Top Things to do in North Carolina Coast
Top Hotels in North Carolina Coast
- 1. Clarion Pointe New Bern
- 2. Hampton Inn & Suites Outer Banks / Corolla
- 3. Embassy Suites by Hilton Wilmington Riverfront
- 4. Bridgepointe Hotel and Marina
- 5. Sea Ranch Resort
- 6. Hampton Inn & Suites Carolina Beach Oceanfront
- 7. Best Western Ocean Reef Suites
- 8. Holiday Inn Express Nags Head Oceanfront, an IHG Hotel
- 9. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Rocky Mount, NC
- 10. Sanderling Resort
The 10 Best State Parks in North Carolina Coast, North Carolina Coast
North Carolina's coast and 300 miles of barrier island beaches are filled with lovely state parks, top restaurants and world-class golf courses. Cape Fear's beaches attract surfers. Wilmington's downtown contains fine antebellum homes and exciting shopping and dining. The wind-swept Outer Banks offer historic lighthouses, mysterious Roanoke Island and the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Cape Hatteras National Seashore offers hiking, biking and fishing. Ferry trips link islands with the mainland.
Restaurants in North Carolina Coast
1. Hammocks Beach State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 236 reviews
Located on Bear Island, this is a great swimming beach.
Reviewed By ElHaKa - Raleigh, United States
We kayaked and camped in the boat in only sites (#12). The experience exceeded all expectations - however we had perfect weather (high of 84, low of 69). You are required to book the site ahead of time and the only thing I would request is that if you book the site and your plans change, be sure that you cancel your site so others can use. There were many no shows. The kayak trail Bear Island is about 1.5 hours from the mainland. We came back via the Bear inlet trail which was more like 3 hours. Hammock Beach is lovely, waves mild. There is a kayak access from the boat-in sites which are also convenient to beach sites #8-11. Although the boat-in sites do not have facilities, it is a 100 yd kayak up the lagoon to the beach and then a walk down the beach to fresh water showers (we rinsed off before heading to our site.) The boat-in sites had a nice breeze and surprisingly no bugs (but I think we were lucky with that). The lagoon trail gets low at low tide.
2. Fort Macon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 526 reviews
A Civil War fortress located at the entrance of Beaufort Inlet.
Reviewed By DannyWasserman - Virginia Beach, United States
Check this iconic Fort out at the end of the Island. It served as a hub to thwart off all the enemies and keep America safe. Lots of history and maps and guidelines. Its worth the trip.
3. Jockey's Ridge State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,240 reviews
Two of the highest sand dunes on the East Coast are located here, providing excellent take-off points for hang gliders.
Reviewed By donnajsatterlee - Princess Anne, United States
An absolutely magical place where there are really tall sand dunes There are trail markings for an easy round trip of 1 1/2 miles to the Roanoke Sound so that it is easy to find the route with shifting sands. The windswept sands make amazing patterns. There is a place that is wheelchair compatible, but only as far as a vista. The rest would be hard to negotiate without wide, sand friendly wheels. There are also some asphalt trails through some native to the area live oaks.
4. Pettigrew State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By maas_johnf - Raleigh, United States
Pettigrew State Park is on Lake Phelps, the second largest lake in North Carolina. The campground is small, but has a nice wash house with showers. It's unheated and closes December 1st. But within a short walking distance, the visitor center has heated bathrooms that are open year-round. The only negative was an RV running its very loud generator until late at night. From the campground, there is a short hike to Somerset Place, a restored plantation. Beyond that is a nice hike to the Pettigrew family cemetery. A drive takes you to Cypress Point where we saw hundreds of tundra swans in their annual migration. The park is also relatively close to several National Wildlife refuges.
5. Fort Macon State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,041 reviews
Reviewed By dbaaronson - Asheville, United States
Definitely worth the trip if you are in the area. Wonderful location on the end of the island, a beautiful large visitor center and the fort is easy to learn about and interesting.
6. Carolina Beach State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 433 reviews
Reviewed By 962anthonyp - Charleston, United States
This is one of the few places in the state where the Venus Flytrap grows wild. While there are several carnivorous plants here, the flytrap draws the crowd. Unfortunately, it also draws cretins that steal the plants - to the point while we were there, they could only find one in an easily accessed viewing area. Not to worry, the rangers and the local university are on the case. They have been nursing flytraps and relocate many every year. One can learn about these and other amazing plants via ranger guided tours that are offered by the park. In addition, this particular park offers several trails of varied difficulty with different views and experiences, playgrounds, and picnics areas. This park is amazing and definitely worth a stop. You will want to go by the visitor center and see some of the plants grown by the rangers and the local university, as well as learn a bit more about them and find out about events in the park - of which there are plenty.
