We originally discovered Carolina Beach because there was some heavy weather on its way during our first trip south and I wanted somewhere with a cheap mooring that I could snag and then just chill. Carolina Beach offered the protection we needed, cheap moorings, and plenty of opportunity to chill. And now it’s a “mandatory” stop for us in both directions each year because it’s so cool.

Carolina Beach is a lovely harbor along the ICW, the harbor is protected on all sides and has two convenient dinghy docks. The town has quite a large beach, as the name implies, and it also has classic beach town shops. Plenty of places to pick up beach supplies, fried seafood, and ice cream.

Anchoring vs Mooring

There is ample space to anchor both north of the marshy spot and south of it just north of the mooring field. We’ve anchored there with great success many times but when the wind picks up past 30 knots we dragged, twice. So I watch the weather and if anything is forecast past 20 knots (since I always assume it will be worse than forecast) I’ll pick up a mooring at $20/night. And sometimes I’ll just reserve a mooring because I’m feeling lazy.

A Practical Stop

Enough can’t be said about how practical a stop this little beach town is. For me a town with multiple local coffee shops is on the right path. But the town also has a grocery store within walking distance of the dinghy dock, two hardware stores both with propane, a large marine supply section in one of those hardware stores, an auto supply store, and an excellent selection of restaurants.

Not to mention the marina at the mouth of the Carolina Beach harbor has fuel, water, and a pump-out.

While we were there we became partial to the burgers at Island Burgers & Bites which is across the street from the southern dinghy dock and is in an old gas station. Simply the best burgers in the area.

We often find ourselves doing boat work while on the mooring when here because it is just that practical a stop.