If you’ve visited or lived in the South for any length of time, you’ve probably heard this basic question from an acquaintence: “Where do you go to the beach?”
And the answer for my family, going back a century or so, is Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.
I’ve never lived on the Crystal Coast (sometimes called the Southern Outer Banks), but the best things to do in Atlantic Beach and on the Crystal Coast in general were the heartbeat of my childhood summers, and now I’m in the process of sharing that magic with my son–one more generation who will grow up loving the beach.
If you’ve visiting the Crystal Coast for the first time and wondering what to do in Atlantic Beach and the surrounding area, this blog post has you covered!
The Top Things to Do in Atlantic Beach, NC
Enjoy the beach!
Without a doubt, the top reason to visit Atlantic Beach, NC, is to enjoy that long stretch of sandy beach!
The beaches here are both beautiful and easy to access. Thanks to Atlantic Beach being located on a very narrow stretch of barrier island, it’s impossible to stay too far from the beach when visiting!
The beaches are free to visit, but some places (like the Circle) charge for parking during the summer.
You can find where to park to visit the beach here.
Personally, we’ve been in the habit of visiting the beach via Fort Macon State Park for my entire life: the beach there is wide and beautiful, the parking is free, and there are lifeguards on duty during the summer, which is a big plus for parents!
The beaches in Atlantic Beach are also dog-friendly year-round, something that our dog Ranger appreciates!
Explore Fort Macon State Park.
Both on and off the sand, Fort Macon State Park is one of the best places to visit in Atlantic Beach!
While you’re there, be sure to check out the restored 19th-century fort, which offers a chance to explore local history as well as enjoy some beautiful views of the ocean from the top of the fort. There’s also a small museum inside the visitor’s center!
There are also a couple of trails to check out, including the beautiful Elliot Coues Nature Trail (don’t miss the remains of the WWII-era bunker that you’ll encounter along the way).
The beach, of course, is a major attraction! In addition to lifeguards during the summer, Fort Macon State Park also offers a concession stand over the summer, restrooms/changing rooms, showers, and lots of shaded picnic tables with nearby charcoal grills up for grabs.
If you add up all our visits over the decades, I’ve easily visited Fort Macon State Park over 100 times–with hundreds more to come in the future. It’s simply one of those places that’s forever worth returning to!
Spend a day in Beaufort.
While you have to cross two bridges to get there, there’s no doubt that an Atlantic Beach vacation isn’t complete without a visit to the delightfully charming small town of Beaufort!
Easily one of the best small towns in NC (at least in my opinion!), Beaufort features not only waterfront views, excellent restaurants, and a walkable downtown center (don’t skip Front Street), but compelling history dating back centuries.
The North Carolina Maritime Museum and the Old Burying Ground are both worth a visit, and if you’re hoping to hit the water, Beaufort is also a great place to hop on a ferry to Cape Lookout and/or Shackleford Banks!
Check out the pier.
These days, Atlantic Beach’s main fishing pier is the delightful Oceanana Pier, which features not only fishing and incredible views but also the Oceana Pier House Restaurant!
The restaurant is casual, cozy, and delicious, and we eat there during most of our beach trips (often for breakfast).
If you’re looking for something quieter without amenities, there’s also a small fishing pier on the sound side, close to where Atlantic Beach becomes Pine Knoll Shores.
Take a day trip to Cape Lookout National Seashore.
While it’s a bit of a trek, if there’s one day trip you shouldn’t skip when visiting Atlantic Beach, it’s Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Absolutely stunning and incredibly interesting, you’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches on the East Coast here in addition to the historic lighthouse.
The beaches here are shallow, calm, and bright–a magnificent combination!
The lighthouse itself has sadly been closed to climbing for the last several years, but we’re eagerly awaiting its eventual reopen.
In the meantime, you can still tour the Lighthouse Keeper’s House when visiting island.
During the summer, tours to Cape Lookout run daily from both nearby Beaufort and not-so-nearby but reachable Harkers Island (which incidentally, while very small, is a deeply interesting place that is home to one of the only unique dialects of English in the United States).
Go fishing.
Depending on your experience level, this could mean grabbing some bait and heading to Oceanana Pier, signing up for a deep-sea fishing charter, or renting a boat and heading out to sea yourself!
Whatever your experience level or interest, there’s no doubt that Atlantic Beach is a great place for anglers.
For major enthusiasts, the famous Big Rock Tournament is held in Morehead City each June!
Watch the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean.
While the sunsets are certainly beautiful, it’s the sunrises over the water where Atlantic Beach truly shines.
If you can manage to pull yourself out of bed for (at least) one, it’s likely to become a core memory of your vacation (something I try to remind myself every time I’m tempted to sleep in instead).
Savor a slice of Atlantic Beach pie.
Not every small beach town can claim that they’re the namesake of a delicious pie with a national reputation… but Atlantic Beach can!
Made famous by chef Bill Smith, Atlantic Beach pie is cool, refreshing and delicious, featuring lemon and (sometimes) lime juice, plus saltines in the crust (trust us, it’s delicious).
