A wide, empty Oak Island beach under a bright blue sky, with beach houses along the dunes
Piers · Parks · Play

Things to do on the island.

Two fishing piers, a free splash pad, mini golf, skate and dog parks, disc golf, the lighthouse, and Southport just over the bridge.

The piers ↓Everything on the map ↓Lighthouse & Caswell ↓
Fishing piers

Two piers, two personalities

The Town's big modern pier on the east end, and the classic family-run Ocean Crest Pier mid-island.

🎣 Town pier · East end

Oak Island Pier

705 Ocean Dr · open 6 AM to 10 PM daily (see the Town pier page) · the former Yaupon Pier, rebuilt in 2019; the Town calls it the highest pier in North Carolina

  • Walk-on: free
  • Fishing: buy a pier fishing pass (day, 3-, 5-, 7-day and season; senior and military discounts). Daily pass $12 for 1 rod, $14 for 2; kids 6 to 12 $6, 5 and under free. Every rate is on the Town's pier fee sheet (PDF)
  • Food: Koko Cabana restaurant and Ruby's Coffeehouse (coffee, bagels, sandwiches, ice cream) at the pier complex
  • Pier House shop: bait, tackle, snacks, drinks, beer and wine
  • Parking: free 2-hour lot at the Pier House, plus paid lot at 604 Ocean Dr. Restrooms and a Mobi-Mat beach access next door
On the mapFee sheet (PDF)910-933-6161
🎣 Private pier · Mid-island

Ocean Crest Pier

1409 E Beach Dr · family-owned · open daily 6 AM–11 PM (call to confirm)

  • Fishing: the pier says no fishing license is required to fish on it
  • On site: tackle shop, rod rentals, fish-cleaning stations, restrooms
  • Food: restaurants and ice cream cluster around the pier on E Beach Dr. See Eat & Shop for current spots
On the mapWebsite910-278-6674
Everything on the map

Parks, play & places to go

Filter by what you're in the mood for. Parks, playgrounds and picnic shelters include Southport and the mainland near the bridges.

Same island, east end: Caswell Beach

The lighthouse, golf & the quiet east tip

Oak Island is about 12 miles long. Most of it is the Town of Oak Island; the east end is the small Town of Caswell Beach, home to the Oak Island Lighthouse, Oak Island Golf Club and historic Fort Caswell. Riding the island end to end and back is a popular long, flat bike day. We haven't confirmed bike lanes the whole way, so ride with traffic in mind.

🗼
Oak Island Lighthouse300 Caswell Beach Rd. Built 1958. Tours and dates: oakislandlighthouse.org. The grounds are open year-round. All tours are free. Top climbs are by reservation: 131 ship-ladder steps, age 9+, sneakers required. Tue/Thu/Sun mornings May–Sep, Wed/Sat mornings Oct–Apr. Summer dates book up weeks ahead. In summer (Memorial Day–Labor Day) there are also walk-up tours to the second level, Wed 10–2 and Sat 10–noon, age 7+, no reservation. Lighthouse parking: 1 hour, dawn to dusk.
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Free public beach parkingThe Town of Caswell Beach's public lot near 701 Caswell Beach Rd is free, first come, first served, with wheelchair-accessible spaces. It fills on summer weekends. Don't park along Caswell Beach Road.
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⛳
Oak Island Golf Club928 Caswell Beach Rd. 18 holes, par 72, a 1962 George Cobb design, open to the public for daily-fee play. Tee times by phone.
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🍔
Duffer's Pub & GrillePub and grill in the golf club clubhouse, open to everyone. Lunch, dinner and a kids' menu.
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🏰
Fort CaswellBuilt 1826–1838 and held by Confederate forces in 1861–65 (NCpedia); now privately owned by the NC Baptist Assembly. It isn't a public park. Visitors can ask at the gate about a short drive-through visit. Call ahead.

Parking rules from the Town of Caswell Beach website. Caswell Beach Town Hall: 910-278-5471.

