Wilmington Beaches

There are plenty of terrific reasons to locate a beach in Wilmington, NC. Regardless of the activity – swimming, building sandcastles, throwing the frisbee, flying a kite, fishing, or simply soaking up the sun, beaches are a source to a wide range of awesome activities.

It’s easy to find a swimming beach in Wilmington that are near your location with the help of our list of beaches. The following is a collection to help you search for a beach near Wilmington. Enter a beach, a city, or your zip code to filter beaches.

Beaches Near Wilmington

Keep in mind that the weather on a beach is usually different than in the city. Wind is usually stronger and unpredictible when it’s blowing onto a beach.

If regions around Wilmington have seen a great deal of rainfall, flooding, or stormwater pollution over the past few days, it may hurt water quality levels. Make sure you visit the beach’s website for information regarding water quality warnings.

Wilmington, NC Beach Rules

While different beaches in Wilmington may have various guidelines on how to attend their beach, you should expect to follow the following rules for any beach in Wilmington that you visit.

  • Don’t forget, if you bring something to the beach, you’re obligated to pick up after yourself.
  • Bottles made of glass can easily shatter, so don’t bring glass bottles to the beach.
  • Even if a lifeguard is on duty, understand that you are entering the water at your own risk.
  • You must swim inside the permitted regions for swimming.
  • Never disobey a request from the lifeguard on duty. If the lifeguard ask you to get out of the water, then you must follow through.
  • Most Wilmington beaches have a curfew except for specific dates.

Wilmington Beach Travel Tips

  1. Alcohol. You are not permitted to consume alcohol at certain beaches in Wilmington. Visit the beach’s website prior to taking any booze.
  2. Rip tides. Rip tides aren’t an important consideration if you want to visit beaches on a lake or river, however rip tides deserve a lot of thought if you want to visit beach on the ocean or an area which experiences rip tides. Pay attention to the indicators and know how to escape if you are stuck in a rip tide.
  3. Bring plenty of sunscreen. Pack sunscreen that is waterproof if you’re planning on going in the water. The sunscreen must be re-applied each time you dry off for it to work.
  4. Is there a lifeguard on duty? Many popular beaches in Wilmington staff a lifeguard on duty, however you should never depend on a lifeguard being in attendance. If you have yourself, young children or anyone else that you bringing to the beach, it’s a smart idea to pack properly fitted life jackets for anoyone that require them, and also understand that you’re swimming at your own risk.
  5. Bring sunglasses. Too much exposure to the sun may result in long-lasting damage to your vision. Even if there’s clouds in the skyy, bright water and sand can redirect light back towards your eyes. Select high quality sunglasses with polarized lenses and bring a hat for extra shade.
  6. Prepare for cold weather. Even if you’re expecting warm weather at the beach, it is important to realize that the weather at the beach can change on a dime. It’s particularly important if you’re wanting to go in the water, so bring plenty of warm items such as sweatshirts, towels, windbreakers, and a hat.
  7. Bring a mesh bag for your stuff. It may be simple to grab a backpack, tote bag, or waterproof travel bag to stash beach items like towels, shovels, tents, and snorkeling equipment. But these types of bags trap moisture from leaving, causing mildew problems and keeping beach gear from airing out.
  8. Research the bathroom layout. Bathroom locations are likely the last thing on your mind before you plan out your beach visit. But you don’t want to be stuck in a spot when you have to go to the restroom immediately but you can’t find one nearby. If you’re unable to find bathroom information on the website of the beach, then you can assume that a public bathroom or porta potty isn’t available. Make sure that you go to the bathroom prior to leaving for the beach.