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This beach has great potential but there were many areas under construction and limited quick food options for families. Sign says that they are constructing bathrooms but for the time being they had about 5 portable bathrooms (the ones with sinks). We were there during spring break and the beach was busy but not overwhelming. There are a bunch of shops, a few bars and a sit-down restaurant right on the boardwalk. I agree with others regarding parking. The private lots are insanely expensive so we opted for the $5 an hour spots.
Between the three beaches along with coast of Wilmington, I like Carolina beach the best because it's more kid friendly. When you need a break from the crashing waves at the beach, they have lots of attractions on the boardwalk, along with gift shops, restaurants, and snack stalls. The boardwalk really comes alive in the afternoon hours when the mini carnival opens and the crowds are around. I also think they do weekend fireworks. One downside is the beach is a little sloped.
Beautiful beach! Clean and not a long walk. Great boardwalk and amusement park. Would definitely return.
The Carolina Beach Boardwalk in a calm and peaceful place to take in the beach in the off season anyway. I'm not sure what it would be like when it is more crowded. I liked how some of the boardwalk went right up to the beach and was accessible for those not to go down to the sand. The shelters with table to eat at were nice as well. The amusement rides were not open but the restaurants and shops still in business all appeared open. Many of the spaces were empty and appeared out of business. I hope they work on keeping the area clean as I was disappointed with all the trash I saw in the afternoon so the trash cans must not be emptied regularly. Maybe they keep it up better in season.
My family visited Carolina Beach for the first time in July 2023. At first we thought - "oh my this is crowded." But soon we learned our way around and our pockets of activities and all of a sudden after a day, it seemed peaceful and easy to get around - I do think may people are coming in and leaving on Saturdays. So we were probably in that funk. It's a great place for a family vacation. Thursday night at the boardwalk fireworks are set off. We were able to see them from the beach where we were staying - about 3/4 mile away. The beach is not crowded. Piers to fish from. We could walk to the boardwalk - great fun!, ice cream shops, donuts, restaurants, the beach (of course), stores... it was an amazing week at the beach.
Very pact beach, live bands play, plenty of restaurants near, hotels located right on the beach. Kid friendly and people seem to respect each others space. Very kid friendly. Ice cream right on the beach.
As a homie with dogs!! This is the time to head to the beach. Not all beaches allow dogs. Dogs are only allowed on the beach before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. During Oct. 1 through March 31 dogs are allowed on the beach during all hours of the day. We went on a Friday so it wasn't too busy. Day was beautiful and the water was great.
Picture perfect and cute little shops and cool restaurants/bars throughout the boardwalk. Very relaxing and great scenery. It's a nice spot to visit for out of towners.
I highly recommend this beach! Everything about it was enjoyable. The sand was clean, there was no trash or seaweed, the water was clean, the people were friendly, and it was not overcrowded. I haven't swam in the Atlantic ocean in many years, and was pleasantly surprised by the warm temperature of the water. The waves were a lot of fun for my daughter and I to play in and attempt body surfing. There are areas of the beach that have lifeguards; that can be reassuring for families with young children. If you're in North Carolina, check out Kure Beach. You'll be glad you did!
My sister and I come to North Carolina as often as we can. Our friends have a house right on the beach so it takes us 5 minutes to get to the ocean. So Beautiful. White sandy beach, you can surf, Kayak Or just playing the water. We have a great time here relaxing and Sunny oh yeah drinking too.
Nice beach that was not overcrowded where you can take your family to the beach and have a great time. Small boardwalk worth visiting.
So much fun! I'm from North Carolina but Fayetteville. I needed a vacation. This place soothes the soul. Thank you Mother Nature for making Carolina full of beauty. Beach mountains..... the beach is everything. I didn't appreciate it as a kid... but I do now
The landscape at Carolina Beach has changed drastically just over the past year. Pay for parking has exploded everywhere and the prices are ridiculous. Prepare to pay a minimum of $5.15 to park just to get an ice cream. One family I spoke with paid $60 just to park for the day. The prices everywhere have increased exponentially. Parking enforcement is constantly patrolling, ticketing, and towing. The boardwalk amusement area is ridiculous. Expect roughly $10 per person per ride. The heart of CB has died. What used to be affordable and family friendly is now just a corporate money making machine. They are charging Disney prices without the quality of a Disney experience. Careful CB, you're destined to become a Dirty Myrtle knockoff.
