Calabash, North Carolina
Calabash is a town of 2,377 people in Brunswick County, North Carolina.
Why visit Calabash
Townapedia lists 4 parks and trails, 21 places to eat and 1 place to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Sea Trail Golf Links and Oyster Bay Golf Links.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 34°F.
Weather in Calabash
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Calabash
Calabash is a small town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the town was 2,011. It is known as the "Seafood Capital of the World" because of the town's seafood restaurants.
From the Wikipedia article Calabash, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Parks, trails and playgrounds4
Restaurants and cafes21
Papa's Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 2.4 mi
111 Pavilion Drive, Little River
Mo-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-20:30
Angus Steakhouse and Seafood
Restaurant · Seafood, Steak House · 1.3 mi
Relaxed restaurant & lounge serving seafood, steaks & spirits.
9887 Oak Street, Calabash
Bagel Dock Cafe
Cafe · Bagel · 1.3 mi
Cafe serving a variety of bagels, cream cheeses, salads, and sandwiches.
1162 River Road, Calabash
Beck's Restaurant
Restaurant · Seafood · 1.2 mi
"The Old Original Calabash Restaurant," one of the first in town, & a pioneer of the signature style of fried seafood.
1014 River Road, Calabash
Dockside Seafood House
Restaurant · Seafood · 1.4 mi
Family-run waterfront restaurant serving Calabash-style seafood since 1955, with an outdoor seating terrace & a dock.
9955 Nance Street, Calabash
Ella's of Calabash
Restaurant · Seafood · 1.3 mi
Family-run restaurant open since 1950, offering Calabash-style seafood served in a casual, laid back setting.
1148 River Road, Calabash
Grapevine Mediterranean Restaurant & Lounge
Restaurant · Mediterranean · 1.2 mi
Mediterranean cuisine, with a splash of Calabash, served in a fun & comfortable atmosphere.
9991 Beach Drive Southwest, Calabash
Mmm Que Rico
Restaurant · Peruvian · 1.0 mi
Peruvian restaurant serving some of the finest South American cuisine in the area.
1533 Thomasboro Road Southwest, Calabash
Sunny Side Up Diner
Diner · American · 1.4 mi
All-American diner serving breakfast and lunch.
10068 Beach Drive Southwest, Calabash
The Boundary House Restaurant
Restaurant · Seafood · 1.2 mi
High-end local seafood, steaks, prime rib & more, served in a ship-themed atmosphere.
1045 River Road, Calabash
Captain Nance's Calabash Seafood Restaurant
Restaurant · Seafood · 1.4 mi
Family-friendly waterfront stop serving Calabash-style seafood.
9939 Nance Street, Calabash
9 more on the map.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship1
History
Calabash was named after the gourds that grew in the region, which were used for drinking well water. Since the 1930s, Calabash has been known for its distinctive style of fried fish, which has come to be known as "Calabash Style." The New York Times reported in 1983 that Calabash had 32 restaurants and about 180 residents. 40 years later, the number of restaurants was about the same but the town had around 2,000 residents. Calabash style buffets are common in many eastern Carolina coastal towns. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is home to a large number of these restaurants, as the city is just 25 miles (40 km) from Calabash.
In 1998, a large portion of the town of Calabash split to form the town of Carolina Shores. The split came as the result of years of bickering over "garbage collection and sign restrictions". The town limits of Carolina Shores
From the History section of Calabash, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Shopping10
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries2
Southwest Brunswick Branch Library
Library · 2.2 mi
9400 Ocean Highway West, Carolina Shores
Healthcare1
Map of Calabash
42 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 34°F | 3.7 in | 0.2 in |
| Feb | 58°F | 36°F | 3.6 in | 0.3 in |
| Mar | 65°F | 42°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 73°F | 50°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 80°F | 59°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 85°F | 68°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 72°F | 5.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 71°F | 7.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 82°F | 65°F | 7.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 74°F | 53°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 66°F | 42°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 59°F | 37°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Longwood (8 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Brunswick County has had 26 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-05-03: Sunset Drive Fire (Fire)
- 2024-10-19: Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-06: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Grand Strand Airport (CRE) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 miles away.
- Little River 5 mi west, about 9 min by car
- North Myrtle Beach 10 mi southwest, about 17 min by car
- Carolina Forest 23 mi southwest, about 37 min by car
- Myrtle Beach 23 mi southwest, about 37 min by car
- Red Hill 28 mi west, about 45 min by car
- Boiling Spring Lakes 28 mi east, about 45 min by car
- Conway 29 mi west, about 47 min by car
- Socastee 30 mi southwest, about 49 min by car
- Garden City 34 mi southwest, about 54 min by car
- Leland 36 mi northeast, about 58 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
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