Frisco Beach

The beaches around Frisco, North Carolina are a wonderful place to experience the Atlantic Ocean, where the waters are warmer than the northern beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore due to the influence of the nearby Gulf Stream.

With showers, changing rooms, and restrooms, this is a great place to enjoy the beach while on the southern part of Hatteras Island. There are 48 regular parking spaces spread across three lots near the bathhouse, as well as a long accessible parking area right in front of the bathhouse. A fishing line recycling station is located at the base of the steps heading up to the bathhouse.

Islands on the Move

Made of sand, these islands constantly change. Gravity and plants keep them stable, but not static. Waves and wind shape the land, bringing new sand and moving it across the dunes. We carry sand away in our shoes and toss it to the wind as we shake our towels. Grain by grain, wave by wave, small changes add up over time. When a big storm, like a hurricane or nor'easter, strikes, dramatic changes happen fast. Winds whip the dunes and waves churn the beaches, finding weak points to cut an island in two. Storm surge overflows the islands, dropping beach sand on the soundside, which changes the shape of the island. This has been the natural cycle for thousands of years.

- Waves and currents constantly change the coastline.
- Wind carries sand across the islands.
- Dramatic changes can be caused by heavy storms, such as Hurricane Irene in 2011.
- In many ways, man-made elements alter the shape of the islands.