Skip to content
The Water Around Us
Sign In

Live · updated daily from USGS

Swimmable water near you

2,135 USGS sensors are reporting a live water temperature right now, the newest reading from August 21, 2026 (21 hrs ago).

Clear location
  • Cold · below 60°F · 375
  • Cool · 60–69°F · 594
  • Comfortable · 70–86°F · 938
  • Warm · above 86°F · 228
  • You

A map of the United States with one coloured dot per USGS sensor reporting a live water temperature. The readings are listed below.

Nearest live readings

The closest USGS sensors currently reporting a water temperature, nearest first.

  1. AIW AT HIGHWAY 9 AT NIXONS CROSSROADS, SCUSGS gauge · South Carolina
    91°F47 mi22 hrs ago
  2. BUCK CREEK NEAR LONGS, SCUSGS gauge · South Carolina
    86°F47 mi22 hrs ago
  3. WACCAMAW RIVER NEAR LONGS, SCUSGS gauge · South Carolina · 41 ft³/s
    85°F48 mi22 hrs ago
  4. AIW AT GRAND STRAND AIRPORT N. MYRTLE BEACH, SCUSGS gauge · South Carolina
    91°F52 mi22 hrs ago
  5. AIW AT BRIARCLIFFE ACRES AT N. MYRTLE BEACH, SCUSGS gauge · South Carolina
    90°F54 mi22 hrs ago
  6. WACCAMAW RIVER ABOVE CONWAY, SCUSGS gauge · South Carolina · 286 ft³/s
    90°F60 mi22 hrs ago
  7. AIW AT MYRTLEWOOD GOLF COURSE AT MYRTLE BEACH, SCUSGS gauge · South Carolina
    91°F62 mi22 hrs ago
  8. CRABTREE SWAMP AT CONWAY, SCUSGS gauge · South Carolina
    87°F67 mi22 hrs ago

Nearest swimmable spots

Rated, photographed water destinations within 25 miles — pair one with the nearest sensor reading above before you go.

Wilmington Riverwalk4.7(2,657)

Wilmington Riverwalk

Tourist attraction · Wilmington, North Carolina

Ranked the #1 thing to do in Wilmington, this mile-long wooden boardwalk borders the Cape Fear River from the Hilton Riverside to Chandler's Wharf. The riverwalk is lined with popular restaurants and bars, with benches positioned throughout for enjoying river views and the salty sea air. Open 24/7 with free access, a typical visit takes 1-2 hours. Visitors can catch a water taxi to the nearby Battleship North Carolina for a unique historical excursion.

1.7 mi from your location

Carolina Beach Boardwalk4.5(6,979)

Carolina Beach Boardwalk

Beach pavillion · Carolina Beach, North Carolina
Camping nearby

Boardwalk hugging a sandy beach with kid-friendly rides & snack bars, plus concerts & fireworks.

13 mi from your location

Carolina Beach Lake Park4.7(964)

Carolina Beach Lake Park

Tourist attraction · Carolina Beach, North Carolina
Camping nearby

Park featuring a lake with a walking path, a playground, a picnic shelter, a gazebo & restrooms.

13 mi from your location

Kure Beach Pier4.7(5,928)

Kure Beach Pier

Fishing pier · Kure Beach, North Carolina
Camping nearbyDog-friendly

Built in 1923, Kure Beach Pier is the oldest fishing pier on the Atlantic Coast. Standing 26 feet above the ocean and extending 711 feet into the Atlantic, this family-owned pier offers fishing for Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, flounder, and bluefish — no fishing license required. The pier house is open 24 hours daily from Good Friday through Thanksgiving and features a tackle shop, ice cream vendors, an arcade, and spectators can stroll for free.

15 mi from your location

About this map

Every pin is a live reading from a USGS real-time monitoring station, captured in a daily snapshot. Colours follow the site’s cold-water-safety thresholds and describe the water at that one sensor — usually a river or stream gauge, not a swim beach — so treat them as a guide to what the water is doing nearby, not a verdict on a specific spot. Readings are provisional and can be revised by the USGS. Your location only sorts this page: the coordinates appear in the address bar (rounded to about a mile) and are not saved to an account or our database.

Conditions are for general information only and can change quickly. Always judge the water in person and follow posted advisories and local guidance before swimming or paddling.