Islands & Beaches

The 11 Best Beaches in North Carolina

From easy-to-reach family spots to remote islands.

April 18, 2024

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It's not easy to proclaim which are the best beaches in North Carolina—there are so many sandy stretches to choose from, and all are ripe for a summer vacation. From the Brunswick Islands all the way up to the Albemarle Sound, North Carolina has over 300 miles of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean—301 miles, to be precise—and lucky for all of us, almost 100% of it is accessible beachfront. But just like the many styles of barbecue you'll find in the state, the Carolina beach range is a vast one.

No matter where you go for a seaside respite, you won't be far from the many charming towns and holiday communities that line the Carolinian shore. Go beyond the usual suspects like the Outer Banks and Emerald Isle (though the classics are classics for a reason) to spend some time broadening your horizons on Masonboro Island, just a boat ride away from Wilmington's Wrightsville Beach; in Surf City on Topsail Island (pronounced “top-sull”); and even a town simply called Duck, just an hour and a half away from nearby Norfolk, Virginia.

If you're looking for a place to stay, there are many hotels and Airbnbs in North Carolina that will make great basecamps for your beach adventures. And if you're pairing days of sticking your toes in the sand with a city-focused jaunt, there are great things to do in Charlotte, from botanical gardens to restaurants to the famed Charlotte Motor Speedway. Though we're pretty sure you'll be calling for the sound of the shore before long.

Whether you're looking for a fun summer family holiday or peaceful places to unplug, there's a beach for everyone on this stretch of coast. Read on for the absolute best beaches in North Carolina.

This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Lilit Marcus and Brad Rickman.

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Duck Beach
Sandwiched between the Currituck Sound to the west and the Atlantic to the east is the quaint town of Duck, the youngest beach town of the Outer Banks, founded in 1984; a relative baby of a settlement compared to other communities in the region. It offers a number of water activities for visitors of all ages. Think crowd-pleasing must-dos like golfing, water parks, and escape rooms. (Shell hunting is also a major pastime here.) And every October, there's the nationally-known Duck Jazz Festival, which brings in musicians from all over the country; it's free to the public and non-ticketed, and the event happens rain or shine.
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Corolla Beach
Equine fanatics, look no further. On the northern stretch of the Outer Banks, just south of the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge, Corolla offers wide-open beaches where wild horses have been running free for over 400 years. With plenty of activities like golfing, kayaking, and sightseeing at spots like the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, and plentiful lodging options, it’s easy to unwind and relax here. Our tip to you: Leave it to the professionals and book a private beach-vehicle tour to spot those aforementioned horses.

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Carolina Beach
Close to the mouth of the iconic Cape Fear River and bordering an eponymous state park, Carolina Beach checks all the right boxes: wide expanses of white sand abutting gentle seagrassed dunes, a water line that's tame enough for body-surfing youngsters, and—best of all—a boardwalk complete with ice cream shops, hot dog vendors, and a smattering of carnival rides. (The best way to experience this row of must-sees is by going on an e-bike tour with Wilmington Bike & Brew Tours.) For all the music lovers, there's the Carolina Beach Music Festival, held annually at the end of June—expect plenty of traditional Carolina shag dancing.
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Wrightsville Beach
The best thing about Wrightsville Beach is its ease of access: Directly off I-40 from the state's Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill triangle, a stone’s throw from picturesque Wilmington (where yes, there is an airport), and straddling the Intracoastal Waterway, Wrightsville is easily reached by boat. Here, you'll find restaurants like Bluewater Waterfront Grill and Dockside, and you get the convenience of proximity without sacrificing broad stretches of sand and gentle waves to splash in. The downside? All that convenience is no secret. (Did we mention that the city of Wilmington is home to a major university? Go Seahawks!) If the crowds get thick—which happens over major holidays like Memorial or Labor Day weekends—plot a trip south to Masonboro Island, a protected reserve that's reachable only by boat and only minutes away. (If you don't have a boat of your own, be sure to book a tour ahead of time.)

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Emerald Isle
Pick the time of your visit right—read: beware of college spring break season—and stick to the western half of Emerald Isle's narrow strip for a more chill vibe, where you'll find a scene that blends serious boating (on the sound side) and serious beach-going. Be sure to head down to the Point, where a vast plain of sand plumes into Bogue Inlet, offering virtually limitless space for frisbee tournaments and kite contests. Also of note, Emerald Isle is home to the Salty Pirate water park—get ready for a summer of fun.
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Topsail Island
Topsail Island is a 26-mile long, thin stretch of land just south of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune (you’ll know it and feel it, seeing F-15s make training runs up and down the coast). Comprised of Topsail Beach, Surf City, Ocean City Beach, and North Topsail Beach, the shape gives it beach on both sides, whether you want the Atlantic waters perfect for swimming or the calmer inlet prime for kayaking and fishing. Surf City is home to a number of restaurants of all types (beachfront tacos at Shaka Taco are a must) to satisfy the appetite after a long day in the sun. Just remember: Pronounce it “top-sull,” or you’ll be swiftly corrected.

