My 11 Favorite Beaches To Visit In North Carolina

There are such a lot of wonderful seashores to go to in North Carolina, it’s onerous to decide on only one favourite! North Carolina boasts 322 miles of shoreline alongside the Atlantic and greater than 25 completely different seashores providing gorgeous views and distinctive experiences. From the huge, sandy shores of Outer Banks to the secluded coves and inlets of the Crystal Coast, there’s one thing for everybody.

I don’t dwell on the seaside and have by no means discovered a seaside I didn’t get pleasure from. As I inform my associates, my favourite seaside is the one I’m at present visiting. In Might, three different journey writers and I visited the Outer Banks. We talked to loads of the locals and loved the world.

The very best time to go to is late spring by way of fall. September and October are nice if you wish to keep away from the summer time crowds. 

Here’s a checklist of my favorites, based mostly on my experiences and people of some shut associates. The seashores are listed north to south based on their location.

The Outer Banks Guests Bureau hosted our go to. All opinions are my very own.

1. Corolla Seashore

Corolla Seashore is an ideal selection for those who want a secluded seaside. It’s positioned on the Outer Banks’s northern coast, sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and the Currituck Sound. 

Broad seashores are the primary attraction; you may drive on this seaside along with your four-wheel-drive automobile. There’s a historic district and a lighthouse to discover. On a wet day, you may go to the Wild Horse Museum whereas in Corolla or go to the pink lighthouse. One of many highlights of this space is the wild Spanish Mustang horses roaming the island.

Professional Tip: Horses are wild. Please don’t try to feed or contact them. If you wish to make sure and see them, join a guided tour.

2. Duck

A small, upscale seaside city simply south of Corolla, Duck attracts many guests annually to benefit from the 7 miles of beautiful sandy seashores, distinctive eating, and a client’s paradise.

Attributable to rain, we had been solely in a position to go to throughout the night, so we didn’t get to see as a lot as we might have favored, however we beloved the water’s edge boardwalk and might’t wait to return to this enjoyable little seaside city.

If you happen to go to Duck, it would be best to you should definitely get pleasure from a Duck Donut. The road could also be lengthy, however getting one in all these nationally well-known donuts from the unique location is price it.

Rental properties are considerable on your keep, however there are few resorts.

Bathhouses and free parking can be found on the public seaside entry factors alongside Freeway 12.

3. Kitty Hawk

When arriving from the north on Freeway 158 throughout the Currituck Sound, Kitty Hawk is the primary city you come to. This historic coastal city has fabulous seashores within the Outer Banks. Low-rise buildings dot the city, and a country vibe helps keep its distinctive character. You should have no bother discovering your spot on the seaside to benefit from the sunshine and the ocean.

You may also kayak or hike the marine forest reserve.

The Wright Brothers Nationwide Memorial in neighboring Kill Satan Hills is a enjoyable exercise for a less-than-perfect climate day. It’s the website of the primary profitable motor-operated flight in 1903.

Guests to Kitty Hawk get pleasure from a big number of eating places, grocery shops, and retailers. Free parking tons and public seaside entry factors can be found alongside Freeway 12.

Professional Tip: Kitty Hawk welcomes canine year-round. 

4. Nags Head

Boasting summer time enjoyable for the entire household, Nags Head is among the hottest Outer Banks seashores, with large golden sand seashores and crystal clear water. There may be easy accessibility and a wealth of facilities to get pleasure from.

We visited in Might and located the world to be pleasant and stuffed with enjoyable issues to do for all the household. Apart from hanging out on the seaside, you may parasail, play mini-golf, fish, eat scrumptious meals, go to a lighthouse, and luxuriate in some distinctive ice cream treats. 

The seaside is pet-friendly, so deliver Fido alongside on trip. As you journey Freeway 12, free parking and public seaside entry factors can be found.

There are 12 miles of seaside to stroll, so you should definitely deliver your strolling sneakers, except you might be like me and like to stroll barefoot within the sand.

If you happen to get uninterested in the seaside, go to the Bodie Island Mild Station. You will discover spectacular views up and down the coast if you climb to the highest. Tickets should be bought on-line.

Stroll all the way down to the 1,000-foot-long Jennette’s Pier, a neighborhood fishing sizzling spot. There’s a charge to stroll the pier or to fish, however we loved strolling below the pier and taking images. If you happen to don’t deliver your fishing tools, you may hire it from the store on the pier.

Close by is Jockey’s Ridge State Park, a wonderful place for climbing, flying kites, and taking a hang-gliding lesson with Kitty Hawk Kites. The 4 of us took a lesson, climbed the huge sand dune, and tried our luck at hang-gliding. What enjoyable! It’s a implausible seaside exercise that doesn’t contain water.

There are a number of resorts, seaside cottages, and trip leases out there. Once we visited, we stayed on the Whalebone Cottages by Kees Trip Leases, Constructing E. It was a two-story, four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath residence with free parking below the home. We had been steps from the ocean and in a wonderful location for all of the issues to do within the space.

