Choosing the best beaches for spring vacation spots in the Carolinas can feel like a daunting task; after all, NC and SC claim some of the best beaches in the country with public access.
Whether you’re in search of off-the-grid adventures and remote beach camping or lively beach boardwalks and secret surfing spots, we’ve collected the ideal vacation spot for you to visit next.Â
Don’t worry – we won’t hold back on where to find shark teeth, recommendations for pet-friendly beaches, and our favorite beaches in NC and SC (hint: one of them is home to one of the deadliest, gnarliest, most ruthless figures in Carolina beach history!)
These sea biscuit fossils were plucked from the shores of Holden Beach, NC | Photo credit: @shellingmomma (Instagram)
Seashore safari: Best beaches for shelling and shark teeth
Holden Beach NC: The eight miles that make up the Holden Beach expanse are home to the best shelling in North Carolina. Find sand dollars right before low tide at the island’s East End. Storms with mighty easterly winds often yield the best shelling bounty – we recommend waiting until the storm settles to commence your search.
Edisto Island SC: Local shell-collecting experts recommend a slow walk at low tide in the wet sand. To increase your odds of finding a sharktooth, book a one-hour fossil and sharktooth-hunting expedition with Botany Bay Ecotours, where, via kayak, guides weave participants through the more hard-to-get-to passages of Botany Bay.
Shoreline sentinels: Best beaches with lighthouses
Hunting Island SC: While Hunting Island technically wins by default in this category (with the only publicly accessible lighthouse in SC), its status as the most-visited South Carolina state park makes it even more worth visiting. Pick up VR headsets in the Visitor’s Center to enjoy the lighthouse features while it is undergoing repairs.
Harkers Island NC: Painted in a mesmerizing diamond pattern, the Cape Lookout Lighthouse on Harkers Island is one of few lighthouses that are still in operation. Visitors can take a ferry from Harkers Island or Beaufort to climb the 207 steps of the lighthouse for a small charge ($8 for adults, $4 for youth 44” or taller) from May to September.
Who's ready for a beach camping adventure? Pictured here is Campsite #9 at Huntington Beach State Park in SC | Photo credit: @adventuresof_dmt (Instagram)
Sleepover by the sea: Best beach camping
Portsmouth Island NC: Pitch your tent on the shores of Portsmouth Island, one of the few places in North Carolina where you can camp on the beach. You won’t find any stores or vacation homes on this isolated tract of land, so make sure to stock up with camping goods in town. A 4WD vehicle or ATV will grant visitors access to the unpaved roads that wind through lush maritime forest.
Huntington Beach SC: Pack your fishing rods, binoculars, and canine pals in your truck or RV – the pet-friendly Huntington Beach State Park is one of the best beaches in SC for birdwatching and surf fishing. While camping at Huntington Beach, make time to explore the unique Moorish-style Atalaya Castle for a small $2 fee.
Fido-approved: Best pet-friendly beaches
Emerald Isle NC: Good news, dog lovers! Your furry friends can roam the beautiful beaches of Emerald Isle all year long! Cool off at dog-friendly restaurants like the Village Market, which serves fresh hand-crafted sandwiches on an inviting open air patio.
Isle of Palms SC: Three woofs for one of the best beaches for dog-friendly folks: Isle of Palms beach. Dogs are allowed off-leash from April 1 to September 14 (5-9 AM) and September 15 to March 31 (4PM to 10AM). Yes, your dogs can play on the beach with you any day of the year! Chill out with your dog and enjoy a basket of coconut shrimp on the Coconut Joe’s patio – just steps from the beach.
Kids will have a blast at Ocean Front Park on Kure Beach | Photo credit: @kurebeachnc (Instagram)
All for fun and fun for all! The best family-friendly beaches
Kure Beach NC: The whole family can cast their lines at Kure Beach’s fishing pier, one of the oldest and best beaches on the Atlantic Coast. Reasons that keep families returning to this laidback beach include the seaside Ocean Front Park, NC Aquarium, and Fort Fisher State Historic Site. Your kids will have a blast pretending to fire a fully functional copy of a sea cannon!
Hilton Head SC: From go-karting and ax-throwing to pirate scavenger hunts and helicopter tours, there are plenty of fun activities off the beach for adventure-seeking families. The Sea Pines Resort organizes family-friendly activities year-round, including sea turtle beach walks and beach bocce.
