Carolina Beach State Park Reviews

Park is very close to beach, nice series of trails, very flat and easy walking. Good help with ID of plants. Park has no entrance fee.

A beautiful park with walking trails, a beautiful visitors center, and access to put your boat in. There was no cost to enter the park and it was close to the main drag in Carolina Beach.

The sites can be tight for some rigs but have good separation. A few sites have electric and there is water and dump available. Almost all sites partially to heavily shaded, could not get satellite service. Note that gate is locked at 9PM so you can't stay out late.

We were there in July the weather was hot the water temperature was just right, the waves smacked us around a bit but that's ok.

Great park to get out the whole family and take a walk. The trails are marked, just be careful some markers are missing. Trail to the river is available. Enjoy.

Took family there first time this year. Great place to take the kids for some free fun. Can't wait to come back.

This place is awesome. Beautiful. Great walking trails, River access, fishing pier. Clean & well maintained.

Campgrounds if you're interesteed

Wonderful park. Come here to hike a bit and see bogs, rivers, different forest environments. I do wish that the trail map you get would show the trails in color. The highlight is the Venus flytrap trail.

Nice, newly remodeled board walk with plenty of shops and restaurants. Safe and clean. Plenty of bemches.

the park had several trail options, choose to walk a little or a lot. Nice shady areas. Great views. Trails were marked and easy to follow. Dog and runner-friendly1

All trails are rated easy but can be considered moderate if you go on multiple trails in the heat of the day. Trails are very well marked and very enjoyable with various plants, wildlife, and trees to view. Some take you by the intercoastal water for nice views and a welcomed breeze.

Lovely area with several activities, kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, etc. Started on one of the short hiking trails and didn't get very far due to the attack of mosquitoes. We had to turn around and leave the trail. Sitting beside of the Cape Fear River the mosquitos weren't very bad at all. Just be sure you have on strong mosquito repellent before you go into the woods.

We came to the park specifically for the predator plant hike and were not disappointed. The assistant director of the park gave the tour and was very knowledgeable about the plant life in the different eco zones we walked through. It was 45 minutes that were very well spent!

Great little park south of Wilmington, NC. It protects 761 acres of coastal habitat. Great trail system and a great campground. Campground has shower facilities but no power at campsites. It is geared more toward tent camping than RV.

We took our dog for a walk in the park. Felt safe as families were enjoying the park. There was good parking and plenty of parking. There are many places along Carolina Beach to enjoy.

It was a decent camp ground the bath house has flimsy curtains which are fine except people let their children run through the bath house like a play ground. Also, as a state park camp ground there are no playground facilities for children and the water area is no swim. You will also have to drive or ride your bikes to any location in the park. The rangers were nice and it was quiet at night. It was a decent place. For our family it’s a one and done type place. A week was just to long. Also you can’t go anywhere to access beach in Carolina area with out paying parking. We drove to Kure beach to avoid fees. Lots of natural beauty in the area. No Venus flytraps anymore.

We camped in Longleaf Cabin for the weekend.
Pros: A/C!! It worked great and was a godsend at night. The cabin was surprisingly spacious. The chairs outside were awesome under the little covered porch. Campsites there are very private.
Cons: Bathrooms are super far away. Mosquitoes are the worst I’ve ever experienced, and the pads on the beds are not comfortable. I did bring a mattress pad and that helped a lot.
Overall it was a good experience! Last time we tent camped in July and that was miserable. The cabin was so much better!

This past weekend was our first camping trip to Carolina Beach State Park. We were visiting the USS North Carolina and had planned to stay the weekend instead of just making it a day trip.
Arriving at the park, with reservation in hand, we parked at the marina to get checked in. All went well, check in was efficient and we were excited to get to our site and get set up before heading out for dinner and to enjoy an evening walk on the beach. Unfortunately, when we arrived at our site (which was reserved weeks ago) we found that someone was in our site, tent, bikes, camping chairs, etc. We pulled over and sat there a few minutes thinking that maybe someone was simply late getting out of the site. But nobody showed up, so I called the marina where we checked in to explain the situation. At first the person on the phone said that there was not anything that they could do. Then it was suggested that they send a ranger out to the site. Once the ranger arrived they stated that they would attempt to find out who was in our site and explain that they would have to remove their things. The ranger also stated that if they could not get in touch with the people in our site that the ranger would remove their things from the site since we had a reservation. We did not have any other choice but to wait. We decided to go ahead into town to get some dinner (all while carrying our truck camper). Finding parking was quite the adventure. After a couple of hours we returned to the park to find that the site was now vacant. We were relieved that we could finally get set up on the campsite, but we worried all evening about someone showing up at our site and asking what happened to their things; as we never were told what exactly happened.
After a stressful evening we were just looking forward to a good night's rest, did not happen. A camper came in very late that night and proceeded to make as much noise as possible while setting up. We were told that quiet hours for the park was from 11pm-7am, but that was not enforced.
The park is in a convenient location to the beach, but we were disappointed in our overall stay and are not planning to return.

Took the trail from the Ranger Station. Crisp, sunny Fall day w/ our dog on the leash. Approx. 3+ mile round trip (seems longer!!) but very flat and well marked path. Once we reached the big sand dune (Sugarloaf) , spent lazy moments taking in the river and the solitude.

every time i go to carolina beach we have to fgo to fort fisher end to visit the hermits hut its what i love about going down there

Lovely beach and surrounding areas, quite and relaxing. will definitely revisited next time I'm there.

We loved our stay at one of the "primitive" camp sites. We would have loved it even more without the loud road noise throughout the night. The bath houses were nice, the camp sites were spaced well, and the trails were fun.
We will definitely return with hopes of not being woke with ambulance sirens.

Awesome sunsets and nature trails,we tried fishing not much luck but enjoyed the view, but better bring bug spray!

The beach is fairly clean. I grew up coming to this beach and wrightville so for me it's more nostalgic with my kids. The sand is very course and gets very hot. They have several things nearby on boardwalk for a quick grab for food and what not.

The rest room / showers are very old and not clean. The site #15 was very nice, but there are only a few RV sites, but they let tent campers book them in addition to the 90% tent sites. We will definitely not be back. Check in process is also really strange. Cedar Point Campground is 800% better.

A quiet spot to hang out.Waterfront views and great trails for walking.Many places to wet a hook..Great facilities for boat lovers and lots of bird action..

We went here to explore the trails and went to the water area at the Sugarloaf Sand Dunes. It's really pretty in this area, and it's fun to look around on the trails leading here.There are some very short trails and a couple slightly longer. They are pretty easy without many hills. It was free to hike and look in the visitor center (which also had bathrooms), so this is a great place to visit!

Biked to the park today after the rain stopped and enjoyed an afternoon among the pines and wetlands.

The Carolina Beach State Park is quite large considering the size of the town. Park is a vast area of pines and wetlands with multiple walking trails that are clearly marked and maintained. The visitors center has maps and park information handy.

In addition to the trails there is a small marina at the edge of the park with boats and piers for fishing or crabbing.

We hiked along the Venus Flytrap Trail to experience the plants but somehow never got to see one.

Large park with many options to spend the day. The park never felt too crowded and was a fun break from the beach.

Beautiful campground with wooded/shaded sites. There are only 9 full hook up sites and no wifi. Our site, $14, needed the grass cut and there were weeds in the fire pit area. Otherwise, a excellent place to stay. It is about 2 miles to the beach and there is also a boat launch to the intercoastal waterway. The bathhouse was a good 5-7 minute walk from our campsite. Insects were bad, bring bug spray. We'd stay there again.

They have good trails to walk your dog and it is actually has a boat ramp. They have picnic tables. Restrooms and places to change clothes.

Visited on April 10 and again on April 13. The park is beautiful and clean with great walking trails and nice sandy walkable coastline. Perfect place for a picnic which I will do when I go back this week. And.... park entrance is free!!! That’s a bonus.

We stayed 2 nights here, enjoyed the visit very much. The park is located in the town of Carolina Beach but you have to drive a few miles to get to ocean access. We played at the beach in nearby Fort Fisher, which is also close to the aquarium. Campground is nice, large, most campsites have decent distance between them, restrooms we're clean, park staff helpful.

I am from Oregon where the State parks are like no other! This was my first state park I had visited since visiting North Carolina and I loved it here! There was so much to learn, beautiful paths, many signs to keep you on the right path, great distance to walk at anytime of day and friendly people all over! Make sure to use the bathroom before heading into the trails and have extra water because it is a journey and you don't want to be stuck out there exhausted. I liked that there was very very little garbage on the paths or really anywhere to be seen. The history was great, the plants were healthy, and the kids loved it!

Loved all the walking trails! Saw my first pileated woodpecker and fox squirrel here. Plenty of trails and wildlife! Can't wait to go back

This was exactly what I needed. Incredible view and truly miraculous to watch. The beaches and parks, riding and bike trails were fantastic.

I thought it was a beautiful place to visit. We saw people fishing there. There was also a boat dock. What we found interesting was a sand bar which made for awesome photos as the sun was setting.

This beautiful State park should not be confused with Carolina Beach or other attractions as some previous reviewers have done. The park has a visitor center, camping, hiking trails and a marina. We hiked the Sugarloaf trail on our most recent visit. It is a fairly easy trail even on a very hot day, but bring water. You meander through tall trees and along the coast - some beautiful views. There is also a Venus flytrap trail. This is one of the few places you can actually see this plant in its natural habitat. A nice, quiet escape from the crowded beach and boardwalk.

Was nice that this is free state park. We checked out the campground that had nice private sites. Went on a few trails and they are very walk-able, with no major hills.

We have gone to Carolina Beach State Park several times and it was a wonderful experience each time. The search for the very special Venus Fly Trap plants is a fun adventure. We also rented kayaks and traveled the inlet to a small island, and on the way small black dolphins circled our kayaks which was breath-taking experience. We've also hiked the various trails for a nice nature walk experience. The ranger and visitor center is a good start to get oriented and learn about the history of the area. Great for biking also.

My family spent a couple of hours combing the venus fly trap trail looking for this plant, with no luck at all. Several other hikers did the same thing while we were there. One group asked a ranger where the venus fly traps were and he said " I don't really know much about the trails". The girl at the check in window didn't even know where the visitor center was on the map. I'm sure this park is great for camping and swimming but if you are going to just see the fly traps don't waste your time. If the park had an admission fee I would have demanded my money back.

We accidentally passed the Welcome Center and stopped by the Marina; they referred us back to the Welcome Center. We went back to the Welcome Center, and there was a note on the door stating they were closed with no indication as to when someone might be there with information. I just couldn't believe it!

Loved this beach it was not over crowded and we really enjoyed the walks in the evening as and the morning. My husband really enjoyed fishing for the pier. We would go back in a sec.

So beautiful and peaceful here- every time we come, we see deer!
The dock is so nice and we got to see the crabs!!

The park was ok. I was expecting it to have more trails, but great place to take your family. It would have been better if the weather cooperated.

Great walking trails without too much eleveation changes. Nice views of the inlet. Looks like there are some nice camping locations, though we did not camp here. Also has a marina for boat launches.

beautiful park with farmer's market on some days, and activities. Has a beautiful lake and playground and walking path. Free movies too

Large campsites, didn’t have electric, or water at campsite. Gates close at 10.pm. Clean state park. Trails are great. Bath house is clean, large showers. Great staff 10/10

This was suggested to us by a local and we are so glad we went! Drove through the park and parked at the marina. Took the Venus Fly Trap trail but unfortunately didn't see any of them. Walked on to the Sugar Loaf Trail which came to a hill, that I assume is sugar loaf. Hiked up the hill thinking the view was the best until we hiked down the back side and came to a quiet intercosatal beach that was even better! Hiked back along the beachfront all the way back to the marina. Great walk!!

We were tent camping on a bicycle trip and this campground was excellent. Good shower and bathroom facilities; picnic table; electric outlet for recharging devices; and very shady. Easy to find and naviigate throught he park.

We love using the boat launch at the CB State Park! For a annual or daily fee you can access the ramp. Noticed this time around the trailer parking was up the road quite a bit. Thank goodness we got there early to get a spot in the parking lot.

We originally booked a camp site for 3 nights Friday-Monday, but we ended up having to leave early because of the mosquito infestation. One night there was a visual cloud of them, and we had at least 3 citronella candles and the bracelets, the spray, and still we had to leave early because I was covered head to toe with bites. Its a rustic place to stay other wise, the bathhouses are semi clean, but only 2 of the showers on the ladies side had hot and cold water, the other 2 were either ice cold or (will burn your skin off) hot. The trails need some work, and there was one hell of a raccoon infestation too. We had to keep our food in the truck in the whole time. Oh and if you plan on going, plan ahead and buy firewood ahead of time. The wood the camp sells is fresh and its 6 bucks for 5 pieces of wood that doesn't even last an hour.