7. Merchants Millpond State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 71 reviews
Reviewed By W6947QPjennifern
Merchants Millpond is the hidden gem of the NC State Parks! I was initially hesitant to schedule a trip based on it's description as a "swamp" but I am so glad I did. Firstly, the drive to the park is wonderful. No traffic on the smaller highways, plenty of adorable little towns to stop in. Second, the visitors center is easy to find, you can buy bundles of firewood there (which burned really well!) and the rangers were so nice. The campsites were amazing! We stayed at Family Campsite #1 and had a huge firepit, a nice picnic table, and a raised area for the tent. This meant that we had a guaranteed flat and non-rocky sleeping experience. While you aren't too far from others, the site was set back from the road a little and densely forested so you still get that true "camping" feel. The water spigot was fresh, cool, clean, and super close to our site. This was the NICEST bathhouse I have ever seen at a campsite!!! It was incredibly clean, dry, well-lit, stocked, odorless. The showers were so warm and had nice hooks/shelf to hold your belongings where they wouldn't get wet. Seriously, I was blown away by the bathhouse. The hiking trails were incredible. I highly recommend the Coleman Trail, it was my favorite that we did. The trails are well made and there are bathrooms near the beginnings, places to sit along the way, and gorgeous views. Kayaking on Merchants Millpond was wonderful as well. The plants are breathtaking up close, and once you get away from the edge there is not as much of the green stuff.
8. Dismal Swamp State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 58 reviews
By order of Governor Cooper's Executive Order 117 and to help limit the spread of COVID-19 Dismal Swamp State Park has closed to the public and cancelled all planned programs and events until further notice.This change is effective 3-30-2020 at 4:30 pm. until further notice. Dismal Swamp State Park allows a unique wilderness experience in a landscape that has been witness to American Indian hunting parties, exploration by George Washington and the story of the Underground Railroad. The park features 20 miles of trails, beyond a 2,000-foot boardwalk that puts visitors in the midst of the Great Dismal Swamp. Birding and viewing abundant wildlife are favored activities. Mountain biking on the trails and kayaking the adjacent Dismal Swamp Canal are both encouraged. Visitors may bring their own equipment or rent at the park. Regular interpretive programs about the wetlands ecology and history of the famed swamp complement museum-quality exhibits in the visitor center.
Reviewed By chelslynne - Pensacola, United States
This park has a nice visitor center and trails. We did some of the bike trails to take in the swamp. We came across 5 dear but that was about it for wildlife. Entry was free to the park but you need to sign in and out at the hut by the bridge.
9. Goose Creek State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 108 reviews
Reviewed By maas_johnf - Raleigh, United States
We camped two nights in the "primitive" campground - separate from the very new RV and cabin area. It was one of the best we've camped in due to the size of each site and distance between them. That made it very quiet and smoke-free. Reservations are a must. Water is available as well as some decent composting toilets. Be mindful of the camping area closing time. We were hiking in another part of the park and got locked out of the camping area! We were 5 minutes early for closure, but a ranger had already locked the gate at the RV camp road. He was nearby and unlocked it for us. Near campsite 10, there is a pier and put-in for canoes of kayaks and a canoe trail into the creek. Hikes were over flat terrain. We hiked the long Goose Creek trail, Mallard Creek Loop (with a nice observation at the heavily reeded Mallard Creek), and the Palmetto Boardwalk through a lovely sunny marshland area. You must start the latter behind the visitor center as it is closed at the other end at the Tar Kiln trail. Part of the boardwalk is destroyed. The Flatty Creek boardwalk is also closed for the same reason. All in all, though, it is a well-maintained park with opportunities for viewing Great Blue Herons, eagles, woodpeckers, and deer, as we did.
10. Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 128 reviews
Reviewed By DockyB - Raleigh, United States
The main parking lot is right by the main attraction. The edge of the parking lot is less than a tenth of a mile from the cliffs. These are cliffs by virtue of being in the flatlands of eastern North Carolina. It is a nice excursion if you happen to be in the area.
