Oak Island Travel Guide

Oak Island is a quaint beach town located in North Carolina. The island is separated from the mainland by a waterway and is lined with beautiful beaches that draw big crowds in the summer months.

Things to Do in Oak Island

Top things to do (other than sunbathing and swimming) include strolling the Ocean Crest Pier, walking through the trails at the Oak Island Nature Center, which also showcases various fossils and native animals, and walking to the top of the Oak Island Lighthouse, which offers panoramic views of the island.

Best Time to Visit Oak Island

The best time to visit Oak Island is in the summer months when the weather is warm and the days are long and sunny.

A Local's Guide to Oak Island

Finding the perfect setting for a family friendly trip isn’t easy but Oak Island North Carolina ticks all the boxes. With miles of quiet beaches, pet-friendly vacation rentals and a laid-back atmosphere, this is the perfect spot for a family vacation.

Separated from the mainland by the Intracoastal Waterway, the beach town of Oak Island is lined with beaches while fishermen gather at the long Ocean Crest Pier.

Beaches

Within the town there are 65 public beach accesses and miles of unspoiled, sandy shoreline with fishing docks, piers and boat ramps, making it a mecca for anglers and sailors. In particular, the Intracoastal Waterway and Davis Canal are popular spots to head out on the water.

There is also a golf course, eight park baseball and football fields, a dog park and plenty of restaurants, bars and cafes.

Outdoors & Adventure

From getting back to nature at the Oak Island Nature Center to an adrenaline-pumping skydive, there are so many things to do in Oak Island. The whole island is pet-friendly and many bars and restaurants allow four legged friends to stop by.

Golfers can enjoy a game at the town’s golf course in South Harbor Village or one of the other public courses on offer on Oak Island.

The Oak Island Nature Center has trails, plus displays on fossils and native animals. To the east, Oak Island Lighthouse has sweeping views over Caswell Beach and Bald Head Island. The lighthouse was the the last lighthouse to be built in North Carolina and was completed in 1958. Sitting 169ft above the water line, the lights can be seen for 16 miles. The whole lighthouse is 153ft high and stands on a small hill. Climbing to the top is only for the fit as instead of a spiral staircase, there are a series of ladders with 131 rungs! Tours to the top of the lighthouse are available all year round by appointment but only for children and adults aged over nine years old. Bookings should be made at least two weeks in advance.

Wildlife

Oak Island is a great place to watch sea turtles in their natural habitat. The area is home to the loggerhead sea turtle which nest on Oak Island, Caswell Beach, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Sunset Beach, and Bald Head Island. Visitors can watch the turtles crawl from the nest into the sea from July until around October. There are free “turtle talks” which aim to educate tourists about the protected nests on the surrounding beaches and ensure these incredible creatures are safe.

Looking for a perfect Oak Island house rental is easy as there is a wide range to choose from. Oak Island NC has 1,250 hotels, vacation rentals and vacation homes to stay in to suit people from every group size and needing different features.

Condos in Oak Island

Oak Island in North Carolina certainly ticks all the boxes when it comes to the perfect family vacation destination. As an island separated from the mainland, there are miles and miles of unspoiled beaches to enjoy, with 65 public beach access. This means no matter where your Oak Island condo rental is located, you'll be able to step out onto the soft white sands of Oak Island beach. As well as its beaches, the island is well-known for its popular golf courses. Another top activity is walking the trail at the Oak Island Nature Centre, where nature-lovers can learn all about the wildlife in the area. From July to October, visitors book a vacation home on the island in hope of seeing nesting loggerhead sea turtles, which can be found at Caswell Beach.

When looking for a Oak Island condo rental, there's a wide selection available. Vacation rentals suits a range of group sizes, budgets, and preferences. Additionally, beach rentals are popular, meaning guests are never far away from the coast.