Really nice place to go for a family picnic,hike,and camping.Has plenty of security.It's off the road aprrox 1 mile,sorta secluded,has a boat ramp and a swimming area.Really nice area for a getaway.

We enjoyed the guided hike at the state park. Our guide, Adrian, was very knowledgeable and friendly. We learned about pitcher plants, fly traps, and trees. He did very well with a range of questions from our group, and then pointed out additional trails for us to continue our hike after the tour was over.
The land is very flat and doesn't offer the views of Hanging Rock or other favorite state parks, but that's just because of my preference for the mountains. This trip pleased my husband, who can't get enough of the beach.

Lots of birds, amphibians, very few people! Lovely little secluded park. WE had a blast exploring among the twisty little trees.

It's such a nice park to go and walk to enjoy nature! Easy paths - many are in wooded areas or you can walk by the water in other areas. Worth the trip to the park. We did all the paths - Sugarloaf is the longest path at 3 miles.

This was our first time at Carolina State Park. We stayed for 2 nights on non electrical tent site on the river side. It was perfect and close to restrooms/showers. Caught some fishes :) and got tan at Kure Beach (7 min drive).

The boardwalk is very nice as well as beaches. Surrounded by various stores. Very commercial and crowded. Parking difficult unless arrive early or off season. Mostly paid parking lots.

We tent camped for 2 nights. We found a site which was secluded, but close to the bathroom/shower, trash cans, and potable water. The bathrooms had actual toilets, handsoap and papertowels were provided. There wasn't a line for the showers when we needed them which was nice. There were a lot of hiking trails. There are a lot of mosquitos. We ran out of bug spray and ending up buying more plus some citronella candles.

The state park has wonder easy hiking trails, at low tide you can walk along the Cape Fear river ,which is beautiful. There is a rest room at the main office when you enter the park and another at the marina. All always clean. There is a picnic area, with little bring your own charcoal grills, the grills are there just bring food to cook and charcoal . At the marina you can rent boards for the river .It is always peaceful walking on the paths,dogs always welcome .

Clean, private campsite for our small RV. For 3 days our family revelled in the peace this state park abundantly provided. Walking distance to the ocean. Beautifully maintained trails offered fascinating twists as an alternative to the paved roads. Dog friendly, even allowing a large section of the beach for them to frolic providing a leash is on hand. Affordable allowing a family to enjoy themselves in the comfort of their own lodging. Nearby grocery stores. Highly recommend visiting this state park.

This park has a little bit of everything- for everyone. You can take short walks or combine them for hikes through wetlands with rare native plants, find a young longleaf pine forest, and picnic in dunes near the water. It’s great for kids and photographers. There are places to launch boats and kayaks and you’ll find restaurants nearby with offerings for any crew.

Lots of hiking trails. Beautiful views of the river, swamp, etc. We are here at least once a week. There are kayak, paddle board, and jet ski rentals. There is also a small store for drinks and snacks.

We have visited Carolina Beach many times on the town & ocean side but it was cooler so we wanted to hike a bit so we went over to the state park . The state park is not on the ocean side of the island , it's on the Cape Fear river side. It's just a few minutes by car. We enjoyed walking the trails and there is beautiful views of the Cape Fear to be seen. The trail is cool and unique looking with the different kind of pines and plants . Not hard trails . Stop and get a map at the visitor center. Our son enjoyed fishing there as well .

The state park is not the same thing as the Atlantic Ocean coastline at the town of Carolina Beach. It's a wonderful nugget of beauty bordered by the Cape Fear River to the east and Snow's Cut, part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway to the north. We loved it.

We were there on a rainy and overcast weekend, so not sure what it would be like in prime summer, but the beach is nice and it felt like a family-friendly area. Parking is a premium, so be prepared to walk to the beach.

As usual kids will enjoy a lot in sand and sea water. They were playing endlessly. For swimming, this beach is not the best. Sea is not shallow to enjoy water, it’s deep as we go 5-7 feet inside. We spent around 3-4 hours and crowd was also good because of near by hotels.
Beach also has paid parking where you can take showers at the end.

This is one of the few places in the state where the Venus Flytrap grows wild. While there are several carnivorous plants here, the flytrap draws the crowd. Unfortunately, it also draws cretins that steal the plants - to the point while we were there, they could only find one in an easily accessed viewing area. Not to worry, the rangers and the local university are on the case. They have been nursing flytraps and relocate many every year.

One can learn about these and other amazing plants via ranger guided tours that are offered by the park. In addition, this particular park offers several trails of varied difficulty with different views and experiences, playgrounds, and picnics areas.

This park is amazing and definitely worth a stop. You will want to go by the visitor center and see some of the plants grown by the rangers and the local university, as well as learn a bit more about them and find out about events in the park - of which there are plenty.

We found the visitor center and employees informative. The weather was great. There are several trials but we were limited on time and hiked along part of the Cape Fear River. A lot of friendly people with kids and dogs.

This was my first time at the Carolina beach state park. We were walking our dogs and enjoying the view, when some guy was talking on a cellphone , kicked my dog so I told him not to do that,but he denied it. So I will never never !!!go to park again. I think people should be careful about going to this park !!!!!! Bad experience .

The beach was beautiful. Cleaned and well kept. Enjoyed every minute of out visit and cannot wait to go back again! We went on a Saturday and the beach was busy but wasn't too over crowded. Again, a beautiful park and will definitely be returning.

The park and trails are nice. It’s easy walking, the trails are well-marked, and the scenery is nice. Unfortunately, despite searching thoroughly, we didn’t see a single Venus flytrap on the Flytrap Trail.

Overall, still a nice way to spend an hour or two.

-The PowerTrippers

This was our 1st state run RV park and it was almost completely what we hoped for. We wanted sites that had spaces between them and hopefully provided privacy, which nearly all do. There are very few campground lights, except at the entrance and bath house, which is what we expect when we are camping in the woods. The bathhouse was ok, but the sandy terrain means a messy floor inside is likely. The staff at the camp office are very friendly and helpful and the camp store has great options. The paths are well kept, marked and literature is provide as a guide to the terrain/plants. Our only complaint is there are too large of rocks in the rv parking spots that can cause serious injury to feet or ankles.

This was a clean, pleasant, and relaxing beach. There were a lot of people but we never felt cramped and had no trouble finding a good place to enjoy ourselves. Unless you know the area, the showers and bathrooms can be difficult to find since they're in a residential area a block away from the beach and I didn't see any signs to help guide visitors. Parking was another issue, public parking options are limited and private parking can get expensive. Wilmington has a lot a beach beaches, while this one is nice, I don't know if I'm in a hurry to come back.

It has a lot to offer. If its low tide, the paths have great beaches on the Cape River to have a picnic. For bird watchers, its overwhelming. The marina has a feeding station for painted buntings (look them up). And they are supposed to have Venus Fly Trapsl

Spent three days here right before Memorial Day. First time on a Carolina beach - and it was worth going to. Clean beach, not quite so many people as will be there this summer!

We chose this park for our first days in our new tiny travel trailer because of a recommendation of a Wilmington resident who said it was much better than another highly rated, privately owned RV park. Checked in at the park office at the marina. The lady at the desk was very helpful. We had reserved a pull-through spot. Plenty of sites were open during this off-season. Park was quiet. Hook-ups were good. Close to Wilmington and just a few minutes drive from the Atlantic beaches. The restroom facilities were good, though another camper reported that the water pressure in the showers was low. We went to Wilmington solely to pick up the new trailer we'd bought. Had never been to that part of NC, but might just go back because of our good experience there. And, we would definitely go back to this same state park.

We stayed here in a tent with two grandchildren, while visit Fr. Fisher beach during the day. We did walk the trails a little and see the carnivorous plants, but mostly we just went to the beach five miles away. Depending on the time of day, small mosquitoes can attack your legs. The bug repellant prevented that, but you need to put it on as soon as you leave the car, and after a shower. I read another review that talked about using a filthy restroom that had been condemned and was going to be replaced, but that must have been in another part of the campground. Our restroom was fine and had multiple spacious shower stalls. It was a pretty place.

Viewed all three carnivorous plants on an easy walk. Also observed a fox squirrel. Trails along the water und long leaf pines . Nice visitor center and campground looked nice.

If you are not familiar with this area of North Carolina coastline, this State Park is a must see!
The coast is stunning, and the park has the most beautiful loblolly pine forests. The waters run majestic, and it is just a hop and skip to the Kure Beach Aquarium. It is a very romantic place for couples, and it is a fantastic place for families with
curious children.

Lovely park, but we had great difficulty fitting our 35’ fifth wheel in our space. And there arent that many for big rigs. Also, only a few electric sites, although they seemed bigger. Bathhouse was nice and clean. Don’t miss the Venus flytraps and the terrific walk along the cut.

If you are looking for a quiet, family-friendly campground, this is a great place to stay on your next beach vacation! Despite the name, there is no swimming within the park--but there is plenty of beach nearby (I'd recommend Kure Beach if you like a little less commercialized setting, though Carolina Beach is nice for families with the boardwalk and more activities).

There are lots of trails throughout the park, great for walking, hiking, and mountain biking. The park also has a marina, so you can bring a boat and spend the day fishing.

The marina:
I didn't use it much other than to check in to the campground, but it is nice and the staff is friendly.

The trails:
The venus flytrap trail was recently burned, but there are still visible carnivorous plants along it. Stop in the visitor center beforehand so you know what you are looking for, or you will easily miss many of the plants. Late spring is the best time to visit, but you can see plants throughout the summer too. I can't speak to fall or winter since I haven't been during those times, but I expect most are visible in all except the most extreme cold times of the year. There are a lot of trails, I believe 6 miles, and because of the sand, you will want thick mountain bike tires if you are riding. Cross bikes will not do well on these trails, but would be okay for the paved roads throughout the park, all of which are pretty flat. The trails are rather flat too, but have some great views of coastal Carolina features such as pocosins and limestone craters. If you just want to see carnivorous plants, a stop to the visitors' center takes about 20-30 minutes, and the trail is only a half-mile (but if you are taking your time to spot the plants, it is a 30+ minute stroll). That said, plan about an hour so you are not rushed. If you finish early and have time to spare, drive down to the marina and enjoy the peaceful waterfront.

The flyer said the venus flytrap trail was paved/accessible, but I would disagree. While there are pine needles and a clearly marked path, it is very sandy soil and is likely difficult terrain for anyone who needs a cane/rail to hold/walker/wheelchair. Likewise, it would not be easy to push a stroller on.

The campground:
The spaces are large and offer a lot of privacy. We had a tent, but I believe some sites did have electricity (not 100% sure on that, though there was an RV loop, so I think there were electric and non-electric). The showers were clean and the water came out hot (if you camp a lot, you know this can be hit-or-miss). There was nothing fancy about the campground, but each site had a hook for water and a fire pit with cooking grate. (There are grocery stores nearby.) The bathrooms/showers were not clearly marked, so try to find them before it gets dark. The trail near ours said "service road" but we noticed people going up and down the path and decided that must be where they were--we were correct. There are lots of drinking water access points throughout the campground. The sites and roads are clearly marked. I do not recall seeing any accessible sites, but we were in the tent loop. I believe there may have been a paved trail/accessible sites in the RV loop, though I am not 100% sure.

This is a state park, so there is no alcohol allowed. The gate closes to campers at 10pm in the summer, so you have to be back inside the park before then, or you will be locked out, and it is a bit of a hike from where you are able to park your car to where the campground is. Check-in is at the marina, and you have to be there by 9:30 pm (in the summer) to do so. Checkout is noon, which is similar to hotels, but which doesn't allow you time after a day at the beach to pack up/shower, so plan accordingly.

I recommend staying in the spring or fall if you aren't used to summer weather in the south, as it stays hot through the night. The hours I listed are for summer stays, and do change seasonally. For the most part, the marina closes pretty close to sunset, and the main gate is open about an hour past that. This really is a nice place to visit and to stay.

Beautiful place for family vacations, Clean places great local restaurants and very friendly people.

We are full time RVer's camped here for a few days. This is a beautiful, well kept camp ground. There is a Marina here for boaters.
Only criticism is the gates are closed at 9 PM and we have to be back or we have to park and walk a mile to our camp site in the dark. This is a little bit of a hardship for us because we are out sightseeing and frequently get back late.
This is a great place to camp and hike.

