North Carolina Beach Vacation Ideas

When you think of North Carolina beach vacations, you probably picture sunny skies and the beautiful waves of the Atlantic Ocean. But we’re here to tell you that there’s so much more than that.

North Carolina beaches are full of fun activities from which to choose—from fishing and kayaking to paddleboarding and surfing. And when it comes to lodging, our state has it all: luxury hotels, quaint bed-and-breakfasts, campgrounds, and everything in between.

You can also enjoy a wide range of water sports like parasailing and jet skiing. And if you’re looking for family fun on a budget, there are plenty of affordable options like mini golf courses or amusement parks that are perfect for kids of all ages.

Right here on Touriangle you can rest easy to obtain all the relevant information you need on best beaches in North Carolina, North Carolina beach vacation rentals, North Carolina beaches near me, and so much more. Take out time to surf through our catalog for prompt information on related topics. You don’t want to miss this!

North Carolina Beach Vacation Ideas

Vacations are essential to our lives; they give us the opportunity to change up the pace of our worldly activities, enjoy ourselves with friends and family, and get away from it all. North Carolina has several vacation destinations that can fulfill all of these expectations, and more! Whether you’re a surfer, laid-back couple, or just a family looking for fun in the sun down North Carolina way, there is a beach vacation spot in this state that fits the bill.

Looking for some last-minute North Carolina beach vacation ideas? Wonder no more! Now you’ve come to the right spot. We’ve got a great list of cheap and mid range options, as well as a few upscale options thrown in there as well. Everything you need to know is right here.

South Carolina Beach Vacation

Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills

1. HISTORY AND LIGHTHOUSES

Outer Banks

Known as a classic North Carolina beach destination, the Outer Banks provides great places to explore our state’s coastal past. History can be found at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station, Roanoke Island Festival Park, the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum and even the wild horses that still roam the beaches of Currituck after 500+ years.

Four of North Carolina’s seven lighthouses are also situated on the Outer Banks, lighting the way for boats and ships for over a century. From north to south, you can visit Currituck Beach Light Station, Bodie Island Lighthouse, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and Ocracoke Lighthouse.

Amos Mosquito’s restaurant in Atlantic Beach

2. FRESH SEAFOOD

The Crystal Coast

The Crystal Coast is a great place for learning maritime history, fishing or eating fresh seafood. Those hungry for history will want to head to the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, which explores shipwrecks along the coast.

Seafood is on the menu at many restaurants along the Crystal Coast, including favorites such as Amos Mosquito’s and Circa 81, as well as at several seafood shops with a loyal following with both locals and veteran visitors, like the Shark Shack. Whether you’re perusing menus at a restaurant or the laundry list of seafood sold at local shops and grocery stores, your best bet is to look for the Carteret Catch logo. That way you’ll know it’s fresh seafood from the Crystal Coast.

WEBSITE(252) 726-8148DIRECTIONS

Seaview Fishing Pier in North Topsail Beach

3. KEEP IT QUIET

Topsail Island

Topsail Island has long been known as one of North Carolina’s quieter coastal destinations. The island is a throwback to earlier times, when spending most of the day on the beach, playing a game of miniature golf and going out for ice cream provided all the activity needed.

Today, Topsail Island is still beloved as a quiet destination, both on the beach and inland. Even the turtles like how quiet it is, returning year after year to lay their eggs on the island’s peaceful beaches. Those interested in gentle giants will definitely want to head to Topsail Island’s Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.

Wrightsville Beach

4. BEACHES + CITY

Wilmington

The options for outdoor fun seem almost endless on North Carolina beaches such as Carolina, Kure and Wrightsville. Experience surfing, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), kitesurfing, kayaking and other boating options; deep sea, surf and inland fishing; scuba diving and more. Dog owners who enjoy adventures with their best friends will be happy to know the area’s beaches are especially dog-friendly from October to March.

Enjoy this beach vacation, plus a city, too. Fronting the Cape Fear River, Wilmington offers historic places and timeless character: Wander the Riverwalk or museum mansions in the 230-block National Register Historic District, visit Battleship North Carolina and revel in varied movie tours around town to see backdrops for many blockbuster hits and TV shows.

