Ask a surfer in North Carolina where to catch a good wave and they’ll likely make a horizon-to-horizon gesture to the east, as if to say “pick a wave, any wave.” It’s true there’s great surfing along the state’s 300 miles of shore, but here are a few local favorites for your next session.
Outer Banks
The northernmost beaches are a surfer’s dream. Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head shine in fall and winter with consistent breaks and heavy sets, but in the summer, it’s worth pushing south past the vacationing crowds to Hatteras Island. There, seven villages share space with a National Seashore and a lighthouse, leaving the beach and break to anglers and surfers. Around Cape Point, where the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse stands watch, you can launch from east- and south-facing beaches into surf shaped by shoals and sandbars for a spectacular session.
Crystal Coast
The central beaches here include east-facing Cape Lookout National Seashore – where you can camp and surf or spend a day on this unspoiled shore. On Emerald Isle, a long, south-facing island, has breaks that consistently form small barrels and waves that are beginner-friendly yet still challenge experienced surfers. On the east end, Atlantic Beach offers smaller, gentler waves. And on the west end, Indian Beach and the breaks around Bogue Inlet are larger, more apt to throw you a barrel and as an added bonus, they’re near Big Oak Drive-In and their fantastic shrimpburger.
Wilmington and Southern Beaches
The southern shores, near the city of Wilmington, was the birthplace of the state’s surfing scene. Wrightsville Beach – a haven for sand-loving vacationers – saw the first folks hang ten back in 1909, so this area is no secret, but the sandy bottom, steady rhythm and reliable break makes for a great place to learn or to hone your cutback. To the south, longboarders love Carolina Beach. (Pro tip: grab a bag of Britt’s Donuts for a post-sessions snack.) North of Wrightsville, look to Surf City and Topsail Island (pronounced “Top-sul”) for easy parking, great longboard rides and a beach-break that draws loads of locals.