Wee took a look at the state park and mariner. We have stayed at the park on many occasions and it looks as good as it did in the past. The sites look as if they have been kept in good order and the mariner has had a revamp. A great place to fish and spend a pleasant day out. The only negative is that the gates open at 8:00am and close at 10:00pm which limits access to this wonderful venue.

Looking for an escape from the winter blues? Carolina Beach State Park is a wonderful place for all ages. Hiking, trails, kayaking....something for everyone!

beautiful large beach and sometimes good surf near Fort Fisher which is worth the time for Civil War history

We camped over Memorial Day weekend on one of the new full hookup RV sites (site 16). The site is not new; just the hookups. This is my absolute favorite place to camp and I am so glad we were able to reserve the site for this weekend. Everything about this campground is clean and well taken care of. They clean the sites so well. There is never a bit of trash or any leavings from previous campers. There was a high quality fire ring with a heavy cooking grate on top. The best part about it is the way they have preserved the natural surroundings. Of course the campground was full on Memorial Day weekend, but you would never know it. We had people on both sides of us and we still felt like we had so much privacy with all the greenery surrounding the sites. It's just really, really peaceful here. There's nothing like sitting outside hearing the wind blowing through the tops of all those huge pines. This campground doesn't have a pool, or a playground, or any of that kind of stuff, so you'll have to go somewhere else for that. If you're looking, however, for a place to settle in with your family and just have some peace, and watch the kids discover all the cool lizards, and take long walks discovering hidden coves along the intercoastal, and watch your 6 year old catch his first spot from the marina, this is the place.

Tip for RV'ers: the water pressure is dismal, very sporadic and sputtery. There's no way you could take a shower. We took off our regulator and it was still bad. Ended up just filling our tank and we were good to go. Sites are gravel, and Site 16 was fairly level. We had no issues.

The employees at the marina store were the nicest and most helpful people. We tried to find the Venus fly traps on our trail, but we couldn't find them, so that was a disappointment. They aren't labeled and they won't tell you where they are because people have stolen them. It's a shame for those of us who are honest and can't witness such beauty due to the dishonesty of others. Overall, the park is beautiful a d easy to hike.

My family went camping here. The sites were nice and spacious and well shaded.
The bad thing was that the gate closes super early for a beach town at 9pm. Also the bathrooms were super far away from our campsite which was a hassle with young kids.

I camp here often and enjoy the location and great prices for a beach area. I read however most of 2020 season one loop or other will be closed for updating the bath/shower houses. That is a needed fix but why didn’t they start with one in October through April and do the other a year later instead of waiting till peak season. I’m sure it’s a government deal which we all question at times. Looks like I’ll need to head to the North Carolina mountains this year instead of the coast.

Came primarily to walk the dog. Trails were well marked and easy to navigate. Boat ramp, campground, and visitor center were all accessible. Good representation of the NC park system

Very nice sandy beach nice boardwalk all brand new, they have swings to swing on and is a very nice area and enjoyed visiting

I stopped in at the Carolina Beach State Park this week while working in the area. It was the first time I have ever been there and was quite impressed in how well the grounds, entrance , and visitor's center is maintained.

Inside the Visitor's Center there were exhibits, displays of wildlife, artwork and a receptionist to answer questions and help set-up the camping sites for those who are staying in the park.

All in all the Carolina Beach State Park was a nice respite from all the commercialism of the town of Carolina Beach. I am pretty sure that I will be visiting there soon on my free time to take in their trails and natural setting.

I haven't camped at this location, but it has a great marina, and several trails that are great for a stroll. The park is pet friendly and a great place to take a stroll with the family or just a casual stroll on your own

Stayed in a camping cabin with our three young grandsons at this state park. The cabin had two rooms with two bunk beds in one room and a double bed in the other room. The cabin had electricity with a HVAC unit. The beds were comfortable and the cabin was clean. Outside the cabin was a fire pit, grill, a couple of Adirondack chairs and a picnic table. The restrooms were a few hundred yards from the cabin.

We enjoyed hiking and exploring the many trails in the park, and we visited the nearby Ft. Fisher.

This was an ok place, but nothing special. Just a few trails through the kind of pine forests that one sees all over this part of the state. It claims to be the only place in the world where Venus flytrap grows naturally. We walked the “flytrap trail” twice and never saw a single plant.

The best walks to see the coastal floral and fauna anywhere. The quietude is welcomed after the bustle of the beach towns. There are Venus flytraps and pitcher plants. Several walks for different skill and stamina types. Dogs on leashes allowed.

A great beach without a lot of rif raf. We came during the busiest time of the year and it was still peaceful. So nice

The park is beautiful - when viewed from inside a car with the windows rolled up. THE BUGS were eating me alive! I had applied the repellent with deet but it didn't help.

We walked the venus fly trap loop anyways, I wanted to see them in the wild. Unfortunately, I was running for my life from blood sucking insects and I didn't see any plants.

My experience was rated poor because of the insects. Maybe I needed more repellent, maybe I should have not worn shorts, I don't know, but heed my warning. Don't go unprotected.

I would still recommend visiting, especially if you are out from out of town. The area is beautiful with many plants and natural North Carolina habitats.

We camped in a tent, site 31.
Pros:
The site was beautiful and private, you really couldn't see any other sites from it. Nice big flat area for the tent, along with a fire pit and picnic table. We could back the car right up to the picnic table, so carrying things to the tent and accessing supplies in the car was very convenient! The people in the marina are very helpful and friendly, and you can buy both firewood and ice there. We also saw two alligators in the water! One more pro, my car battery went dead the first night and the ranger came out to give me a jump at 9:30 at night. He couldn't have been nicer.
Cons:
People are NOT kidding about the mosquitoes! I have never seen swarms of mosquitoes like that. We sprayed bug spray on ourselves constantly and still came home covered in bites. The bathroom in the nearby bath house (about a 3 min walk) were disgusting. Absolutely gross. They are supposedly renovating them soon. The only other con is that it's quite close to town and we heard sirens (fire trucks, ambulances) several times throughout the night.
Overall it was a nice campground! We will not camp in the summer there again (too hot, and too many passing thunderstorms) but may consider it for the fall/spring!

This review is for tent campers although there were plenty RV campsite options too.

Our family camped for the first time at Carolina Beach State Park, which is <8 minutes away from Carolina Beach Boardwalk but you wouldn't know it at the campground as it was so quiet and scenic.

Campsites: The sites were spacious as in we had a 7-person tent for the 3 of us and there was still ample room for camp chairs, fire pit, picnic shelter, parking, and you could probably fit 2 more 2-4 person tents at the site. We had family at the next site and we couldn't see or hear them because of the trees.

Bathrooms: Bathrooms offered sinks, toilets (could have better flushing power), and showers. We recommend when choosing your site, choose one closer to the restroom unless you don't mind a short walk in the middle of the night. Water spouts are located throughout which is where all the campers take their dirty pots and pans to wash. Camping etiquette dictates you don't wash pots and pans in the bathroom.

Scenery: Campground is wooded and spacious. There are multiple walking trails throughout the park that lead up to the intracoastal waterway as well as a Venus fly trap walking trail.

Reminders: Don't pick plants and such, it's a state park, so just looky-no takey. Unless you want a fine. Obey the spend limit, we heard about some kid complaining because he got a ticket, again it's a state park. Alcohol beverages are prohibited so...drink more, ahem, water.

Extras: Do you have a boat? Me neither, but they have a marina! You can purchase ice and firewood there. If you didn't know, don't bring your own firewood. That's a campground no-no.

They offer cabins that look similar to a KOA camping cabin. I definitely want to stay in one of these next time because they looked so cute and had a very nice fire pit in front.

They have trash and recycling receptacles so be good stewards of the land and recycle your, uh, water bottles.

Bikes, scooters, and stuff are allowed which is worth mentioning since they are not allowed in all state/national parks.

P.S. Bring your bug spray and citronella candles.

We stopped here at the end of our journey on NC bike route 5. The campsite was great, and the bathhouse was clean & well-maintained (hot showers :) ).

There are a number of hiking trails around the park, as well as a marina and some ranger-led programming on weekends.

We did the Fly Trap trail, which features the area's unique carnivorous plants, but only saw one: a pitcher plant (no venus fly traps). It's a nice nature-walk, but a little disappoint to not see the titled plant.

The park is very close to the restaurants and beach of Carolina Beach, and the gate stays open until 9, so you can easily go out for dinner if you'd like.

The park was only 1/3rd full when we were there (off-season, weeknight), but I'm sure it would be quite crowded during the summer and on weekends, so reserve early!

You can access the park by car, but also by bike as it is very close to the town's greenways and to NC bike route 5 (though the bridge over nearby Snow's cut is harrowing to cross on a bike).

Went primarily to view Venus fly traps in native soil. Failed in that. In fact failed to see any "featured" plants. No trail signs or directions within the park. Not impressed during my short visit but to be fair did not search out much more. Campground and beach areas seemed nice & clean. Visit the visitors center

Carolina Beach State Park is an absolute jewel on our little island paradise!! What a rare treat to have your own State Park that's home to the rare Venus Fly Trap, Pitcher Plant, Sun Dew and numerous other carnivorous plants!!! Wow!!! Beautiful paths for hiking with nature abounding all around including historic Sugar Loaf Dune that face the Cape Fear River. Rich in history. Must visit when coming to the island.

Discovered this campground and absolutely loved it. It’s away from the town in a beautiful natural setting, but only a 5 minute drive from the beach and the action in town - perfect combination! Facilities are clean with hot showers, tent sites are large, staff is friendly and helpful. We only did one nature trail and it was great: saw pitcher plants for the first time. Would definitely have done more trails if we’d had the time. Will camp here again.

I love the water. When I get near any body of water, I pretty much want to at least get my feet wet and soak in it. Sadly, the water here in San Francisco is so freaking cold you really have to just do the Polar Plunge and get out immediately. Not so in Carolina and Kure beaches, where you can soak in the bathtub-warmth of the waves. The boogie boarding was superb at low tide. Higher tide yields fewer ridable waves, most of them crashing very near the shore, so do NOT go out there at high tide unless you are itching for a spinal injury!

We entered Kure Beach at a private access point, but the beach is easily accessible in other spots. It is adjacent to Carolina Beach, and both areas are really fun to ride the waves!

Note: If you are on Kure beach, be very aware of the underground pipe that protrudes into the water. There is a sign on the beach, but when you are in the water you can't read the sign, so just get your bearings first because that thing really hurts if you accidentally kick it. Not to mention bleeding and not wanting salt water in a wound, just beware.

The sunrises and sunsets here are pretty photo worthy. Depending on the weather, you might see rain, but if it is nice and warm out, it is no bother, so don't let the dark clouds scare you off.

These are popular beaches, but even on the 4th of July, we found plenty of space to spread out. I heard some folks complaining, but they must be used to some unicorn beach somewhere with no people. If I lived there, I would be out at the beach every single day. Warm water, nice views, and overall a great place to frolic in the waves. There were stand up paddleboarders, but these waves are above my skill level.

I saw a shark chasing after a stingray! There are lots of great sea birds if you like to bird watch. So if you have binoculars, bring them. Don't forget to load up on sunscreen, and definitely aim for low tide.

Awesome campgrounds! Took my fiancee on her first camping trip and they had everything I needed to ensure her experience was a success. They have bathrooms, showers, dump stations, trails, close to the beach, and easy access to the Marina. We were able to go kayaking and enjoy the water.

Located at water this park has lots of interesting areas including a visitor centre, camping, hiking,
boat docking and canoe rentals.
As far as i know it’s free entry but i’m quite sure there are camping fees.
Definitely a great location for family visits and dog walking.

Ah the woods, Ah the intercoastal waterway... Peaceful, not stressful. Bath/Shower facilities not ADA accessible. No outside floodlights on said facilities. No parking for handicapped. Obvious that handicapped are persona-non-grata. Will bring to my state legislators' attention. I enjoyed myself though challenged. Did not get to see any Venus Flytraps.

Wonderful natural atmosphere. A wide variety of natural beauty to explore. Family activity area. Unique natural site.

This is a great park with trails and awesome camping area. The Marina is an added plus for fishing kayaking and jet-sking .

the usual awesome beach experience. NC is one of the best :) we go almost every other weekend during the summer up and down NC coast. never have a complaint

Has the marina/dock/boat ramp. Some of trails and visitor center closed due to recent hurricane. Flat. Ranger a bundle of information.