WEBSITE(910) 341-4030DIRECTIONS

Leopard’s Chase Golf Links

5. GOLF

Brunswick Islands

The Brunswick Islands has several championship courses with warm-weather tee times, beautiful views and challenges for golfers in search of top coastal play. Book a round at Tiger’s Eye or Leopard’s Chase, two of the Big Cats Golf Courses of Ocean Ridge Plantation. Both are public and regularly make the North Carolina Golf Panel’s annual list of top 100 courses.

After one or two rounds, many duffers and their non-golfing family and friends head to Calabash, where you have the pick of restaurants offering Calabash-style fried seafood.

WEBSITE(910) 755-5517DIRECTIONS

North Carolina Beach Resorts

1. Cape Lookout National Seashore

With 56 miles of beach across several barrier islands, Cape Lookout National Seashore has a ton to offer visitors. Shackleford Banks is ideal for swimming and lounging on the beach, and the island is home to over 100 feral horses. During the summer, visitors can climb the diamond-painted Cape Lookout Lighthouse. Take a ranger-guided tour, explore the islands from the water on a canoe or kayak, or go birding to learn a little more about Cape Lookout and its wildlife. Plan an overnight stay at one of the park’s beachfront cabins or campgrounds to soak up even more of this seashore’s undeveloped, natural beauty.

2. Nags Head

Located in the central Outer Banks north of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Nags Head offers a range of unique experiences that everyone will love. This area is perhaps best known for the Jockey’s Ridge State Park, which has the tallest living sand dune on the Atlantic coast. Here, you can walk along a boardwalk, go hang gliding, and explore a nature trail. Nags Head is also very close to the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, where the famous aviators took off for the first successful airplane flight. Of course, Nags Head also offers beautiful beaches bordered by hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops, too.

3. Duck

Located on the northern stretch of North Carolina’s barrier islands, Duck offers something for everyone. You can book a stay at Sanderling Resort and enjoy family-friendly activities, multiple pools, and a spa, or take a day trip to nearby Corolla to ride on the beach in a four-wheel drive for a chance to see a wild horse or two. Nearby golf courses and water sports make this an ideal destination for visitors who want to get out and enjoy nature.

4. Hammocks Beach State Park

Like a few other barrier island destinations, Hammocks Beach State Park’s Bear Island is accessible only by ferry or boat, so it’s perfect for people looking for a quiet, relaxing beach. You won’t find rows of restaurants or beachfront bars along this largely undeveloped beach, which is exactly why people love it. You can rent canoes, kayaks, or paddleboards to explore the marshes, Bear Island, and Huggins Island, or take time to learn about the park’s wildlife. Bear Island hosts a number of campsites, too, so you can extend your stay at this state park.

5. Carolina Beach

Just a 20-minute drive from historic Wilmington, you’ll find the popular Carolina Beach, with its family-friendly beaches, boardwalk, and other attractions. The Carolina Beach Boardwalk is a classic American promenade featuring bars, restaurants, arcades, and places to rent bikes and surfboards. Nearby Carolina Beach State Park offers more outdoor recreation, with plenty of hiking trails like the Flytrap Trail, where you can spot the native Venus flytrap plant. If you’re staying in Wilmington, this is a perfect day trip destination. Otherwise, book a room at one of the hotels or rent a beach house and enjoy your oceanfront escape.

6. Ocracoke

Hop on a ferry from Hatteras, Swan Quarter, or Cedar Island and head to this quiet island. Spend your days lounging on 16 miles of white-sand beaches or fishing, kayaking, sailing, and surfing. Rent a boat or golf cart to explore the island, or check out one of the trails for a peaceful nature walk. At the end of the day, take in the sunset over Silver Lake Harbor — there are a number of shops, restaurants, and inns located along this harbor.

7. Atlantic Beach

Located on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast across the causeway from Morehead City, Atlantic Beach is perfect for families. Whether you want to build sandcastles on the beach or go for a chartered fishing trip, there’s an outdoor activity for you. Atlantic Beach is also a popular destination for sea turtles looking for a place to nest — every year, from May through October, sea turtles lay their eggs in this area. You can learn more about the region’s marine life at the nearby North Carolina Aquariums at Pine Knoll Shores, located a 10-minute drive away from Atlantic Beach.

8. Wrightsville Beach

Find a mix of surfing, shopping, dining, and nightlife in and around Wrightsville Beach. Located just a short drive from Wilmington, this is a great destination for people hoping to explore the area during their beach vacation. Adventure seekers will want to scuba dive and visit one of the sunken ships located off the coast, or take surfing lessons to learn how to catch some waves.