Oak Island Lighthouse beside a wooden walkway through the dune grass
Easy day trips

Over the bridge

⚓ Downtown Southport

About 15 minutes away. The riverfront Waterfront Park, Franklin Square, Fort Johnston and the NC Maritime Museum, plus lots of restaurants. Southport restaurants & shops →

⛴️ The Southport ferries

The passenger ferry to car-free Bald Head Island ($23 adult round trip) and the state car ferry across the river to Fort Fisher ($7 a car, 35 minutes). Schedules & fares ↓

🏛️ Brunswick Town / Fort Anderson

A free state historic site about 20 minutes away, with a colonial town and a Civil War fort on the Cape Fear River. Open Tue–Sat 9am–5pm.

🥏 Cougar Country Disc Golf

A disc golf course in Boiling Spring Lakes, open 7 days a week, about 20 minutes away, for when you've played Bill Smith Park.

Hours, prices and seasons change. Check with each place before you go.

On the water

Boat rides & fishing charters

Most charter boats and boat tours leave from Southport, about 15 minutes over the bridge. A few leave from Oak Island.

Boat rides & tours 8

Angry Pelican ChartersDolphin adventure tours, sunset cruises, and seasonal whale watching. Leaves from Morningstar and Southport Marina, 606 W. West St., Southport, NC.
WebsiteCall 910-742-0296
BS ChartersSunset, wine, Intracoastal Waterway, nature, and photography cruises; also offers boating lessons. Leaves from spots between Southport and Holden Beach.
WebsiteCall 919-492-3251
Cape Fearless ChartersPrivate boat charters for celebrations, events, and custom day trips out of Southport (birthdays, engagements, memorials), up to 6 passengers. Leaves from Southport, NC.
WebsiteCall 910-363-6045
Catherine Anne Sportfishing and ExcursionsSandbar island day trips with beachside cookout, sunset cruises, dolphin tours, and water taxi and shuttle service to Bald Head Island. Leaves from Morningstar Marina, 606 W. West Street, Southport, NC.
WebsiteCall 910-620-9919
Impulsive ChartersSightseeing cruises on the Cape Fear River, in addition to their fishing charters. Leaves from Morningstar Marina, 606 W West St, Southport, or the Bald Head Island Marina.
WebsiteCall 910-457-5331
Southport by SeasideCape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway sightseeing tour and sunset cruise (up to 6 passengers); also runs boat-owner training courses. Leaves from Morningstar Marina, 606 W West St, Dock B Slip 2, Southport, NC.
WebsiteCall 910-269-8674
Southport Water Tours50-minute sightseeing cruise, 1-hour sunset cruise, and private Tiki-boat cruises on the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway. Leaves from 110 Yacht Basin Dr, Southport, NC.
WebsiteCall 910-523-6021
Sunset Boat Cruises2-hour sunset cruises, 3-4 hour cruises, half- and full-day charters (incl. steam-pot seafood boil option), and custom private charters. Leaves from Morningstar Marina, 606 W. West St, Southport, NC; also picks up at the Bald Head Island Marina and the Oak Island Wildlife Ramp (4750 Fish Factory Rd SE).
WebsiteCall 910-931-1611