We’ve been to Myrtle beach a few times but enjoyed Carolina Beach more. The boardwalk is beautiful. Beaches are clean and always a nice surf to play in. Plenty to do and everything is close. Not over commercialized ! Will definitely be coming back !

So, this summer alone we have made 3 trips to this state park. Twice we camped in our pop-up, and once we stayed in a cabin. The prices are very reasonable. The cabins are nice. There is NO running water at the cabins, but they do have electricity and heaters and air conditioning. There are no bathrooms inside the cabin either. Very rustic. There are 2 bunks (4 beds) and I believe about a double bed in the first room. There is a door between the two rooms and a small table with a bench. There is a nice shelf inside the room and a broom to keep it clean.
We camped in May which was very lovely. The cabin stay in July was lovely too. There were mosquitos but they were at a minimum. We returned in September and the mosquitos were terrible!! We don’t believe in using deet but had to break down and buy it and they were still biting. The first few days were the worst. The other times we came they weren’t as bad, so I think all the rain from the hurricane perhaps made them worse? My children were covered head to toe in bites.
Another reviewer said about hearing road noise from the campground. You can hear some road noise- mainly cars going over the bridge on snows cut. It’s not too bad. It’s rather funny because I didn’t notice the noise the first or second time we went but listened for it the 3rd time and heard it.
There are raccoons. Do not leave food or trash out at night. They can reach the trash bag hooks and make a mess. They also will be able to go into screen tents and remove the food from the table. The little guy who visited us took our apples and sugar! And he was brave enough to show up while we were having a fire and walked right up to us. We were afraid of him, he wasn’t afraid of us!

The bath houses are old, but usually kind of clean. If you have high standards you probably won’t be happy. When we were there the one bath house didn’t have any hot water but they were aware of the issue

There is no ocean access within the park FYI. Also, there is a security gate that they close at night which keeps you safe inside but if you get there after they close it you will have the “walk of shame” back to your camping spot.

We love the trials within the park and it’s awesome.
There are some fly traps if you know where they are. Take a tour with the rangers and they will show you! Very few left due to people stealing them. Shame on them!! The Pitcher plants are awesome too!

We look forward to returning!! .

I took an early morning hike here, before the heat of the day bore down. While there is not one individual trail of significant length, I pieced together several trails to make a 9km hike.

Striating out at the Fly Trap trail, I was hoping to see the Venus Fly Trap in its natural habitat, unfortunately, there were none visible from the trail, and we are asked to not venture off the trail. I did see several prickly pears though. Also, I was there a week after Hurricane Isaias, so several trails where closed for repairs and there was debris tossed about. I was pleased to see the rangers along with groups of folks (I'm assuming volunteers) where out cleaning up.

The trails were well marked, with blazes sufficiently close to each other. This was very helpful in the dunes as the trails are sandy, and are not easily visible by themselves.

This state park has it all. Boating, fishing, jet skiing, camping, walking trails, just plain getting back to nature. We came up to camp in our motorhome and made reservations at the park campground. We found it to be very spacious and well maintained. The sites are level and inviting and the staff takes the time to clean and maintain everything. The small store at the marina is stocked with things a visitor might need and the trail system around the park for biking and walking was fantastic. There are plenty of places to eat and shop nearby and it is less than 30 minutes to Wilmington of you want to head that way. Overall, this was a great visit.

This is well run state park. The visitor center is well-kept and has interesting exhibits.Carolina Beach State Park is bounded on two sides by water one side is snows cut which connects the intracoastal waterway to the Cape fear River. On the adjoining side is the Cape Fear River itself. There are plenty of good spots to fish from the shore. The park has a small campsite which is great for weekend getaways. There is also a state run marina in the park which was just renovated a couple years ago. The walking trails are nice and not very strenuous.

We went to Carolina Beach State Park because we heard about the Venus Fly Traps that grow there. When we started on the Fly Trap trail we noticed that there had been a fire in the recent past. Green vegetation was just beginning to grow back. We only found one Venus fly trap that was small. Then we went to the beach which was nice, clean, and quiet. Lots of families. Great for boogie boarding and big waves. The beach was a lot of fun and we stayed til dark. There was a pretty sunset. There was a parking lot we parked in that had nice bathrooms and out door showers to rinse the sand off. It is free parking after 7:00 pm. Before that it is $2/hour.

Cold day but lovely trails and beaches. Good signage. Free to enter. Pet friendly. Visitor center closed when we arrived.

My husband and I went camping at the State Park and met my sister and her family here. We rented two camp sites #78 and #80. These were great sites. If you need two sites, these work really well together. There is a path that connects the two, but still leaves some privacy as well. There is a trail to the bath house, which is close.

The park itself has nice walking trails. I would recommend walking to Sugarloaf. The kids (age 3 and 6) had a wonderful time running down the hill, and "climbing" on the trees.

Bath house was what was to be expected. Four shower stalls, no frills, but functional. Other campers were friendly. I felt safe as well.

We will be camping here again soon!

We stayed here for a month in the campground and loved it. Sunsets by the marina are gorgeous and the park is well maintained.

Nice easy hike from parking lot to Sugarloaf. Trails could be marked a little better but you can't get lost. Trails are well maintained. There are several ponds that I thought would be nice spots for a bench in the shade to sit and enjoy the scenery. Nice way to spend a few hours outside on a pretty spring day.

Great park! According to my AllTrails app I hiked 7.2 miles and it went by quick..only bad thing is that I saw no Venus flytraps. Great rangers here! Also has a really nice marina here (I came by boat from Lake Michigan), only thing about the marina is the water gets pretty skinny at low tide - they are working on getting it dredged though. With my military discount it only came to $24 for a slip for the night for a 44 footer (with electric!)

We went to the park and walked around the water. We saw a lot of fiddler crabs. The kids really enjoyed watching them. Nice area to dock boats.

We love that this is in our backyard! The park is always clean and what a hidden gem right here at the beach

It's a good place to come for families and if you want a quiet, clean place to camp. It's pretty inexpensive and it's close access to the beach. The only downside was that the gate closes at 9/10 pm and doesn't open until 8 am.

Carolina Beach State Park is a lovely campground to make home for a couple of days. Lush and peaceful, the park itself has an abundance of nature trails (no bikes allowed), as well as a full marina for those fishing or boating. The campground itself has plenty of space on each site with communal water and only two restrooms for over 80 sites yet, it seems to work.

I'm not an avid beach person, but found myself at the beach for a quick getaway. My friend loves to sit on the beach all day, but I don't. I found this state park which advertised 6 miles of hiking trails and I was intrigued. The trails are very well marked and there is a great map which is at a kiosk at the Visitor Center. I spent several hours wandering the trails and exploring the marsh environments. I would definitely return - especially in the off season when the weather is little cooler

The beach was exceptional. Large and clean. White sand clear blue water. Quiet and relaxing. Eady to get yo. Plenty of parking. Close to boardwalk and restaurants.

This state park is a nice, pet and family friendly place to take an easy hike. The trails are mostly shaded, easy to follow, and well maintained. The visitor center and the marina both have indoor restrooms. No matter the season, don't forget bug spray. If you're visiting in the spring or early summer, be sure to take the Sugarloaf trail past Lily Pond, it's beautiful when they are all in bloom.

We saw an obscene amount of mother nature and learned quite a bit in the process. I almost stepped on a GIANT copper head snake, we saw tons of 6 stripe racer lizards, some cactus, sink holes, frogs, a gorgeous tree canopy trail, carnivorous plants. There was a fun learning center for the kids. I can't wait to go camping here even though I live only a few miles away.

Most beautiful place!! Love the trees and Venus Flytraps and all! The camping is great.. the staff is wonderful

What a beautiful place. This is a free park and wonderful for easy walks thought pine forests. The trails were brimming with beautiful wildflowers and the scent of pine was heavenly. We took a trail that met the shore of the Cape Fear river and the water was calm and serene. It was a lovely spot to just sit and relax.

The trails are not paved but they are wide, clear, and flat. It is easy on the knees. We saw lots of birds and even found a toad along the path. It was a great place to spend a few hours just taking in the beauty of the area.

We came for a picnic and walk and lived both. My five year old was very excited about finding the carnivorous plants. The ecosystem was unique and beautiful. The park was well kept, even the bathrooms we're clean.

Beautiful place, but they allow generators that sound like our riding mower with the blades down. Do not go to this state park until they limit how loud someone can be.

Th park was a nice stop. It was very peaceful. We walked around & took in a little nature. The kids saw deer grazing, which they totally enjoyed. Entire scene while there was calming. It's late Mar and it almost 7pm, so there were few people. Park gates are open till 9pm. Nice visit so if your seeking a relaxing, nature filled, more low key stop, you will enjoy visiting the park.

I had read many Carolina Beach State park reviews, and was excited to take my family on some hiking trails. It was easy to locate and there was ample parking. The visitors center was nice with an interactive exhibit. We headed to the flytrap trail first! We're saw some cool plants and I think a Venus Flytrap (with the white flower). The mosquitos were out, so dont forget your bug spray, we had to cut our visit short because our youngest was being eaten up! Overall, very fun!

This is a nice little park with an area to fish along with boat ramps. We set up along the sea wall and took the kids crabbing. We did not catch any of keeper size but it was still fun. There is a decent bathroom and a little store here, too. Good place to fish on the sound side of the town.

We ran and biked several times from our rented cottage to the state park down to the marina during the week we stayed. We also hiked on the Sugarloaf Trails, about 4 miles from the Visitor Center. Nicely maintained trails, beautiful marina. Educational visitor center.

Awesome Park. Will visit again soon. Staff was friendly and professional. Historically correct information shared.

Nice beach with shells, views of other islands and mainland but too many folks with dogs that they let off their leashes. You may think your dog is great but those of us walking and running on the beach do not know your dog and do not know that they are gentle souls. Not usually afraid of labs, etc. but I do tend to get scared when a pit bull runs up to me, especially when the owners call their name and they don't listen to them as they continue charging.

We crossed over to the beach area but the signage left a lot to be desired. We were told there would be a changing area and all sorts of amenities. We never found them. We paid for parking, walked to the beach,and swam for a few hours. The beach was clean but the area walking back to the car was littered with cigarette butts. We were in a beach parking area, so I'm pretty sure we were at the right place. We were just day tripping with no specific agenda in mind. We ended up going back to the hotel in Wilmington, since there was no place to change. We didn't want to drive all the way back to see the boardwalk. We probably would have check it out if we'd found a changing area.

White sand, clean, not crowded. No public bathrooms. Can rent umbrellas and chairs. Our whole family had a lovely time.

During the week, off season was so beautiful. There were not many people, no trash and surrounding businesses are great.

We went here to fish, walk and decide if we wanted to camp here in the spring. We tent camp and don't require electricity. However, the sites we camp in need to be easy to get to because my husband has limited mobility.
We have decided to return for camping. We liked the wooded campsites. To look on the maps, you would think it would be easy to get to the beach from the campground. However, the woods keep you from doing it. I picked out my site :)
Another thing I liked was how easy the trails were to walk. My husband was able to use his cane with no problem. We just did the Flytrap trail since I wanted to see the flytraps and pitcher plants. Someone else on the trail had been there before and showed us the flytraps. We would have missed them since they are low and hard to find. The pitcher plant was different and easier to see.
The state park has a marina and it was easy to fish nearby. He enjoyed the fishing he did before he got tired.

Really nice area. Clean, quiet. And free! Parking is free....aside from charging a nominal fee for the boat launch and for camping, you can park for free and walk several well laid out trails. Great Park.....also looks good for fishing!

beautiful region.Lovely and quiet, peaceful setting. Lots of fishing and swimming in region. Nice walking area.

This State Park is on the ICW and has a wonderful marina. For RVers it is just so-so. There are two loops with a bathhouse in the center of each loop. Dry camping with no electric, wi-fi or cable. Water spigots are scattered around the loops

Carolina Beach is a small state park in the town of Carolina Beach (the park is not on the beach) on the Cape Fear River side. There are about 6 miles of easy hiking trails along sandy soil with almost no elevation change. The only exception is at Sugarloaf Dune, one of the highest dunes on the east coast. There is also a marina and camping at the park. One of the highlights here are the carnivorous plants, including pitcher plants and the Venus flytrap. The aptly named Flytrap Trail is an easy half-mile loop and the best opportunity to see them. A wooden overlook provides views of pitcher plants in a pocosin swamp. Surrounded by water, the pitcher plants are probably safe from poachers. Venus flytraps can be harder to find as they're frequently poached. If you want to see them, your best bet is attending a free ranger-led tour and learn how to find them from the experts.

