Pool season · State index
North Carolina Pool Season 2026: Opening & Closing Dates by City
Last updated: July 25, 2026 · 17 cities covered
Both halves of the pool year for all 17 covered North Carolina cities. The median calendar runs April 4 to October 26. Every row links to a one-page season overview with the live water-temperature model; the opening and closing hubs carry the full checklists.
North Carolina: a long-season pool state| City | Open by | Close by | 80°F+ days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex | Apr 7 | Oct 24 | 122 |
| Asheville | Apr 14 | Oct 17 | 100 |
| Burlington | Apr 6 | Oct 26 | 126 |
| Cary | Apr 7 | Oct 24 | 122 |
| Charlotte | Apr 1 | Oct 27 | 133 |
| Concord | Apr 4 | Oct 26 | 144 |
| Durham | Apr 12 | Oct 20 | 105 |
| Fayetteville | Apr 1 | Oct 30 | 143 |
| Gastonia | Mar 30 | Oct 30 | 139 |
| Greensboro | Apr 6 | Oct 24 | 121 |
| Greenville | Mar 30 | Oct 31 | 137 |
| Hickory | Apr 9 | Oct 21 | 111 |
| High Point | Mar 31 | Oct 28 | 132 |
| Jacksonville | Mar 27 | Nov 5 | 138 |
| Raleigh | Apr 3 | Oct 27 | 133 |
| Wilmington | Mar 24 | Nov 8 | 146 |
| Winston-Salem | Apr 7 | Oct 23 | 114 |
What the columns mean
"Open by" is the recommended spring date — two weeks before the city's 7-day mean temperature crosses 61°F, the model's proxy for water approaching the 65°F algae-growth zone. "Close by" is the fall deadline — ten days after the water leaves that zone, capped a week ahead of the local 50% first-freeze date. "80°F+ days" counts days whose normal high reaches 80°F: the length of the true warm-swim season, and the fairest single number for comparing North Carolina cities against each other.
Every figure comes from each city's own NOAA 1991–2020 normals station (named in its guide's footer), so neighboring cities can legitimately differ by a few days. The season overview linked from each row adds the live water-temperature model and the full-year season bar; the state hubs above carry the step-by-step checklists.
Swim-season length across North Carolina
The fairest way to compare North Carolina cities is the number of days with 80°F+ normal highs — the practical warm-swim season. Every bar links to that city's one-page season overview with the live water model.
North Carolina pool climate at a glance
Three climates in one state: a humid coastal plain with a long season, a warm Piedmont, and Appalachian highlands where cool nights end swimming weeks earlier. In model terms that makes North Carolina a long-season state. The spread shows up clearly on the local pages: compare Wilmington's pool season with High Point's and the difference is measured in weeks, not days. Neighbors in the index run on their own normals too — see New York and North Dakota for the adjacent calendars.
North Carolina pool season FAQ
When do pools open in North Carolina?
Model openings in North Carolina run from March 24 in Wilmington to April 14 in Asheville, with the statewide median on April 4. Each date is two weeks before that city's 7-day mean temperature crosses 61°F — early enough to start up in algae-cold water.
When should you close a pool in North Carolina?
The median North Carolina closing deadline is October 26, and every city's own deadline is capped a week ahead of its NOAA 50% first-freeze date. Closing late and cold beats closing early and warm — cool water holds its winter chemistry far better.
Which North Carolina city has the longest swim season?
Wilmington leads with 146 days of 80°F+ highs per year, while Asheville brings up the rear at 100 days. The chart above ranks every covered city by the same metric.