Right Beaches › North Carolina
North Carolina beaches
107 beaches, with the parking, the walk to the water and the tide for each one.
Where are you starting from?
What matters today?
Start here
Good places to start
Haulover Day Use Area
Walk to water170 ft
Parking40 ft away
CostFree
Rodanthe Beach Access
Walk to water220 ft
Parking160 ft away
Obbc
Walk to water225 yd
Parking320 ft away
Bald Beach
Walk to water250 ft
Parking400 yd away
Narrow it down
Lists for a particular day
Dog friendly beaches
43 in North Carolina
Family friendly beaches
44 in North Carolina
Free parking
12 in North Carolina
Areas
Beach areas in North Carolina
29 beaches
Shortest walk
Park almost on the sand
Cape Cod · the listing sits on the shoreline
Cape Cod · the listing sits on the shoreline
Swansboro · the listing sits on the shoreline
Rodanthe · the listing sits on the shoreline
Cape Cod · 30 ft to the water
Cape Cod · 40 ft to the water
Cape Cod · 40 ft to the water
Cape Cod · 70 ft to the water
Free parking
Beaches where visitors report free parking
Carolina Beach · free parking · mentioned by 6 visitors · 2017–2026
Beaufort · free parking · mentioned by 18 visitors · 2017–2026
Atlantic Beach · free parking · mentioned by 31 visitors · 2017–2026
Nags Head · free parking · mentioned by 15 visitors · 2016–2026
Nags Head · free parking · mentioned by 27 visitors · 2017–2026
Buxton · free parking · mentioned by 5 visitors · 2015–2026
Pine Knoll Shores · free parking · mentioned by 16 visitors · 2016–2026
Ocracoke · free parking · mentioned by 6 visitors · 2018–2026
With little kids
Calm water and bathrooms nearby
Carolina Beach · bathrooms nearby · mentioned by 8 visitors · 2016–2026
Atlantic Beach · bathrooms nearby · mentioned by 12 visitors · 2017–2026
Carolina Beach · bathrooms nearby · mentioned by 8 visitors · 2017–2026
North Topsail Beach · bathrooms nearby · mentioned by 22 visitors · 2017–2026
Pittsboro · bathrooms nearby · mentioned by 31 visitors · 2017–2026
Emerald Isle · bathrooms nearby · mentioned by 8 visitors · 2019–2026
Atlantic Beach · bathrooms nearby · mentioned by 19 visitors · 2017–2026
Wrightsville Beach · bathrooms nearby · mentioned by 32 visitors · 2016–2026
Browse
All beaches
Carolina Beach State ParkCarolina Beach · water not mapped · parking 225 yd
Freeman Park BeachCarolina Beach · water 270 ft
Busco Beach and ATV ParkGoldsboro · water not mapped
Hammocks Beach State ParkSwansboro · water 225 yd
Circle Regional Beach AccessAtlantic Beach · water 150 yd · parking 40 ft
Radio Island Public Beach AccessBeaufort · water 280 ft · parking 350 ft
Carolina Beach Lake ParkCarolina Beach · water 375 yd · parking 100 ft
North Topsail Beach Town ParkNorth Topsail Beach · water 250 ft · parking 280 ft
Seaforth BeachPittsboro · water 100 ft · parking 250 ft
Emerald Isle BeachEmerald Isle · water 160 ft · parking 250 ft
Fort Macon Beach & Historic LandmarkAtlantic Beach · water 150 ft · parking 270 ft
Atlantic Beach Town ParkAtlantic Beach · water 250 yd · parking 175 yd
Wrightsville Beach ParkWrightsville Beach · water 300 yd · parking 60 ft
Beach Access #29Wrightsville Beach · water 280 ft · parking 40 ft
Sandling Beach Recreation AreaWake Forest · water 300 ft · parking 30 ft
Cape LookoutHarkers Island · water 230 ft · parking 375 yd
Kure BeachKure Beach · water 225 yd · parking 525 yd
Corolla BeachCorolla · water 330 ft · parking 275 yd
Onslow Beachwater 175 yd