Anyone who's spent time at the Snow's Cut boat ramp knows the struggle. Last I checked it was $5 to use the ramp at the park, so it stays fairly manageable. There's a shop with bait and other goodies as well. I used the camp sites once, which was nice- fire ring, picnic table at each site, communal bath house. My mistake was going in the dead of summer...the thick trees didn't allow for a breeze thru the camp area, so it got HOT.

My sister, mother, and I took my son and nephew on a weekend camping trip. We had a great time. The grounds were well kept. The bathroom and showers were very clean. The site was close to everything. Bring bug spray, though. The mosquitoes were alive and well fed!

This beach and area was a complete disaster to go to.... Staying in Kure Beach was the first bad decisions then leaving our condo to go to another one after the Palmetto cockroaches invested both of our places. There is nothing to do here besides the beach, which isn't bad. Nothing special. The boardwalk is unsafe as well as the rest of this want to be resort town. Folks, stay away from here, save your money!!!
I've been to hundreds of beaches and this ranks last on the list.

We took a weekend to bring our travel trailer down and have a nice beach weekend. This park did not disappoint. The sites are spacious and easy to get into and out of. We were probably the largest unit there this weekend, but a large Class A would probably have no problems getting into some of these sites. It was nice and quiet. Finding the Venus flytraps is difficult unless you know what to look for. They are very small. Take advantage of the little tour to find them. We will be back, when we can get reservations!

This park used to be sparsely populated with campers, and site were easy to get even on the weekends. But not anymore, for weekends especially, reservations have to be made in advance. Easy access to the campsites gets you to a clean camping area with bath houses with hot showers. There are electric and non-electric camp sites (we stayed in a tent) with a fire pit and picnic table at each site. Tent sites are very reasonably priced at about $20 per night - including the reservation fee. Very family oriented, no partying or loud obnoxious campers ever experienced (we have been here about 6 times now). The area is well patrolled and has several nature trails - including one with Venus Flytraps. Just a few miles from Carolina Beach where free parking is still available if you are willing to walk a couple of blocks away from the main road. For a beach camping trip that is more laid back than at the more popular beaches, Carolina Beach State Park can't be beat.

The waves crashing in, the sand in the toes, sunshine warming the skin . . . it's a great place to kick back and relax and there's so much beach that you're not tripping over other people on a normal day.

Really carolina beach is just ok . I’m spoiled having grown up on Long Island . My biggest problem was access and signage . What the place needs is more public parking . More beach area , although I do appreciate a short walk to the water .
Someone would do well to invest in a real destination resort

I thoroughly enjoyed walking the trails. There was a huge selection of trails to pick from and we took the flytrap, Sugarloaf and Oak Toe. All trails were well makes and well maintained. The restrooms at the trailhead was clean. Overall an excellent place to spend some quality time with nature.

We spent a few days tent camping at Carolina Beach campground in mid October. We were on site 55 with plenty of room to spread out and even a space for our boat. We had neighbors on either side and across the street but did not feel cramped in.
The campground is not on the beach!! It is a short drive though to beach access. It is a short drive to restaurants and shopping.
The campground is mostly wooded, nicely spaced and clean. The bathrooms were clean with decent shower facilities. There ia a marina with firewood, ice, a boat ramp, a picnic area and places for fishing.
The staff was really terrific. We made changes to our site selection with no issues. We were ready to leave early because of the strong wind on the river and the woman at the desk suggested we launch our boat in an area with more protection from the wind which allowed us a full day on the water.

Such a treat seeing fly traps, sundew and pitcher plants in their natural habit!
Small visitors center but worth a trip inside. Easy trails with views of native plants, swamps and the cape fear river.

The ecosystem is truly unique at Carolina Beach and I'm so grateful that the state preserved such an ample portion - of an otherwise hot tourist destination area - to keep natural. When walking the trails it is easy to be immersed in three different habitats: pine tree coastal forest, swampland, coastal riverfront. With North Carolina's coasts being so crisp and clean and covered with vacation homes it's easy to forget what the areas looked like prior to building. Carolina Beach State Park really allows visitors a peek at those once-thriving habitats.

There are nearly nine miles of trails, all of which are marked by colored reflective markers that are nailed into pine trees or on engraved stakes sticking roughly three feet out of the ground. The sand on the trails is thin and smooth (ideal for barefoot hiking if you're up to stepping around twigs and pinecones here and there). On this most recent visit, I went on four different trails all of which were easy to walk and navigate. Those trails being the Flytrap Trail (go there in the spring!), Swamp Trail (true to it's name, but you're travelling next to the thinner running swamps rather than over or through them), Campground Trail (easy and a short distance to the sites), and the Sugarloaf Trail (closest to the Marina and a great place to watch birds - I saw a huge woodpecker!). It also appears that the safety of the park is always kept up as there must have been a recent controlled burn of the brush and dried pine needles. When I was there this past time as well as times past there are plentiful winds that lazily drift in from the coast through the tall pine tree tops and it's always a relief to see when such preventative measures are kept up. That said, be wary as that gentle breeze is not enough to keep the bugs - particularly the mosquitos - away unless you're out by the river.

This is a park that could satisfy any kind of camper. To the glampers who require an RV, to the vacationer who is looking to stay in a cabin rather than a hotel, to the backpacker looking to bring a few friends and sleep out in a hammock or tent for the night. At the larger site, there are 70 spots near Snow's Cut Bridge where guests can book small cabins, bring their RV's and hook up to power, or sleep by the river in a non-electric site. In addition, there are primitive group camping sites that are easy to get to and can hold up to around 25 guests. I recommend this spot to anyone looking to camp with people who have different camping styles, but still, want to spend time together. This a real catch-all location!
#getparkedatncstateparks
@AquarianQuirks

Always has been a favorite stop while vacationing in North Carolina. looking forward to the next visit!

We were looking for a place to put our kayak in the water. We found a put in easily and paddled across around along the shore. There were hardly any jet skis, which surprised and delighted us. My husband caught a fish from the kayak and there were jumping fish all over. This place is such a scenic and relaxing change, after the crowds at the beach a few blocks away. The marina has a little deck for viewing Cape Fear River and enjoying a cold one.

We rode bicycles through the park a couple of times on our recent visit to Kure Beach. It is five or six easy miles from Fort Fisher. There is camping, marina, visitor center, kayak and bike rentals, as well as walking trails. People were fishing from the shore both days and we were treated to some dolphins one day. We are going to try out the kayaks on our next vacation.

absolutely amazing. We felt like we had no worries just enjoying life itself. Because of SeaWitch Motel we where able to just get away.

Very nice ocean seaside area in Carolina Beach Park. The sand her is like silk. Not sure why it more fine than along the ocean outside the park, but is noticeably soft.

Had a wonderful time at Carolina Beach State Park. First stop visitors center, very friendly workers. Very knowledgeable of trails and marina. The trails were easy to follow with markers. You can decide how much walking you wanted to do. The scenic views made the walks so much more enjoyable. The marina has a store and washrooms. Very clean. +++ I highly recommend as a place to visit by day or by camping. You won't be disappointed.

Peace & Quiet... No phone calls, No texting... Just the two of us enjoying each other's company! Going & Doing what we wanted... when we wanted to.. A little well deserved R&R...

My husband and I spent a whole week camping here (it was only supposed to be a 4 night stay but we were having so much fun we extended it to 8). This park has everything: beautiful campsites, easy access to the river for kayaking, and a 10 minute bike ride to the beach. Staff was pleasant and helpful. Bathrooms and showers are clean and well maintained. Store carries ice (much cheaper than the local stores) and they also have a washer and dryer (also cheaper than the local laundromat) and you can sit and watch the water while you do your laundry. This was our second trip to the park, and it will definitely not be our last!!

I came here with my family for 4th of July and had a blast. The beach is very clean and pristine.

Water was very warm, and shallow so great for small kids.

Carolina Beach State park has a Marina, nature trails and a campground. It is very convenent to everything. I stayed 3 nights and used it for my base camp for exploring Fort Fisher, Kure beach, Fort Anderson/Brunswich town. The Boardwalk is 10 minutes by bike from my campsite. This alone saved $2 an hour in parking and you see more from a bike.Best Ice tea in Carolina Beach is at McDonalds. Thanks for reading. Please hit helpful. Go first of week. Avoid Weekends.

4yrs going here, and i love every min of it.
Always a good time.
I have never camped here(i live on the island), but i heard thats pretty kewl as well.

We took a side trip from our awesome ocean front condo t to visit Carolina Beach state park. We were pleasantly surprised. We enjoyed the trails and went down to the marina area and Sat on some nice benches provided right on the ocean. We enjoyed watching the fisherman's efforts at t ing to catch the big one. The park has a wonderful interactive deiplay located inside the welcome area for children.

Loved this beach. Nice and quiet without all the hotels and businesses around. Picked up several nice shells and sharks teeth.

My husband and I have enjoyed this park so much and especially the swings. We stayed at seven seas and just walked over to the park and sat for hours just watching the oceanwaves and enjoying the peaceful experience of being here in Kure Beach. We would love to bring our children and grandchildren back soon. Also the walking deck is awesome too.

We did the mile long hike to the 50 foot sand dune. My 2 year old even walked it. Lots of fiddler crabs on the path. Awesome thing to do when your tired of the beach..beautiful ecosystem.

We loved this campground! The sights were spacious and private. There are trails behind the campsite that take you down to the intracoastal waterway and beautiful sunsets. There are other nice trails down by the marina. The beach is just a short drive away, and the campground is near lots of restaurants and stores. We had a member of our group get really sick after the gates had closed one night; we called the first emergency contact who was there within minutes to open the gate. We loved everything about this campground!

Can't wait to go back. We weren't too sure what to expect in the off season, but there was plenty to do.. The campsites as large and level with full hookups. It's close enough to town that you can bicycle in to enjoy the atmosphere there. Grocery stores and restaurants are bikeable as well. Ft Fisher is a bit far for a bike.

We visited with our dog while staying nearby. We were here twice and really enjoyed hiking in the park. It made a nice diversion was being at the beach. The park opens at 8:00 and there is plenty of parking and no admission fee. The area around the marina and along the river is beautiful! We walked the Venus Fly Trap Trail and spotted a few, although they were dormant this time of year (late fall.) They are very small and had to see so you really have to look for them. We saw a nice buck in the swampy area which was an added treat. The only negative for us was when we were walking along the road looking for the trails our dog got several little very sharp burrs in her paws. We did not notice until she started limping and we had to pull them out. Next time we know to stay on the roads or trails. Otherwise, it was a very enjoyable experience.

Really well located. Staff is pleasant and willing to serve.
Toilets and showers are clean and well maintained.
Hooks in showers would be practical.

My husband and I were driving around Carolina Beach and realized they had a state park. We drove in and checked it out. They had a campground, paddleboards, kayaks, a marina, as well as people getting lessons on how to paddleboard, etc. The view was lovely and we had a nice time. It's too bad you can't grab a glass of wine and sit on a deck and enjoy the view.

This is a really nice park you can camp, fish, hike and go on a b boating trip if you would like it also has a small store to buy essentials. A really nice park.

Average park. Beach access, picnic areas. If I remember right you have to pay to go there. Plenty of parking.

Loved every minute! Took our dogs and they also had a great time. Ended up walking 4 miles. Easy hike!

Lots of hiking to choose from. We went on the carnivorous plant hike, then checked out the intercoastal waterway. Lots of fun.

We visited the park with our 12 year old son who wanted to fish. Someone suggested the park for fishing. The park is not on the ocean , it is on the Cape Fear river. So we found a dock on the river and he caught a few fish. So it provided a little different fishing experience for him. We walked around a little but really didn't explore any trails but I think it would be worthwhile if you had more time. And having a camping place would be useful as well.

Well maintained state park with some camping ares for tents and rvs. Kept clean and very quiet like most NC State parks.

Fishing at marina area. Good to watch boats. Didn’t catch anything of major size but had fun. Sandy and nothing to lose tackle

Lovely views of Cape River at Marina. Take bug spray as we were eaten alive on walk! Nice way to spend couple of hours. Very easy walk.

