Beach Accessibility in the Brunswick Islands
North Carolina's Brunswick Islands is proud to provide numerous beach access points throughout our five islands as well as handicap accessibility.
Public Parking and Beach Accesses
Otto Connect is the paid parking vendor for Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, and Oak Island. For more information regarding paid parking on our beaches, please visit the appropriate section below.
Parking availability may be viewed in real-time through the OttoView feature online and in the SurfCAST by Otto Connect mobile app.
Sunset Beach
- There are 33 public beach accesses on Sunset Beach. For more information and locations, please visit the Town’s website.
- There is a total of 454 parking spaces, including regular parking, handicapped spaces, and LSV dedicated spaces.
- Paid parking on Sunset Beach is managed by the town’s vendor Otto Connect and is enforced from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., April 1 through October 31. For questions regarding paid parking, please visit the Town’s “Beach Parking” webpage or contact Otto Connect at (910) 200-1497.
Ocean Isle Beach
- There are 28 public beach accesses on Ocean Isle Beach. For more information and locations, please visit the Town’s website.
- There is a total of 485 parking spaces, including regular parking, handicapped spaces, and LSV dedicated spaces.
- Paid parking on Ocean Isle Beach is managed by the town’s vendor Otto Connect and is enforced from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., April 1 through October 31. For questions regarding paid parking, please visit the Town’s “Paid Parking Program” webpage or contact Otto Connect at (910) 200-1497.
Holden Beach
- There are 23 public beach accesses on Holden Beach. For more information and locations, please visit the Town’s website.
- There is a total of 563 parking spaces, including regular parking, handicapped spaces, and LSV dedicated spaces.
- Paid parking on Holden Beach is managed by the town’s vendor Otto Connect and is enforced from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. year-round. For questions regarding paid parking, please visit the Town’s “Paid Parking” webpage or contact Otto Connect at (910) 200-1497.
Oak Island
- There are 65 public beach accesses on Holden Beach. For more information and locations, please visit the Town’s website.
- There is a total of 1,215 parking spaces for visitors, including regular parking, handicapped spaces, and LSV dedicated spaces.
- There is a total of 352 Resident-Only spaces.
- Paid parking on Oak Island is managed by the town’s vendor Otto Connect and is enforced from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., April 1 through September 30. Resident-Only Parking is enforced from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. year-round. For questions regarding paid parking, please visit the Town’s “Parking Information” webpage or contact Otto Connect at (910) 200-1497.
Caswell Beach
- There are 8 public beach accesses on Caswell Beach.
- There are two public parking lots on Caswell Beach. Parking is free.
Bald Head Island
- There are 27 public beach access points on Bald Head Island. For more information and locations, please visit the Village’s website.
- There are four emergency vehicular access points: #11, #24b, #35, #42 (these accesses do not have steps and/or ramps).
- Parking on Bald Head Island is free.
Handicap Parking and Beach Access Points
There are several wheelchair accessible beach accesses across each of the six Brunswick Islands beaches – Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, Oak Island, Caswell Beach, and Bald Head Island. Wheelchair accessible beach accesses are defined here as accesses with permanent ramp structures or paved surfaces leading directly onto the beach sand.
Sunset Beach
- Gazebo beach access located at end of Sunset Boulevard S
- 1st Street beach access located at the intersection of 1st and Main Street
- 3rd Street beach access located at the intersection of 3rd Street and Main Street
- 40th Street beach access located at the intersection of 40th Street and Main Street
Ocean Isle Beach
- Beaufort Street beach access located at the intersection of Beaufort Street and West First Street
- Driftwood Street beach access located at the intersection of Driftwood Street and West First Street
- Monroe Street beach access located at the intersection of Monrose Street and East First Street
- Concord Street beach access located at the intersection of Concord Street and East First Street
- Raeford Street beach access located at the intersection of Raeford Street and East First Street
- Shallotte Boulevard beach access located at the intersection of Shallotte Boulevard and East Third Street
Holden Beach
- The PW200 beach access located at the intersection of Jordan Boulevard and Ocean Boulevard West
- Quinton Street beach access located at the intersection of Quinton Street and Ocean Boulevard East
- The East End beach access located at the end of McCray Street
Oak Island
- Mercer Street beach access located at the intersection of Mercer Street and Ocean Drive
- Oak Island Pier beach access located at the Oak Island Pier Complex is paved at road level with a Mobi-mat extending further onto the beach.