Ocean Isle Beach ParkOcean Isle Beach · water not mapped
Wrightsville BeachWrightsville Beach · water 290 ft · parking 90 ft
Corolla BeachCorolla · water 330 ft
Ebenezer BeachApex · water 320 ft · parking 80 ft
Salter Path Beach AccessPine Knoll Shores · water 125 yd · parking 200 yd
Beach Access Inlet And Channel DrivesEmerald Isle · water 275 yd · parking 10 ft
4th St Beach AccessOcean Isle Beach · water 310 ft · parking 400 yd
Ocean Blvd Public Beach AccessAtlantic Beach · water 150 yd · parking 525 yd
Beach Access #4North Topsail Beach · water 175 yd · parking 120 ft
Lifeguarded BeachOcracoke · water 300 yd
Sandling Beach State Recreation AreaWake Forest · water 0.5 miles · parking 375 yd
Holden BeachSupply · water 125 yd
Pebble Beachwater 40 ft
Currituck County Southern Public Beach AccessCorolla · water 275 yd · parking 575 yd
Ocracoke BeachOcracoke · water 150 yd
Spartanburg Public Beach AccessCarolina Beach · water 200 yd · parking 50 ft
Pelican Public Beach AccessCarolina Beach · water 125 yd · parking 100 ft
Ocean Isle BeachOcean Isle Beach · water 325 yd · parking 290 ft
Jordan lake beachwater 100 ft
Pine Knoll Shores Public Beach Access BPine Knoll Shores · water 100 ft
Carolina BeachCarolina Beach · water 310 ft
SE 55th Street Public Beach AccessOak Island · water 375 yd · parking 30 ft
Ward Shore ParkSwansboro · on the shoreline · parking 350 yd
Caswell Beachwater 190 ft · parking 450 yd
Emerald Isle Black Skimmer Vehicular Beach RampEmerald Isle · water 90 ft · parking 475 yd
Ocean Public Beach AccessCarolina Beach · water 270 ft · parking 275 yd
Turtle Beach GazeboSneads Ferry · water 150 yd
Public Beach Access #32Wrightsville Beach · water 125 yd · parking 180 ft
Hamlet Public Beach AccessCarolina Beach · water 330 ft · parking 130 ft
Currituck BeachCorolla · water 180 ft · parking 500 yd
Public Vehicle Beach Access (Permit Required)Topsail Beach · water 260 ft · parking 625 yd
Masonboro Island ReserveWilmington · water 200 ft
Carova BeachCarova Beach · water 175 yd
South Beachwater 310 ft
Hurst Beachwater 240 ft
North Topsail ShoresNorth Topsail Beach · water 350 yd · parking 180 ft
Long BeachOak Island · water 240 ft · parking 240 ft
Holden BeachHolden Beach · water 450 yd · parking 450 yd
Cape Lookout ShoalsHarkers Island · water 375 yd
Parker's Creek BeachPittsboro · water 90 ft · parking 150 yd
Poplar Point BeachApex · water 130 ft · parking 170 ft
Big BeachHolden Beach · water 300 yd
Pine Knoll ShoresPine Knoll Shores · water 450 yd · parking 500 yd
Headys Beachwater 175 yd
Sea Haven Beachwater 175 yd · parking 350 yd
Indian BeachIndian Beach · water 150 yd · parking 210 ft
East Beachwater 320 ft
Bare Sand Beachwater 180 ft
Buttercup BeachLaurinburg · water 375 yd · parking 200 yd
State Park Beachwater 110 ft · parking 160 ft
Pebble Beachwater 240 ft
Crescent Beachwater 220 ft · parking 310 ft
Chix Beachwater 70 ft · parking 375 yd
Sylvan Beachon the shoreline
Willoughby Beachwater 225 yd · parking 400 yd
Crosswinds Beachon the shoreline
Cabin Lake Park Swim Beachwater 40 ft · parking 200 ft
Cedar Island Beachwater 250 ft
White Oak Beachwater 30 ft · parking 150 yd
Public Beach AccessNags Head · water 175 yd · parking 100 ft
Bonnett Street Public Beach AccessNags Head · water 340 ft · parking 50 ft- Haulover Day Use AreaBuxton · water 170 ft · parking 40 ft
Frisco BeachFrisco · water 125 yd · parking 20 ft- Rodanthe Beach AccessNags Head · water 220 ft · parking 160 ft
