More Beach to Love

Beach nourishment projects in Dare County are designed to last approximately five years under normal conditions. At the end of each five-year interval, renourishment (maintenance) projects are necessary to restore the shoreline. Several Dare County municipalities and Hatteras Island are due for renourishment in 2026 and 2027. Visitors are encouraged to follow updates on the overall project via MoreBeachtoLove.com.

Nags Head Project - scheduled for late spring/summer 2026 from Bonnett Street south to the town line adjacent to Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Avon and Buxton Projects - Beach nourishment projects in the unincorporated villages of Avon and Buxton on Hatteras Island are currently scheduled to take place in 2026.* Erosion rates are being monitored and will impact the volume of sand that is placed on each beach. Permitting and design work for these projects is ongoing. Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

*Please note that this information is subject to change. More detailed information regarding any plans and potential schedules for future renourishment/maintenance projects in Dare County will be provided as it becomes available.

Those who love to visit and those who make the Outer Banks home know that beach nourishment is necessary to protect our infrastructure, our homes and businesses, and our beautiful beaches.

Beach nourishment is the process of pumping sand onto an eroding shoreline to widen the existing beach. Sources of sand may include a nearby sandbar, a dredged source such as an inlet or waterway, or an offshore borrow site along the ocean floor. The widened shoreline provides increased defense from coastal storms and beach erosion protecting property, communities and infrastructure located along the shoreline.

Visitors staying in the affected areas may experience temporary construction noise, nighttime illumination, and beach access diversions. The process typically progresses throughout the project area relatively quickly.

Additional options for things to do should the beach near you become inaccessible for a couple of days include:

Take a day trip and check out another area of the Outer Banks you maybe haven't visited before. This could be the perfect opportunity to check out another beach for the day.
Visit H2OBX Waterpark! Sun Realty guests receive discounted tickets to the waterpark, which is just across the Wright Memorial Bridge in southern Currituck County. With two wave pools, an adventure lagoon, lazy river, and a number of family and one-two person thrill slides, adventure awaits at H2OBX.
Visit one of our natural or historic sites. The NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island is a great option for rainy day fun or as a break from the beach. Also on Roanoke Island, you'll find the Elizabethan Gardens, Lost Colony, and Roanoke Island Festival Park, home to the Elizabeth II, a ship representative of one of the seven English merchant vessels from the Roanoke Voyage of 1585.
Visit one of our sound accesses for crabbing, kiteboarding, kayaking, you name it!
Watch the re-nourishment in progress! Piers or beach accesses are great spots for watching the activity from a safe distance. Beach nourishment is vital to the health and sustainability of our beaches and our economy, and the whole process is very impressive to watch.