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From 25 minutes to 6 hours: 25+ Beaches near Charlotte NC

Whether you’re looking for a one day getaway or planning a week long beach vacay, this guide to the best beaches near Charlotte NC highlights 25+ sunny, sandy destinations that are anywhere between a 25 minute to 6 hour drive from the Queen City.

sunset at the outer banks

Planning a day trip, weekend trip or just looking for other things to do, places to visit, and where to eat across North Carolina? Check out Off the Eaten Path’s North Carolina Travel Guide, which features weekend itineraries, travel and restaurant recommendations across the Tarheel State. 

When I first moved to Charlotte ten years ago for a summer internship, I told all of my Midwestern friends I was moving to the beach.

Oh, poor, ignorant, Chrissie, I wish you would have looked at a map before opening your big, fat mouth.

You see, I had always equated North Carolina with the ocean because we I spent my childhood summers (yes, every summer since I was born!) in the Outer Banks. 

While North Carolina has 322 miles of expansive ocean shoreline (making it seventh in the United States) and 12,000+ miles of estuarine coastline (making it home to the second largest estuarine system in the United States), it doesn’t take someone who knows how to read a map correctly to realize that all of North Carolina is not at the beach.

In fact a lot of it isn’t.

sunrise over the atlantic ocean on bogue banks crystal coast north carolina

Let’s just say it was a rude awakening when this sun loving, ocean swimming, beach babe found herself sweating through summer in landlocked Charlotte. Again, a map would have been helpful.

But one of the things I love about living in Charlotte, you know besides the restaurants, my friends, and the life that we’ve created here over the past ten years, is that Charlotteans are really good at romanticizing our city’s landlocked predicament and spinning it into a positive…you’ll often hear things like, “Oh I love it here in Charlotte because we are close proximity to both the mountains and the beach so we can easily visit both!”

And lucky for us, the North Carolina coast is home to some of the country’s best beaches, and we can soak up the sun, sand and sound of the mighty Atlantic Ocean in less than a four hour drive.

This beaches near Charlotte NC guide is organized by driving distance (driving distances and times listed in this post may vary due to where you’re leaving from, traffic, and your specific destination), so  the next time you find yourself sitting through a sweaty, swampy Charlotte summer (also known as “Hell’s Front Porch) hop in the car and head to the beach! 

PS: If you looking for other fun and delicious destinations in North Carolina check out Off the Eaten Path’s Asheville Travel Guide, the best things to do in Bryson City, NC, the best restaurants in Hendersonville, a weekend itinerary and guide to North Carolina wineries, and our Charlotte Restaurants Guide.

bright blue sky and four palm trees blowing in the breeze at hunting island state park

How many miles is Charlotte, NC from the beach?

It depends on what type of beach you are looking for…a lake beach or an ocean beach? Charlotte has pretty easy access to both, but to reach the ocean you’re going to have to drive a bit farther.

Charlotte is just 20 miles away from the closest lake beach on Lake Norman, and 176 miles away from the closest coastal beach.

So what is the closest beach to Charlotte NC?

If you’re looking for a lake beach: Ramsey Creek Beach is just North of Charlotte on the southern shore of Lake Norman.

If you’re looking see the roaring Atlantic, Myrtle Beach is the closest coastal beach in driving distance and North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands are the closest in driving time.

Is this Hawaii or South Carolina?

Ramsey Creek Beach: 20 miles, 28 minutes

Did you know that we have a beach in Mecklenburg County?!

Ramsey Creek Park is home to Mecklenburg County’s first public beach which opened in summer 2016. The half acre beach and swimming area is part of the larger 43 acre waterfront park in Cornelius, along the shores of North Carolina’s largest man made lake, Lake Norman.

Ramsey Creek Beach is open Memorial Day to Labor Day, and throughout the summer an entrance fee is collected (fees vary depending on the day of the week and whether or not you are a Mecklenburg County resident). There’s also a free CATS shuttle from the Cornelius Park and Ride on holiday weekends.

