10 Best Family Beaches in North Carolina [for 2023]
North Carolina’s beaches are incredibly popular and beloved for their natural beauty, expansive sandy shores, and bright blue waters, making them the perfect destination for a family trip.
These beaches offer a calm and serene environment, allowing you to relax and enjoy the tranquility of the shore. Additionally, there are tons of fun-filled activities that you and your family can enjoy, such as parasailing, jet-skiing, surfing, camping, paddle-boarding, and more.
With something for everyone, from the youngest members of the family to the oldest, you’re sure to have a wonderful time lounging and relaxing on the beautiful beaches of North Carolina. So pack your bags and get ready to experience the friendly beaches with our list of best family beaches in North Carolina!
1. Duck Public Beach, Duck
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Duck Public Beach is a beautiful beach in North Carolina, which is considered one of the top 15 family-friendly beaches in America. The beach offers pristine shorelines that stretch for miles, offering panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. Families visiting this beach will enjoy a range of fun activities such as kayaking, parasailing, jet-skiing, paddle boarding, and pontooning.
The beach is wide and spacious, making it an excellent spot for sunbathing and building sand castles with the little ones makes. For added safety, lifeguards are on duty from early May to late October. If you plan to stay overnight, the beach is close to some of North Carolina’s best family resorts like the Sanderling Resort.
Duck Public Beach But an expert tip for you is to be aware of rip currents that appear from time to time. It is always recommended to swim within sight of lifeguards to ensure added safety. With its wide shorelines and fun activities, everyone is sure to have an unforgettable time.
2. Corolla Beach Public Beach, Corolla
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If you are looking for a peaceful escape from the noise and crowd of the city, then this serene beach with its wide beach and powdery sand is perfect for you and your family. Located in North Carolina, it offers a serene getaway for you to enjoy uninterrupted quality time together.
This beach is ideal for families with children, as there are plenty of fun-lled activities to keep everyone entertained. You can swim in the water, play tag on the shore, build sandcastles or sand sculptures, and even spot wild horses roaming the beach and dolphins swimming in the ocean. It is important to stay safe while enjoying the activities.
Before getting into the water, be sure to check the precautionary flags about swimming conditions. This is especially important if you are not familiar with the area or if there are strong currents or other potential hazards.
3. Fort Fisher State Park Beach, Kure Beach
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Fort Fisher State Park Beach is a stunning and well-maintained beach located in Kure Beach, North Carolina. It boasts pristine turquoise waters and soft powdery sands, making it perfect for a family beach holiday.
The beach stretches over ve miles of shoreline, perfect for sunbathing, picnicking, and playing with your loved ones provides space. It is a popular destination for boating, surfing, surfing, and beachcombing, making it ideal for families with water sports enthusiasts.
The park is equipped with a variety of amenities including shaded picnic areas and grills making it easy to prepare and enjoy your meals. Additionally, there are changing rooms and showers, which are especially convenient when traveling with children.
An exciting feature of Fort Fisher State Park Beach is the loggerhead sea turtles that frequent the area. As you stroll the beach, be sure to keep an eye out for these magnificent creatures. For a more immersive experience with marine life, visit the nearby NC Aquarium in Fort Fisher.
4. Carolina Beach, Carolina Beach
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Carolina Beach is a beautiful destination for families, offering a perfect balance of relaxation and fun. The location is particularly attractive to surfers, with the Tony Silvagni Surf School offering opportunities for both children and adults to learn how to ride the waves.
In addition to surfing, Carolina Beach is a popular attraction for families due to its exciting boardwalk. Is. The area offers an amusement park with carousels, carnival games, and food stands.
The coastline also has a wide shoreline with a shallow seabed, making it an excellent choice for families with young children. Safety is also a top priority at Carolina Beach, with lifeguards on duty and calm waves near the shore.
This makes it an excellent choice for families who want to relax on the sand and enjoy a peaceful stroll along the beach, collecting unique shells along the way. Summer is an excellent time to visit Carolina Beach, as there are many fun activities available for the whole family, including festivals and reworks show that can be enjoyed by the whole family, is an excellent beach for families looking for a combination of excitement and relaxation.
5. Kill Devil Hills’ Public Beach, Kill Devil Hills
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Kill Devil Hills Public Beach is a stunning and picturesque coastal spot in North Carolina that can be appreciated by locals and tourists alike. The name can be deceiving, but this beach is actually a gem that offers something for everyone, making it the perfect destination for a memorable family holiday.
You can spend quality time with the family here. You can have a ton of fun while your kids enjoy the sandy shoreline and spend their time in classic beach activities like building sand castles. Meanwhile, teens can get their dose of excitement by indulging in surfing, boogie boarding, or beach volleyball.