Sandy, clean and a great spot to enjoy the beach. We parked at the Hamlet public parking lot which is an insane $5 per hour but the lot also has showers for washing off the sand and a decent restroom. So better than most beaches I've experienced. There is a planked pathway across the dune with trash cans on both sides. Perhaps that's why there was very little litter today. Hamlet is far enough away from the commercial boardwalk to be quite peaceful and laid-back. The beach is flat and smooth though the sand is loose making for a good workout getting to the water. Very few rocks or shells. [Review 1357 of 2025 - 4476 in North Carolina - 24909 overall] read more
This is a pretty awesome beach on the NC Coastline. The stretch where we were staying had private access only so it wasn't crowded as the public access area! The beach is clean and everyone I encountered was friendly. Mom enjoyed so that's all that matters! read more
8 months ago
This beach has great potential but there were many areas under construction and limited quick food options for families. Sign says that they are constructing bathrooms but for the time being they had about 5 portable bathrooms (the ones with sinks). We were there during spring break and the beach was busy but not overwhelming. There are a bunch of shops, a few bars and a sit-down restaurant right on the boardwalk. I agree with others regarding parking. The private lots are insanely expensive so we opted for the $5 an hour spots. read more
Between the three beaches along with coast of Wilmington, I like Carolina beach the best because it's more kid friendly. When you need a break from the crashing waves at the beach, they have lots of attractions on the boardwalk, along with gift shops, restaurants, and snack stalls. The boardwalk really comes alive in the afternoon hours when the mini carnival opens and the crowds are around. I also think they do weekend fireworks. One downside is the beach is a little sloped. read more
1 year ago
Beautiful beach! Clean and not a long walk. Great boardwalk and amusement park. Would definitely return. read more
3 years ago
The Carolina Beach Boardwalk in a calm and peaceful place to take in the beach in the off season anyway. I'm not sure what it would be like when it is more crowded. I liked how some of the boardwalk went right up to the beach and was accessible for those not to go down to the sand. The shelters with table to eat at were nice as well. The amusement rides were not open but the restaurants and shops still in business all appeared open. Many of the spaces were empty and appeared out of business. I hope they work on keeping the area clean as I was disappointed with all the trash I saw in the afternoon so the trash cans must not be emptied regularly. Maybe they keep it up better in season. read more
My family visited Carolina Beach for the first time in July 2023. At first we thought - "oh my this is crowded." But soon we learned our way around and our pockets of activities and all of a sudden after a day, it seemed peaceful and easy to get around - I do think may people are coming in and leaving on Saturdays. So we were probably in that funk. It's a great place for a family vacation. Thursday night at the boardwalk fireworks are set off. We were able to see them from the beach where we were staying - about 3/4 mile away. The beach is not crowded. Piers to fish from. We could walk to the boardwalk - great fun!, ice cream shops, donuts, restaurants, the beach (of course), stores... it was an amazing week at the beach. read more
As a homie with dogs!! This is the time to head to the beach. Not all beaches allow dogs. Dogs are only allowed on the beach before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. During Oct. 1 through March 31 dogs are allowed on the beach during all hours of the day. We went on a Friday so it wasn't too busy. Day was beautiful and the water was great. read more
4 years ago
Picture perfect and cute little shops and cool restaurants/bars throughout the boardwalk. Very relaxing and great scenery. It's a nice spot to visit for out of towners. read more
4 years ago
I highly recommend this beach! Everything about it was enjoyable. The sand was clean, there was no trash or seaweed, the water was clean, the people were friendly, and it was not overcrowded. I haven't swam in the Atlantic ocean in many years, and was pleasantly surprised by the warm temperature of the water. The waves were a lot of fun for my daughter and I to play in and attempt body surfing. There are areas of the beach that have lifeguards; that can be reassuring for families with young children. If you're in North Carolina, check out Kure Beach. You'll be glad you did! read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
My sister and I come to North Carolina as often as we can. Our friends have a house right on the beach so it takes us 5 minutes to get to the ocean. So Beautiful. White sandy beach, you can surf, Kayak Or just playing the water. We have a great time here relaxing and Sunny oh yeah drinking too. read more
3 years ago
Nice beach that was not overcrowded where you can take your family to the beach and have a great time. Small boardwalk worth visiting. read more
6 years ago
So much fun! I'm from North Carolina but Fayetteville. I needed a vacation. This place soothes the soul. Thank you Mother Nature for making Carolina full of beauty. Beach mountains..... the beach is everything. I didn't appreciate it as a kid... but I do now read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
The landscape at Carolina Beach has changed drastically just over the past year. Pay for parking has exploded everywhere and the prices are ridiculous. Prepare to pay a minimum of $5.15 to park just to get an ice cream. One family I spoke with paid $60 just to park for the day. The prices everywhere have increased exponentially. Parking enforcement is constantly patrolling, ticketing, and towing. The boardwalk amusement area is ridiculous. Expect roughly $10 per person per ride. The heart of CB has died. What used to be affordable and family friendly is now just a corporate money making machine. They are charging Disney prices without the quality of a Disney experience. Careful CB, you're destined to become a Dirty Myrtle knockoff. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Beautiful beach. If you do not want to bring your own, you can rent an umbrella or a chair or both. It's very relaxing because it's not usually very crowded even in the summer months. read more