You can also get a view of Lake Norman (unfortunately without a side of swimming) at the patio at Hello, Sailor, included in our post all about the best Charlotte patios for outdoor dining and drinking.

Windjammer Park, Tega Cay, SC: 20 miles, 31 minutes

The second closest of the beaches near Charlotte NC is also on a lake, but south of the state border in South Carolina.

Located on a point on Lake Wylie, the small, 2 acre park provides 360 degree views of the water with a swimming area on one side and boater access on the other. 

Parking is permit only; parking is free to Tega Cay residents and $100 for non-residents.

Ebenezer Park, Rock Hill, SC: 26 miles, 35 minutes

Ebenezer Park, just north of the Rock Hill, is home to the third swimming beach in the greater Charlotte, NC area. 

Like both Ramsey Creek and Windjammer, Ebenezer Park is a lakefront beach (you’ll have to drive a few hours to get to the ocean but all of the ocean suggestions are below!) along the shores of Lake Wylie, 

Ebenezer Park just underwent a major renovation that includes a 10,000 square foot pier, covered shelters and a brand new beach area. Beyond swimming, Ebenezer Park is a great place for boating, fishing and camping.

Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend the vehicle fee to enter the park is $5 for York County Residents and $8 for out of county visitors.

Lake Norman State Park: 38 miles, 42 minutes

Lake Norman State Park is home to the second public swimming beach on Lake Norman on the North side of of the lake in Troutman. 

The beach season at Lake Norman State Park is year round, but the 125 foot sandy beach is staffed with lifeguards from 10 am to 530pm Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.  Swimming fees (cash only) are charged when the lifeguards are on duty, $6 for adults (13 and over) and $4 for kids (ages 3-12). There is no cost to visit the 1,934 acre park and no cost to swim when the lifeguards are not on duty.

Lake Norman State Park offers a wide variety of other outdoor activities including hiking, mountain biking (there are over 30 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails and over 7 miles of hiking only trails), boating, fishing, camping, and picnicking areas with public restrooms, tables and grills.

Lake James State Park: 90 miles, 1 hour 32 minutes

Lake James is just 90 minutes away, making it one of the closest beaches near Charlotte NC. Lake James State Park offers a variety of ways to enjoy the mountain lake including hiking trails, boating, kayaking, a public beach, and three campgrounds.

kayaking with a dog on lake james at sunrise

Lake James is a 6,812 acre lake located at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains between Marion and Morganton. The state park is located along its shores and is home to 25 miles of hiking, mountain biking , and nature trails, three campgrounds (offering walk in, drive in and boat in campgrounds) as well as plenty of space for boating, fishing and swimming. In fact, Lake James campgrounds are our favorites in North Carolina and all three are feature in Off the Eaten Path’s best tent camping in NC guide!

The sandy beach swimming area is open May 1 through September 30, 10 am to 6pm daily. Swimming fees are $6 for adults (13 and over) and $4 for kids (ages 3-12).

Myrtle Beach: 176 miles, 3 hours 31 minutes

Did you know that the name “Myrtle Beach” comes from the wax myrtle, an evergreen shrub, and was chosen in a name-the-town contest in 1900? 

The beach is a popular tourist destination located in the middle of a 60 mile stretch of beach known as The Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. An estimated 14 million visitors flock to Myrtle Beach annually to enjoy the sun, sand, and surf, as well as the area’s numerous hotels, golf resorts and wide range of entertainment and activities. 

Under 200 miles and about three and a half hours from Charlotte, Myrtle Beach is the closest Atlantic Ocean beach near Charlotte, NC based on distance or mileage but not necessarily time (a few beaches in North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands may be a faster trip depending on traffic flow and congestion).

Pawley’s Island, SC 189 miles, 3 hours 52 minutes

Located 70 miles north of Charleston and 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach on the southern end of The Grand Strand, Pawley’s Island is known as one of the oldest summer resort areas on the East Coast.

Pawley’s coast is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and a salt marsh, separating it from the mainland. You can easily access the 4 mile long barrier island by one of two causeways.

