United States

Blue Flag Beaches in North Carolina

North Carolina is one of United States's Blue Flag coastlines — 307 beaches across 79 beach towns, mapped below with certification status for each.

Every flag here is a season's award for water quality, safety, and environmental management — what a Blue Flag beach means covers the certification in depth.

See North Carolina on the map

Beach towns

307

Beaches mapped

Beach towns

Arapahoe4 beaches mapped Atlantic1 beach mapped Atlantic Beach7 beaches mapped Avon4 beaches mapped Bald Head Island4 beaches mapped Bath1 beach mapped Beaufort15 beaches mapped Belhaven1 beach mapped Blounts Creek3 beaches mapped Bolivia2 beaches mapped Buxton1 beach mapped Camden2 beaches mapped Camp Hardee1 beach mapped Camp Lejeune1 beach mapped Cape Carteret2 beaches mapped Carolina Beach6 beaches mapped Cedar Island2 beaches mapped Cedar Point2 beaches mapped Coinjock1 beach mapped Columbia1 beach mapped Corolla6 beaches mapped Currituck1 beach mapped Davis1 beach mapped Duck6 beaches mapped Edenton1 beach mapped Elizabeth City1 beach mapped Emerald Isle10 beaches mapped Frisco2 beaches mapped Grandy1 beach mapped Hampstead2 beaches mapped Harkers Island7 beaches mapped Hatteras4 beaches mapped Havelock5 beaches mapped Hertford1 beach mapped Holden Beach9 beaches mapped Holly Ridge1 beach mapped Hubert5 beaches mapped Indian Beach2 beaches mapped Jacksonville4 beaches mapped James City1 beach mapped Kennel Beach1 beach mapped Kill Devil Hills8 beaches mapped Kitty Hawk3 beaches mapped Kure Beach6 beaches mapped Little Port1 beach mapped Manteo3 beaches mapped Midway Park3 beaches mapped Minnesott Beach1 beach mapped Morehead City6 beaches mapped Nags Head13 beaches mapped New Bern3 beaches mapped Newport4 beaches mapped North Topsail Beach10 beaches mapped Oak Island20 beaches mapped Ocean Isle Beach9 beaches mapped Ocracoke4 beaches mapped Oriental3 beaches mapped Pine Knoll Shores4 beaches mapped Point Harbor1 beach mapped River Road1 beach mapped Rodanthe11 beaches mapped Salter Path2 beaches mapped Sans Souci1 beach mapped Shallotte2 beaches mapped Sneads Ferry3 beaches mapped Southern Shores2 beaches mapped Southport4 beaches mapped Sunset Beach6 beaches mapped Supply2 beaches mapped Surf City4 beaches mapped Swanquarter1 beach mapped Swansboro1 beach mapped Topsail Beach4 beaches mapped Vandemere1 beach mapped Wanchese2 beaches mapped Washington5 beaches mapped Whichard Beach1 beach mapped Wilmington4 beaches mapped Wrightsville Beach16 beaches mapped

Beaches

Beaufort

100 yds. NE Gallant's Channel Bridge by shore
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Knob Island- N side
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Lennoxville Boat Ramp
Sand beach
Not currently certified

12 more beaches in Beaufort

Oak Island

10th Place West in Oak Island
Sand beach
Not currently certified
20th Place West in Oak Island
Sand beach
Not currently certified
29th Place East in Oak Island
Sand beach
Not currently certified

17 more beaches in Oak Island

Hatteras

2 Miles SW of Frisco Volunteer Fire Dept
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Frisco Bath House along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Hatteras Village Ramp #55 access along the Cape Hatteras Nat
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Hatteras

Davis

400 yds SE of Bean Island off Core Banks
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Duck

500 yds off Sandyridge Rd.- Currituck Sd.
Sand beach
Not currently certified
500 yds off Spy Glass Rd.- Currituck Sd.
Sand beach
Not currently certified
750 yds off Ocean Bay Blvd.- Currituck Sd.
Sand beach
Not currently certified

3 more beaches in Duck

Kitty Hawk

500 yds. offshore, 100 yds. S of E. side of Wright Memorial
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Bath House on SR 1206 Kitty Hawk
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Kill Devil Hills
Sand beach
Not currently certified

North Topsail Beach

Acc. NTB 41 between Ship Watch & St. Regis
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Acc. NTB Sea Dunes S. of Villa Capriani
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Bch Access at Myrtle Drive mile marker 14
Sand beach
Not currently certified

7 more beaches in North Topsail Beach

Hertford

Albemarle Sd. at end of Holiday Lane Rd.
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Columbia

Albemarle Sound, Tyrell Co. Bull Bay Swimming Platform
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Hubert

AO- ~1 mile S of Bogue Inlet
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Bear Inlet access West end of Bear Island
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Sanders Creek at Bear Creek
Sand beach
Not currently certified

2 more beaches in Hubert

Midway Park

AO- ~2 miles S of Brown's Inlet
Sand beach
Not currently certified
New River, Cedar Point
Sand beach
Not currently certified
New River, NC Hwy. 172 bridge
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Ocracoke

