Carolina Beach, North Carolina
Carolina Beach is a town of 6,745 people in New Hanover County, North Carolina.
Why visit Carolina Beach
Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 5 parks and trails, 57 places to eat and 10 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Brunswick Town Historic District, Joy Lee Apartment Building and Annex and Carolina Beach State Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 92°F; January lows average 36°F.
Weather in Carolina Beach
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Carolina Beach
Carolina Beach is a beach town in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States, situated about 12 miles (19 km) south of Wilmington International Airport in southeastern coastal North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 6,564. It is part of the Wilmington metropolitan area. The community of Wilmington Beach was annexed by the town in 2000.
From the Wikipedia article Carolina Beach, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks8
Brunswick Town Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Historic district in Brunswick County, North Carolina
Joy Lee Apartment Building and Annex
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Apartment building in Carolina Beach, North Carolina
Newton Homesite and Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
A remnant of the earliest settlement of the outer coast of North Carolina near Carolina Beach
Orton Plantation
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
House site in North Carolina, United States
St. Philip's Church, Brunswick Town
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
A ruined Anglican parish church in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States
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Brunswick Town
Museum · 2.7 mi
Former populated place in North Carolina
Parks, trails and playgrounds5
Restaurants and cafes57
Island Ice Factory
Ice cream · Ice Cream, Italian Ice, Milkshakes · 0.7 mi
108 Carolina Beach Ave N;Carolina Beach Avenue North, Carolina Beach
Cape Fear Boil Company
Restaurant · Seafood
1140 North Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach
Ida Thai Cuisine
Restaurant · Thai · 0.5 mi
304 North Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach
Michaelangelo’s Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.7 mi
9 South Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach
Michael’s Seafood Restaurant
Restaurant · Seafood · 0.4 mi
1206 North Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach
A+ Smoothie Bubble Tea
Restaurant · 0.5 mi
245 North Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach
Britt's Donuts
Bakery · 0.7 mi
11 Carolina Beach Avenue North, Carolina Beach
Butts n Such
Restaurant · 1.1 mi
800 South Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach
Celtic Creamery
Restaurant · 0.6 mi
201 North Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach
Deck House Restaurant
Restaurant · 0.7 mi
205 Charlotte Avenue, Carolina Beach
El Cazador Carolina Beach
Restaurant · 0.6 mi
103 North Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach
Flaming Amy's Burrito Barn
Restaurant
1140-a North Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach
45 more on the map.
Where to stay10
Courtyard Carolina Beach Oceanfront
Motel and hotel · 0.8 mi
100 Carolina Beach Avenue South, Carolina Beach
Hampton Inn & Suites Carolina Beach Oceanfront
Motel and hotel · 0.7 mi
1 Harper Avenue, Carolina Beach
Golden Sands Motel
Motel and hotel · 1.5 mi
1211 South Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach
Dolphin Lane Motel
Motel and hotel · 0.6 mi
318 Carolina Beach Avenue North, Carolina Beach
Pirate's Cove Hotel
Motel and hotel
701 North Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach
Sea Ranch Motel
Motel and hotel · 1.3 mi
1123 South Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach
The Beach House
Motel and hotel · 0.6 mi
412 Carolina Beach Avenue North, Carolina Beach
The Savannah Inn
Motel and hotel · 0.6 mi
316 Carolina Beach Avenue North, Carolina Beach
History
The town was "wiped off the map" by Hurricane Hazel in 1954. Reportedly, 362 buildings were destroyed in the town.