Pier perfection: Best boardwalks on the beach
Duck NC: You’ll find charming waterfront boutiques along the one-mile Soundside Boardwalk, which runs adjacent to the captivating Currituck Sound. A sunset and cocktail from the Blue Point Back Bar patio is hard to top; unless, of course, it’s accompanied by a signature Duck Donut! Order the aptly named “Boardwalk” made from OREO crumbles, powdered sugar, and glazed icing.
Myrtle Beach SC: Myrtle Beach’s boardwalk is the place to be any night of the year. Take a spin on the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel and indulge in beach eats and drinks at Wicked Tuna. Several Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! attractions dot this well-known boardwalk.
Observe the mysterious Banker ponies in their natural coastal habitat on Carova Beach, NC |
Photo credit: @jescabry (Instagram)
Ride the tides: Best beaches for surfingÂ
Wrightsville Beach NC: You can bet that the birthplace of surfing serves up some totally tubular secret spots. Beach Access 4 is recommended for beginner-level surfers while Mason’s Inlet Jetty is known for its long right-handers. Check the rules for surfing and kiteboarding before you go to stay safe while you’re hanging ten!Â
Folly Beach SC: Head to the Washout, Folly Beach’s top surfing spot. Born from the damage wrought by Hurricane Hugo, this jettied beach stretch is recommended for advanced surfers only. Fun fact: the longest-running all-female surf contest on the East Coast, the Wahine Classic – takes place annually on Folly Beach. July 27-28 marks this year’s competition.
Where the wild things are: Wildlife encounters at the beach
Carova Beach NC: Those seeking solace can slip away to Carova, one of America’s best beaches for those in search of seclusion. Here, in this community you can only reach by boat or 4WD, the legendary Banker horses run freely. Word is that these feral ponies descended from Spanish mustangs that escaped a shipwreck centuries ago!
Bulls Island SC: A ferry ride to Bulls Island offers an up-close look at unique animal behaviors like dolphin stranding. As you weave through the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, learn about the fascinating impact that sea grass has on the ecosystem. Once on Bulls, follow wooded trails to swamps ridden with lounging alligators, or head to Boneyard Beach — one of the best beaches for private sunbathing in South Carolina!
Call us biased, but we think Ocracoke Island is one of the best beaches in the Carolinas | Photo credit: @ocracokeislandnc (Instagram)
The #1 best beaches in the Carolinas
Ocracoke Island NC: This place is so special, the people who live there have their own distinct dialect. Look no further for family-friendly fun, swashbuckling pirate lore, a secluded retreat, and excellent fishing and shelling. Once named #1 of the best beaches in the entire U.S., it’s no wonder that the infamous Blackbeard spent so much time here! Speaking of the notorious pirate, an Ocracoke Island itinerary should absolutely include a hike through Springer’s Point Preserve, where you can gaze out to the site of Blackbeard’s death. Â
Kiawah Island SC: You don’t need to be a golfer to enjoy the spoils of Beachwalker Park, a public-access beach on the southernmost tip of Kiawah Island. Check off all the items on your ultimate beach vacation bucket list here: rent bikes, embark on a fishing charter, and shop til you drop at Freshfields Village. Beachside, the waves are considerably tamer than Outer Banks counterparts, and sporadically appearing tide pools show off the bounty of sealief endemic to Lowcountry coastal waters. Families will appreciate on-site outdoor showers, restrooms, and a snack bar with a picnic area.
Two thumbs way up for the annual Hang Gliding Spectacular in Nags Head, NC | Photo credit: @flykhk (Instagram)
We’re most excited about these 2024 beach festivals and events:
- Summer concert series in Carolina Beach and Ocean Isle NC: Starting Memorial Day and running through Labor Day, enjoy live music on a weekly basis from the Boardwalk Blast in Carolina Beach and Town Center Park in Ocean Isle.
- Witness the incredible Hang Gliding Spectacular in Nags Head, NC. The longest-enduring hang gliding competition in the world takes place from May 16-19 this year and is free to the public for viewing.
- Myrtle Beach SC: The festival capital of the Carolinas, Myrtle Beach’s spring lineup includes the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival (April 23-27), World Famous Blue Crab Festival (May 18-19), and Carolina Country Music Fest (June 6-9)
