If you want to visit a beach in North Carolina this summer, These beaches in and near Charlotte are a must-visit either with your family or friends.
These beaches also offer you a wide range of activities like shopping and trying a variety of food.
1. Best Beaches
If you are planning to spend your vacation days on a beach. This list includes private as well as public beaches near Charlotte and well as in Charlotte NC. You can enjoy many activities near these beaches. If you are a fan of fishing or water sports, then you must visit these beaches.
1.1. Atlantic Beach
Atlantic Beach is located in Carteret County, North Carolina, in the United States of America. Many beautiful beaches in the town of Atlantic Beach are not too crowded and thus allow you to enjoy a peaceful time.
It is also a beach where you can take your children, as it offers activities like volleyball for kids too. There are some beaches in this town that are only accessible to Charlotte residents and members of beach clubs.
1.1.1. Things to Do in Atlantic Beach
This beach is located on a beautiful barrier island near the Atlantic Ocean, and you get a fantastic view from this beach. This town is also known because it has many sandy beaches which you can visit with your family.
Some of the activities you can enjoy here are surfing, fishing, boating, and other sports and outdoor activities. There are also several shops located near this beach.
1.2. Emerald Isle Beach
Emerald Isle is located on Bogue Banks Island on North Carolina’s coast, in the United States of America. Emerald Isle Beach is a pristine beach as it also has a variety of rich boutique shops nearby.
Emerald Isle offers a woods park, where there are facilities for disc golf and docks. There are forest and nature trails in this park to walk, run, or hike.
1.2.1. Other Places Near Bogue Banks
You can also visit the Fort Macon State Park on Bogue Banks, North Carolina, the United States of America, Apart from Emerald Isle. It has some of the best beaches where you can swim, surf, and fish. These beaches like Emerald Isle are also wheelchair-accessible.
1.3. Carolina Beach
Located on the North Carolina coast in Pleasure Island, this small beach town. It has a lot of things that you can do.
For instance, you can go fishing in Carolina Beach State Park and shop on the Carolina Beachfront boardwalk. The Amusement Park rides are there on this boardwalk. You can also enjoy live music on Carolina Beach and stay at a hotel, a beach cottage, or a motel owned by families near Carolina Beach. One of the most remarkable features of this beach is that it is not too crowded so you can enjoy a peaceful time here.
1.3.1. Things To Do in Carolina Beach
You enjoy various things and activities once you visit Carolina Beach, located near the Atlantic Ocean. At Carolina Beach State Park, there are various hiking trails that you can take to get a beautiful view of the Cape Fear River.
You can also try various foods like a doughnut from Britt’s doughnut or any local restaurant near Carolina Beach. North Carolina’s most significant musical festival, known as the Carolina Beach Music Festival, is also an event that should not be missed.
1.4. Wrightsville Beach
This town is located in New Hanover County, North Carolina, in the United States of America. Wrightsville Beach is one of the best beaches in NC, as it offers you a variety of activities.
It is also a busy beach town because it offers several water sports and outdoor activities that attract many people. There are also plenty of boutique shops and surf shops near this beach town.
Apart from this, one of the other things that are the best feature of Wrightsville Beach is that you can enjoy the nightlife of North Carolina here.
1.4.1. Things To Do
Some of the things you can do at Wrightsville Beach are – enjoy live music, try a variety of seafood restaurants, and stay at a resort hotel. The hotels near North Carolina’s Wrightsville Beach also offer a variety of activities for the kids and camps.
It is also an accessible beach and a family beach as it is a close distance to Wilmington. Some of the other things you can do here are surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and deep-sea fishing. Therefore, Wrightsville Beach is one of the best beaches near Charlotte to go to this weekend.
1.5. Kure Beach
Kure Beach is a town located on Pleasure Island, North Carolina. It has the oldest fishing pier on the Atlantic Coast, known as the Kure Beach fishing pier.
Apart from this, Kure Beach also has an oceanfront park, an aquarium, and a fort. You can also see various animals like alligators, sharks, turtles, and otters in the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher located near this beach.
1.5.1. Things To Explore
There are many other things that you can explore near this beach. For instance, you can witness the popular jazz bands that play at the concerts held on this beach. You can also enjoy fresh seafood and amazing views of the ocean. There are also diners near the beach serving delicious fresh food.
Kure Beach also provides people with other activities like surfing, kayaking, and SCUBA diving. You can also enjoy events and concerts with live music.
1.6. North Topsail Beach
Topsail Beach is a town located in Pender County, North Carolina, the United States of America. The Topsail Island on which this beach is located consists of three beaches. These are North Topsail, Surf City, and Topsail Beach.
1.6.1. Topsail Island
Located on North Carolina’s outer banks, between the crystal coast and beaches of Cape Fear, the same barrier island has three beaches on one. Crystal Coast is a coastline that extends from Cape Lookout National Seashore.
It also has top surfing towns located nearby. If you visit this island, you can also visit the serenity point, which is the island’s southern tip.
1.7. Kitty Hawk Beach
Located in the heart of the Outer Banks, Kitty Hawk Beach is mainly known for its number of public beaches along with the facility of parking and outdoor showers.
There are more than two hundred parking spaces near this town and approximately eight parking spaces for handicapped people too. The beach also offers some safety tips that visitors must follow for a safe experience. No fire or driving is allowed on the beach.
1.7.1. Outer Banks
Outer Banks are barrier islands with plenty of beaches, state parks, and diving sites. These attractions attract tourists from all over the world. These barrier islands do not have any cities, so you can visit this place to enjoy a peaceful vacation.