From the History section of Carolina Beach, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Shopping6
Island True Value Tackle & Hardware
Hardware store
801 North Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach
Schools, colleges and libraries8
New Hanover Public Library: Pleasure Island Branch
Library · 0.7 mi
1401;72 North Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach
Charles P Murray Middle
School · 4.1 mi
655 Halyburton Memorial Parkwy, Wilmington
Edwin A Anderson Elementary
School · 4.0 mi
455 Halyburton Memorial Parkwa, Wilmington
Island Montessori Charter School
School · 4.6 mi
6339 Carolina Beach Rd, Wilmington
Map of Carolina Beach
94 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 36°F | 3.7 in |
| Feb | 62°F | 38°F | 3.3 in |
| Mar | 68°F | 43°F | 4.0 in |
| Apr | 76°F | 51°F | 3.1 in |
| May | 82°F | 60°F | 3.4 in |
| Jun | 88°F | 69°F | 4.0 in |
| Jul | 92°F | 73°F | 5.5 in |
| Aug | 90°F | 71°F | 6.8 in |
| Sep | 86°F | 66°F | 8.2 in |
| Oct | 79°F | 54°F | 5.4 in |
| Nov | 70°F | 44°F | 3.4 in |
| Dec | 63°F | 38°F | 3.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Southport 5 N Hcn (7 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
New Hanover County has had 24 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 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)
- 2020-10-14: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 16 miles away.
- Myrtle Grove 6 mi north, about 9 min by car
- Boiling Spring Lakes 11 mi west, about 17 min by car
- Wilmington 12 mi north, about 19 min by car
- Belville 13 mi northwest, about 21 min by car
- Leland 14 mi northwest, about 23 min by car
- Murraysville 18 mi north, about 28 min by car
- Bayshore 18 mi north, about 29 min by car
- Burgaw 35 mi north, about 57 min by car
- Calabash 39 mi west, about 1 h by car
- Little River 44 mi west, about 1 h 15 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, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Carolina Beach Pier, Annebethmi, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Carolina Beach "The Sea Merchants" Food Store - panoramio, Mikeiamunion21, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Carolina Beach, NC Motel April 2013 - panoramio, Mikeiamunion21, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Smoke from Canadian forest fires over Carolina Beach boardwalk (52981607564), Sergiy Galyonkin from Raleigh, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Greetings from Carolina Beach, North Carolina, Carolina's Playground - Large Letter Postcard (5542859915), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Britt's Donuts in Carolina Beach (52976335386), Sergiy Galyonkin from Raleigh, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Carolina Beach-27527-1, Ken Thomas, Public domain
- Fudgeboat in Carolina Beach (52986680034), Sergiy Galyonkin from Raleigh, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Carolina Beach - Flickr - Sergiy Galyonkin (1), Sergiy Galyonkin from Raleigh, USA, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Carolina Beach State Park 2, Mx. Granger, CC0
- Carolina Beach - Flickr - Sergiy Galyonkin, Sergiy Galyonkin from Raleigh, USA, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Umbrellas on Carolina Beach, Sergiy Galyonkin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Brunswicktown St Phillips Church Ruins, Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Newton Homesite and Cemetery 01, Edward Orde, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St. Philips, BTFA1726, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Orton House at Orton Plantation, Brunswick County, North Carolina, AgnosticPreachersKid ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- BoardwalkBTFA, Brunswick1726, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Joy Lee Apartments Rear, Edward Orde, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Joy Lee Apartments Front, Edward Orde, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Aethes triassumenta, David George, CC BY 4.0
- Cydia ingens specimen by David George and Rich Teper, David George, CC BY 4.0
- Carousel on a boardwalk (52983992783), Sergiy Galyonkin from Raleigh, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Entrance to the beach (52974421823), Sergiy Galyonkin from Raleigh, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Leptostylus transversus 370206761, David George, CC BY 4.0
- Anomia simplex 498810540, Peter Burka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Argopecten gibbus 498814288, Peter Burka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Anomia simplex 498812770, Peter Burka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Anomia simplex 498812733, Peter Burka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Anomia simplex 498812173, Peter Burka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Anomia simplex 498812152, Peter Burka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Argopecten gibbus 498814323, Peter Burka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Argopecten gibbus 498814406, Peter Burka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Argopecten gibbus 500569556, Peter Burka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Argopecten gibbus 500569682, Peter Burka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Anomia simplex 500569405, Peter Burka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Anomia simplex 500569422, Peter Burka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Venus flytrap on the Flytrap Trail, Mx._Granger, CC0
- Anomia simplex 499516044, Peter Burka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Anomia simplex 499516015, Peter Burka, CC BY-SA 4.0
- SnowsCutBridgeFacingEast, Johnmcmains, CC BY-SA 4.0
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