Excellent network of trails for walking and hiking. The Sugarloaf dune is the highest point - 55 feet above sea level. We found venus flytraps and ripe blueberries during our June hike

They have alot of nice trails and campsites, and alot of privacy, only down side is the park closes the gate at 9, so if your not in by then your gonna have a nice hike

There are so many more nicer stretches of coast lines off of the Carolinas. This probably was once a great beach, but because of high volume traffic and what seam like a lack of garbage cans, it has become sort of ruined. Go further south

This is the beach that the locals enjoy. It's beautiful! The beach is clean, populated and the water is very cool and relaxing. We saw plenty of life guards and coast patrol vehicles which passed periodically. We entered the beach just past the midway amusement area and in between a hotel and a parking lot. You can't see much from the road, but it's there alright--sea, surf and sand! We saw a few leashed dogs, joggers and plenty of families. It's a kid friendly beach, but the kids also didn't disturb me. It made me smile to see so many people having a good time. A few rowdy people appeared, but they didn't stay long, realizing that little children could hear their language (lol!). The best part about the beach was that although it was well populated, we could sit near other people without hearing their conversations and vice versa. It felt communal, but comfortable. There does not appear to be a theft problem either, but use your common sense regarding your belongings.

I't would be awesome to see more traveling drink/ice-cream vendors(sort of like mini food trucks), the only vendor was selling ice-cream for $5 a cup(what a rip off!) I would have bought ice-cream(not the best thing to bring and put in a cooler) if it were reasonably priced. Maybe a vendor/shop that rents beach umbrellas? I don't live near the beach, therefore I'd definitely rent an umbrella for $10 for 3 hours. I'm glad that it's not overly commercial, but a few traveling vendors would be appreciated. The beach feels like a natural area should though, which is most important.

We were not anywhere near the pier or the boardwalk, experiences may vary.

I like the fact that parking can be paid for the day--not hourly, which is a total ripoff. We paid $8 which was fine, for our small group and much better than the $20 all day parking offered at another Wilmington N.C. beach.

Restrooms? I don't know if there were any, luckily I didn't need to use one.

Great location and the grills are also nice. the shower house/bathroom are a big plus right at hte parking lot. Get there earlier on summer days though as the parking lot fills up.

Excellent place nice walk use bug spray. Dog and kid friendly. Many different habitats and nice plant and wildlife. We did the fly trap and sugarloaf trails.

Just returned from a two night stay at the State Park. The space rentals are super cheap, and the sites are large. Bathhouse was clean and checked frequently. We camp a good bit, and this is our new go to spot for the beach.

This is my favorite place to go to relax on the beach. My dog and I love exploring the awesome trails.

Great park! We enjoyed locating the venus fly trap in there natural habitat. The park is well maintained with a nice visitors center.

Fun to run or hike the sugar loaf trail with dog, always on a leash. Watch out for others not using leashes, seems to be common. Nice soft ground for running, sometimes a bit sandy.

Easy Trail for the kids and mommy's that don't want to walk to far.. Lots of carnivorous plants.. We saw 3 kinds.. Venus fly traps, Sundews and pitcher plants... Go on sat with the rangers and they bring you to each one.

The reception center had a lot of interesting displays and history about the battery that was located there. You could then walk around the grounds and feel what it was like when they were in operation

Our past two visits to Wilmington we've made the short drive down to Carolina Beach State Park for thoroughly enjoyable trail runs. The single track trails are well marked and a nice mix of sandy scrub and shady forest, with a little elevation gain and water views as well. If you go in the summer, ensure a very early start!

The park itself is stunning and no electric keeps it very nice, so it's quiet and peaceful.
Great big wooded sites and great for tent camping as there is a lot of privacy. Each site has partial shade which is wonderful, we were there the first week of June and it was mid eighties and 70 at night. There are a lot of deer and raccoons. And the sunset in the estuary well don't miss it!!! We surf there often and it's perfect to surf camp! Very crowded/ full capacity on weekends. You can book online now

We camped here (tent camp non electric) for $18/night. The site was beautiful and the views were stunning. Great place to camp or spend the day. Beach views and forest trails- very unique place to spend some time!

happy to see that they are upgrading the camping sites and putting in the cute little cabins. Nice trails and another reason to love where we live!

I stayed 2 nights during March with my college age son when temperatures dipped into the 40s at night and 60s during the day. Due to the colder temperature, there were no bugs or mosquitos. The campsite (20) was large, clean, and shaded. We witnessed the cleaning crew clean the site next to us. She actually swept and cleaned the site like you would expect to see in a hotel. Our site was spotless when we arrived. I was amazed.

Teens had a few sites around us since it was Spring Break. They were loud but generally followed the rules. They were mostly just having fun. A Raccoon was a pest and would sneak up on us every night and visit after we went to bed. We had put away all food and he still came. Screams from the teens site let us know he moved on.

We walked 2 miles to the beach for dinner since we expected to return after 9:00 when the gates were locked. We felt safe until we walked around a bad area of bars at the oceanfront. Restaurants were generally closed or bad. Cooking at the site is recommended. There is a local brewery just outside the park (1 mile walk) with super nice people and so-so beer.

Bathrooms and showers were clean but old. Generally, they were in okay condition. Showers were hot. If crowded, the central bathroom would be crowded.

About half the sites are under construction (I assume due to flooding issues). Construction noise was not an issue.

Sunset on the ICW was beautiful.

Pretty campground, decent bathrooms. Beware of mosquitos and ticks. Family friendly and fairly quiet.

Sandy trails exploring interesting habitats. Shoot for Sugar Loaf, the big dune and take along a plastic sled for some fun. Good views of Cape Fear River. Also marina on river. Biking allowed on paved roads.

My daughters and I enjoyed the hike through the woods. It was a great mix of hills, flat lands, and water views. Great mother daughter time!!

So beautiful! It's not as built up as Myrtle Beach, but has plenty of restaurants nearby. We didn't need parking, but there are plenty of places to park.

Carolina Beach SP is tucked away back from the beach. There are hiking trails through a variety of coastal ecosystems and the facilities have vastly improved from years ago. It's definitely worth your while to stop in and visit.

The state park is free admission and has availability for overnight camping for a fee. It is one of the only areas in the entire world you can see Venus fly traps native, along with many other more common carnivorous plants. We didn't have a lot of time so we checked out the visitor center (sadly it was small and you aren't missing much if you skip it) and the flytrap trail. We want to return and spend a lot more time at the park walking the other trails too. The limesinks look especially interesting, and we didn't have much look looking for the fly traps because it's still early in the season. I expect returning in about a month would be more ideal, but even today it was beautiful and peaceful. We did spot a red headed woodpecker family which was cool.

I do quite a bit of walking in the state park its common to see deer, and squirrel,and a snake in the summer.Lots of camping sites for tents, and RV,along with small log cabins for rent last I checked cabins were $75.00 a night.Trails offer waterway views,some trails run really close to the Cape Fear River.
Walks are quite and peaceful a good way to just relax,you will see visitors camping from all over the United States.

Love the nature trails. The fishing is good too. Park rangers are friendly. We enjoyed our weekend. Hope to camp again in the fall.

It’s so relaxing and peaceful. I love to see the Venus Flytraps. It’s a nice place to enjoy nature at it’s finest.

The park itself was great and close to the beach which was wonderful. The Ranger was friendly and excellent customer service however, beware that every guest is not friendly or politically quiet. If you are a family of color, you may be exposed to some opinionated views or comments that could cause havoc on your trip.

Using the "N" word is never okay but it happened.

This is a great affordable place camp near the beach. The sites are nice and pretty secluded. The only complaint is that their noise restrictions are pretty loose so you may end up near someone running a generator until 11 pm. Nice trails and awesome scenery. Very good people to work with at the marina.

The beach is great and family friendly. The beach is clean and close to many restaurants. There is ample parking. Also, the boardwalk is fun for all. Has arcade and a few carnival rides.

We attended the centennial and also our two local businesses (Isand beverage and the Pearl & The Petal) donated to the centennial celebration in efforts to raise funds for the park! We enjoyed the celebration and learning about our local state park in addition to all the wonderful NC state parks we have. You can get a book with a map of all the parks to get stamped on your Adventure! You can set your paddles boards in, camp overnight, get supplies at the gift-welcome center. Lots of hiking and outdoor adventure!

We Love this nice quiet campground. Sites were full and we never heard a peep. My wife and I went for a nice hike on the trail following the river. Excellent views. The only problem was in February they lock the gate at 7 pm so we had to plan an early diner to get back in time but other than that we had a great time.

We have been here twice now on the way to Florida to visit my parents! Love the area even considering to move here ourselves! Anyway this park was great both times and a lot of fun for pup! Little beach area for him to riling and forest areas to feel more country hiking - We all really enjoy! More buggy this time of year August but January was nothing and lots of pups for him to play with locally at the parks etc. this trip in August less pups around but still dog friendly humans and some pups to play with - Just humid this trip so I am sure locals stay in 🤣

Enjoyed some of the kayaking spots. Very peaceful. We considered the park to be very clean and easy to navigate.

We only did some walking trails and it was wonderful. There are a few different size trails so you can do a few and see beautiful nature.

This was a nice park. We started at the marina and walked around there a bit. It was informative to see the fish chart to see what kinds of fish could be caught in this area. We then went to the visitor center and learned about the area. Finally we went on a short very hot walk to see the native carnivorous plants which we hadn't seen before. It was worth the walk. We were unable to make the guided carnivorous hike but it would have been good to have a guide as the fly traps are very small and we couldn't find any on our own. The campground looked well shaded and spacious.

Part of the NC State Park system, this park is the best deal in the area for camping and walking about the Cape Fear River area. I have fished there several times and have enjoyed the variety caught. Be aware this is a wooded park and there are lots of local critters about in the form of several types of snakes (leave them alone they are only interested is avoiding people-most are non venomous, all or rare in the park except the Eastern Blacksnake and the Hog Nose and your chances of seeing one is very small ), fox, raccoons, possums, rabbits, hundreds of birds, deer, rare flora and fauna, very clean facilities and a fantastic camping ground. The Staff are very professional and helpful.

Carolina Beach State Park has hiking trails, boat ramps, camping, Nature Center, picnic tables, and very informed Park Rangers. This is also a very pet friendly park. You can see what this area looked like before Europeans came to North America. This is a Long Leaf Pine habitat that once coveredmost of the Southeastern US. Sandy soil, pocosons, Long Leaf pines, Live Oaks,and wire grass are all part of the native plants in this are and this park. There are also Venus fly traps which are native only to this area. Plan a trip and enjoy many of the great programs that the Park Rangers put on.

This is the perfect place to unwind and take it easy and Free for a family. Take a picnic and stroll the grounds = go to the museum and watch a good movie that will enhance your walk.
Its not so long and really not boring at all. Kids love the place and after going outside can mostly run around and have fun. A word of caution trust them when the signs are up to Not Enter on the grounds-it is for your safety- I ask-it because of the huge nest of fire ants and living close to this area it is a mistake you do not want you or your children to make.

Great area for easy hiking/walking! The trails are mostly sand, pine needles, or mulch, and are flat, with the exception being a moderate hill to up to Sugar Loaf Dune. There are tons of beautiful plants, including some carnivorous plants, like pitcher plants and fly traps. You can bring dogs (on a leash). There are a number of trails that go through the park and down to the water. We were lucky enough to see a lot of animals, including deer, lizards, pelicans, crabs, and squirrels. Highly recommended for those who love walking and enjoying nature!!!

Went to the state park with our 2 year old today to look at some nature. It was a fun adventure looking at lizards, snakes and crabs. Def must do.

My children and I were staying in Carolina Beach, and drove out to the park 2 evenings to watch the sun set over the bay. I wish we'd spent time there during the day, too, as it is a quiet, pretty place to bike and walk. I think there are bike rentals in the park, maybe kayaks, too. But if nothing else, go for the sunsets!

We really enjoyed hiking the trails in the state park. They are easy trails with beautiful scenery and well marked. One of the best state parks I have visited and has a nice picnic area. I was disappointed to not find any venus flytrap. Maybe seasonal.

What a great place to get away from the crowds for some nature adventures. We did look fro the Venus fly traps but didn't find any, however enjoyed looking. Found the sundew plants and a pitcher plant. We went on the Nature walk and then went to the boat landing and walked down the path along the water and stayed there watching MANY pelican diving into the water!!!! I love Pelicans and was very surprised to see SO many of the Pelicans there in front of us. Next time I will bring my kayaks as there was a very nice are to launch with plenty of parking!

A nice place to visit while in Carolina Beach. We were sorry that it rained through much of our visit but, we made the most of it. Hope to come back again for a longer visit.

Great amenities. Quick drive to the beach. Many trails, near greenway. Grocery store close enough to ride a bike or a decent walk.

We went in February, therefore did not get to see the Venus Fly Traps. But it was a warm day (80 deg) and there were plenty of people, although only most were on the trail that went to the river. Plenty of parking in several parking lots. Beautiful views from the riverbank. Unfortunately there were parts of a couple trails that were water logged and needed some skill to get around.