2. Best Beaches Near Charlotte NC
Are you still not able to decide which beach to visit this summer? Here are some best beaches near Charlotte, North Carolina, and the United States of America.
There are many things that you can do on these beaches and explore various cultures. These beaches are suitable for both indoor as well as outdoor people.
If you are a person who likes to stay indoors and are searching for a place where you can relax, then you can visit these beaches and stay at a hotel while getting a gorgeous view. If you are an outdoor person, then you can try the various sports these closest beaches to Charlotte NC have.
2.1. Burkes Beach
Located near the Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, Burkes Beach is a public beach. It is one of the best beaches near Charlotte and you can also enjoy the facility of the outdoor showers here.
Some of the activities you can do around this beach include running, hiking, and biking. Dogs and pets are allowed after a particular time at this beach in Hilton Head, and it is also less crowded compared to other beaches.
2.2. Coligny Beach
Coligny Beach is located on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. One of the best features of this beach is that it offers free parking nearby.
One of the places you can visit near this beach is Coligny Beach Park, where you can enjoy outdoor showers. The park is also an access point to the beach and has several lounging options. You can take peaceful walks or go biking on the sand as the beach is not too crowded.
2.3. Folly Beach
Folly Beach is a city in South Carolina. You can find all amenities and many restaurants and bars within walking distance of Folly Beach.
It also offers the best surfing and fishing on the East Coast. You can enjoy plenty of natural beauty at this place and enjoy your vacation the most. The city also has several picnic pavilions in Folly Beach County Park. There are many wildlife habitats near the beach.
2.4. Myrtle Beach
Located in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach is not only known for a large stretch of beaches like Holden Beach but also for several golf courses that celebrities have designed.
Many beaches are part of the Myrtle Beach area. One of the best features of Myrtle Beach and Ocean Isle Beach is that it offers you a wide range of activities that you can enjoy. There are plenty of arcades, stands that sell souvenirs and restaurants near the Ocean Isle.
2.4.1. Things To Do Near Myrtle Beach
There are many exciting and adventurous rides that you can enjoy near Myrtle Beach. The amusement park near Myrtle Beach, known as Family Kingdom, has one of the tallest Ferris wheels in North Carolina.
Another reason to visit this beach located in South Carolina is that there are a lot of locals near this beach so people can get introduced to the culture of NC. You can also enjoy amazing views of sunrise and sunset from this beach.
2.4.2. Grand Strand
The Grand Strand is a beach land that extends from Little River to Winyah Bay. This stretch of land encompasses the towns of Garden City, North Myrtle Beach, and Myrtle Beach. Another beach that is part of Myrtle Beach is Sunset Beach.
2.5. South Beach
Located on Bald Head Island, it is a great beach to visit with friends or family. However, you may see some sharks on this beach on Bald Head Island in the evening.
This beach is also kid-friendly, and you can also take your pets here. Only bicycling and moving around in golf carts are permitted near the beach; no cars can be driven. The ferry is also very affordable. You can also enjoy the various restaurants near this beach.
2.5.1. Bald Head Island
Earlier known as Smith Island, Bald Head Island is a village in Brunswick County. One of the other islands you can visit here is the Brunswick Islands, also known as Oak Island. The Oak Island Nature Center, located near the island, has a lot of activities that you can explore.
3. Other Beaches to Explore
If you are searching for some of the best beaches near Charlotte then here are some other beaches to explore.
These beaches have rock hill-climbing activities, an ocean beach where you can enjoy fantastic views, and also be a part of various events. Some events like rock hill-climbing may require prior registration, but others do not.
3.1. Windjammer Park
Located in Oak Harbor, Washington, the United States of America, it is one of the most popular parks as it has a beach and a lake where you can swim.
There is also a small area where you can go boating, but taking a private boat is not allowed. One of the reasons to visit the beach in this park is because from this beach you can enjoy a beautiful view of Lake Wylie. There are also plenty of spots available for picnics in this park. The team that looks after the park also organizes ski shows for the residents free of cost.
3.1.1. Lake Wylie
If you are a person who is fond of observing scenic beauty, you must visit this lake which is also considered a hidden gem. This lake is also suitable for swimming.
There are also various events organized on these beaches near Charlotte, and you can shop near them. People also organize weddings and other functions near Lake Wylie. You can also experience the Lake Wylie Tournament Trails and the fishing tournament.
3.2. Lake Norman State Park
Lake Norman is the largest artificial lake in North Carolina, and the Lake Norman State Park is located on that lake. A lot of people mainly visit Lake Norman for boating and jet skiing.
Some of the activities you can try near Lake Norman are fishing, paddle boarding, and shopping. Some of the activities you can try if you are looking for fun that is affordable too, then you can visit the farmers’ markets located near the lake. There are also many historical sites near the lake that you can visit if you are a history buff.
3.3. Nags Head
Nags Head on North Carolina’s Outer Banks is mainly known for Jockey’s Ridge State Park. This state park in North Carolina, the United States America, has the tallest active dune system and it is also the most frequently visited park in North Carolina.
Some of the facilities offered by this park are handicapped parking, a wooden walkway, and a stabilizing mat. You can have many experiences here if you visit this park. Some of them include kite flying, watching sunsets, and visiting famous museums.
3.3.1. Things To Do Near Nags Head
You can climb the Bodie Island Lighthouse located near this beach town to get gorgeous views of Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
This place on the outer banks is also a great place to live. They have abundant natural beauty, and the atmosphere is also vibrant. These are some.
These beaches offer many activities like mountain biking, riding wild horses, and exploring the ocean beach. There are also some of the best beaches near Charlotte where you can do activities.
USA Tales
Last Updated on by Pragya Chakrapani
