North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands is home to two of our state’s signature lighthouses, and we’ve designed the following itinerary for visitors hoping to see them both. Check out each of the lighthouse stops below and some of our dining and activity suggestions to break up the day.
Bonus tip: If you like itineraries like these sign up for our monthly newsletter for even more trip ideas!
What to Book Ahead of Your Trip:
The following itinerary makes a stop on Bald Head Island, the only of the Brunswick Islands that is accessible only by ferry or private boat. Make sure to purchase your roundtrip Bald Head Island ferry ticket ahead of your visit.
As we'll dive into below, you'll also want to submit a top tour request for the Oak Island Lighthouse between 2 and up to 6 weeks ahead of your planned visit.
Morning: Visit the Oak Island Lighthouse
Your first stop of the day is the Oak Island Lighthouse on Caswell Beach. Completed in 1958, the Oak Island Lighthouse is the youngest lighthouse in North Carolina. Today volunteers with the Friends of the Oak Island Lighthouse lead free tours to the top year-round. Reservations are required for top tours.
Things to Know:
- Tours to the top of the Oak Island Lighthouse are free and reservations are encouraged up to 6 weeks in advance of your visit in the summer.
- Tours to the top are offered on specific days of the week depending on the time of year for your visit.
- Summer hours (May 1-Sept. 30): Top tours on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
- Shoulder season hours (Oct 1-Apr 30): Top tours on Wednesdays and Saturdays
- Tours to the second level are offered without reservation Memorial Day to Labor Day on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until noon.
- Parking in the lighthouse’s free public parking lot is limited to one hour.
- Educational and informational signage along the public wooden walkway is a great way to learn more without climbing to the top.
Photo Opportunities:
Grab a photo of the Oak Island Lighthouse from these spots:
- Public wooden walkway across the street
- From the beach
- From the top of the lighthouse
Timing:
If you’re scheduled to climb the lighthouse you can expect to spend up to an hour at this stop.
Just swinging by for a photo op? Visitors typically spend no more than 30 minutes.
Coffee and Beverage Break – Island Jo Coffee & Cafe
After working up a sweat climbing to the top of the Oak Island Lighthouse it’s time for a coffee break! Swing by Island Jo Coffee & Cafe for a coffee, dirty soda, or refresher and selection of breakfast sandwiches and pastries.
Mid-Morning: Head to Southport
Head to Southport after grabbing a drink and mid-morning bite at Island Jo Coffee & Cafe. You’ll spend some time exploring the streets and shops of Southport before heading towards our next lighthouse stop.
Things to Know:
- Parking in downtown Southport is free.
- We recommend making the Fort Johnston Southport Museum and Visitors Center your first stop in town. Grab visitor information and learn more about Southport’s maritime history before wandering the live oak lined streets.
Photo Opportunities:
- Grab a bench in Southport’s Waterfront Park and you’ll be able to see both the Oak Island Lighthouse and Old Baldy from the shore.
- Visit the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport and take a photo of the unique view from the museum’s rooftop periscope.
Timing:
- With your Bald Head Island ferry ticket confirmed, feel free to spend as much time as you please in Southport. The Deep Point Marina ferry terminal is located just a few minutes drive from downtown Southport.
Lunch – Oliver’s on the Cape Fear
Grab lunch before leaving Southport for Bald Head Island. For scenic waterfront views of the Cape Fear River and the Oak Island Lighthouse and Old Baldy in the distance, we recommend Oliver’s on the Cape Fear.
You can also explore more places to eat in Southport by visiting our Restaurants page.
Afternoon: Visit Bald Head Island and Old Baldy
After lunch head over to the Deep Point Marina ferry terminal to catch your boat to Bald Head Island.
Bald Head Island Ferry:
In peak summer season, please allow for an extra 20-30 minutes before your ferry departs to allow time to park. Please note parking in the Deep Point Marina’s general lot is $13 per day. The ferry ride is approximately 20 minutes long.
Once on the island, pick up your golf cart or bike rental ahead of your visit to Old Baldy. For more information on renting a golf cart on Bald Head Island, check out our “Getting Around Bald Head Island, NC: Golf Cart Guide.”
Old Baldy Lighthouse and Smith Island Museum of History:
Old Baldy Lighthouse, completed in 1817, is the oldest standing lighthouse in North Carolina. While the lighthouse is no longer operating, visitors to Bald Head Island are welcome to delve into the structure’s unique history with a climb to the top and admission to the neighboring Smith Island Museum of History located in the old keeper’s cottage.
Things to Know:
- Tickets to climb to Old Baldy Lighthouse are $10 for adults, $5 for children aged 3-12, and free for children under 3.
- Tickets to climb the lighthouse include admission to the Smith Island Museum of History. Tickets to climb the lighthouse may only be purchased in person.
- Old Baldy and the Smith Island Museum of History’s operating hours change throughout the year:
- Fall hours (First Tuesday after Labor Day through December): Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., note the lighthouse closes at 3:30 p.m. everyday
- Spring hours (March to Memorial Day): Tuesday through Saturday from 10AM to 4PM, note the lighthouse closes at 3:30 PM everyday
- Summer Hours (First Tuesday after Memorial Day to Labor Day): Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., note the lighthouse closes at 4 p.m. every day.
- Closed January through February and on major holidays.
Photo Opportunities:
- The Old Baldy Grounds are one of the most popular spots to snap photos on Bald Head Island.
- We also recommend taking a camera on your climb to the top of Old Baldy, getting a 360-degree bird’s eye view of Bald Head Island.
- If you aren’t climbing Old Baldy, we recommend grabbing a picture of the iconic view of the lighthouse from the wooden golf cart bridge connecting Keelson Row and Bald Head Island Wynd.
Timing:
If traveling with a group we recommend allowing at least an hour to climb Old Baldy, visit the neighboring Smith Island Museum of History and explore the grounds.
In peak season we recommend allowing time in your schedule to pick up your golf cart rental after arriving on the island. Otherwise, Old Baldy is just a short 5-minute walk from the Bald Head Island Marina ferry terminal.
Sweet Treat Break – Sandpiper Coffee and Ice Cream
Celebrate your second lighthouse climb of the day with a sweet treat from Sandpiper Coffee and Ice Cream. Located near the marina complex, Sandpiper is in a convenient spot for those without time to explore the rest of Bald Head Island.
Evening: Return to Southport
Return to Southport with your roundtrip ferry ticket and relax after a day spent climbing to new heights in North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands.
Things to Know:
- The return ferry from Bald Head Island leaves from the same place you arrived earlier in the afternoon.
- Make sure you’ve got your Deep Point Marina parking ticket. You’ll need it to pay for parking and exit the lot.
Timing:
- The ferry will leave at the time marked on your ticket. Please arrive a few minutes before your scheduled departure time and allow for more time if traveling with a group.
Dinner – The Frying Pan
Enjoy another waterfront meal to round out your day at The Frying Pan in Southport. Grab a seat along their expansive rear windows or outdoors and you’ll even be able to watch the Oak Island Lighthouse flash in the distance.
Please note that The Frying Pan is open seasonally. If you’re planning your visit in December through early spring, check out Fishy Fishy Café just a stone’s throw away.
Plan Your Trip to NC’s Brunswick Islands
We hope our suggested itinerary has you excited to visit North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands. For additional planning information, request a complimentary vacation guide or visit our website for online resources.