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Bald Head Island
If you're in the mood to unplug and really get away, Bald Head Island—only reachable via 20-minute ferry ride from the mainland town of Southport—is the place to do it. Most island residents get around via golf cart, and the beach is a habitat for sea turtles and wild grasses—the Bald Head Island Conservancy hosts a variety of kids camps every summer. The island also has restaurants and cafes, so no need to schlep back to the mainland for some good grub. (That said, there’s no liquor store on the island so make sure you come prepared.) Also not to be missed is the Old Baldy Lighthouse, which dates back to 1817.
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Shackleford Banks
Early European settlers arriving on Shackleford Banks found mounds of oyster shells left by members of the Coree tribe who originally inhabited the area—and today those rich shell deposits remain on this windblown strip at the base of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. But what you'll remember most about Shackleford is the horses—a whole herd of them, roaming wild over the island's shrub-dappled northern fringe. It's said they've lived there for 400 years, and that local residents once rounded up their yearly offspring to supply the mainland. (Fun fact, a congressional act to protect the horses and provide an annual report was enacted in 1998.) Shackleford makes a great day trip from Emerald Isle or Atlantic Beach; just grab the Harkers Island ferry or take a two-mile kayak ride.

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Kill Devil Hills
Located in Dare County, Kill Devil Hills is best known as the actual location of the Wright Brothers' flight in 1903. (The town didn't exist back then, so nearby Kitty Hawk stole the glory.) The monument here is certainly worth a visit—what, after all, could be more important to modern travelers than the birthplace of aviation?
But there's also the Kill Devil Grill, which is something of a local point of pride. It lives in a building that used to be known as Sam's Diner, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a prime example of Streamline Moderne architecture (a precursor to mid-century modern), built in the 1940s by the Kullman Dining Car Company. (Imagine a classic all-American diner. You see it? That's Kullman.)
And of course, there's the excellent beach on the east of Kill Devil Hills, dotted with colorful cottages.
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Ocracoke Island
It feels wrong to visit coastal North Carolina and not check out one of the state's iconic lighthouses. A visit to the white structure on Ocracoke Island (the oldest, dating back to 1823, standing at 75 feet tall, and accessible only via ferry) is a beautiful sight during a day on the beach. Plus, with a population of just 715 on the island, there will be plenty of square footage on the coastline where can stake your spot for a sunny day. Don't forget to hit up some of the local businesses, like Ocracoke Oyster Co for a meal and Books to Be Red, where you can snag some gifts from Deepwater Pottery.

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Holden Beach
Holden Beach has a city ordinance that no building can be more than 35 feet tall, which means you're pretty much guaranteed an unobstructed view—or at the very least, a great Instagram photo. There are plenty of rental properties in the quiet, fisherman-friendly small-town beach, which is a great place to take the kids—and the lack of a late-night party scene means you'll sleep soundly. (Especially after you eat your weight’s worth of seafood at charming eateries including Causeway Gourmet and Provision Company.)
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Nag's Head
When you think of the Outer Banks (or OBX if you’re in the know), you tend to think of Nags Head: windswept and dune-straddled, but navigable, a place where the wild and tame collide. Wandering the shrub-grizzled expanse of Jockey's Ridge State Park can make you feel like you're in the desert, or on the moon—but that makes it the perfect spot to get your Orville on with Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School. If that's not your thing, cast a line from the charmingly antiquated Outer Banks Fishing Pier. (Don't worry: It's sturdier than it looks.) It’s best to book your trip well in advance of the summer season because there's a lot to do here, including a hike through Jockey’s Ridge State Park and a briny lunch at Sam & Omie’s, a classic seafood establishment welcoming customers since 1937.

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Figure Eight Island
Located directly north of Wrightsville Beach (and visible from Wrightsville’s Johnny Mercer Pier) lies Figure Eight, a completely residential and remote island that has been home to both locals and celebrities including Alec Baldwin and the late Dean Smith of UNC basketball fame. While there isn’t much to do (the yacht club is members-only), the homeowner’s association offers rentals year-round and a handful of good restaurants in nearby Porter’s Neck are just a stone’s throw from the island. (Pies at local haunt Slice of Life will satisfy any visiting New Yorker.) With strict access via the mainland gate, the wide-open beaches with minimal crowds simply cannot be beat. Our advice: book your stay during the Fourth of July, and get up close and personal with the on-site fireworks display.
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Sunset Beach
Also located in the Brunswick Islands is North Carolina’s most southern beach—Sunset Beach—which offers a great respite for both singles and families alike. Mosey your way down the shore to the Bird Island Coastal Reserve, a 1,300-acre nature reserve that is one of the few remaining natural protected island areas in the Atlantic. There, you’ll find all walks of flora and fauna life including grasslands, swamps, and salt marshes, as well as loggerhead sea turtles.