Quiet beaches, colorful coastal towns, ferry rides and a car-free island made for exploring by golf-cart – Oak Island & Bald Head Island make an easy coastal escape with just enough to do. Here’s how we would spend a long weekend along the North Carolina Coast.
THE WEEKEND LIST | OAK ISLAND & BALD HEAD ISLAND
Best for: Beach weekends + couples trips
Best time: April-October
Perfect for: Thursday-Sunday
WHERE TO STAY | Oak Island
For a Thursday–Sunday trip, we are staying on Oak Island. It gives you more flexibility for restaurants and exploring, and then Bald Head becomes the adventure for Saturday.
For a hotel-style stay, The Beach House Motel & Suites is where we recommend. It offers one- and two-bedroom apartment-style suites and is within walking distance of the Oak Island Pier. Airbnb, VRBO, and other vacation rentals are always a great option on Oak Island!
Weekend List tip: For a long weekend, prioritize direct beach access + a great porch/deck. You’re going to get more out of morning coffee and sunset on the porch than six extra bedrooms.
THURSDAY | ARRIVE + SETTLE INTO ISLAND TIME
Keep Thursday deliberately easy. Check in, unpack, change into something beachy and head straight to the sand. This is our no-itinerary itinerary night.
Give yourself time for a sunset walk before dinner.
DINNER | Paul’s of Oak Island
Paul’s current menu has Cajun mahi fish bites, pinch-and-eat shrimp, fried clams and a Cajun-seared tuna appetizer, along with burgers and house specialties. And obviously, we’re ordering a drink. Paul’s tropical cocktails and frozen drinks are exactly what Thursday night calls for—something cold, something seafood, and nowhere else to be.
FRIDAY | THE BEST OF OAK ISLAND
Friday morning starts with Island Jo Coffee & Cafe.
Weekend List order:
Banana Bread latte + Bacon, egg & cheese breakfast sandwich on one of their fresh bagels
Island Jo Coffee & Cafe
After breakfast at Island Jo, spend the morning exactly where you came to be: on the beach.
LUNCH | Koko Cabana
Right across from the Oak Island Pier, Koko Cabana is our casual lunch stop. The current menu leans coastal with fish tacos, shrimp, local fish and plenty of shareables.
Weekend List order: Crab hush puppies to share + the grilled mahi-mahi fish tacos with pico de gallo, cilantro-lime crema and Asian slaw.
AFTERNOON | Lighthouse + Island Time
After lunch, make your way toward Oak Island Lighthouse for one of the island’s signature stops. Then give yourself the rest of the afternoon to explore, head back to the beach or sneak in a nap before getting ready for dinner.
DINNER | Salt64
Salt64 is chef-driven and focuses on local and regional ingredients, with steaks, fresh seafood, pasta and cocktails. We recommend reservations, especially for a Friday night.
SATURDAY | BALD HEAD ISLAND DAY TRIP
Leave Oak Island early and drive to the passenger ferry. Once you arrive on Bald Head Island, the car stays behind. The island is designed around golf carts and bicycles, which is half the fun. Golf-cart rentals are available near the ferry landing, and bikes are another option.
Bald Head Island Ferry Booking Information Here
FIRST STOP | Old Baldy
Go straight to Old Baldy, North Carolina’s oldest standing lighthouse.
You can climb the lighthouse and visit the Smith Island Museum. Current admission is $10 for adults, $5 for ages 3–12 and free under 3. In fall, it’s currently open Tuesday–Saturday, with the lighthouse closing at 3:30 p.m.
Old Baldy visitor information
THEN | Explore by Golf Cart
Now we wander.
Take the cart through the maritime forest, cruise past the gorgeous island homes and make your way toward the beaches. Bald Head is one of those places where getting around is part of the activity, so don’t rush from attraction to attraction.
I’d specifically make time for East Beach before lunch.
LUNCH | Jailhouse Provisions
Then head into the island for Jailhouse Provisions, a casual indoor/outdoor spot near Maritime Marketplace. It’s currently open daily for lunch and dinner.
Weekend List order: Jalapeño hush puppies with honey butter + the crab cake sandwich with chipotle aioli.
For a vacation drink, their current cocktail list has a Shark Spritz with local vodka, grapefruit and Prosecco.
Jailhouse Provisions
AFTERNOON | Beach + One Last Island Loop
Grab the golf cart, explore more of the island and spend the afternoon at the beach. If you need a caffeine stop, Midway Coffee is located inside Jailhouse Provisions and serves coffee, açai bowls and toast—including egg & avocado and cucumber & salmon.
Then slowly work your way back toward the marina for your ferry.
After an entire day on Bald Head: pick up something casual, go back to the lodging, shower, pour a drink and sit on the deck.
SUNDAY | ONE LAST SLOW MORNING
No alarms, no packed itinerary. Take your coffee to the beach, squeeze in one last walk along the water, and enjoy a slow final morning on Oak Island before packing up.
Before heading home, make the short drive into Southport for a walk along the waterfront. Browse the shops downtown, take in the Cape Fear River views, and grab lunch before officially calling the weekend.
Thanks for coming along! Whether you follow the whole itinerary or just steal a stop or two, we hope this makes planning your next weekend away a little easier. Save this guide for later, share it with your travel partner, and check back for more places worth adding to your list.
See you next weekend,
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