I love sandy beaches and this one's my favorite…read more Sunset Beach is quiet, serene and home to my beloved 'Kindred Spirits mailbox', Wind Phone(Google it, you won't be disappointed) & Bird Island Preserve. One of the cleanest beaches I've been to, it's great for beach combing. The kid in you would rejoice if you love shells :) Important: There are no lifeguards on duty so please don't stay late after sunset. Although it can get extremely chilly and windy during cold seasons, it is a must-visit for people of all ages, especially families with kids. Free parking is limited and sometimes impossible to find during peak seasons so recommend going there early.

This was the third year (2026) in a row we vacationed at Sunset Beach. The beach parking rules have…read morechanged three times in the three years we have been there. And NOT for the better. Golf carts are regularly used to access the beach (for people and beach equipment) and the parking rules have become increasingly restrictive. Payment by kiosk or a parking permit is mandatory for beach access parking, adding to the expense of staying here. Additionally, police are harassing golf cart users for not following state car rules for going two or three blocks to the beach. Ridiculous. Seriously considering going elsewhere next summer.

A beautiful picturesque seaside town of Ocean Isle offers a quiet oasis to the residents and…read morevacationers alike. The view is breathtaking and the blue water goes beyond your eyes can see. White sandy beach. Families relaxing and enjoying the water. There are private homes, seasonal rentals, and various tourist attractions. It's not your typical party goer scene or crowded as Myrtle Beach. It's geared more for families and for anyone looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. There are various however, limited of shops on the island with a bunch more across the bridge. Food establishments ranges from steak, seafoods, burgers, and pizzerias to ice cream and baked goods. Don't expect any fine dining here. A place with a popular joint called the Crab Shack is indicative and sets the tone of the lifestyle here. I mean half of the places are utensils optional. Let's be honest....did you really come here to put on a pair of heels and dress shoes? There aren't many things to do or places to see on this island but, the charm, serenity and exclusiveness is what makes this place a Gem.

too many restrictions ie sunshades metal shovels house are…read moretoo close together only one convenience store that doesnt have anything good and they charge double one way in and out takes forever to travel bridge drivers suck every where I good gift shop. splash not enough golf kart rentals too much litter I've been here twice in 6-7 years and it's much much worse

I have been going to this beach for about 5 years now. It is one of the best beaches to go to and…read morerelax at with not too many people and friendly locals. The water is always pretty blue and calm which I like because I do not like rough waves. The sand is soft and there are always pretty shells to find. They have a lot of public parking which is the most out of any other beaches like Wrightsville and Carolina beach. The parking is also free!! All year round which is amazing. My favorite part about this beach is you can being dogs all year round. I have never had a problem with finding a spot to park even during the busy summer months. If you're looking for a peaceful beach that allows dogs, has friendly locals, and good food nearby than oak island is your place!

No free parking anywhere…read more Instantly got a ticket. Tried to pay on app which failed. Oak Island escalated the ticket to $50. Still trying to resolve. Better choose a more visitor friendly community.

Wide, flat beaches with numerous public access spots...several with life guard stands…read more Great shelling with the occasional sharks tooth. Look for the Aloha signs for fun rides on the banana boat or parasail. Several beachfront restaurants serving lunch, dinner and cocktails. Leave your sunshades at home, because only umbrellas are allowed during the peak season.

First time back to Myrtle beach in 20 year or so. We had a great time! Beautiful beach and met…read moresome lovely people.

Really nice beach. There's a parking lot at this location and many other areas, but they can get…read morecrowded. Depending on where you park it's $5 or $6 an hour or $25 or $30 per day max. If you're unsure about how long you'll stay you can always just pay for an hour and add time on, but just be aware the app also charges a .50 convenience fee every time. There were lots of shells when the tide was going out and we even found a shark tooth during our visit. The water was pretty clear and we also saw lots of small fish.

I would come back here and spend a week if I could! The public access areas are easy and not…read morecrowded during the week and I had no problem with parking and walking around. I was bummed out that I couldn't stay longer. So many charming neighborhoods with shops and restaurants and friendly people walking around in perfect October weather. This is one of the filming locations for the series "The Summer I Turned Pretty" and I can see why!!!!

My parents don't live far so while visiting, my daughter and I visited the beach. It was a…read morebeautiful day, parking wasn't hard to find for a Friday afternoon, and there was plenty of space. It was pretty clean as well.

Friendly people all around. Beautiful, clean beach. The town itself is quaint but not boring…read more Plenty of shopping for everything you need.

Even though the weather has been super rainy, the beach itself is awesome once the sun comes out…read more It will actually end up clearing up before we leave! Great family beach for the summer!

Beautiful beach, never overcrowded, nice restaurants. The beach is big and all kind of people are…read morethere. Good spot for families and young people.

We have been doing to Holden Beach since the spring/summer of 2014. We have been every year since…read more We have brought immediate family, extended family, friends, etc. We continue to explore the island and find it extremely relaxing

Bottom line: Holden Beach is one of those quiet beach getaway destinations to visit at the NC…read morecoast. Not too built up along the beach/island but not too far away from the things that you may need as well. Well maintained beaches/accesses/public areas. I've enjoyed my vacations here so far. The Deets: Well, to be honest, I'd really go with 4.5 stars here but hey, what's half a star between Yelpers, right? Plus, we can't use half stars in reviews...so.... For the last couple of summers we've had the opportunity to go to Holden Beach instead of/in addition to our annual beach destination of Ocean Isle Beach. With Holden Beach just east (feels like north) of OIB, we are still in fairly familiar territory for our NC beach vacations and we can hop over there to enjoy old favorites if we want. What I notice most about Holden Beach is it is very quiet and not a lot of traffic, especially on the eastern side of the island we have stayed at. Nice open beach area (running east-west and facing south) and not too built up on the island area itself makes for a good get-away-from-it-all spot. If you'd like lots of restaurants, shopping, water slide fun, etc. or just needs those groceries then just cross the bridge back over and it's right after crossing the bridge to the mainland, so it's convenient. There are a few restaurants on the island itself but for the most part, it's housing/lodging along the main beach road. They do have one "general store" for convenience on the island side but you will pay for that convenience, of course. The beaches, access areas, and most common areas I've seen are kept well maintained. If you want a nice quiet beach getaway on the southern NC coast, Holden Beach is a good place to consider visiting.

Loved the relaxing visit here. The boardwalk was awesome! Beach wasn't super crowded and the locals…read morewere so friendly. Shops DT were cute and fun dive bars to watch sports. Thanks, CB. xoxo

Sandy, clean and a great spot to enjoy the beach. We parked at the Hamlet public parking lot which…read moreis 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]