Fishing charters 13

Angry Pelican ChartersNearshore (2 to 5 hours) and offshore (6 to 9 hours) fishing charters targeting Spanish and king mackerel, red drum, shark, cobia, mahi, tuna, amberjack, snapper, and grouper; dedicated shark charters. Leaves from Morningstar and Southport Marina, 606 W. West St., Southport, NC.
WebsiteCall 910-742-0296
BlackBird Guide ServicesInshore, nearshore, fly-fishing, and family fishing charters in Oak Island and Southport waters targeting redfish, speckled trout, sheepshead, Spanish and king mackerel, cobia, and shark.
WebsiteCall 910-547-9353
BS ChartersInshore and nearshore fishing charters on a 2018 Carolina Skiff Ultra Elite 23 targeting flounder, red drum, sea trout, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and croaker. Leaves from spots between Southport and Holden Beach.
WebsiteCall 919-492-3251
Carolina Fly Guy4-hour inshore and nearshore fishing charters targeting redfish, flounder, and Spanish mackerel on a 22' Sea Pro bay boat. Leaves from Fish Factory Rd SE, Oak Island, NC.
WebsiteCall 910-599-1001
Catherine Anne Sportfishing and ExcursionsOffshore, nearshore, and backwater fishing charters. Leaves from Morningstar Marina, 606 W. West Street, Southport, NC.
WebsiteCall 910-620-9919
Cool Runnings Charter FishingInshore and nearshore light-tackle charters (live bait and artificial) targeting flounder, red and black drum, trout, king and Spanish mackerel, spadefish, bluefish, cobia, and tarpon.
WebsiteCall 910-523-0312
Fugitive Fishing ChartersHalf, 3/4, and full-day trolling, bottom fishing, and nearshore and offshore charters aboard the 33-foot Sport Fisher 'The Fugitive', up to 6 passengers; rods, bait, license, and ice included. Leaves from South Harbour Marina, Oak Island side, 5078 Ballast Rd, Southport, NC.
WebsiteCall 910-933-4242
Hound Dog Fishing ChartersHalf-day (4 hours) and 3/4-day (6 hours) inshore charters targeting flounder, red and black drum, sheepshead, and speckled trout, on a 21' Nauticstar, up to 4 anglers. Leaves from Southport and Lockwood Folly River (between Oak Island and Holden Beach).
WebsiteCall 704-756-4992
Impulsive ChartersHalf-day nearshore, 3/4-day and full-day offshore, Gulf Stream, and overnight deep-drop fishing charters targeting mackerel, mahi, wahoo, tuna, marlin, swordfish, and grouper. Leaves from Morningstar Marina, 606 W West St, Southport, or the Bald Head Island Marina.
WebsiteCall 910-457-5331
Oak Island Fishing ChartersOffshore, nearshore, backwater, and kids-catch fishing charters serving Oak Island, Bald Head Island, Southport, and St. James.
WebsiteCall 910-470-1995
Quality Time ChartersInshore and nearshore charters from 3 to 10 hours targeting mackerel, flounder, sheepshead, cobia, and snapper. Leaves from Oak Island, NC.
WebsiteCall 910-308-4654
Southport Fishing ChartersFishing charters serving Southport, Oak Island, and Bald Head Island area waters (inshore and nearshore, family trips).
WebsiteCall 910-264-7722
Spot Lock Charters4-hour and 8-hour inshore and nearshore fishing charters on a 22-ft Bay Rider, up to 4 guests, targeting red drum, speckled trout, flounder, and sheepshead; rods, tackle, and license included.
WebsiteCall 910-945-8445

From each business's own website. Listed A to Z; not a review or endorsement. Trips, seasons and prices change, so check with them.

Two ferries, both leave from Southport

Southport ferries & schedules

Both terminals are at the end of Ferry Road (NC 211), east of downtown. Tap one for schedule details, fares, a Street View of the terminal and GPS directions.

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Southport–Fort Fisher ferry (NC state ferry)Ferry Rd SE (NC 211), beside Deep Point Marina. Car ferry across the Cape Fear River to Fort Fisher and Kure Beach. 35 minutes, $7 a car, $1 on foot.
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🛥️
Bald Head Island ferry (Deep Point Marina)1301 Ferry Rd SE, Southport. Passenger ferry to car-free Bald Head Island. $23 round trip for adults, parking $13 a day.
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⚓
Fort Fisher ferry landing (Kure Beach side)2422 Fort Fisher Blvd S, Kure Beach. Where the state ferry lands on the far side of the river.
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Schedules and fares read from NCDOT Ferry Division and Bald Head Island Transportation. Times change with the season and weather, so check before you go.