Travel

The best beaches in the Carolinas are just a drive away. Here are your top picks.

By CharlotteFive staff

Updated May 24, 2024 3:50 PM

The best beaches in the Carolinas

North Carolina's coast is studded with gorgeous beaches, each with its own distinct personality, history and offerings for things to do. No matter what you're looking for in a seaside trip this summer on the Carolina coast, we rounded up readers' picks for the best beaches within driving distance of Charlotte, along with a beach guide for the summer.

In the Carolinas, we are loyal to our beaches. Whether you prefer the crowded boardwalks at Myrtle Beach or the quiet shores along the Outer Banks, you know what you like and you go there regularly — often every year.

Last summer, we asked you about your favorite Carolina beaches. We wanted to know where you go, which restaurants you visit there and if you go to the same spot or change it up each year. Out of 165 respondents, 52 of you told us you have been visiting the same beach for 20 years or longer. Some cited 40 and even 50 years of visiting the same beach — and one reader wrote to us that they’ve been to the same place for 64 years.

Here are the best summer Carolina beach recommendations, according to you:

North Carolina beaches

Outer Banks

If you’re coming here looking for the ferry from Chapel Hill, we regret to inform you that you’ve made a tactical mistake. (That’s a little jab to the infamous error in the Netflix show “Outer Banks.”) From the wild horses at Corolla to the walkable town of Duck, there’s something for every visitor here — so long as you’re willing to make the 6-plus-hour drive.

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse on the East Coast, overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and the village of Buxton, N.C., in this file photo. JOSHUA CORSA ASSOCIATED PRESS

Corolla Beach

Distance: 391 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
The Corolla wild horses, via self-guided or professional tour
One reader got engaged at Corolla Lighthouse!

Best restaurants:

Duck

Distance: 380 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Small town feel
Easy to walk, run or bike through town
Quaint
Duck Donuts was born here!

Best restaurants:

Kill Devil Hills

Distance: 369 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet

Best restaurant: Owens Restaurant

Avon Beach

Distance: 399 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Not overrun by commercialism

Best restaurant: Oceanas Bistro

Buxton

Distance: 407 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Has an older, small town atmosphere
Close to Cape Hatteras

Best restaurant: The Buxton Munch

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Distance: 394 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
You can drive right out on the beach (with a permit)
Watch fishing boats enter and leave Oregon Inlet

Best restaurant: Basnight’s Lone Cedar

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Hatteras Village

Distance: 408 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Secluded

Best restaurant: Hatteras Sol Waterside Grill

Ocracoke Island

Distance: 441 miles from Charlotte (including a ferry ride)

Why it’s your favorite:

Secluded

Best restaurant: Howard’s Pub & Raw Bar

Crystal Coast

Just south of the Outer Banks is the Crystal Coast (sometimes called the Southern Outer Banks). In addition to lots of ocean time, plan to visit the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores or Mac Daddy’s Entertainment Center in Cape Carteret, with plenty of family friendly activities including mini golf, bowling, arcade games and a sports bar.

A surfer rides out of a wave in Emerald Isle, N.C. Julia Wall jwall@newsobserver.com

Atlantic Beach

Distance: 284 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Clean, excellent beach with easy access
Great seafood both on the island and across the bridge in Morehead City

Best restaurants:

Salter Path

Distance: 275 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Great little restaurants
Both the sound and ocean within a quick walk from one another

Best restaurant: Big Oak Drive-In & BBQ

Emerald Isle

Distance: 309 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Busy
Great beaches
Family-friendly
Good food choices
Close to Swansboro, Bear Island, Hammocks Beach State Park

Best restaurants:

Topsail Island

Topsail Island is laid-back and quiet, but with enough restaurants and shops to keep you from having to venture too far for an adventure. Make time to visit Surf City Ocean Pier or Topsail’s Jolly Roger Inn and Pier for fishing or simply for the views.

Surf City

Distance: 228 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Huge beach area
Not (yet) too crowded or commercial

Best restaurant: Flaming Amy’s Burrito Barn

Topsail Beach

Distance: 234 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Low-key without many large hotels
A few restaurants and shops
Turtle rescue
Putt-putt

Best restaurants:

Wilmington area

If you’re looking for two vacations in one, head toward the Wilmington area. Explore the city’s walkable, lively River District before heading to Wrightsville for some Carolina beach time, complete with quaint shops right at the beach.

