Overview
Third Street is a fairly reliable beachbreak zone in Kill Devil Hills, sitting between Avalon Pier and 1st Street. It breaks over sand with both lefts and rights, and its quality depends heavily on how the sandbar is set up.
There are no real structures holding the bar in place, so when it gets good, it may not last long. The beach slope near the Sea Ranch hotel can also mean a trough at low tide and plenty of backwash at high tide.
When It Works
The swell window runs from north-northeast through east to southeast, and the spot is usable from 1.2 m / 4 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft. It can take northeast swells, tropical swells, and storm surf in between.
Seasonally, it is storm dependent: tropical cyclones in late summer and fall, then frontal activity and nor’easters in late fall and winter. Even wind chop and drift sessions can be fun when the sand is right.
Wind and Tide
The workable wind window is southwest to west, with west-southwest offshore. Third Street can work on all tides depending on the sand, though a rising tide is better.
Local Tips
Crowds are usually moderate and can stay fairly spread out because parking is limited nearby. The lineup can feel reserved, but it is generally less intense than First Street when the sandbar is good.
It suits a wide range of craft, from shortboards and fish to longboards, SUPs, bodyboards, bodysurfing, skimboards, and kiteboards. The break can suit beginners through experts depending on the day.
Paddling is normally not too bad, but the right south swell can make it harder to stay next to the peak. The bottom is sand, with the Triangle Wrecks just to the south between First and Second Street.
Access
There is not much parking around Third Street, so you will likely need to grab a spot at the Second Street access and walk down. Do not park on the street, or you risk a ticket or being towed.
