Beach Hotels in Carolina Beach, NC

Situated along the coast of North Carolina lies Carolina Beach, a sun-soaked east coast town known for its boardwalk, harbor, fly fishing, state parks, miles of postcard-worthy beaches, and its abundance of incredible dining options. You’ll enjoy your stay from the best Carolina Beach hotels while touring this attractive coastal town with its wealth of outdoor attractions and welcoming locals. Spend a day along the Cape Fear River at Carolina Beach State Park for some exciting fishing, as well as the Flytrap Trail, named for its carnivorous plants, or head to Freeman Park for sand dunes and sea grass. Then make a seaside visit to the vintage Carolina Beach Boardwalk, which is home to various shops, seaside pizza joints, donut and ice cream stands, and an arcade and fun amusement rides.

Upon leaving your top Carolina Beach Hotel, you’ll find the town buzzing with vibrant activities and active adventures calling your name, like bike and surf rentals and a wealth of nature parks. Explore the town by foot, hike a scenic white-sand trail and bird watch while at Carolina Beach State Park, cast a line during a fun fishing charter, or catch some surf from one of its beautiful beaches. Plan a nice afternoon picnic from Carolina Beach Lake, where you can also rent stand-up paddleboards and kayaks for a calm day on the water.

Then head down to one of America’s best boardwalks, the Carolina Beach Boardwalk, for an afternoon or evening by the water. Here, you can stroll the oceanfront walkway, catch some live music, swing the day away, buy some local art and browse the shops for gifts, fudge, and other sweet treats and souvenirs to take home. With something for everyone, you’ll have a lovely time touring the Carolina Beach Boardwalk before heading back to your Carolina Beach hotel.

For a unique touring experience, check out the Fort Fisher State Historic Site, a seaside site of the Civil War's largest Amphibious (Land and Water) Battle, plus the remaining portion of the gigantic Fort Fisher earthworks. The site also contains a scenic trail that leads past the earthworks— and right by the accessible Visitors Center & Gift Shop, you can get up close to the impressive seacoast gun before touring the center which includes exhibits, a video, and artifacts recovered from sunken ships. Then, continue the history tour and head over to the Battle Acre Monument to Civil War Soldiers, which has a separate walking trail and an oceanfront gazebo to explore.

Whatever you wind up doing in Carolina Beach, you’re sure to have a blast in this coastal town rich with art, activities, and history. Don’t forget to check out our top beach hotels nearby in Corolla, Mount Pleasant, Pawleys Island