Outer Banks sunrise sunset times change a little every day and differ from town to town. Sunrise belongs to the ocean here, sunset to the sound — and the exact minute shifts every day and slightly by town. The tracker below computes both live for ten spots from Corolla to Ocracoke, with golden hour, first and last light, and where to actually stand for each.
Because the barrier islands run north to south, the sun rises over the Atlantic and sets over the sounds, so the best light depends on which side of the island you are on. For sunrise, face east from any ocean beach; for sunset, head to a sound-side access, a dock, or a marsh boardwalk. Golden hour, the soft window just after sunrise and just before sunset, is when the water and sky glow, and first and last light extend the usable time a bit beyond the official sunrise and sunset. Times shift by only a minute or two between Corolla and Ocracoke, but they change noticeably across the seasons, so check the live tracker above for the exact town and date of your visit.
For the full field guide to the evening side — ten headline spots, five hidden ones, and the airport trick at the Wright Memorial — see our sunset spots guide. The dawn side needs no guide: walk east.