Caswell Beach
- Caswell Dunes public beach access located at 902 Caswell Beach Road. Please note there is no parking at this beach access.
- Bob Spake Way public beach access located at 800 Caswell Beach Road. Please note there is no parking at this beach access.
- Ocean Greens public beach access located at 748 Caswell Beach Road. Please note there is no parking at this beach access.
- The Caswell Beach public beach access is between 701-655 Caswell Beach Road.
- The Oak Island Lighthouse beach access lot at 221 Caswell Beach Road. Please note that the parking lot is reserved for visitors to the Oak Island Lighthouse and limited to one hour.
Bald Head Island
- Beach Access #15 located along South Bald Head Wynd near Snowy Egret Trail
- Beach Access #24a located along South Bald Head Wynd near the intersection of Muscadine Wynd.
Beach Accesses with Mobi-Mats
There are several beach accesses across each of the six Brunswick Islands beaches with Mobi-mats or beach access mats that allow visitors to avoid walking on loose and unpacked sand. Mobi mats are used year-round but may be removed ahead of storms and king tide cycles.
Sunset Beach
- Gazebo beach access located at end of Sunset Boulevard S.
- 1st Street beach access located at the intersection of 1st and Main Street.
- 3rd Street beach access located at the intersection of 3rd Street and Main Street.
- 40th Street beach access located at the intersection of 40th Street and Main Street.
Ocean Isle Beach
- Beaufort Street beach access located at the intersection of Beaufort Street and West First Street.
- Driftwood Street beach access located at the intersection of Driftwood Street and West First Street.
- Monroe Street beach access located at the intersection of Monrose Street and East First Street.
- Concord Street beach access located at the intersection of Concord Street and East First Street.
- Raeford Street beach access located at the intersection of Raeford Street and East First Street.
- Charlotte Street beach access located at the intersection of Charlotte Street and East Second Street. Please note there is a sand walkover before reaching the Mobi-mat.
- Shallotte Boulevard beach access located at the intersection of Shallotte Boulevard and East Third Street. Please note there is a short sand walkover before reaching the ramp to the Mobi-mat.
- Columbia Street beach access located at the intersection of Columbia Street and East Third Street. Please note there is a sand walkover before reaching the Mobi-mat.
Holden Beach
- PW440 beach access located at 917 Ocean Boulevard West
- 801 Ocean Boulevard West beach access
- PW200 beach access located at the intersection of Jordan Boulevard and Ocean Boulevard West
- Quinton Street beach access located at the intersection of Quinton Street and Ocean Boulevard East
- PW140 beach located at the intersection of Ferry Road and Ocean Boulevard East
- PW100 beach access located off of Ocean Boulevard East
Oak Island
- Keziah Street beach access at 700 Ocean Drive
- Oak Island Pier Complex at 705 Ocean Drive
- SE 74th Street beach access at the intersection with East Beach Drive
- SE 55th Street beach access at the intersection with East Beach Drive
- SE 46th Street Cabana beach access at the intersection with East Beach Drive
- SE 40th Street beach access at the intersection with East Beach Drive
- 19th Place East beach access at the intersection with East Beach Drive
- 10th Place West beach access at the intersection with West Beach Drive
- 27th Place West beach access at the intersection with West Beach Drive
- 57th Place West beach access at the intersection with West Beach Drive
- The Point beach access at the end of West Beach Drive
Caswell Beach
- There are two accessible beach access points (see above), but there are no Mobi-mats on Caswell Beach.
Bald Head Island
- There are two accessible beach access points (see above), but there are no Mobi-mats on Bald Head Island.
Beach Wheelchairs
Many of our beach communities have sand-friendly wheelchairs to lend or rent to visitors. Here is how to obtain one depending on which beach you are visiting:
Sunset Beach Wheelchair Rental
- Note: Due to exceeded demand, beach wheelchair rentals are closed until August 1, 2026. If you are planning a visit to Sunset Beach after August 1, the town kindly asks that you submit your request closer to your visit.
- Beach wheelchairs and walker rentals are offered by the town for $10 per day.
- You can apply for a beach chair and submit payment online on the Sunset Beach town website. Applications must be submitted at least 36 hours in advance of your requested drop-off date and are not accepted on weekends.
- If you require a rental for longer than 2 weeks, please contact Sunset Beach Town Hall before applying.
