53 AM

Sunset

7:21 PM

Day Length

12h 28m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

6:52 AM

Sunset

7:22 PM

Day Length

12h 30m

Wed, Apr 1

Sunrise

6:51 AM

Sunset

7:23 PM

Day Length

12h 32m

Thu, Apr 2

Sunrise

6:49 AM

Sunset

7:24 PM

Day Length

12h 34m

Fri, Apr 3

Sunrise

6:48 AM

Sunset

7:24 PM

Day Length

12h 37m

Best dawn patrol spots in Rodanthe

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Featured Beaches(1)

S‑Turns

Intermediate

S‑Turns is a powerful hollow beach break on Pea Island just north of Rodanthe. Sandbars sculpt fast lefts and rights that crank during hurricane season and nor'easters. It's a regional classic for upper‑intermediate surfers seeking barrels.

Dawn patrol access guide for Rodanthe

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

S‑Turns
beach
upper-intermediate

S‑Turns is a powerful hollow beach break on Pea Island just north of Rodanthe. Sandbars sculpt fast lefts and rights that crank during hurricane season and nor'easters. It's a regional classic for upper‑intermediate surfers seeking barrels.

Early access

Hike over the dunes on a sandy trail to reach the beach. Bring only essentials as the walk can be long in soft sand.

Parking

A small pull‑off along NC‑12 provides limited parking—get there before sunrise. Overflow parking requires a longer walk over dunes.

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 Rodanthe

Conditions

Dawn Patrol
You're here
Sunset Sessions
Evening golden hour spots
Tide Windows
Optimal tidal conditions
Water Temperature
Conditions & wetsuit guide

Style

Beginner Spots
Gentle waves for learning
Longboard Spots
Mellow waves for logging
Less Crowded
Quieter lineups & backups

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Rodanthe

Dawn patrol in Rodanthe 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.

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