[Day-Trip Ideas] Choose Your Perfect NC Beach Getaway; List Of Beaches With Lifeguards
There’s never a wrong time to plan summer adventures on the North Carolina coast. More than 6 million travelers visit North Carolina’s 300-mile coastline each year for diverse experiences on two national seashores, three state parks, undeveloped islands, and hospitable beach towns. Whether you’re planning a family vacation or a romantic getaway, you can have your pick of quiet beaches and coastal communities, history, lighthouses, outdoor activities, golf, and, of course, fresh seafood. Match your vacation or getaway style to a beach on the Outer Banks, Currituck, Crystal Coast, Topsail Island, Wilmington, or North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands.
While each region offers plenty to see and do during your trip to the beach, you can also match your vacation style and interests to specific spots along NC’s 300 miles of shoreline. Here are some ideas for how to plan a North Carolina beach vacation tailor-made for you. For travelers who prefer swimming on beaches with lifeguard stations, a list of destinations with lifeguard stands is included also. Note that mobile patrols supplement efforts at most of these destinations and also at beaches without lifeguard stands.
BEACHES + CITY
Wilmington
The options for outdoor fun seem almost endless on North Carolina beaches, like Wilmington and 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 river district, visit Battleship North Carolina or revel in varied movie tours around town to see backdrops for many blockbuster hits and TV shows. LEARN MORE
FRESH SEAFOOD
The Crystal Coast
The Crystal Coast, including the towns of Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Emerald Isle, Indian Beach, Morehead City, Pine Knoll Shores, and Salter Path, 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, SoundSide, and Circa 81, as well as at several seafood shops with a loyal following with both locals and veteran visitors. 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. LEARN MORE
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. The Ocean City Jazz Festival, North Topsail Beach’s premier cultural event takes place the weekend of the July 4th holiday, featuring local and nationally, recognized musicians. LEARN MORE
HISTORY AND LIGHTHOUSES
Outer Banks
Known as a classic North Carolina beach destination, the Outer Banks provide 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 coastal 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. In season, you can also climb all but Ocracoke. LEARN MORE
GOLF
Brunswick Islands
The Brunswick Islands has several championship courses with warm-weather tee times, beautiful views, and challenges for golfers in search of a 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. Or hit Farmstead Golf Links in Calabash, the only place in the world where you’ll find a Par 6 so long you tee off in one state and putt in another.
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. LEARN MORE
BEACHES WITH LIFEGUARD STATIONS
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH
Wilmington area
The town of Wrightsville Beach staffs 13 lifeguard stands daily from just south of Shell Island Resort to Albright Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
FORT MACON STATE PARK
Crystal Coast
Lifeguards are on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day.
ATLANTIC BEACH
Crystal Coast
Atlantic Beach staffs lifeguard stands daily in front of Atlantic Boulevard from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Memorial Day until Labor Day.
EMERALD ISLE
Crystal Coast
Lifeguards are on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from late May through early September at the western and eastern beach access points.
HAMMOCKS BEACH STATE PARK
Topsail area
Lifeguards are on duty most days in the designated swimming area from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day.
CAROLINA BEACH
Wilmington area
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the town of Carolina Beach staffs lifeguard stations along 3 miles of beach Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
KURE BEACH
Wilmington area
Each day from Memorial Day through Labor Day, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., the town of Kure Beach maintains lifeguard stations that cover the beach from north to south.
FORT FISHER STATE RECREATION AREA
Wilmington area
Lifeguard service is provided daily in a designated swim area, Memorial Day through Labor Day from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
CURRITUCK COUNTY BEACHES
Northern Outer Banks
In the Corolla area, lifeguard stations are staffed daily from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m
DUCK
Outer Banks
The town of Duck maintains lifeguard stations daily from May 1 to Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
SOUTHERN SHORES
Outer Banks
Southern Shores staffs lifeguard stations daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Hillcrest Drive and Chicahauk Trail from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend and at East Dogwood Trail and 142 Ocean Boulevard from mid-June through mid-August.
KITTY HAWK
Outer Banks
Kitty Hawk staffs fixed lifeguard stands daily at Byrd Street, Eckner Street and the Kitty Hawk Bath House accesses from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
KILL DEVIL HILLS
Outer Banks
The town of Kill Devil Hills staffs about 20 lifeguard stands daily between Helga Street and Eighth Street from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day.
NAGS HEAD
Outer Banks
The town of Nags Head operates more than 15 lifeguard stations daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend.
COQUINA BEACH
Outer Banks
This Cape Hatteras National Seashore beach, located across from Bodie Island Lighthouse, is staffed with lifeguards daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.
For daily information on beach conditions and beach safety, check with the destination you plan to visit.