3 years ago
The parking enforcement is seriously corrupt in CB. To the point I don't even want to go back. Even if you pay for parking they are known to make up a host of other violations. technically you can appeal but they make it so you can't upload photo evidence because it always says the file is too large. It's just a way to bilk visitors of their hard earned cash. I am used to some cities where this is problem such as Philadelphia but CB just isn't a nice enough beach to justify the risk that you get a shakedown such as this. read more
10 years ago
Love it! I don't like to go to overly crowded and touristy places like Myrtle Beach, The Outer Banks, Destin, etc. Carolina Beach is still touristy and a great vacation spot, but not anywhere near as crazy as the more popular beaches! We rented a house through Airbnb that was literally 2 blocks from the beach. We really enjoyed our stay, as we could walk to the beach in about 5-7 minutes. The beach is clean and has a great atmosphere. There are several companies to call & rent umbrellas and beach chairs among other things. We used Pleasure Island Rentals and they were awesome. The boardwalk provides lots of food choices and fun things to do to get out of the sun (Britts Donuts is a MUST). The north part of the beach, by the pier, is calmer and flatter than the southern part. My husband and I set up our chairs/blankets there to watch the meteor shower. It was nice because we could escape the glow of the boardwalk lights yet we could still see the Thursday night fireworks. We are already talking about our next trip here. There's so much to do in the nearby area too! read more
3 years ago
8 years ago
I love Carolina beach! Very clean and quaint! Monday night everything was packed! We went "bar hoping" and enjoyed everywhere we went! Tuesday, everything closed early???! There are also TONS of homeless people on the beach and on the boardwalk area. Kind of scary! I wish they would do something to help them out in a shelter or somewhere. read more
6 years ago
Great family beach! The waves are perfect for body surfing and learning to surf. The sand is soft. You could have a umbrella or canopy on the beach. Just make sure the umbrella is secure in the sand because we did see a umbrella flyway and almost hit some small kids. read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
3 years ago
It's a nice beach. It's mostly clean with lifeguards and nice sand. Having recently moved from Texas, Carolina Beach is a major improvement over any Texas beach. We went on Saturday before Memorial Day so of course it was crowded, as we expected it to be. Parking was hard. Like, really hard. I saw a lot of cars parked on grass in front of homes across from the main street from the beach, but no signage as to what was legal or not. I managed to find metered parking on the street, but it was only 2 hours. So I was driving around every 2 hours. I would gladly pay $8 for all day parking if there was more available. The boardwalk, well, there's not much to complain about. It was just kind of meh for me. I think it's all about expectations. I had been expecting in my mind something more like the Kemah boardwalk in Houston. Which is not, like, Atlantic City or Va Beach by any means. But it was so separated from the water. I was not expecting the boardwalk to be completely separate from the shops. We had planned to rent a surrey, but as there wasn't really anywhere to ride it, that plan didn't go through. I didn't feel like it was a boardwalk, it felt more like a little shopping center next to a short boardwalk next to a beach. It also had one public restroom with 3 stalls in the women's restroom. So there was a constant line. So, I'm not really complaining. But that's kind of it. read more
10 years ago
This is my favorite getaway spot. The beach is absolutely beautiful, clean and amazing food on Boardwalk. A lot of upgrades have been done and parking is a $8.00 for day or you can pay hourly. You have to visit Frank's pizza and Britts donuts while you are there. At night the amusement park comes to life right on Boardwalk. read more
3 years ago
8 years ago
Very nice family friendly area. There was a public bathroom available so you could change before heading over to the beach. Parking is close. Beach area is very nice, lots of room to take a stroll of just relax in the sun. Nice boardwalk behind the beach with shops and food places along with places to sit and just watch the water if you don't want to get into the sand. read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
This is a Long Beach with a nice boardwalk. There are swings for you to sit and rock on while taking in the beautiful surroundings. They have several cutouts for picture opportunities, set up for kids. Some shops and restaurants to pick up a quick bite. They have a Ferris wheel and several small child rides. They also have a stage for musical acts and Adirondack chairs set up for watching. Several people brought their own picnic with them. read more
Love going to this beach! There are less tourists here than at Wrightsville Beach. It is further away then others but worth it. Carolina Beach is usually less crowded and parking is easier and cheeper. If you want to get away from the main areas and buys places, I recommend Carolina Beach... read more
7 years ago
Absolutely beautiful and low stress. Parking was a breeze. The beach itself is clean and not overcrowded. The sand is fine-grained so it doesn't hurt your feet. We loved our beach day! read more
5 years ago
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More info about Carolina Beach
1800 Carolina Beach Ave N
Carolina Beach, NC 28428
Directions
(877) 406-2356
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.visitcarolinabeachnc.com/
Hours
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Ask the Community - Carolina Beach
Where do the local teenagers hang out? coming out in March with 2 teenagers and I noticed it's not quite beach weather that time of year. Where and what else is there to do to keep them entertained?
The Boardwalk has an arcade.
Any Chick Fil-A restaurants in the area?
I feel like the closest may be Wilmington?
What's the best most affordable grocery store?
We went to Food Lion on Hwy. 421when we were on vacation recently.