AO- 5 miles SW of Ocracoke State Ferry
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Beach Access by Airport Ramp
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Federal Campground- Ocracoke
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Ocracoke

Emerald Isle

AO- Public Beach Access, Inlet Rd., West side junction of Co
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Bogue Inlet mouth of Coast Guard Channel
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Bogue Sd.- Archer Point
Sand beach
Not currently certified

7 more beaches in Emerald Isle

Wrightsville Beach

Area behind the northern end of Masonboro Island
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Banks Channel - Waynick Blvd. - Between Taylor and Bellamy S
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Banks Channel - Waynick Blvd. approx. 150 yds N of Iula St.
Sand beach
Not currently certified

13 more beaches in Wrightsville Beach

Kill Devil Hills

Bath House at Ocean Bay Blvd
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Beach access at 3rd St
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Beach Access at Sportsman Dr.
Sand beach
Not currently certified

5 more beaches in Kill Devil Hills

Topsail Beach

Bch. Access #18 off Ocean Blvd. across from Boryk Ave.
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Public Access #O-10 at Ocean Blvd and Crews Ave.
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Public Access #O-3 at Mile Marker 3
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Topsail Beach

Surf City

Bch. Access #1A off N. Anderson Blvd. across from Catherine
Sand beach
Not currently certified
ICW, Hwy. 210 bridge at Surf City
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Public Access at Broadway St. and N. Shore Dr. - Topsail Bea
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Surf City

Southern Shores

Beach Access 1 1/2 Mile N of Kitty Hawk Pier
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Southern Shores Private Soundside Access
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Carolina Beach

Beach Access at Periwinkle Lane in Carolina Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Cape Fear River, junction of Snow's Cut and Cape Fear River
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Carolina Beach - Public Beach Access at Hamlet Ave.
Sand beach
Not currently certified

3 more beaches in Carolina Beach

Bald Head Island

Beach access between Bald Head Harbor entrance & Bald Head C
Sand beach
Not currently certified
East Beach area- Beach access #42
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Fort Fisher Beach State Park access off Loggerhead Rd.
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Bald Head Island

Holden Beach

Beach Access near Capt. Jack's on Holden Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
East end (HB)
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Ferry Road Public Access
Sand beach
Not currently certified

6 more beaches in Holden Beach

Bolivia

Beach area adjacent to Howells Pt Wildlife boat ramp at the
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Beach area between ICW Marker #28 & ICW Marker #29 at the en
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Sans Souci

Boat ramp at the intersection of SR 1500 and Vincent St.
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Morehead City

Bogue Sound- 750 yds. E. of Atlantic Beach Bridge, N side
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Bogue Sound- Boat Landing Tourist Center
Sand beach
Not currently certified
CCC- Aquatic Education Location
Sand beach
Not currently certified

3 more beaches in Morehead City

Atlantic Beach

Bogue Sound- Canal leading to Moonlite Bay
Sand beach
Not currently certified
FORT MACON beach access at Bathhouse
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Mile Post 4 1/2, oceanside of Pelican Dr.
Sand beach
Not currently certified

4 more beaches in Atlantic Beach

Newport

Bogue Sound- E side of Mouth of Gales Creek
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Bogue Sound- Goose Creek, off campground
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Broad Crk. - Highway 24 bridge
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Newport

Indian Beach

Bogue Sound- W Salter Path, ~200 yds off of Wam Squam Ln
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Indian Beach - Public Access at Mile Marker #12
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Harkers Island

Brown's Island public beach in Core Sound near Harkers Islan
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Cape Lookout Coast Guard Dock
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Core Sd.- Shell Point off Harkers Island
Sand beach
Not currently certified

4 more beaches in Harkers Island

Buxton

Buxton at Cape Hatteras Lighthouse along the Cape Hatteras N
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Camden

Canal boat ramp on SR 1153
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Sound access on SR 1153
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Southport

Cape Fear River, beach area adjacent to Southport Municipal
Sand beach
Not currently certified
ICW, overhead powerlines behind Oak Island
Sand beach
Not currently certified
ICW, Southport wastewater treatment plant outfall
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Southport

Cedar Island

Cedar Island - Beach Area SE of Wildlife Ramp adjacent to Fe
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Cedar Island- beach west of ferry landing off Sound View Dr
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Edenton

Chowan River
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Little Port

Core Sound White Point
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Arapahoe

Dawson Crk., 500 yds N of bridge
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Just E of the Mouth of Beard Ck
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Near mouth of Gatlin Crk
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Arapahoe

Currituck

Dock at the end of SR 1245
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Bath

Dock on S. side of Hwy 92 bridge on the W. side of Bath
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Atlantic

Drum Inlet N side (inside)
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Blounts Creek

E Shore of Blounts Bay- Pamlico River
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Pamlico River- Maul's Point
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Pamlico River- Tripp Point Recrational Area
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Havelock

East of Pine Cliff SR 167,near Havelock
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Hancock Creek- just south of mouth of Cahooque Creek
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Havelock
Sand beach
Not currently certified

