North Carolina Beaches: Outer Banks and Coastal Region

There are over 350 miles of shoreline along the North Carolina coast and Outer Banks. You can find shoreline rentals, cottages for rent, beach vacation rentals, resorts, villas, inns, suites, apartments, vacation studios and other accommodations.

Recreation available include: fishing, kayaking, swimming, windsurfing, water-skiing, surfing and other water related sports.

Getting Around

North Carolina has the 2nd largest ferry system in the US. Reservations are recommended for the Cedar Island Ocracoke ferry and the Swan Quarter Ocracoke ferry.

The main roads leading into the Outer banks are US-158 or the Croatan Highway and NC-12 or the Virginia Dare Trail or Beach Road and US64.

The main road on the mainland is US17 or the Kings Highway. It follows the coastline.

The Outer Banks Beaches

The Outer Banks of North Carolina are 175 miles long. Not all beaches have lifeguards so be cautious.

The Outer Banks contain Cape Lookout, Cape Hatteras, Buxton, Corolla, Duck, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Manteo, Nags Head, Rodanthe, Roanoke Island, Bodie Island, Hatteras Island and Oracoke Island.

Atlantic Beach is a popular resort town with historic sites, piers, fishing, marina, golf.

Bodie Island is on NC 12. On the island, find a visitor center, lighthouse, marina, fishing center, campground, Coquina Beach, picnic areas, boat ramps and a dock.

Bogue Banks contain the towns of Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Pine Knoll Shores, Emerald Isle, Salter Path and Fort Macon.

Cape Hatteras Island towns include Rodanthe, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Hatteras, Salvo and Waves.

Cape Lookout is a National seashore.

Colington Island is south of Kill Devil Hills off US 158. There are shops and campgrounds.

Corolla has a lighthouse and other historic sites. The Whalehouse club is close to the lighthouse. Built in 1925, the home is on the national register of historic homes. Tours are available. Other attractions include the Wild Ponies.

Crystal Coast - Atlantic Beach area.

Duck is north of Cape Hatteras. Attractions include art galleries and the US Army corps of Engineers field research facility. It monitors currents, tides, waves and winds. tours. Tours are available.

Kill Devil Hills off US 158. Attractions include the Wright Brothers National Memorial. The visitor center has an exhibit of a full scale reproduction of the gliders used by the Wright brothers.

Kitty Hawk offers sailing, windsurfing, kayaking rental equipment. There is a fishing pier and a welcome center.

Nags Head is a popular resort with quite beaches.

Ocracoke Island  is accessible by the ferry from Hatteras Island. It was named one of the top ten best beaches in the US. Attractions include a lighthouse, wild ponies, shops, camping, marinas, water sports, fishing.

Roanoke Island - historic sites, hiking trails, boating tours, charter fishing.

The North Carolina Coast Beaches

Alligator River National Wildlife refuge is on Dare county mainland. The area is wetlands.

Aquariums are in 3 Locations: Roanoke Island, Pine Knoll Shores and Fort Fisher on Pleasure Island. The Aquariums feature sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, colorful fish, Moray eels, otters and more marine animals with hands on exhibits.

Bath is noted for the Hoof prints of Bath and at Goose Creek Park US 264. The Hoof prints of Bath is a strange phenomenon of depressions in the earth said to be the hoof prints of a horse delivering a man to hell.

Beaufort is the 3rd oldest city in NC off US-17.

Calabash  is off US 17 just over the SC / NC line. The town is noted for its Seafood.

Camp Lejeune Marine Base is in Jacksonville. The closest beaches to the base are as follows: North: Hammock's Beach State Park (Swansboro) South: Topsail Island Beaches (Sneads Ferry). closest Large city Jacksonville.

Carolina Beach is on Pleasure Island.

The Cape Fear Coast includes Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Southport,  Kure Beach, Carolina Beach, Bald Head Island, Top Sail Island, Surf City and Masonboro Island.

Edenton is close to Plymouth, Creswell, Lake Phelps, Windsor. Attractions include historic sites.

Elizabeth City is the location of the Coast Guard Center. Attractions include art galleries, historic districts, marinas and museums.

Fort Fisher is on Pleasure Island. It was a Confederate fort that protected the port of Wilmington, known as the Gibraltar of the South. The fort has exhibits of artifacts from sunken blockade runners ships.

Harkers Island attractions include Core Sound Waterfowl museum with exhibits of hand carved decoy ducks.

Havelock - between New Bern and Atlantic Beach, close to Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station.

 Jacksonville is the location of the Camp Lejeune Marine Base. It is near Hammock's Beach State Park, Swansboro, Topsail Island Beaches Sneads Ferry, New Bern.

Kure Beach is on Pleasure Island.

New Bern is near Jacksonville and Oriental NC, Minnesott Beach (ferry).

Morehead City is close to Beaufort and Atlantic Beach.

Ocean Isle Beach is a few miles North of the SC Border.

Pleasure Island contains Kure Beach, Carolina Beach and Fort Fisher.

Pine Knoll Shores is close to Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Morehead City.

Plymouth is close to Edenton.

Shallotte is between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach.

Southport is South of Wilmington, near the Brunswick Islands, Oak Island, Long Beach, Caswell Beach,  Holden Beach, Shallotte, Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach and Yaupon Beach.

Sunset Beach is near Myrtle Beach SC.

Swansboro is a fishing village with ferry service.

Swan Quarter is in Hyde county. The town of Swan quarter is known for the church moved by the hand of God, Providence church during a hurricane floated to its current location. Offers ferry service to Orcacoke Island and the mainland.

Topsail Island is near Sneeds Ferry, Surf City, Topsail Beach, North Topsail Beach.

Washington is close to Bath, Goose Creek State Park, Pamlico Beach.

Wilmington is an old historic city with beaches nearby.

Wrightsville Beach is close to Wilmington.

Activities/Recreation

• Jet Ski Rental Outer Banks provides jet ski rentals, kayak rentals, sailboat rentals, surfboard rentals, SUP rentals, and parasail rentals. Tours of the Outer Banks and the surrounding .
• Scuba diving has become one of the greatest  recreational sports all around the world.
• What is sea glass? List of good sea glass beaches. Rare sea glass colors.