Beaches for Guests of Emerald Isle Vacation Rentals
Vacationers staying in an Emerald Isle rental can relax on a beautiful North Carolina beach on Emerald Isle and enjoy a variety of water sports including swimming, surfing, jet skiing, diving, and fishing. The town maintains 58 Emerald Isle beach access points along the ocean. Most access points consist of a dune walkway with no parking, but there are two larger beach parks with facilities.The Eastern Regional Access beach, site of the old Emerald Isle Pier, offers a white sand beach with restrooms, outdoor showers, vending machines, picnic facilities, and 275 parking spaces. To reach the parking area, turn right from Highway 58 at milepost 15 between the Pier Point and Ocean Reef condominium complexes.
The second major public beach on Emerald Isle, known as Western Regional Access or Islander Access, is located at 100 Islander Drive next to the Islander Hotel (take the 2nd right after entering Emerald Isle from the Cameron Langston Bridge). Amenities for guests of Emerald Isle vacation rentals include volleyball courts, restrooms, outdoor showers, picnic facilities, and 248 parking spaces.
A small beach park, known as Third Street Access, is located at 305 Ocean Drive and offers 10 parking spaces, a handicap ramp, and an overlook picnic area.
All three Emerald Isle beach parks have handicap facilities. Beach wheelchairs are available at no charge; call 252-354-2445 for wheelchair information.
From October to March, guests of Emerald Isle rentals can take four-wheel drive vehicles on the beach in Emerald Isle. Vehicle access is available at Black Skimmer Road across from the Police Station and at East End, just west of Pier Pointe Condos and Fire Station #2. The speed limit is 20 miles per hour and ATVs are not allowed.
On the sound side of the island, there are 17 pedestrian beach access points and five with parking.
Fort Macon State Park (252-726-3775), in nearby Atlantic Beach, is North Carolina's most visited state park. In addition to a great beach, the park is home to a 19th century Civil War fort where visitors can see Civil War reenactments during the summer months. The lifeguard-protected swimming beach features a bathhouse, picnic area, oceanfront gazebo, and restrooms.
Hammocks Beach State Park (910-326-4881), located in nearby Swansboro, offers guests of vacation rentals on Emerald Isle the chance to experience one of the most unspoiled stretches of beach on the Atlantic coast. The park's main attraction, Bear Island, is accessible only by ferry or private boat. A designated canoe trail points the way for canoeists and kayakers.
After a 25-minute ferry ride through the Intracoastal Waterway and Cow Channel, visitors take a 15-minute walk across the dune system to reach the beach. In this beautiful natural setting, visitors can swim, explore tidal pools, and fish for flounder, trout, puppy drum, and blue fish. Facilities include a designated swimming beach, a covered picnic shelter, and a concession stand.
