Description
Carolina Beach State Park is located near Wilmington, North Carolina and is the home to the Venus Flytrap and Sugarloaf Dune, a 50-foot dune that once a navigational marker. Carolina Beach State Park features a full-service marina, some full-hookup RV camping, boating and fishing on the Intracoastal Waterway and the Cape Fear River.
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Recreation
There is no swimming access at Carolina Beach State Park.
Swimming is prohibited throughout the park due to dangerous currents and sharp drop-offs near the shores. The park does not have beach access to the Atlantic Ocean.
Activities at Carolina Beach State Park include camping, hiking, biking, boating, fishing, picnicking, and birdwatching.
Hiking: There are nearly 9 miles of relatively flat hiking trails. Pets are allowed on the trails but must be on a leash shorter than 6 feet. There are 9 trails ranging from 0.25-mile one way to a 3-mile loop trail.
Biking: Biking is allowed at the parks Fitness Trail located off of 7th Street. The bike trail is 1 mile. Bikes can be rented by a private concessionaire at the park called Paddle NC.
Boating: At the junction of Snow’s Cut and the Cape Fear River is a 54-slip marina with two public boat ramps and a marina store offering amenities.
Please contact the marina at 910-458-7770 for more information.
Visitors can launch their own paddling watercraft for under $10 or rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard from Paddle NC.
Fishing: Fishing is allowed from the riverbank or the wheelchair-accessible fishing deck.
A North Carolina Coastal Recreation Fishing License is required to fish.
Picnicking: Picnic tables are free to use and available first-come, first-served. The picnic area is located between the campground and the marina with tables, grills, water, restrooms, and nearby parking.
Birdwatching: For birdwatching, the park is located along a migration corridor and is a habitat for resident land birds.
Flora and Fauna
Carolina Beach State Park is home to the Venus flytrap, one of the few places in the United States where the Venus flytrap grows wild.
Carolina Beach State Park birds include brown pelicans, warbles, finches, woodpeckers, painted buntings, yellowthroats, prairie warblers, and ospreys.
The park also has a lot of insects, ticks, venomous snakes, and poisonous plants.
Geography
Carolina Beach State Park is located along the junction of the Cape Fear River and the Intercoastal Waterway. Carolina Beach State Park does not have beach access to the Atlantic Ocean. Within the park, there is a 50-foot dune called Sugarloaf Dune.
There is also three limesink ponds with varying plant habitats.
Most trails at Carolina Beach State Park have a natural surface and may have roots, rocks and/or sand.
The water has dangerous currents and sharp drop-offs near the shores. Swimming is not allowed.
Facilities
Carolina Beach State Park has a campground, picnic tables, grills, water, restrooms, boat ramp, marina with concessions, boat slips, auditorium, classroom, and a visitors center with exhibits.
Concessions
A private concessionaire in the park offers kayak, canoe, paddleboard, and bike rentals.
Marina
At the marina, fuel, snacks, fishing supplies, camping supplies, restrooms, and laundry room is available.
Showers are available to boat slip renters.
Campground
Multiple campsites are available including RV with electric, water, and sewer hookups; tent/trailer/RV campsites with no hookup; primitive group campsites (Campsite #1 up to 26 people and Campsite #2 up to 40 people), and camper cabins.
Firewood is available for purchase at the visitor center or marina.
Reservations can be made in advanced.
Need to Know
There is no swimming access at Carolina Beach State Park. Swimming is prohibited throughout the park due to dangerous currents and sharp drop-offs near the shores.
The park does not have beach access to the Atlantic Ocean.
Paddle NC is a private concessionaire located at the park that offers kayak, canoe, paddleboard, and bike rentals.
Firewood is available for purchase at the visitor center or marina. Do not bring firewood into the park as it can transmit pests that are harmful to the area. Firewood should be bought at the park, bought locally, or be heat treated.
Check-in at all state parks is 3 p.m. and check-out is at 12 p.m. These times apply to all campsites, including the cabins and group campsites.
Fees and Passes
There are no fees to access the park for most day-use activities, including hiking, biking and fishing.
There are fees for camping reservations. Campers 62 years old or older and any veteran or active military members are eligible for a $6 discount per night on most reservations (except group campsites).
There are no other discounts or passes for camping.
Picnic tables are free to use and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
There is a boat launch fee of $7.