Visit Wrightsville Beach for blue waters and quiet beaches — and make sure to support local while you are there. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com

Figure Eight Island

Distance: 212 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Secluded
Great shelling
Perfect walking
Amazing waves

Best restaurants: Two Guys Grille

Wrightsville Beach

Distance: 209 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Limited commercial activity
Blue water
Local retailers on the island

Best restaurants:

Carolina Beach

Distance: 212 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Quaint
Still enough shops, restaurants and things to do

Best restaurants:

Kure Beach

Distance: 215 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Near good walking/riding trails

Best restaurants:

Brunswick Islands

Save room for Calabash-style seafood when you visit the Brunswick Islands. Calabash seafood is fresh-caught, lightly battered and deep fried — a true Southern staple. Don’t sleep on the hushpuppies!

Surfers take advantage of heavy surf at the pier in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., in this file photo. Gerry Broome AP

Bald Head Island

Distance: 217 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Secluded
Laid back
Natural, not a lot of amusement distractions — just nature

Best restaurant: Jules’

Caswell Beach

Distance: 213 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Never crowded even when crowded.
Plenty of parking, porta-johns in the parking lot
Outdoor showers
Pods of dolphins
Magnificent sunrises and sunsets on the south-facing island

Best restaurant: Mr. P’s Bistro

Oak Island

Distance: 207 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Secluded
Peaceful, not commercial and very relaxing

Best restaurants:

Holden Beach

Distance: 202 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Never crowded
Wide, sandy beaches
Canopies allowed

Best restaurants:

Ocean Isle Beach

Distance: 188 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Busy
Family friendly
Well-maintained beaches

Best restaurants:

Sunset Beach

Distance: 191 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Not overly commercialized.
Wide, sandy beach
Calabash nearby with multiple dining options

Best restaurants:

South Carolina beaches

Grand Strand

The Grand Strand is the most famous of all the beaches in the Carolinas, as its home to the tourist-heavy Myrtle Beach. Locals love to hate it (please stop calling it ‘Dirty Myrtle,’ the city has asked), but that doesn’t stop it from consistently being ranked a top tourist destination. Still, if you’re looking for quiet, you’ve got plenty of choices still along the Grand Strand — try North Litchfield or Cherry Grove for some R&R.

A summer day at North Litchfield Beach. Melissa Oyler CharlotteFive

Cherry Grove Beach, SC

Distance: 188 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Family beach
Close to shopping and restaurants

Best restaurant: The Shack

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Distance: 188 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Busy
It’s convenient to a lot tourist attractions
Home to the famous Ocean Annie’s Beach Bar

Best restaurants:

Myrtle Beach, SC

Distance: 175 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Busy
Easy drive from Charlotte
A lot of tourist attractions

Best restaurant: Chesapeake House

North Litchfield Beach, SC

Distance: 189 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Close enough to Myrtle Beach to have amenities
Good restaurants
Good fish markets
Wide beach

Best restaurants:

Litchfield Beach, SC

Distance: 191 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Away from Myrtle Beach chaos
Close to great restaurants
Close to several golf courses
Less expensive than Kiawah Island or Hilton Head

Best restaurants:

Pawley’s Island, SC

Distance: 187 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Secluded
Private beach
Hammock shop where you can watch the hammocks being made

Best restaurants:

Surfside Beach, SC

Distance: 179 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Quiet
Less crowded than Myrtle Beach
Close to Myrtle Beach’s amenities

Best restaurants:

DeBordieu Colony, SC

Distance: 198 miles from Charlotte

Why it’s your favorite:

Secluded
Everyone drives golf carts
Lots of starfish and sharks teeth on the beach

Best restaurant: Frank’s Restaurant & Bar

Lowcountry

South Carolina’s Lowcountry is so much more than its beaches — from moss-draped historic sites to waterfront downtowns, there’s plenty to see and do here. Head to Edisto or St. Helena Island for peace and quiet, or Hilton Head Island for a livelier scene, with plenty of activities (who wants to go parasailing?).