One of the best features of this beach is the attentive lifeguards who are always ready to lend a helping hand. Additionally, easily accessible parking spaces make it convenient for you to unpack and pack your luggage.
Restrooms and showers are also available for use, allowing beachgoers to rinse off the sand and salt after a long day at sea. However, you should keep in mind that when surfing the waves, they Should stay away from Avalon Pier.
This popular fishing spot attracts many boats and fishing lines, making it dangerous for surfers. You are better off avoiding this area and enjoying the rest of the beach safely.
6. Nags Head Beach, Nags Head
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Nags Head Beach is a wonderful beach for families looking for a kid-friendly beach. The beach boasts a wide, shoreline and a sea of glistening mud, making it the perfect spot for a day of relaxation and fun in the sun.
The beach offers a variety of recreational activities that satisfy every member of the family. You can try surfing, surf fishing, kiteboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, or kayaking, which are sure to keep everyone entertained. If you prefer a quieter experience, you can pitch a tent on the beach and read a good book while enjoying the view.
One of the highlights of this beach is the opportunity to enjoy a bonfire. You can get a permit and set up a re at night where you can sit with your family and enjoy a warm re while roasting marshmallows and making s’mores. The glittering stars above add to the evening atmosphere.
It’s important to note that lifeguards are only on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day, so if you visit during the off-season, keep a close eye on your kids It is important to keep
7. Wrightsville Beach, Wrightsville Beach
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Wrightsville Beach is the best beach for those looking for a pleasant and best beach experience in North Carolina. This popular beach boasts its dazzling turquoise waters and miles of pristine shorelines, making it one of the most visited beaches in the state. Families can have a great time with each other by going on a water adventure, whether it’s surfing, kitesurfing, sailing, or stand-up paddleboarding.
The beach offers easily accessible restrooms, multiple lifeguards, and plenty of parking space to ensure that your family has a comfortable and safe trip. Beaches along the ocean, like Wrightsville Beach, are breathtakingly beautiful. Can be done, but are also dangerous due to the strong currents.
Therefore, you are advised to check the water condition before entering the water. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and taking a moment to assess the waters could save a life.
8. Bald Head Island South Beach, Bald Head Island
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South Beach, located on Bald Head Island in North Carolina, is a peaceful and quiet getaway accessible only by boat or ferry. It is the calmest and quietest of the three beach sections on the island, making it the perfect spot for families looking to take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Gentle waves and a shallow shoreline make this one of the top kid-friendly beaches in the state. To enhance your beach day, you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas. The beach also offers breathtaking panoramic views of Bald Head Island.
The Shoal Club, located at the far end of the beach, offers fun family activities like scavenger hunts and games for the kids. The club also has facilities like a boardwalk, a restaurant, and two pools. Since cars are not allowed on the island, it is important to pack light and bring only the essentials for your trip. South Beach is a quiet and kid-friendly beach with beautiful views and exciting family activities.
9. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach, Buxton
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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach is a gorgeous beach in North Carolina for families seeking fun and adventure. This breathtaking view can blow your mind away, and its kid-friendly environment ensures that there is something for everyone. Children can enjoy activities such as building sandcastles, flying kites, collecting seashells, and running along the wide shoreline.
Older members of the family can also enjoy exciting water sports such as surfing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, bodyboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, and skimboarding. In addition to exciting activities near the beach, you can also come here to see unique and wild animals such as sea turtles.
Might be lucky. However, it is essential to watch them from a distance and avoid touching or feeding them. These animals play an important role in the ecosystem, and any interference can harm them and their habitats. Its pristine beauty, unique wildlife, and exciting activities make it an ideal beach getaway.
10. Currituck Beach, Corolla
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Currituck Beach is a family beach that offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and is known for its ne sand and crystal-clear water. With a shoreline that extends for 20 miles, there is ample room to enjoy a variety of water sports such as surfing, kayaking, kiteboarding, and windsurfing.
If you prefer to relax on the shore, you can sunbathe, build sand castles, or enjoy playing beach games with your family. One of the highlights of visiting Currituck Beach is Spanish There is an opportunity to see herds of mustangs, the magnificent wild horses that roam freely along the beach.
However, it is important to keep a safe distance from these animals for their well-being of these animals and for your safety. An important note about this beach is that the waves at Currituck Beach can be rough at times, so checking the water conditions before going for a swim It’s important to do.
Nevertheless, with its natural beauty, ample space, and wide range of activities, Currituck Beach is a wonderful destination for families looking to create lasting memories on their vacation.