- Town staff will deliver your equipment directly to your vacation rental (in Sunset Beach corporate limits) between 8 a.m. and noon. Pickups begin at 2 p.m. Drop off and pickup is not offered on weekends.
- Beach equipment does not fold and a large SUV, pickup truck, or van will be required to transport your equipment. Equipment measures 23 inches wide by 45 inches tall.
Ocean Isle Beach Wheelchair Rental
- Beach wheelchair rentals are offered by the town for free on a first come, first serve basis.
- To reserve a weekday wheelchair rental please visit the Ocean Isle Beach Planning and Inspections Department at Town Hall at 111 Causeway Drive between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Call the department at 910-579-3469 for questions.
- To reserve a weekend wheelchair rental please visit or call the Ocean Isle Beach Police Department before 4:30 p.m. on Friday to reserve a pickup appointment time. Appointments are only available on Sundays. For information or questions, please call the police department at 910-579-4221.
- Wheelchairs can be rented for up to 3 days, and a valid drivers license is required to rent.
- Wheelchairs must be picked up and dropped off at the Community Center located at 44 East 1st Street on the island of Ocean Isle Beach.
- Beach equipment does not fold and a large SUV, pickup truck, or van will be required to transport your equipment. Equipment measures 36 inches wide, 49 inches long and 48 inches tall.
Oak Island Beach Wheelchair Rental
- Beach wheelchair rentals are offered by the Town of Oak Island for a $50 cash only deposit on a first-come, first serve basis. The deposit is required to cover any potential late fees or broken and missing parts.
- To reserve a rental, please call the Oak Island Recreation Center at 910-278-5518.
- Beach wheelchairs can be rented for 2 days in the months April-September and for up to 7 days in the months October-March. A valid driver’s license is required to rent.
- Beach wheelchair pickup is at 10:00 a.m. the day the rental begins. Drop-off is between 5:45-9:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 9:00-9:15 a.m. on Saturdays. Rentals cannot be returned on Sundays.
- Three of the town’s seven wheelchairs breakdown or fold for easier transportation. However, renters are responsible for having a vehicle that can accommodate the size of the chair.
Bald Head Island Beach Wheelchair Rental
- A beach wheelchair is available to rent from the Village of Bald Head Island Public Safety Department on a first-come, first-serve basis for a $1,000.00 deposit by check. The deposit is required to cover any potential damage to the wheelchair.
- To reserve the wheelchair, you may appear in person at the Public Safety Building at 273 Edward Teach Wynd, or by filling out a reservation form online and emailing it to psadmin@villagebhi.org.
- The renter must possess a valid driver’s license and be at least 18 years of age.
- The beach wheelchair must be picked up and dropped off at the Public Safety Building. Renters are responsible for transporting the wheelchair to and from their point of use/residence.
Golf Carts and Low Speed Vehicles on the Beach
Golf carts and Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs) are not typically allowed on the beaches, as to not disturb the fellow visitors or wildlife such as sea turtles or their nests. Some of our towns allow those who need them to drive on the beach under the following circumstances:
Caswell Beach
Golf carts/LSVs are not allowed on the beach unless registered, permitted, and specifically modified as handicap vehicles. For more information call Caswell Beach Town Hall (910-278-5471). More information on golf cart/LSVs registration and regulations on Caswell Beach can be found online here.
Oak Island
Golf carts/LSVs are not allowed on the beach, unless registered and specifically modified as mobility devices. For more information on operating a mobility device on Oak Island, including how to register it, click here.
Sunset Beach
Golf carts/LSVs are not allowed on the beach, unless registered and specifically modified as handicap vehicles but please first inform the Sunset Beach Police Department (910-579-2151). They are only allowed directly from the beach access point to the destination spot on the sand. Riding up or down the beach strand is prohibited. For more information click here.
All other beaches and towns including Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, and Bald Head Island prohibit golf carts and LSVs, regardless of modification, on the beach strand. For questions, please contact the respective towns.
Piers
Each of our five area ocean piers are ADA accessible, offering wonderful views of the beach, ocean, and fishing. For questions regarding the accessibility of a specific pier, please contact the appropriate pier directly.
- Sunset Beach Pier
- Ocean Isle Beach Pier
- Oak Island Pier
- Ocean Crest Pier
- Holden Beach Pier – please note the Holden Beach Pier is closed for repair and site upgrades.