Pawley’s Island is a laid back, family beach where you can enjoy activities beyond swimming like crabbing, fishing shelling, biking, water sports, canoeing and kayaking. Kayaking is also a great way to explore the salt marsh!

North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands

Sunset Beach: 191 miles, 3 hours 23 minutes

Ocean Isle: 193 miles, 3 hours 24 minutes

Holden Beach 202 miles, 3 hours 25 minutes

Oak Island: 207 miles, 3 hours 29 minutes

Caswell Beach 212 miles, 3 hours 37 minutes

Bald Head Island: 217 miles, 4 hours 24 minutes

spending the day at ocean isle beach

North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands are a stretch of five barrier islands between Wilmington, NC and Myrtle Beach, SC. These beaches are not as widely developed as those to the North or South, leaving large stretches of pristine beach with rolling sand dunes and waving shore grasses.

The area is also home to Calabash style seafood, a distinct style that involves lightly battered, deep fried and freshly caught seafood harvested from the Atlantic Ocean and inlets along the Carolina coast. Calabash seafood’s namesake is Calabash, North Carolina, a small town in Brunswick County that popularized the freshly caught, corn meal crusted, fried seafood.

The southern-most Brunswick Islands beach is Sunset Beach, which is considered to be one of the closet beaches to Charlotte, NC in terms of driving time. Directly west of Sunset Beach is Bird Island (they share the same barrier island and you can walk to Bird Island from Sunset Beach), a protected beach and one of 10 sites that make up the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve.

basket of fried seafood with someone dipping a fried shrimp into tarter sauce

Shark Shack in Atlantic Beach is a casual beach spot serving fresh seafood that can be ordered fried, blackened or grilled.

To the east of Sunset Beach is Ocean Isle Beach, followed by Holden Beach, Oak Island and then Caswell Beach. While each beach community in the Brunswick Islands offers something a little different and special to beachgoers, depending on what kind of trop or vacation you are looking for, they all promise white sand beaches, beautiful blue ocean surf and a lot of fun in the sun!

The last island that makes up North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands is Bald Head Island, which has a longer driving time that the others because it is reachable only by ferry or private boat. There are no cars allowed on Bald Head Island, which will give you the unique experience of exploring its sweeping natural landscape by bike, boat or golf cart. 

Wrightsville Beach: 207 miles, 3 hours 48 minutes

Wrightsville Beach is the closest surfside town (just 8.5 miles away!) to Wilmington a port city in southeastern North Carolina (a lot of people think that Wilmington is on the Atlantic Ocean but it’s actually not and was developed a little inland along the Cape Fear River.)

Wrightsville Beach has been named one of the top surfing towns in the world by National Geographic, and some people say it is actually the birthplace of surfing in North Carolina.

Barrier islands are a theme when it comes to the Atlantic Coast beaches and especially in North Carolina, and so no surprise, Wrightsville Beach is located on a barrier island which is only four miles long. Parking is available throughout the town in Wrightsville Beach, both at designated parking lots and along side streets where meters mark the spot where visitors can pull in and hit the sand at the public beaches. Parking rates are generally $15 per day from the beginning of March until the end of October (parking is free in the off-season months).

Fun fact: If you were a late 90s, early 2000s teenage drama fan, you’ll recognize Wrightsville Beach from Dawson’s Creek, as the show used the beach town for a few filming locations, including the Oceanic Pier in the opening credits. 

boardwalk along the cape fear river in downtown wilmington

Carolina Beach: 211 miles, 3 hours 52 minutes

Carolina Beach is another Wilmington area beach, located on Pleasure Island just south east of the city.

Carolina Beach is known for it’s distinctive coastal environments…beyond beautiful beach views, Carolina Beach is home to Carolina Beach State Park which  miles of trails through uninhibited maritime forest and salt marshes. Carolina Beach visitors can also visit Freeman Park, located on the undeveloped northern stretch of shoreline, for swimming, surfing, fishing and camping. Four wheel drive vehicles and permits are needed for both driving on the beach and camping.

