This small island is the perfect place for a weekend getaway or to buy a budget-friendly vacation home. Home rentals and hotels are cheaper at Oak Island than at many other beaches in N.C. making it family-friendly and an affordable vacation option. It’s easy to fall in love with the small-town hospitality, southern accents, and dogs on the beach!

Oak Island’s Location

This small beach island is great for some affordable family fun! Oak island is located in the southeastern aspect of North Carolina near the border of South Carolina. It is about a 40-minute drive from Wilmington, NC and about a 2.5 hour drive from Raleigh, NC. (GoogleMaps, 2022). 

If you are looking to plan a beach trip the entire family can enjoy (including the dog), then this post is for you! Let’s hit the beach!

The 5 Best Things To Do near Oak Island, N.C.

1. The Beach at Oak Island

It seems like everyone owns a dog at this beach! The beach allows you to bring your (leashed) furry friend to enjoy the sand, waves, and sun (be sure to bring pet sunscreen). This beach also allows dogs to be unleashed during some months. The pet-friendly vibe is very apparent and a great way to meet other dog owners. So go ahead and jump in the ocean with your furry friend! You also don’t want to miss taking a walk on the Oak Island pier at sunset. 

2. Caswell Beach 

A few miles from the beach at Oak Island is Caswell beach. This is a quiet beach, which the Oak Island Lighthouse is on. This peaceful, off-the-grid beach is great for just relaxing as it isn’s as touristy as many other beaches in N.C. It’s also very scenic at sunset and makes for a great spot to take family, beach photos! So, don’t forget your camera!

3. Southport Boat Rentals 

Website: https://www.southportboatrentals.com/

This is a great one-hour boat ride for all ages (even my 86-year-old grandmother had fun on this trip). This boat tour is about 12 miles from Oak Island and is located in Southport, NC (Googlemaps, 2022).

I recommend the sunset cruise to get the most beautiful views of the Cape Fear water reflecting the sun. The boat is BYOB so pack your favorite bottle of wine or beer and soak in all the wonderful scenic, water views. The boat is equipped with a safety railing, seating, cup holders, and music so passengers can sit back, relax and enjoy the cruise.

When I took the sunset cruise in the summer, soft music played on board and attentive staff assisted with opening any drinks and even took a few family pictures for us. This is a must-do for awesome sunset views with the entire family. 

4. Endless Summer Sailing Charter 

Website: http://endlessummer.net/

One of my favorite adventures in Southport was taking a 4-hour sailing trip with my family! This sailing adventure is only 10 miles away from Oak Island.

Endless Summer Sailing Charter offers family-friendly boat tours for a reasonable price. This was my first-time cruising on a sailboat and an experience I won’t forget. The captain was entertaining as he told stories about Southport with a good sense of humor. He also let guests assist with sailing the boat (if they wanted). Guest were also allowed to bring snacks to enjoy onboard.

Additionally, there was plenty of seating on board and the captain was very responsive regarding changes to reservations. The only downside to this trip was, we are not allowed to jump off the boat and swim while sailing (However, this didn’t bother me). If this is your first -time sailing, this is a great first trip! So grab your boat shoes and set sail.

5. Oak Island Summer Concerts at Middleton Park 

Website: https://www.southport-oakisland.com/event/summer-concert-series.html

This is also a great place to bring the entire family to relax on the grass and let the kids dance to the music! Bands usually play on Friday nights and it’s completely free! So bring a picnic, and blanket, and have the perfect (and affordable) date night or family night out. 

The Best Restaurants near Oak Island

Dine at Southport, NC

You must stop by Southport if you are visiting Oak Island. Southport is a cute, small town near the inter-coastal waterway. There’s lots of beautiful, historic homes near the water and plenty of locally-owned shops and restaurants. Southport is also an awesome place to dine near (or on) the water. The salty air, beach breeze, and water views make for a very romantic evening in this small town. Just be sure to make restaurant reservations, if possible, as the summer season is very busy and wait time can be quite long. 

lil & John’s Sweetreat Ice Cream Parlor

Website: http://sweetreatoki.com/

You can’t go to the beach without having ice cream! This ice cream shop in Oak Island has classic homemade flavors, sundaes, and tons of toppings. My personal favorite topping is the rainbow sprinkles (yes, I still order ice cream like a kid!). This spot is also cute as it has a small, wood porch and some benches to enjoy your savory dessert on as you breathe in the refreshing beach air. 

Coffee at Island Jo’s

Website: https://www.islandjo.com/

I found this gem after a morning run on the beach. After my run, I cooled down with a delicious iced coffee. Now a quick run and stopping at this coffee shop is my new routine when vacationing at Oak Island. I have only been here for the coffee but they also have a reasonably priced breakfast and lunch menu. For all your coffee cravings, check out this adorable place!

Castucci’s Italian Restaurant 

Technically, this spot is located in Southport. However, it’s only 7 miles from Oak Island (GoogleMaps, 2022). Castucci’s has an extensive Italian menu including, all the classic Italian dishes. This low-key place is great for larger parties as they have a lot of seating and an extensive menu that is affordable and will satisfy even the pickiest eaters.

A 2-Day Sample Itinerary for Oak Island  

Day 1
9:00 AM- 1:00 PM	Hang out at the Caswell Beach or the beach at Oak Island
3:00 PM- 6:30 PM	Explore and dine at Southport, NC
7:00 PM-8:15 PM	Enjoy a sunset boat tour with Southport Boat Rentals
9:00 PM	Grab some late- night ice cream at Lil & John’s Sweetreat Ice Cream Parlor

Day 2
9:00 AM	Enjoy coffee at Island Jo’s
10:00- 2:00 PM	Sail with Endless Summer Sailing Charter 4 -hour sailing trip
5:00 PM-7:30 PM	Take an evening walk on the beach and check out Oak Island Summer Concerts at Middleton Park
8:00 PM	Have dinner at Castuccci’s Italian restaurant

(Please be sure to check other sources for hours, availability, closures, and contact information before making travel plans. None of my recommendations of Oak Island, NC were sponsored/discounted and as always, reflect my honest opinion.)