Sugarloaf trail at Carolina Beach State Park is an easy 3 mile loop. The trail constantly changes from beach to sand dune, through woodland forest and past lily ponds and cypress swamps. It is totally flat except for 1 sand dune so very easy for kids and the average tourist. Its free too!

I love this place. My family loves to hike the trails since they are shaded in the Summer. They have cabins you can rent or reserve a campsite pitch your tent or camper. If you have a boat they have a boat ramp and Nauti Times rental will rent you a boat but call them a few days ahead and be sure one is available. I will warn you do not swim here it is the river and in Wilmington area if it’s not the ocean expect Alligators. No worries I have never seen one on the trails. This place is quiet and a wonderful place to explore. There is ample parking and the trails are not difficult if my 4 & 5 year olds can handle it.

went looking for a friend's lost dog....no luck but the park is very well laid out....will try fishing there this summer

My husband and I had planned to camp in the mountain's but the storm decided we camp elsewhere. We used to fish here when our kid's were small so we decided to go back down memory lane. Camping sites have a good amount of distance between them and park has hot showers. There are also a couple of outlets in the bathhouse to dry hair, etc. We thought we got lucky and was told when we checked in that we could rent the "Host" spot which meant electricity and water on site. We just had to pay the extra fees. Great deal! We unload more than half of our vehicle, tent on pad and we find out it was only wired with a RV plug. I called Marina and they advised the adaptor to enable us to use a drop cord has to be there and it better be there. Were we sure we were looking at the right thing? Duh. lol They send someone who advises, no, it's not here. This is a host site and there isn't one. Naturally, we are like, since we can't use the electricity can we get the extra money we paid back? Sure! I call the Marina and the guy says he's sorry and yes they'll give us a refund for the extra money paid. I hear someone telling him something and he says, no we can't, the site still has electricity and you have to pay the full amount. But you can move to the site you originally reserved and then we'll refund the extra. At this point, I don't think my husband is going to want to load our car nor pack our tent back up. Guy advised it's nothing they can do. I didn't, but I felt like asking him, well, why did you rent a place knowing we needed electricity for CPAP and a Spinal Cord Stimulator implant if you knew it didn't have the correct plug? After all, you were the one who told us there was an adaptor and it had better be there, and that we weren't looking for it in the right place. It's not like I didn't tell him our needs before renting it. Other than the staff, the Park is beautiful, in a great area and close to everything. We would go again and this experience taught us about what site would meet our needs better. We spent the rest of the first day looking a battery power fan or the adaptor to enable us to use electricity. No luck. We did however find an adaptor the next day. So I guess all's well that ends well. But that was a lot of time out of our 4 days and I still feel staff could have been more accommodating. If you are a senior, they will give you a $6 a day discount. The marina has a place to do laundry, bait, fishing rigs, ice cream, t-shirts, batteries, firewood etc

Beautiful options for running, hiking, and even camping. New air conditioned cabins are available for a reasonable fee per night as well.

We made our reservations 8 months in advance and couldn't wait for the August weekend. The campground is lovely and the electric sites are awesome - we had site 002. The bath house is not very conveniently located for this loop.

We took a Ranger led nature hike to view the carnivorous native plants which was AWESOME. It was the highlight of the trip! Without the Ranger we would have totally missed the venus flytraps as they are not as large as they are in the Rocky Horror Picture show :-)

Great place to take some time and just walk the wonderful trails with kids, family, and/or friends!

I love the CB State Park. I have been walking the trails here for 10 years now. It's my dogs favorite place to go for a walk. It offers great views of the river. New trails have been added over the years too. There is a campground, a boat launch and a picnic area with grills. If you are visiting the area and you like nature you should definitely stop and check it out. Plus it offers a great sunset location down at the marina.

Immaculately kept, safe and patrolled, what a jem of a NC park. Walking trails are soft on the feet, interesting and uncrowded this time of year. The campgrounds have full service hook ups, only 10 of them though, so book early! They even have little cabins with beds. If you are tent camping, go for one close to the bath house. The sites are large and spread out, which means you are a hike from the bathroom unless you picked a site nearby. The ONLY complaint is that the water pressure is horrible, but it is worth it to us. You must check in at the marina, there are large picnic areas, a kayak rental place, benches to sit/fish from at the marina. There are many trails that lead to different eco systems. It also has a nice welcome area at the entrance. And the location puts you close to Kure, Wilmington, Wrightsville, etc. Bring your camera!

My wife and I decided to ride our bikes from home to the park. We didn't check to see how far it was because we were determined to enjoy our adventure. We stopped at the visitor center when we entered the park. After reading the large map, we opted to ride to the public access boat ramp. They have kayaks and stand up paddle boards to rent. That will be another adventure. We sit on a bench watching families with children enjoying their time together. 20 minutes later we began our return trip home. Then, we checked the distance. It was 3 miles each way. The ride was a pleasant experience and quality time with each other. We look forward to doing it again.

The marina has great river access & is well maintained. Loved the fishing dock & marina house with store well stocked with fishing & boating necessities. Lots of easy access trails, including one devoted to the preservation of native Venus flytrap plants. Nice campground with hookups. Enjoyed very much watching the sunset over the Cape Fear River from the tall Adirondack chairs on the porch of the marina house enjoying an RC & a Moonpie from the adjacent store. What a relaxing evening!

My husband and I visited on a chilly spring day and were glad for a place to warm up inside the visitors' center. We grabbed a map and took a short walk along the Venus Fly Trap trail. It was an easy 15-minute stroll on flat terrain. Great for kids or wheelchairs that can manage a dirt-packed path covered in pine needles. Disappointed we did not see any Venus Flytraps, but it may have been too early for them. We did spot a pitcher plant in the marsh. We would've tried another trail, but it was too cold and windy.

This is a great place for kids to learn and let off steam. Exhibits inside the vIsitors' center are tailor-made for kids to learn about the fragile ecosystem. The park also offers ranger-led talks, which we want to attend on a warmer day.

Started off with a morning trip with our dog. After a quick stop in the visitor center to get a trail map, we drove over to the parking lot next to the marina to get access to the Sugarloaf trail. We walked through river front, forest and swamp areas on this trail and saw squirrel, skink, crabs, lots of water fowl and tons of neat vegetation. After the dog got worn out we headed back to the marina for restrooms, water for the dog and drinks for us from the store. Later we returned without the dog to check out the Flytrap trail. We did see 1 variety of carnivorous plant (pitcher), but were unable to locate the Venus Flytrap. We plan on visiting 1 more time in the evening to view the sunset from the west facing shore!

We were looking for some nice walking/hiking trails. We were very pleased. Was able to load a park map on my phone and follow trails fairly easily. Nice shaded trails. Some boardwalks over swamps. Fairly typical southern piney forest. Nice view of the Cape Fear River basin. Made us want to break out the kayaks. Didn't see any Venus flytraps, but did see evidence of controlled burns ( apparently to allow them to grow). Would return.

It's quiet. Not a lot of people here in Feb, so you can have a quiet walk. It's clean and well kept, just not very visually interesting. It's very flat, so there isn't any "hiking" just walking.

Four of us rented 2 tent campsites for 3 nights. Worse bathroom facilities we've ever experienced. Filthy dirty, bugs everywhere, rust and mold, trash overflowing and toilets hardly flush. Ranger said bathouse was condemned yet it was the only one opened for campers. Disgusting and definitely a health hazard to visit! Don't stay there if boat traffic and fog horns will bother you at 5am. Mosquitos love it there...we didn't!

We went during the off season, so we missed the pitcher plants and Venus flytraps on the Flytrap Trail. Be sure to go in the summer if possible. A few really nice photographic opportunities around the park. We just did a short day visit, but the park has a really nice looking campground and nice boat launch and marina on the Cape Fear River.

We attended the Carnivorous Plant Walk. The Park Ranger who conducted the walk was friendly and well informed. We were very disappointed to hear that Venus Fly Traps are poached very often so we didn’t get to see any. Shame on folks who steal them. Poaching them is a felony.

We have been to this park a few times in the past 2 years and both times had been an enjoyable ride and break from hustle of beach. There are several trails for hiking but no bikes are allowed on trails and the last time we went were very muddy due to enormous amount of rain fall the prior days but still pleasant.

So we just left fly trap cabin. $50 a night. Cabin is adorable,new,clean and airconditioned. They sleep 6. Cons/ no water at site and long walk to either bath house. The bath house needs fans. It's like a humid sauna with sand,dirt and mildew everywhere. The shower curtains need to be cleaned or replaced. Great campground,quiet. Love the cabin and would be awesome if it had water on site. If you go bring a fan for the 2nd bedroom. Only front room has the air unit. The 2nd room got a little hot.

The park was conveniently located to town and our hotel. The place was clean and easy to move around. Great place to spend a lazy afternoon.

After visiting Carolina Beach three times a year for the last 9 years we FINALLY visited Carolina Beach State Park and were not disappointed. It is an amazing little spot just blocks away from the main drag of tourism and beach mania. It is NOT the park beyond the Carolina Beach Pier in the thumbnail picture. That would be Freeman Park. This is a large natural area inland that reflects the land resources and history of the area. Beautiful bike and hiking trails, special fishing spots, a marina, kayak/ SUP/bike tours and rentals, and a shady campground. I highly recommend renting a kayak and touring the coast. Looking forward to fishing and campin here later in the year.

My granddaughter and I were at the Beach on Wednesday 7/12/2017 around 10:30. We were ok for a while but then I decided to venture out further into the water. A huge wave came and knocked me down. Between the current and the waves I could not get up. My granddaughter was upset and could not help me. The lifeguard was not even watching. Finally a lady sitting on the beach ran down to help me get back to my chair. I was shaking and at one point thought I might drown. We then left the beach and find a ticket on my windshield for parking. I have appealed the ticket but lost so on top of all that I now am out $15.00. I will never return to that beach. All I keep thinking about is what if that was a small child and the lifeguard was not doing his job.
Thank you
Virginia Pierson

Great hiking area with 6 miles of sandy trails that includes Sugarloaf, a 55 ft. pine and oak covered dune that anchored the mile long defensive trench of the Confederate forces blocking the invading Union forces that had battled at Ft Fisher and were trying to get to Wilmington. Lots of river views, Snow's Cut trails and bog ponds. Bring your own snacks and food, and please take your litter with you.

We stayed two nights in December. Site #2 with a full hook-up. There are only a few sites for RV/trailer full hook up, so book early. The site is conveniently located very close to the center of Carolina Beach. There is a great microbrewery, Good Hops, just a half mile walk from the campsite. Great atmosphere and decent beer. The campsites are very well kept, as are the bathroom facilities. The only drawback is that, as a state park, the gates close form dusk to dawn. At this time of the year it is 7 am to 6 pm, which doesn't give much time for enjoying a nice meal locally. The alternative is to leave your car outside the gate and walk the 0.4 miles to your campsite, and go get your car in the morning. If you do that, be careful where you park on the side of the road, near the gates, because it is sandy and quite deep (OK for 4wd). There is a nice marina in the park, as well as nice hiking trails. There is a nice one along the waterfront, but there is no access to the beach..

The paths are great and there are a good selection of trails that are well marked. The walking was pretty easy most of the time and quite flat. Some trails are handicap accessible too. BUT- and this is a big issue-the restrooms were so dirty and lacking in maintenance they were almost unusable. The visitor center was closed so the only information available was a small fold out map. Without that there wouldn't have been a hike.

Wow finally found a bike trail...it isn't terribly long, but it's loads of fun. Plus the park itself is almost all shaded and is a perfect place to run/bike/explore trails.

We stopped in to pick up a new NC State Parks passport and to check out the renovations to the campground that include RV sites with full hookups. Just like all state parks, we found everything to be perfect and the rangers we spoke to were extremely nice. Some of the camping spots were small and we usually pick out some that we like for future reservations. None were better than others right off, but the sites and cabins were full. We checked out the marina also and there are some trails by the water. Lots of interesting little crabs running back and forth. Fun!

Great beach park with marina attached. This park offers camping as well as a boat launch, they rent kayak and addle boards too.

We dropped in for an afternoon visit and enjoyed the park. We love to hike trails and enjoyed our walk on the trails here. There are nice overlooks of the Cape Fear River.