Coquina Beachwater 100 ft · parking 175 yd
Beach Access Ramp 43Buxton · water 150 yd · parking 10 ft
Avon BeachAvon · water 225 yd · parking 375 yd
Old Lighthouse Beach AccessBuxton · water 200 yd · parking 80 ft
Cape Hatteras National SeashoreNags Head · water 300 ft · parking 230 ft
Clark Street Beach AccessKill Devil Hills · water 200 yd · parking 20 ft
Pea Island BeachRodanthe · on the shoreline
Black Pelican BeachAvon · water 200 yd · parking 50 ft
Ramp 49 Frisco beachFrisco · water 125 yd · parking 425 yd
Kinnakeet Beach AccessAvon · water 325 yd · parking 60 ft
Kitty Hawk BeachKitty Hawk · water 90 ft · parking 300 yd
Public Beach Access - Sutton AvenueKill Devil Hills · water 310 ft · parking 10 ft- ObbcKill Devil Hills · water 225 yd · parking 320 ft
Sunny DazeNags Head · water 225 yd · parking 120 ft
Conch Street Public Beach AccessNags Head · water 200 yd · parking 100 ft
First Street Beach AccessKill Devil Hills · water 250 ft · parking 30 ft
Merrimac Lane Public Beach AccessRodanthe · water 500 yd · parking 625 yd
Eden Street Public Beach AccessKill Devil Hills · water 240 ft · parking 175 yd- Bald Beachwater 250 ft · parking 400 yd
Viars BeachFrisco · water 110 ft · parking 400 yd
Beach AccessFrisco · water 400 yd · parking 225 yd
Lake Dr Public Beach AccessKill Devil Hills · water 175 yd · parking 90 ft
Rye BeachRodanthe · water 150 yd · parking 20 ft
Oregon Avenue Public Beach AccessKill Devil Hills · water 200 yd · parking 150 ft
Every beach
All 107 beaches, by how many people rate them
| Beach | Town | Walk to water | Parking | Fee | Restrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Beach State Park | Carolina Beach | – | 225 yd | free | yes |
| Freeman Park Beach | Carolina Beach | 270 ft | – | paid | yes |
| Busco Beach and ATV Park | Goldsboro | – | – | paid | yes |
| Hammocks Beach State Park | Swansboro | 225 yd | – | paid | – |
| Circle Regional Beach Access | Atlantic Beach | 150 yd | 40 ft | paid | yes |
| Radio Island Public Beach Access | Beaufort | 280 ft | 350 ft | free | – |
| Carolina Beach Lake Park | Carolina Beach | 375 yd | 100 ft | – | yes |
| North Topsail Beach Town Park | North Topsail Beach | 250 ft | 280 ft | paid | yes |
| Seaforth Beach | Pittsboro | 100 ft | 250 ft | – | yes |
| Emerald Isle Beach | Emerald Isle | 160 ft | 250 ft | paid | yes |
| Fort Macon Beach & Historic Landmark | Atlantic Beach | 150 ft | 270 ft | free | yes |
| Atlantic Beach Town Park | Atlantic Beach | 250 yd | 175 yd | – | yes |
| Wrightsville Beach Park | Wrightsville Beach | 300 yd | 60 ft | paid | yes |
| Beach Access #29 | Wrightsville Beach | 280 ft | 40 ft | paid | yes |
| Sandling Beach Recreation Area | Wake Forest | 300 ft | 30 ft | paid | yes |
| Cape Lookout | Harkers Island | 230 ft | 375 yd | – | yes |
| Kure Beach | Kure Beach | 225 yd | 525 yd | paid | yes |
| Corolla Beach | Corolla | 330 ft | 275 yd | – | yes |
| Onslow Beach | 175 yd | – | – | yes | |
| Ocean Isle Beach Park | Ocean Isle Beach | – | – | – | yes |
| Public Beach Access | Nags Head | 175 yd | 100 ft | free | yes |
| Wrightsville Beach | Wrightsville Beach | 290 ft | 90 ft | paid | yes |
| Corolla Beach | Corolla | 330 ft | – | paid | – |
| Bonnett Street Public Beach Access | Nags Head | 340 ft | 50 ft | free | yes |
| Ebenezer Beach | Apex | 320 ft | 80 ft | paid | yes |
| Haulover Day Use Area | Buxton | 170 ft | 40 ft | free | yes |