2 more beaches in Havelock

Kure Beach

Fort Fisher- Beach adjacent to NCWRC Ramp
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Ocean Pier at K. Ave.
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Public Access at Ave. H in Kure Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

3 more beaches in Kure Beach

Ocean Isle Beach

Greensboro St. emergency vehicle access
Sand beach
Not currently certified
ICWW, soundside access at E. end of Ocean Isle Bch.
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Intracoastal Waterway, shoreline adjacent to Ocean Isle Wild
Sand beach
Not currently certified

6 more beaches in Ocean Isle Beach

Supply

Holden Beach Bridge, ICWW at pier
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Lockwood Folly River, marker # 5
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Sunset Beach

ICW end of Beach Drive at Bonaparte's Landing
Sand beach
Not currently certified
ICW, E. of Bridge at the mouth of Jink's Creek
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Ocean pier at Main St. and Sunset Blvd.
Sand beach
Not currently certified

3 more beaches in Sunset Beach

Wilmington

ICW, marker #110 in Middle Sound
Sand beach
Not currently certified
ICW, Middle Sd. Between Mason's Cr. And Page's Cr.
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Middle Sound at Nixon's Channel
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Wilmington

Cedar Point

ICW, Marker #44
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Ski Beach off the ICW adjacent to the Bogue Inlet Channel in
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Hampstead

ICW, marker #92 in Topsail Sound
Sand beach
Not currently certified
ICW, marker #98 in Topsail Sound
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Sneads Ferry

ICW, Swan Point
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Intracoastal Waterway, Stump Sound at mouth of Turkey Creek
Sand beach
Not currently certified
New River, area between marker #18 and Poverty Point
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Minnesott Beach

Just E of Wilkinson Pt
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Kennel Beach

Kennals Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Pine Knoll Shores

Mile Marker 7 1/2, oceanside
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Pine Knoll Shores - just east of Mile Marker 8 1/2 - Hwy 58
Sand beach
Not currently certified
PKS Aquarium Sound-side access
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Pine Knoll Shores

Shallotte

Mouth of Shallotte River at Bowen Point
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Shollotte River adjacent to area known as 'The Swash'
Sand beach
Not currently certified

New Bern

Neuse River- 200 yds. N of mouth of North West Creek
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Neuse River- Flanner's Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Neuse River- Union Point
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Oriental

Neuse River- end of state Rd 1310
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Neuse River- Oriental, Whittaker Creek
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Public access at John Bond Town Beach in Oriental
Sand beach
Not currently certified

James City

Neuse River- Green Spring Swim Area
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Jacksonville

New River at day marker #61
Sand beach
Not currently certified
New River at mouth of Southwest Creek
Sand beach
Not currently certified
New river, Hyw 24 Bridge, Jacksonville
Sand beach
Not currently certified

1 more beach in Jacksonville

Camp Lejeune

New River at Hadnot Pt
Sand beach
Not currently certified

River Road

Pamlico River- Broad Creek marker #3
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Washington

Pamlico River- City Park
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Pamlico River- Junction of Upper Goose Creek and Dinah's Lan
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Pamlico River- Ragged Point Swim Area
Sand beach
Not currently certified

2 more beaches in Washington

Whichard Beach

Pamlico River- just N of Fork Pt
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Grandy

Park on Woodhouse Dr., Grandy
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Elizabeth City

Pasquatank River- E.C. Coast Guard Station Beach
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Cape Carteret

Public Sound-side Access at the end of Bogue Sound Drive in
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Sound-side park public access in Capen Carteret at Manatee S
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Manteo

Roanoke Sd.- Swim Platform south side of Manteo Bridge
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Southeast side of Mann's Harbor Bridge
Sand beach
Not currently certified
The Swimming Hole
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Belhaven

Sound access at the intersection of E. Main St. and Tooley S
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Point Harbor

Sound Park off Caratoke Hwy in Point Harbor
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Holly Ridge

Stump Sound just east of Dixon Point
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Swanquarter

Swanquarter Bay- end of docks on SR 1136
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Coinjock

Swimming area at end of Waterlily Road at dock in Coinjock.
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Vandemere

Vandemere Creek- just N of Windmill Pt.
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Camp Hardee

W of Hills Point- Pamlico River
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Wanchese

Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park
Sand beach
Not currently certified
Washington Baum Bridge boat ramp
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Swansboro

Wards Shore Public Access off South Waters St. - Swansboro
Sand beach
Not currently certified

Run the beaches for a town in North Carolina? The Government Portal puts your daily water quality and safety flags on these pages.

Field notes — quick answers

How many Blue Flag beaches are in North Carolina?

Our North Carolina roster is still being charted for the 2026 season. Certified beaches appear here with their certification year as we verify them; the interactive map shows the latest coverage.

What does Blue Flag certification tell you about North Carolina's water?

A Blue Flag is awarded season by season for excellent bathing-water quality plus safety, services, and environmental management. Certified Best Beaches is an independent directory, not affiliated with FEE, the certifier.