You can find options all over town, and it’s absolutely worth sampling at least once during any Atlantic Beach vacation!
Go for a walk (or bike ride) through town.
Atlantic Beach is a fairly small place, and if you’re staying within town, you may be surprised at just how much you can see on foot or by bike!
Want to set off with a path in mind?
The town has several marked loop routes that are perfect for getting to know every side of Atlantic Beach!
Head out to Shackleford Banks.
The wild horses of North Carolina’s barrier islands are easily among the most beloved features of the tar Heel State coastline, and in Atlantic Beach, a day trip to Shackleford Banks is an amazing way to experience them!
If you’re wondering how the horses got there in the first place, it’s a bit of a mystery, but the most likely scenario is via shipwrecks in the 1500s (they’re very distantly related to Colonial Spanish horses).
The animals are generally shy, and as with all ethical wildlife encounters, a close view isn’t guaranteed–but in all the decades I’ve been visiting, I don’t think I’ve ever left without spotting at least a couple gorgeous horses.
It’s also worth noting that while Shackleford Banks is definitely the most well-known island home to wild horses on the Crystal Coast, it’s not the only one!
Learn about the local ecosystem at the North Carolina State Aquarium.
North Carolina has 3 state aquariums, and one of them is right next door to Atlantic Beach in Pine Knoll Shores!
All 3 state aquariums are involved in enormous amounts of conservation work–and what better time to learn about the fragility of our oceans than when you’re already visiting one?
With both indoor and outdoor exhibits, a touch tank, and even an on-site Dairy Queen for an after-visit treat, time spent here is both memorable and an experience that I credit with teaching me a lot about the ocean, marine life, and the local ecosystem as a child.
For NC residents, it’s also worth noting that the aquarium and the zoo have annual pass reciprocity with each other–so if you have an annual zoo pass like we do, be sure to bring it along for included admission!
Get a break from the sun with a short walk at Hope Pole Creek Nature Preserve.
The edge of the strip-mall parking lot where you can find Food Lion and various other Atlantic Beach essentials doesn’t sound like where you would find the subtle entrance to a nature trail, but it is!
Just across the street from Bojangles you’ll find Hope Pole Creek Nature Preserve, which includes a shady, one-mile loop walk that leads to excellent views over Bogue Sound.
It makes for a wonderful sunset view and is a lovely place to stretch your legs with a little less sun exposure!
Be sure to bring bug spray, though–the mosquitos are brutal during the summer.
Rent a boat and enjoy a day out on the water.
Nothing says summer on the water like a boat day!
Depending on how confident you are driving, renting a boat for a day can mean anything from driving to Beaufort via the sound to taking an independent day trip to Cape Lookout and Shackleford Banks.
If you’re not interested in driving yourself, chartering a boat with a captain is also an option for both fishing and recreational adventures!
Go horseback riding on the beach.
When I was growing up, there was nothing I wanted more than to ride a horse along the beach at sunset!
While, much to the disappointment of child-me, you can’t ride a horse right on Atlantic Beach, there are some places (sort of) nearby where you can.
You can go horseback riding on the beach in Emerald Isle during the off-season, however, during the summer your best bet is to head up to Cedar Island.
It’s a bit of a drive, but if you ask us, it’s well worth it–we got to admire wild horses right up close during the sunset ride from the picture below (that’s me in the pink shirt).
Relax at Atlantic Beach Town Park.
While a fairly new addition to the list of things to do in Atlantic Beach (anyone else remember when this spot used to be a Food Lion?), Atlantic Beach Town Park is both popular and growing!
Featuring a splash pad, ball court, concession stand, skate park, and mini golf as well as standard park options like a playground, restrooms, and picnic tables, this is the perfect place to enjoy time outside while taking a break from the waves.
Mini-golf costs $6 per person as of the 2025 season (kids 6 and under are free), and concessions of course also cost money. Beyond that, the park is free to enjoy!
Where to Stay in Atlantic Beach
Atlantic Beach’s location on the long and incredibly thin island of Bogue Banks means that there’s nowhere you can stay in town that’s far from the ocean–but the size of the town means that there’s not too many hotels to choose from, either!
Many repeat visitors, ourselves included, tend to stay in condos or vacation homes similar to this, though I have also stayed at the Doubletree and loved the experience (nothing like enjoying oceanfront balcony views alongside the warm cookies Doubletree is known for!).
The Island Inn is also popular, and for more options, Morehead and Pine Knoll Shores both have hotels available as well.
Check rates & book your stay in Atlantic Beach today!
What to Do in Atlantic Beach When it Rains
If you run into a bit of bad luck and encounter a rainy day (or several) during your trip to the beach, there are a few rainy day in Atlantic Beach standbys to consider!
Growing up, our usual rainy day activity was to see a movie at the small Atlantic Station Cinema, which is still one of our go-tos to this day.
In the same parking lot, you’ll find Battle Works, where you can indulge in laser tag and/or axe throwing.
Alternatively, indoor attractions in nearby towns like the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort are great options when looking for rainy day activities in Atlantic Beach!