| Salter Path Beach Access | Pine Knoll Shores | 125 yd | 200 yd | free | yes |
| Beach Access Inlet And Channel Drives | Emerald Isle | 275 yd | 10 ft | – | – |
| Frisco Beach | Frisco | 125 yd | 20 ft | – | yes |
| Rodanthe Beach Access | Nags Head | 220 ft | 160 ft | – | yes |
| 4th St Beach Access | Ocean Isle Beach | 310 ft | 400 yd | – | – |
| Ocean Blvd Public Beach Access | Atlantic Beach | 150 yd | 525 yd | paid | yes |
| Beach Access #4 | North Topsail Beach | 175 yd | 120 ft | paid | yes |
| Lifeguarded Beach | Ocracoke | 300 yd | – | free | yes |
| Coquina Beach | 100 ft | 175 yd | – | yes | |
| Sandling Beach State Recreation Area | Wake Forest | 0.5 miles | 375 yd | paid | yes |
| Beach Access Ramp 43 | Buxton | 150 yd | 10 ft | paid | yes |
| Holden Beach | Supply | 125 yd | – | paid | yes |
| Pebble Beach | 40 ft | – | free | yes | |
| Currituck County Southern Public Beach Access | Corolla | 275 yd | 575 yd | – | yes |
| Ocracoke Beach | Ocracoke | 150 yd | – | – | yes |
| Avon Beach | Avon | 225 yd | 375 yd | – | yes |
| Spartanburg Public Beach Access | Carolina Beach | 200 yd | 50 ft | paid | yes |
| Pelican Public Beach Access | Carolina Beach | 125 yd | 100 ft | paid | – |
| Ocean Isle Beach | Ocean Isle Beach | 325 yd | 290 ft | paid | – |
| Jordan lake beach | 100 ft | – | paid | – | |
| Pine Knoll Shores Public Beach Access B | Pine Knoll Shores | 100 ft | – | free | yes |
| Carolina Beach | Carolina Beach | 310 ft | – | paid | yes |
| SE 55th Street Public Beach Access | Oak Island | 375 yd | 30 ft | paid | yes |
| Old Lighthouse Beach Access | Buxton | 200 yd | 80 ft | – | yes |
| Ward Shore Park | Swansboro | on the sand | 350 yd | – | yes |
| Caswell Beach | 190 ft | 450 yd | – | – | |
| Cape Hatteras National Seashore | Nags Head | 300 ft | 230 ft | – | yes |
| Emerald Isle Black Skimmer Vehicular Beach Ramp | Emerald Isle | 90 ft | 475 yd | paid | – |
| Ocean Public Beach Access | Carolina Beach | 270 ft | 275 yd | paid | – |
| Turtle Beach Gazebo | Sneads Ferry | 150 yd | – | – | yes |
| Clark Street Beach Access | Kill Devil Hills | 200 yd | 20 ft | free | yes |
| Public Beach Access #32 | Wrightsville Beach | 125 yd | 180 ft | paid | yes |
| Hamlet Public Beach Access | Carolina Beach | 330 ft | 130 ft | paid | yes |
| Pea Island Beach | Rodanthe | on the sand | – | – | – |
| Black Pelican Beach | Avon | 200 yd | 50 ft | – | – |
| Ramp 49 Frisco beach | Frisco | 125 yd | 425 yd | paid | yes |
| Currituck Beach | Corolla | 180 ft | 500 yd | – | – |
| Public Vehicle Beach Access (Permit Required) | Topsail Beach | 260 ft | 625 yd | – | yes |
| Masonboro Island Reserve | Wilmington | 200 ft | – | – | – |
| Kinnakeet Beach Access | Avon | 325 yd | 60 ft | – | – |
| Carova Beach | Carova Beach | 175 yd | – | – | – |
| Kitty Hawk Beach | Kitty Hawk | 90 ft | 300 yd | – | yes |
| South Beach | 310 ft | – | – | – | |
| Hurst Beach | 240 ft | – | – | – | |
| North Topsail Shores | North Topsail Beach | 350 yd | 180 ft | paid | – |
| Public Beach Access - Sutton Avenue | Kill Devil Hills | 310 ft | 10 ft | – | yes |
| Obbc | Kill Devil Hills | 225 yd | 320 ft | – | yes |
| Long Beach | Oak Island | 240 ft | 240 ft | – | – |
| Holden Beach | Holden Beach | 450 yd | 450 yd | – | – |
| Sunny Daze | Nags Head | 225 yd | 120 ft | – | – |
| Conch Street Public Beach Access | Nags Head | 200 yd | 100 ft | – | yes |
