Beach Access Information

"If there is one thing that should be expected when on an island, it's access to the water!"

Town of Oak Island offers 65 public Beach Access Locations, more than any other coastal community in North Carolina! Many of these areas have available parking, with several offering reserved handicap parking as well, along with other amenities such as restrooms, water fountains, and shower stations.

CLICK HERE for public parking information
NOTE: for information on Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) access, Davis Canal access, boat ramps, or kayak launches, view the Parks Directory at www.OakIslandNC.gov/PARKS.

Offering these dedicated access locations helps to protect the sand dunes / berms, which in turn help to protect the property and natural wildlife habitats of our beach. NOTE: Walking, running, playing, climbing, or any other traffic of any kind on, or across the sand dunes and berms, except in designated access areas is PROHIBITED.

RESTROOOM FACILITY LOCATIONS

MOBI-MAT & HANDICAP PARKING LOCATIONS

MOBI-MAT LENGHT NOTICE: The length and placement of the Mobi-Mats are NOT determined by the Town, but are regulated by the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA).

HOWEVER, the Town has submitted a permit request to allow the Mobi-Mats to be EXTENDED at all locations listed below.

This permit is now under review by CAMA and the NC Division of Coastal Management. Once a decision on the permit has been made, information will be updated on this page.

The Town of Oak Island currently has nine (9) designated Handicap Assist Locations, which include Mobi-mats provided through a combination of funding from the Town and community partners.

Town staff work hard to maintain these features; however, due to tides and erosion, please check the suitability of each access before use. In the event that repair or maintenance is needed, please contact the Public Works Department at 910-201-8008, or through the CONTACT FORM.

Current Mobi-Mat / Handicap Assist Locations

Keziah Street
705 Ocean Drive (Pier Complex)
SE 74th Street
SE 55th Street
SE 40th Street
19th Place East
10th Place West
27th Place West
57th Place West

PLEASE NOTE: During the Paid Parking enforcement season, parking is NOT charged for vehicles in a designated handicap space and displaying a handicap license plate, placard, or hangtag, Parking in any other space will require the use of a Town Parking Permit or Paid Parking.

CLICK HERE to view a map of all Handicap Access Locations

RAMPS, GAZEBO, & VIEWING PLATFORM LOCATIONS

In addition to Mobi-mats and handicap assist locations, the Town has also provided several hardened ramp structures, which provide either a viewing platform, gazebo, or restroom access.

Access Structures can be found in the following Beach Access Locations:

Mercer Street (Ramp)
Oak Island Pier (Ramp + Restroom + Mobi-Mat)
Cabana at SE 46th Street (Ramp + Restroom)
10th Place West (Ramp + Gazebo + Mobi-mat)
57th Place West (Ramp + Viewing Platform)

BEACH WHEELCHAIR INFORMATION

Through grant funding and community donation, the Recreation Department is able to offer the use of Beach Wheelchairs to residents and visitors.

These specially constructed chairs feature corrosion-resistant construction, and large, inflated tires specifically designed to tread on the top of the sand. Some chairs float, and can even be used in the water!

To reserve a Beach Wheelchair

CLICK HERE For Wheelchair Information or call the Recreation Center at 910-278-5518.

Beach Wheelchairs are in high demand and reservations fill up fast, often weeks or even months in advance, so be sure to call as soon as you know you will need a chair!

They can be rented for 2 days at a time from April - September and for up to 7 days from October - March, depending on availability.

When renting a chair, please note the following:

The renter will be responsible for having a vehicle that can transport the chair.
The chair must be rinsed off each time it leaves the beach to protect the tires from the sand and salt water.
The correct tire pressure is no more than 2.5 psi, which can be accomplished with a bicycle pump.
Pick up is 10:00 AM on the day the rental begins.
Drop off is between 5:45 AM - 9:00 AM, Monday - Friday and 9:00 - 9:15 AM on Saturdays.
During the pick-up process, a driver's license of the renter is needed along with the address where the chair will stay on the Island and the license plate number of the vehicle that will be transporting it.
The chair must stay on the Island.
There is no fee to rent the chair, as the program runs completely on donations (which are welcome!)

Beach wheelchair new wheelchair

ChairWithFamily

beach wheelchair in the water

EMERGENCY VEHICLE ACCESS LOCATIONS

Throughout the 65 public Beach Access Locations within Oak Island, approximately 23 are designated as Emergency Vehicle Access Locations.

These special locations feature a wider access path over the dunes and modified parking lot, to accommodate the trucks, boats, and other equipment first responders use when responding to a medical or in-water emergency.

It is important that a path remain open and unobstructed from the street to the ocean.

"REMEMBER: KEEP PATHS FREE, FROM STREET TO SEA!"

Just as vehicles should not block the path in the parking lot areas, beach equipment such as tents, chairs, and blankets should not be placed in the path on the beach side of the dunes as well.

Current designated Emergency Vehicle Access Locations

McGlamery Street
Trott Street
Barbee Blvd.
SE 76th Street
SE 72nd Street
SE 70th Street
SE 64th Street
SE 63rd Street
SE 52nd Street
SE 49th Street
35th Place East
32nd Place East
29th Place East
25th Place East
19th Place East
16th Place East
9th Place East
3rd Place East
5th Place West
13th Place West
23rd Place West
48th Place West
End of West Beach Drive Parking Lot

CLICK HERE to view an interactive map of all locations

Example of Emergency Vehicle Access signage:

2022_Emergency Vehicle Access Sign

Beach Access Locations Map

CLICK HERE view the map below in a separate window