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 - Beach nourishment began Tuesday, May 19 in south Nags Head near Camelot Street (9700 block of South Old Oregon Inlet Road). Work will continue south through the Juncos Street area, then through 10435 South Old Oregon Inlet Road and about 500 feet into Cape Hatteras National Seashore. After that, the dredge will gradually move northward toward Jennette's Pier. A second dredge is expected within the next few days. It will begin near the 3400 block of South Virginia Dare Trail, just south of Nags Head Pier. Construction will first move north to 2919 South Virginia Dare Trail, then reverse southward and continue progressing toward Jennette’s Pier later in the summer.More detailed information will be available as the project progresses.
During beach nourishment sand is pumped onto the beach from a dredge, or in our case, two dredges (and two active construction/closed areas), in the ocean via a submerged pipeline. Construction typically proceeds in one direction from the submerged pipe (also known as a landing point or subline) for a few thousand feet and then proceeds in the other direction from the same landing point.
When nourishment from a landing point is complete, the contractor will switch to a new landing point along the shoreline, and the process will begin all over again. To save time during a switch, the contractor may set up multiple landing points on the beach.
Follow the progress on the Town's construction progress map.
Avon and Buxton Projects - Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company has reported that the dredge Liberty Island will arrive in Avon, NC on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, and expects to begin pumping sand in the afternoon. The contractor will begin pumping in the middle of the Avon project area, near Seaside Street (across from Food Lion) and work north toward Avon Fishing Pier. Once pumping within the northern portion of the Avon project area is complete, contractors will begin working south from Seaside Street until they finish with the southern taper.
Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company estimates that it will take approximately 2 weeks (14 days) to place approximately 375,000 cubic yards of material on the beach in Avon, NC (weather dependent).*
A beach nourishment project for the unincorporated village of Buxton on Hatteras Island is expected to begin in mid-June 2026, placing 2 million cubic yards of sand onto the beach over a period of approximately 95 days (weather dependent).*

*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.