| Cape Lookout Shoals | Harkers Island | 375 yd | – | – | – |
| Parker's Creek Beach | Pittsboro | 90 ft | 150 yd | paid | yes |
| Poplar Point Beach | Apex | 130 ft | 170 ft | – | yes |
| Big Beach | Holden Beach | 300 yd | – | – | – |
| Pine Knoll Shores | Pine Knoll Shores | 450 yd | 500 yd | – | – |
| Headys Beach | 175 yd | – | – | yes | |
| First Street Beach Access | Kill Devil Hills | 250 ft | 30 ft | free | – |
| Merrimac Lane Public Beach Access | Rodanthe | 500 yd | 625 yd | – | – |
| Sea Haven Beach | 175 yd | 350 yd | – | – | |
| Indian Beach | Indian Beach | 150 yd | 210 ft | – | – |
| East Beach | 320 ft | – | – | – | |
| Eden Street Public Beach Access | Kill Devil Hills | 240 ft | 175 yd | – | – |
| Bare Sand Beach | 180 ft | – | – | – | |
| Bald Beach | 250 ft | 400 yd | – | – | |
| Viars Beach | Frisco | 110 ft | 400 yd | – | – |
| Beach Access | Frisco | 400 yd | 225 yd | – | yes |
| Lake Dr Public Beach Access | Kill Devil Hills | 175 yd | 90 ft | – | yes |
| Rye Beach | Rodanthe | 150 yd | 20 ft | – | yes |
| Buttercup Beach | Laurinburg | 375 yd | 200 yd | – | – |
| Oregon Avenue Public Beach Access | Kill Devil Hills | 200 yd | 150 ft | – | – |
| State Park Beach | 110 ft | 160 ft | – | yes | |
| Pebble Beach | 240 ft | – | – | yes | |
| Crescent Beach | 220 ft | 310 ft | – | – | |
| Chix Beach | 70 ft | 375 yd | – | – | |
| Sylvan Beach | on the sand | – | – | – | |
| Willoughby Beach | 225 yd | 400 yd | – | yes | |
| Crosswinds Beach | on the sand | – | – | yes | |
| Cabin Lake Park Swim Beach | 40 ft | 200 ft | – | yes | |
| Cedar Island Beach | 250 ft | – | – | – | |
| White Oak Beach | 30 ft | 150 yd | – | yes |
Walk and parking distances are measured on OpenStreetMap. Fee and restrooms come from counted visitor reviews and mapped facilities. A dash means we have no evidence either way, not that the answer is no.
Questions
Common questions
Which North Carolina beach has the shortest walk from the car?
Crosswinds Beach in North Carolina has the listing right on the shoreline. We measure the straight line from the listed location to the mapped waterline for every beach, so the table above ranks them all.
Do you have to pay to park at North Carolina beaches?
Mostly yes. Of the 107 beaches here, 31 have visitors reporting a parking or entry fee and 8 report free parking. Reported fees run from $20 to $35 a day in season, and several beaches drop the fee after 5pm or outside the summer.
Which beaches have restrooms?
66 of the 107 beaches have restrooms mapped on site or reported by visitors. Seasonal closures are common: several National Seashore beaches close their facilities outside the summer.
How current is this?
Tide, waves, wind and water temperature are fetched live in your browser from NOAA and Open-Meteo. Parking and facility positions come from OpenStreetMap; imagery from USGS NAIP. Facts counted from visitor reviews carry the year range they were written in.
How we know
Where this comes from
Place details from the public Google business listing. Beach shape, parking and facility positions from OpenStreetMap (ODbL). Aerial imagery is public-domain USGS NAIP. Tide comes from NOAA, and weather and water from Open-Meteo. Map drawings are redrawn from that aerial imagery by an image model. Markers, distances and every fact on this page come from OpenStreetMap and counted reviews, never from a drawing. Review text is never republished.