Carolina Beach also boasts a vintage boardwalk that serves up fun with a side of nostalgia with its amusement park rides, games and concession stands. 

orange sunset over the ocean while the tied comes in with a full moon in the sky

Kure Beach, NC: 214 miles, 3 hours 53 minutes

Just south of Carolina Beach on Pleasure Island is Kure Beach, just .8 square miles in area bordered by Carolina Beach to the North, Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and Historic Site to the South, the Atlantic Ocean to the East and the Cape Fear River to the West. Beyond the beach, the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is a popular area destination featuring exhibits focused on North Carolina’s marine life.

For those who crave isolated, undeveloped shorelines, Zeke’s Island Reserve, one of the most important shorebird habitats along the North Carolina coastline, is a must visit with pristine shorelines, wild paddling trails, and plenty of shelling, fishing, and birdwatching.

Charleston, SC Area Beaches

Sullivan’s Island, SC: 215 miles, 3 hours 15 minutes

Folly Beach, SC: 219 miles, 3 hours 23 minutes

Isle of Palms, SC: 22 miles, 3 hours 32 minutes

Kiawah Island, SC: 232 miles, 3 hours 44 minutes

milepost marker 22 1:2 at sullivans island beach near charleston

Similar to Wilmington, Charleston, South Carolina is a port city located on the Ashley River and not actually on the ocean, but there are  four small beach communities just a short drive away.

Each of Charleston’s beaches, Sullivan’s Island, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms and Kiawah Island, offer a mix of wide beaches, watersports, local restaurants and shops, golfing, and have their own unique vibes and personalities, so there’s something really for everyone on the South Carolina coast.

Topsail Island

40 miles Northwest of Wilmington is a 26 mile long barrier island that was a popular pirate hideaway in the 1700s. Topsail Island got its name from its pirate history; pirates would hide their boats in the channel between the island and the mainland, and only the top of the boats’ sails were visible to ships approaching from the ocean. There’s a rumor that Blackbeard’s treasure is buried on the island.

Beyond being a pirate coastal haunt, Topsail Island is home to three small beach towns, North Topsail Beach, Surf City, and Topsail Beach, making it the perfect place for your next beach vacation.

Topsail’s beaches are enjoyed by swimmers, beachcombers, anglers, boaters and sea turtles alike: The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is located in Surf City, where visitors take a tour of the facility and get a behind the scenes look at what it takes to save and protect North Carolina’s sea turtles.

Hilton Head Island, SC: 247 miles, 3 hours 47 minutes

Hilton Head is a resort town and boot-shaped barrier island located in South Carolina’s Lowcountry 20 miles northeast of Savannah, Georgia (Hilton Head’s shoe shape has the toe pointing south towards the Savannah River).

The 42 square mile island is home to 12 miles of sandy beaches and 24 golf courses, so whether your looking to hit the links or relax on the sand, Hilton Head has something for you.

Fun fact: John Cougar Mellancamp has a house on neighboring Daufuskie Island, which is only accessible by ferry or boat.

Hunting Island State Park, SC: 246 miles, 3 hours 57 minutes

black and white dog sitting on a white sandy beach under a blue sky and two palm trees

Hunting Island, South Carolina’s most popular state park, is home to five miles of pristine, palm-lined beaches, thousands of acres of lush vegetation, marsh and martime forest, a saltwater lagoon, an ocean inlet and a wide variety of native marine and land wildlife. It gives me major Caribbean Island vibes.

The 5,000 acre park is located 15 miles from downtown Beaufort, is definitely worth a day trip if you’re in the area (or even a day trip from Charlotte) but I definitely recommend visiting for the weekend and staying at one of the park’s 100 tent or RV campsites (two night reservation required).

Tybee Island, GA: 270 miles, 4 hours 13 minutes

Tybee Island is the only Georgia beach to make this list, just over a four hour drive from Charlotte and a mere 20 minutes from Savannah (it is the easternmost point in Georgia). For a brief period of time between the 1950s and 1970s, Tybee Island was named Savannah Beach to drive publicity toward the island.

Tybee’s three miles of sandy beaches are perfect for swimming, sand castle building and shelling. One of the best ways to explore the island is by bike! 

