The 14 Best North Carolina Beaches
Set at the very heart of the Eastern Seaboard is North Carolina with its 300 miles of sparsely developed coastline. A series of barrier islands, lined with white sand, run from tip to toe of this state leaving beachgoers spoilt for choice.
Beach holidays in North Carolina are where memories are made. Think dune-fringed, sandy beaches, beachfront rentals and remote lighthouses in the distance. The Tar Heel State also doesn't fail to give its beaches memorable names either. Kill Devil Hills, Bald Head Island, Duck Beach, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk are just a few of the highlights along this Atlantic coastline.
From the pristine shores of Cape Hatteras with its wild horses and shipwrecks to the uspoilt barrier islands of the Outer Banks the NC coast is also a place of history. Kitty Hawk beach is the place where in 1903 the Wright Brothers succesfully conducted the first ever powered flight and Ocracoke where the infamous pirate Blackbeard fought his final battle in 1718.
So Whether you're here for the surfing or the fishing, or maybe looking for a family friendly beach town our list of the best beaches to visit in North Carolina will help you plan your trip.
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1. Ocracoke Beach
© VisitNC.com Great for:- Surfing
Ocracoke beach is amongst the best in North Carolina, and some say the whole of America. It is indeed a beautiful stretch of pristine coastline and forms part of the protected Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Set on the 16-mile long Ocracoke island which froms part of the Outer Banks, the beach is accessible only by boat. This secluded, unspolit cast is perfect for fishing and beachcombing. The Atlantic Ocean beaks… read more »
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2. Cape Lookout
Great for:- Fishing
- Surfing
- Kitesurfing
The beach at Cape Lookout forms a continuous V of gorgeous sand which wraps around the cape's Atlantic shoreline for mile after mile. The widest extent of sand can be found at the base of the V, where the beach ends at Cape Lookout Shoals. However, that's not to say that the long ribbons of pristine sand which stretch out to either side of this area are narrow or uninviting.
Forming… read more »
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3. Cape Hatteras
© National Park Service Great for:- Family
- Snorkeling
- Fishing
- Surfing
- Kitesurfing
Cape Hatteras is part of the Outer Banks, a group of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina that separate and protect the mainland from the Atlantic Ocean. These islands are well known for their beautiful white sand beaches which seemingly stretch forever along the Atlantic coast. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a 70 mile section of the Outer Banks running from Bodie Island to Ocracoke Island
The Cape… read more »
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4. Wrightsville Beach
Connie Great for:- Family
- Surfing
- Kitesurfing
The Atlantic beach at Wrightsville stretches for around 4 miles and is best known by those of a certain age as a location in the TV series Dawson's Creek. The youthful atmosphere of Wrightsville Beach continues today due to its proximity to the University of North Carolina, Wilmington drawing students to its shoreline on sunny days.
With the almost guaranteed waves of the Atlantic close at hand, Wrightsville Beach is a… read more »
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5. Nags Head
Suzie Tremmel Great for:- Family
- Fishing
- Surfing
Nags Head Beach lies on North Carolina's Outer Banks barrier island network. It's lined on its landward side by private beachfront homes and hotels, although public access and parking is maintained at specific points.
Once visitors have reached Nags Head Beach, they'll find an apparently endless expanse of golden sand. It probably takes its name from one of the many Nags Heads in England which usually relate to something horse head-shaped.… read more »
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6. Kitty Hawk
Great for:- Family
- Surfing
Kitty Hawk Beach is located on the oceanic side of Bodie Island, a naturally-formed barrier island. Centred around its pier, the beach stretches out in either direction for several miles. Although lined almost all the way by beachside properties built to face the miraculous Atlantic sunrises, Kitty Hawk Beach still manages to maintain a feeling of serenity above all else.
Local and visiting fishermen can often be found on the pier,… read more »
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7. Oak Island
Patrick Reynolds Great for:- Fishing
- Surfing
Oak Island Beach is located a short distance south of Wilmington. Separated from mainland North Carolina by the Intracoastal Waterway, Oak Island Beach meets the Atlantic Ocean between Oak Island Golf Club and Long Beach.
Facing directly south, the sands of Oak Island Beach are unusual for NC in offering the chance to witness both sunrise and sunset. In between, visitors to Oak Island Beach have a choice of water sports,… read more »
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8. Emerald Isle
Zebralongwing Great for:- Family
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Surfing
Emerald Isle Beach can be thought of stretching in a continuous ribbon of white sand from The Point at the western end of the island to Indian Beach approximately halfway down its length. That makes Emerald Isle Beach roughly 9 miles long.
Emerald Isle Beach has previously taken the crown as the best beach in North Carolina as voted for by the readership of USA Today, and with good… read more »
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9. Bald Head Island
© VisitNC.com Great for:- Family
- Fishing
- Surfing
- Kitesurfing
Once known as Smith Island, Bald Head Island helps form the eastern bank of the Cape Fear River as it exits for the Atlantic Ocean, in North Carolina's Brunswick County. It can be accessed via a 20-minute ferry ride from Southport.
A nationally recognized turtle nesting site for four different sea turtle species, Bald Head Island's main beach is a broad sweep of yellow sand on the island's south coast. It… read more »
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10. Topsail Beach
© VisitNC.com Great for:- Family
- Fishing
With four miles of white sand, it's easy to see why Topsail Beach has been drawing in the crowds since before World War Two, when visitors would have to arrive by boat. Just north of Wilmington, Topsail (pronounced Topsal) Beach forms a significant part of the Atlantic side of a 30 mile long barrier island.
Backed by private homes, there are 20 public beach access points onto Topsail Beach, which comprises… read more »
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11. Kure Beach
© VisitNC.com Great for:- Fishing
- Surfing
Around 16 miles south of Wilmington, Kure Beach edges the Atlantic side of the town sharing its name (pronounced cure-ey). Its sands run in a near-straight line for roughly 4 miles, before meeting with Wilmington Beach to the north and the seawalls of Fort Fisher to the south.
Kure Beach's width maxes out at nearly half a mile, although most areas are much narrower. Averaging around 100 yards wide, some of… read more »
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12. Atlantic Beach
© VisitNC.com Great for:- Fishing
- Surfing
Atlantic Beach is located at the eastern end of Bogue Banks barrier island between Bogue Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Notable for its long, near-straight expanse of off-white sand, Atlantic Beach is an area of coast well known for its water sports. More than one surf shop makes it incredibly easy to hit the waves on a board, while other adrenaline-inducing activities include jet ski rentals and yacht charters.
For those… read more »
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13. Holden Beach
5chw4r7z Great for:- Fishing
- Surfing
Holden Beach lies at the eastern end of a long thin barrier island separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway. Easily reached by car, Holden Beach has been voted one of the best family beaches anywhere in the US.
Its soft sands are a great space for having some fun in the sun, while its Atlantic waves are perfect for a quick swim. Surfboards, paddleboards, boats and bikes can all… read more »
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14. North Topsail Shores
© VisitNC.com Great for:read more »- Fishing
- Surfing