Roomy campsites that are well cared for, huge, mature trees, lots of privacy for a campground at a state park. Bathhouse was fairly clean, although, as expected, it provided exactly zero frills! Quick, scenic, flat bicycle ride to the beach, nice hiking trails, a marina...swimming, boat rental, all the bells and whistles. But... I think there may be more raccoons in this park than there are people in Saskatchewan. We're seasoned "car campers," and we were careful, as we always are, to make sure our food was packed away in fairly heavy-duty containers, but the little masked miscreants sill managed to steal a loaf of bread from our cooler and tear the parts they didn't eat to shreds, which they left all over the campsite. They also got into screaming, nightmarish, knock-down, drag-out fights in the middle of the night; skirmishes that lasted 10 minutes and more. Also, the gate closes early, and if you end up returning to your site "after hours," you'll have to park your car on the side of the road and hoof it back to your tent. A swipe-card sort of arrangement for paying visitors would be outstanding. Overall, a lovely weekend.

We had a fun drive south to the state park. We liked that it was a way from the active beach life. We only walked about a mile due to the thunder storm. It was flat and easy to walk around. We didn't see any wold animals.

Great beach, nice waves great for surfing and boggy boarding. Recommend this beach to families since its quite and clean

One of the big features of this park - is it preserves the habitat of carnivorous plants (venus fly traps, pitcher plants, etc).
I asked which trail was best for viewing them in their habitat and was told to go to the "Fly Trap Trail". Great. Except the fly trap trail was the subject of controlled burning (done regularly to preserve the habitat) and the only pitcher plant was toasted beyond recognition as the entire area was burned.

I returned the next day for 2 more trails, a total of 1.8 miles - and spotted nothing. If the plants are there they don't want you knowing where

Smaller beach area and quiet. Not crowded like bigger beaches (Myrtle, Virginia, Jersey Shore). Mostly we saw families and couples (young and empty-nester age). When not on the sand or in the ocean, there isn't much so if sitting on the beach is what you are looking for, this is a place for you. We were looking for more: a livelier beach and boardwalk area. Signs said it was bike and pedestrian friendly community and beach; saw very little biking. There was one public restroom area near the boardwalk but there were lifeguards stationed every block or so which was really nice. Overall, I expected more so it's not on my list of places to return soon but it was quaint and mostly quiet.

Great hiking trails and good views of the Cape Fear River. Trails were through the woods and flat, so bring bug spray.

My husband and I come to Carolina Beach every October. We love coming out to this park to fish and watch the boats go by. We don't camp, but a lot of others do. Lots of nature trails.
Graham NC

We enjoyed hiking trails around the state park. We heard that there were venus flytrap and pitcher plants. We didn't find either unfortunately. Some of the hikers said that they lay dormant in winter. We enjoyed walking the trails. We walked around in a loop. There are a lot of hikers and dog walkers. Its a busy trail. There is limited parking where we started our hike flytrap trail.

Nice Marina and area for walking along the shore, especially when the tide is out. We often see dolphins in there as well.

Visited Carolina Beach State Park numerous times for hiking and biking and boating. They have campgrounds, nature museum marina & boat ramp.

They park is very well kept and easy to access. The showers on the other hand, is terrible. There was black stuff on the walls that could be wiped off, it was in all showers.

This is a great place..took my dog hiking. We loved the Sugarloaf overlook. The other overlook (forgot what the name is) unfortunately you can't get to because the bridge is basically not there. And you don't know this until you've hiked all the way out there so kinda disappointed.. should be a sign that it's closed. Otherwise great park.

Nice beach with boardwalk and rides. Had fireworks first night and wasn't too awful busy. Spent second night on boardwalk.

Saw some of the carnivorous plants. Very hard to spot due to poaching and the fact that the Venus fly traps are tiny. Sad about the poaching because it took awhile to spot. We were eaten alive by mosquitos so had to go to the marina store and purchase deet spray! Nice beach with boat rentals.

Once again most of the beach shops and restaurants are closed for the season. This has a nice boardwalk area and places to sit. If get sandy there is shower heads to rinse off. This weekend rib fest was being held out here.

We went to Carolina Beach State Park (CBSP) mainly to see wildlife and to try and see some of the carnivorous plants that grow only in this area.There is a boardwalk that takes you through a small swamp and then several ecosystems and we enjoyed this even if we didn't see a lot of wildlife (a few birds, a turtle, a skink, and lots of dragonflies). We never did see the venus flytraps but it was a good little walk anyway and we might have seen more wildlife at a different time of day. There is a campground which we didn't investigate and a well-stocked camp store. The beach is small but very nice and if we would gladly return there for a beach day. We walked out on the fishing pier which appeared in good repair and well kept. In summary, this is a small, well-kept state park where you could enjoy yourself with your family for a few days. In the summer, being in the park will require using a lot of insect repellent if you are anywhere except on the beach.

We tented 2 nights in the park. The sites were large, private, and (though most sites were filled) quiet. From a northeast site, we could often hear the water but sometimes heard the distant click-click of vehicles crossing the intracoastal waterway bridge. The Flytrap Trail is a must-do, easy walk on the marsh boardwalk, but finding the teeny Venus Flytraps for the first time takes a trained eye! The park is just over 2 miles to the Atlantic Ocean beach - ride a bike if possible because beach parking fees are steep ($5/hour) and enforced even in the fall!

Visited the park while on Spring Break vacation. Very nice park. The staff were super friendly and very informative. We walked two of the trails available. The Sugar Loaf is the longest at three miles. It was pretty easy and incredibly well marked. Lots of spots to sit and take in the scenery. Camping is available and is very family friendly.

I grew up by this park and it was my playground as a kid. It is typical coastal pine barren located on the Cape Fear River. Many trails and a very diverse eco-system. Great marina with boat ramps, very nice camping. They now have camping cabins you can rent. I do not believe they have full hookups, just power. Don't miss the home of the Venus FlyTrap, ask a ranger they can guide you.

We drove down from Pennsylvania to visit and camp. This campground is amazing. Sites are well maintained and the crew and rangers are very nice. The bath houses are older but you are camping in the woods. Ive seen them being cleaned and campsites as well. A few spiders inside the showers but again you are in the woods. The trails in this park are amazing as well. Such a beautiful environment. I would recommend it highly. There is no beach access within the park but the walking trials along the park takes you along the river and snows cut. Such a beautiful place.

Camping is always a fun filled experience for us, so relaxing with a hike. Some beautiful views and many more attractions very close by

I came here with 3 teenagers and stayed in a cabin while we enjoyed Carolina Beach and the area. The cabins are very nice and a great value at $50 per night- basic furnishings that met our needs and the air conditioning and solid roof were very much appreciated during the thunderstorms and high humidity. It's a bit of a walk to the bath house from the cabins - not far for a shower, but a little longer than you want for first thing in the morning, so you need to plan ahead. The bath houses are what you would expect at a campground - not luxurious and not perfectly clean or free from bugs, but functional and free to use. The trash and recycling containers are conveniently located and are emptied every morning, so we never had smells or bees around them.

While there we saw lots of wildlife, even though 3 teenagers are never quite - 3 deer walked by the next cabin while we were sitting at lunch, lots of frogs, a black snake, a copperhead (so keep your eyes open!), and a juvenile gator (he was in the water at the marina, but the park ranger told us he wasn't a threat to kayakers and we didn't see him on our paddle). We saw carnivorous plants, paddled on the river (boat traffic is heavy even on weekdays - be very careful about inattentive humans!), and attended a turtle talk at the visitors center. We all enjoyed the visit and came home more environmentally conscious and committed to reducing our plastic consumption.

The park staff were all wonderfully helpful and very friendly.

Carolina beach is a great beach. We spent a few hours there and it was not overly crowded but it was pleasent. The beach is well maintained and cared for. Also visit Kure Beach just down the road.

I love this diverse park. You go from beach to swamp to dense forest in a short hike !! I highly recommend this park to all nature lovers and anyone who would benefit from some exercise and fresh air !!

Nice park, campsites and cabins available! Nice little store too, found extendable sand dipper for beach combing far less than tourist attractions rates. We stopped in on Wednesday as Hurricane Michael was making his way up to the Carolinas. The girl working in the store that day was a treasure! What a hoot, she really was great! 😁

Nice trails. Great for dogs. Bring bug spray because you do walk through some swamp areas. It paralells the bay side on and off.

I just go here for a hike every so often in the off season. beautiful place when you have it to yourself.

This was our second visit to Carolina Beach State Park. This is fantastic state park only 5 minutes or so from Carolina Beach. Great for families or couples, this park has large campsites for tents or RVs, plenty of walking trails and relaxation.

Our favorite aspects of this park:
-large, private campsites, it felt like we had privacy even in our tents
-fire rings for campfires
-friendly campers
-shaded trees for hammock hanging
-walking trails
-quiet/serene
-close proximity to Carolina Beach
-cute camping cabins (hope to try one day)
-Recycling available
-Park Rangers visible and helpful

What to bring: camp chairs, sunscreen, bug spray, walking/hiking shoes, bicycles, camera, chargers.

Just minutes from town and the beach, this little park is like a completely different world from the ocean side of the island. Raised walkways and sandy paths let you stroll at your own pace. There is a wonderful visitor center with a great interactive children's area. As with almost all of NC's state parks, it is free to visit and a great way to escape the sun for a few hours and enjoy some shady walks. Make sure you pick up a guide from the visitor's center as the trails are marked with symbols only and you can easily get off the trail you intended.

March: we hoped for warm, we had bad luck as the temp went below freezing overnights. But our campsite was wonderful, staff was very helpful, and we had a fantastic stay regardless. Campsite was clean, washroom had nice warm showers, we were able to use the water to cook with, which was great. Love the greenery, Spanish moss, and Jassamine! Highly recommend the nearby aquarium, as well as Seafood Crab Company where we purchased the most amazing seafood. Love the area, will be back for sure!

This review is written from the viewpoint of an RV camper. The campground is kept in good repair and usually there is a good amount of separation between the sites. Only 9 sites have full hookups, so the vast majority of sites are dry, or primitive camping. Bath houses and water spigots are convenient for those campers...in fact there is a public spigot right across from our spot. They do have some very nice cabins to rent but I think they do NOT have bathrooms. Maintenance personnel are always driving around so I'm certain that if something needs fixing, there will be someone available to work on it. All roads are paved and the spaces have gravel. I think all space have fire pits and picnic tables. They need to add a second dumpster because the small dumpster always seems to be full. There is a picnic area for the public near the marina. If you happen to have a big rig, or have a toad, my suggestion is to go to your site FIRST, then unhook and drive to the marina to check in. It might be very tight to get turned around at the marina in a class C or class A, particularly if you have a toad. Be sure to take your vehicle license plate numbers with you when you check in. Be aware that the park gate is closed and locked at night. There are a couple of spots behind the marina for dogs to get their feet wet. The marina store has some souvenirs and sundries for sale. Of course the famous Venus Fly Trap trail (1/2 mile, easy) is a must-see and free to the public. No bikes are allowed on trails. All in all, the CBSP is a worthwhile visit for almost anyone and is certainly a feather in the state park system's cap.

Walked the flytrap trail and never saw the plant. It was a nice hike and a beautiful day. Lots of trails to hike and a nice campground.

This was a great campground for primitive camping. The sites are all very well maintained with picnic tables, tent pads, crushed gravel drives/pull-ins. I felt like I had some privacy from my neighbors with the layout of the campsite even though they were not far away. The bath house was very clean and well maintained with hot water! I felt safe and comfortable for my weekend stay.

They are pet friendly, too! I will stay here again.

Beautiful campground with lots of shade and peace and quiet !! Check out the nature trails when you go! The owners are lots of help and the beach is only a few miles away.

My family of 5 (Mom, Dad, 15 yr old, 10 yr old & 7 yr old) enjoy walking the trails on occasion. There are different trails and you can get a free map at the visitors center near the entrance of the park. No fees to enjoy the trails either. The trails are mostly flat terrain and are well marked. The Sugar Loaf trail has some elevation change where it meets the Cape Fear River. Some folks walk their dogs on the trails so watch out for the occasional pile of doggy poop. Most folks clean up after their pets, but you should always be aware of where you are stepping. It is the woods, so you may encounter wildlife. Always check yourself and any children for ticks after walking the trails. Not just this park, but any wooded area in North Carolina can have ticks. An endangered carnivorous plant can also be found along some trails (Venus Flytrap) so keep an eye out for them, but don't touch as they are federally protected. Also, no bikes are allowed on these trails. The trails are great as a day trip activity and they also have camp sites and a few little cabins for rent if you want to stay overnight. It gets busy sometimes so advanced booking is recommended if you want to reserve a space for overnight. The trails are worth a visit if you want some easy outdoor walking with shade on a warm and sunny day.

not too many people, clean beach, I loved watching the kids learn to surf in the tide, wonderful vacation.