9. Sunset Beach

On North Carolina’s southern shore close to the South Carolina border, you’ll find Sunset Beach. Discover why this spot got its name while visiting the south-facing beaches — from late fall through early spring, you can actually see the sun rise and set over the water, making for a uniquely picturesque experience. Nearby Bird Island has beautiful beaches, too, but it’s best known for the Kindred Spirit Mailbox, where people write their wishes, prayers, thoughts, and dreams.

10. Bald Head Island

No cars are allowed on Bald Head Island, which can be accessed by ferry from nearby Southport. Instead, get around this peaceful island via golf cart, bicycle, or foot. Go for a round of golf or try your hand at croquet at the Bald Head Island Club. Of course, with 14 miles of beautiful beaches, you’ll also want to spend some time soaking in the sand and surf or looking for seashells.

11. Emerald Isle

Emerald Isle, located on Bogue Banks Island, is surrounded by the clear waters of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast. The area is a haven for fishermen, who can enjoy one of Emerald Isle’s many boat charters or cast a line off the Bogue Inlet Pier, which closes at the end of each year and reopens in the spring. Have fun over at the disc golf course or on the North Carolina Birding Trail in Emerald Isle Woods Park. Of course, Emerald Isle also offers 12 miles of gorgeous shoreline, a rich dining scene (including beachside options!), and plenty of places to say at nearby hotels and vacation rentals.

12. Topsail Island

This less-crowded, 26-mile stretch of sand can be found just south of Jacksonville, North Carolina. Animal lovers will rejoice as from mid-May through August, loggerhead sea turtles come ashore to nest and lay eggs along Topsail’s coast. You can explore the island’s preservation and conservation efforts at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Surf City. Relax on the beach or enjoy surfing, boating, fishing, or jet skiing out on the waves. You might search for pirates’ treasure, if you’re feeling lucky — legend has it, the island’s name comes from the fact that the area was once a popular place for pirates, whose “top sails” were a warning to any approaching ships.

13. Oak Island

This family-friendly destination is known for its quaint, nostalgic charm. Enjoy the area’s shoreline, fishing piers, marina, and watersports. For the full experience, take in views of Caswell Beach and Bald Head Island from the top of the Oak Island Lighthouse. If you’re looking to get out of the sun, there are plenty of local shopping and dining options nearby. There’s also the Oak Island Nature Center, featuring local wildlife and fossil exhibits. If you’re staying overnight, check in to one of the classic hotels, motels, or vacation rentals in the area.

14. Kitty Hawk

Located in the northern Outer Banks, Kitty Hawk might be most well known as the cited place of the Wright brother’s famous flight. (Though anyone who’s visited the area will know that honor actually goes to the nearby Kill Devil Hills.) There’s much fun to be had on Kitty Hawk’s shores and streets. Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve is one of the largest remaining maritime forests on the Outer Banks. Explore the wooded dunes and soundside marshes, or try kayaking or paddleboarding in the waters of the Sound. Be on the lookout for any local otters and turtles nesting nearby. Stay at one of the nearby hotels, motels, or oceanfront rental homes, or find one of the area’s RV-friendly campgrounds.

15. Kure Beach

Drive 30 minutes south of Wilmington and you’ll find the small, seaside retreat of Kure Beach. Kure offers an array of local attractions and natural wonders on its sunny shores. Here, you’ll get the opportunity to fish off the oldest fishing pier on the Atlantic Coast. A nearby seasonal concession stand offers ice cream, arcade games, and souvenirs. Tour the Civil War’s largest land-sea battleground at the Fort Fisher Historic Site, or visit the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, home to gators, otters, turtles, and other aquatic animals. If you’re staying overnight, lodging includes relaxed options like beach cottages, vintage motels, and side street inns.

16. Holden Beach

With plenty of small-town charm and less-crowded venues, Holden Beach is the perfect respite for vacationers looking for a summer escape. Take in views of the Intracoastal Waterway over lunch at one of the beach’s many maritime restaurants. While away the day fishing, golfing, birding, or biking surrounded by the natural North Carolina wonder. Visit one of the many equipment rentals for all your kayaking, jet skiing, or surfing needs. Stay at one of Holden Beach’s colorful vacation rentals, many within walking distance of the area’s attractions.