The Crystal Coast, NC

Emerald Isle: 271 miles, 4 hours 51 minutes

Indian Beach: 276 miles, 4 hours 58 minutes

Pine Knoll Shores: 280 miles, 5 hours 7 minutes

Atlantic Beach: 284 miles 5 hours 8 minutes

black and white diamond pattern cape lookout lighthouse against a blue sky

The Crystal Coast is an 85 mile stretch of beaches in Eastern North Carolina (it is also known as the Southern Outer Banks, because, you guessed it, it is directly south of the Outer Banks. More on the Outer Banks below). The name crystal coast was chosen to describe the area’s extremely clear waters and miles white beaches. The Crystal Coast includes Emerald Isle, Newport, Salter Path, Indian Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Morehead City, Beaufort, Atlantic Beach, Harkers Island and the Cape Lookout National Seashore.

Beyond hitting the beach, there are a plethora of activities for both nature lovers and history buffs and places to eat for foodies (check out Off the Eaten Path’s Crystal Coast travel guide featuring the best things to do in Beaufort NC and 13 of the best restaurants in Beaufort NC), including historic sites like Fort Macon State Park, Croatan National Forest, Shackleford Banks (make sure to try to spot the wild horses!), Cape Lookout National Seashore (you can climb the “Diamond Lady” lighthouse, that was painted with a distinctive black and white diamond pattern in order to distinguish direction North and South from East and West) and more!

Outer Banks, NC: Nags Head: 363 miles, 5 hours 28 minutes

Spanning the northern coast of North Carolina, the 200-mile string of barrier islands are home to beautiful beaches, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, aquatic plant and animal life, wild horses, The Roanoke Colony (also known as The Lost Colony, one of America’s first settlements and most intriguing, unsolved mysteries, aviation (the Wright Brothers took their first flight in Kill Devil Hills on December 17, 1903), the tallest sand dunes on the East Coast (Jockey’s Ridge State Park), four lighthouses (Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Bodie Island Lighthouse, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and Ocracoke Lighthouse) and pirates (including Blackbeard, Ocracoke Inlet was the famed pirate’s favorite anchorage).

walking path to ocracoke lighthouse

Small beach towns spot the coast offering a plethora of places to stay (both beach houses to rent and hotels, inns and resorts), local restaurants, and tons of things to do! For a complete list, make sure to check out Off the Eaten Path’s Outer Banks Travel Guide! There are 10 towns stretching from North to South in the OBX including: Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Manteo, Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Hatteras and Ocracoke (if you were to drive from one end to the other, including ferry time, it would take about 3 hours).

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Charles Talton

Friday 22nd of September 2023

That's excellent coverage of the North Carolina South Carolina beaches thank you. I've actually been to probably 40% of the beaches in North Carolina at one time of my life or other but I love the outer Banks the most. Having retired now I'm seeking laughingly a low-cost could be high maintenance home to rent to own near the coast. A coverage map of the zip codes along the coast of North Carolina and South Carolina within 30 miles of the coast would be nice for people that are trying to search for properties for rent and possibly to own that would be nice to include in the mileage and the area so on so forth. Enclosing I'd say that my most favorite beach ever was Carolina Beach. Our family went to Carolina beach this summer that the movie Jaws came out and we saw it just 2 weeks before we went to Carolina Beach it was fun, and I never thought about a shark while in the water! CHarlie

Larry Roebuck

Wednesday 5th of July 2023

Atlantic Beach, Nags Head, Topsail Beach, Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach, Brunswick Beaches are actual beaches in NC. The dumb writer has Myrtle Beach SC as closest Beach to NC. Ha ha ha ha ha ha........

Chrissie

Tuesday 11th of July 2023

The title of the article is closest beaches to Charlotte, not North Carolina beaches. Thanks for reading!

Cindy

Tuesday 5th of April 2022

Thanks so much, this information is exactly what I was looking for.

Krystal

Monday 27th of September 2021

I'm not sure how I missed this post back in the spring, but I'm bookmarking it for my next Charlotte summer!

Antoinette Davis

Monday 26th of April 2021

The hotel prices

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