Professional Tip: 4-wheel-drive autos can drive on the seaside solely throughout the low season (October to April).

5. Coquina Seashore

This seaside was one I hadn’t heard of till we visited. Once we talked with the locals about their favourite seashores, they saved mentioning Coquina Seashore — so we got down to see it for ourselves. 

We discovered it simply south of Nags Head and understood why everybody was raving about it. The seaside was a large and secluded undeveloped shoreline. There’s a boardwalk to a part of the seaside space, we didn’t discover that till after we visited and climbed over sand dunes to get to the seaside.

There have been only some different folks and many shells.

6. Cape Hatteras

The Cape Hatteras Nationwide Seashore is gorgeous, with miles and miles of unspoiled seashores and a striped lighthouse. You should have the seaside primarily to your self, and off-road autos are permitted on the seaside. 

You would possibly discover some sea turtles throughout nesting season if you’re fortunate.

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is gorgeous and definitely worth the time to go to. (At current, as a consequence of ongoing restoration efforts, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse will not be out there for climbing, however it’s nonetheless an incredible go to and an Instagramable website.)

7. Ocracoke Island

I didn’t get to go to Ocracoke Island, however from what everybody has instructed me, it’s the place to go to get away from all of it. Much more distant than the Cape Hatteras Seashore, you may solely entry it by using the 25-minute ferry from Hatteras Island. You possibly can take your automobile on the ferry with you. 

We ran out of time and weren’t in a position to make the journey. Whereas a bit more durable to succeed in the seaside, I’m instructed it’s price the additional effort, and now we have it on our checklist for the subsequent go to. 

Ocracoke Island is small and stuffed with historical past. It’s considered the house of the pirate Blackbeard. The seashores are large, and the individuals are sparse on Ocracoke Island. It’s a distinctive city with some eating places and providers. There are nationwide park tenting, resorts, and seaside homes.

8. Atlantic Seashore

A part of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, Atlantic Seashore is a favourite household vacation spot. Well-known for its crystal clear waters and simply accessible strolling trails, they’ve many enjoyable actions, together with swimming, fishing, biking, water sports activities leases, and different points of interest.

There are numerous eateries, the North Carolina Aquarium, and a few boutiques. Fort Macon State Park affords a little bit of Civil Struggle-era historical past. To assist guests discover the world on foot, there are 4 marked strolling trails across the metropolis as a part of the Stroll Atlantic Seashore initiative.

For lodging, you will discover nearly all the things from the massive chain resorts to cozy trip leases.

Parking tons alongside the seaside are for a charge and are charged by the hour (bank cards solely — no money).

9. Emerald Isle

Rated the highest North Carolina Seashore by U.S. Information, Emerald Isle affords 12 miles of unpolluted large seashores, a fishing pier, and a relaxed ambiance.

You’ll usually see a dolphin or presumably even a wild horse on the seaside. There may be lots to do on Emerald Isle with mini-golf programs, a waterslide park, biking trails, a fishing pier, and extra. 

“The Level” is a perfect spot for catching a spectacular sundown. 

Lodging is primarily trip leases on and off the seaside with just one oceanfront lodge, the Islander Lodge & Resort.

Some entry factors have free parking and some prices on weekends solely.

10. Topsail Seashore

Positioned on the southernmost finish of Topsail Island, Topsail Seashore has implausible sundown views. Pronounced “Tops’l,” it’s a small, quiet seaside group centered on conservation efforts and preserving the pure setting.

Topsail is the place for a tranquil seaside getaway in a trip rental in a peaceable, non-commercialized setting. There are not any high-rise condos.

The seaside is great for gathering shells and taking part in water sports activities. You could have distinctive seashores on each the Atlantic and Sound sides of the island.

Public parking tons can be found at seaside entry factors.

11. Wrightsville Seashore

Wrightsville Seashore is within the Wilmington space and is a favourite amongst folks of all ages. Folks journey from across the U.S. to go to due to its deep blue glowing waters and large sandy seashores. 

Wrightsville Seashore alone has 44 public entry factors. 

Considered the birthplace of browsing on the East Coast, Wrightsville Seashore can be a preferred spot to catch some waves and a main location for kiteboarding and stand-up paddleboarding. 

Close by you can see golf programs and jogging trails. 

Wrightsville Seashore affords a mixture of short-term trip leases, oceanfront resorts, and resorts.

Professional Tip: Browsing is strictly forbidden in entrance of the lifeguard stands. 

If you happen to’re in search of a calming seaside trip, North Carolina is the place to be. With miles of shoreline and loads of seashores to select from, you’re certain to search out the right spot to chill out and benefit from the sand and surf. So pack your sunscreen and swimsuit and head to North Carolina for a seaside getaway within the Tar Heel State that you just gained’t neglect!