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BeachGrade

Updated August 2026

Best beaches in North Carolina by water quality

North Carolina has 307 public beaches in the EPA monitoring dataset, 170 of them with enough bacteria samples to grade. 126 earn an A for consistently clean water. Full ranking below.

A 126
B 27
C 15
D 2
F 0
GradeBeachCounty% over limitSamplesAdvisory
ARegional Public Access At Mile Marker 12 On New River Inlet Onslow0%333Excellent
ASwimming Area 100 Yards South Of Park Service Dock Near BardCarteret0%331Excellent
AFerry Road Public AccessBrunswick0%328Excellent
APublic Access At Dawson Street - Ocean Isle BeachBrunswick0%327Excellent
APublic Access At 40th And Main St.Brunswick0%327Excellent
A10th Place West In Oak IslandBrunswick0%318Excellent
AIcww, Soundside Access At E. End Of Ocean Isle Bch.Brunswick0%203Excellent
AHeaden Ln. Salter Path- Soundside ~200 Yds. OffshoreCarteret0%167Excellent
A100 Yds Offshore In Sound Near Intersection Of Hwy 12 And AlCurrituck0%167Excellent
APine Knoll Shores - Just East Of Mile Marker 8 1/2 - Hwy 58 Carteret0%167Excellent
AStone Street Public Access - Ocean Side Wrightsville BeachNew Hanover0%167Excellent
APublic Beach Access Adjacent To The IslanderCarteret0%167Excellent
APublic Access At Broadway St. And N. Shore Dr. - Topsail BeaPender0%167Excellent
AOcean Pier Between Mile Markers 17 And 18 On New River InletOnslow0%166Excellent
APublic Access #O-10 At Ocean Blvd And Crews Ave.Pender0%166Excellent
AMile Marker 7 1/2, OceansideCarteret0%166Excellent
APublic Access At Ave. H In Kure BeachNew Hanover0%166Excellent
APublic Beach Access At Dolphin Court, Kure BeachNew Hanover0%166Excellent
AAcc. Ntb Sea Dunes S. Of Villa CaprianiOnslow0%166Excellent
ABanks Channel - Waynick Blvd. Between Snyder And Seashore StNew Hanover0%165Excellent
APublic Access Ave. F In Kure BeachNew Hanover0%165Excellent
A100 Yds Offshore At North Holiday Rd. - RodantheDare0%164Excellent
ABeach Access S Of Refuge Offices- Pea Island Along The Cape Dare0%164Excellent
APublic Beach Access At Newport Street In Ocean Isle BeachBrunswick0%164Excellent
ACorolla Ramp, End Of Paved RoadCurrituck0%164Excellent
AAo- 5 Miles SW Of Ocracoke State FerryHyde0%163Excellent
AOcean Pier Between 14th And 15th Place East And Beach Dr.Brunswick0%163Excellent
AOcean Pier At Causeway And First St.Brunswick0%161Excellent
AOcean Pier At Main St. And Sunset Blvd.Brunswick0%160Excellent
ASouth Beach Area- Beach Access # 17Brunswick0%136Excellent
APks Aquarium Sound-Side AccessCarteret0%95Excellent
ABogue Sd.- Archer PointCarteret0%94Excellent
ASki Beach Off The Icw Adjacent To The Bogue Inlet Channel InCarteret0%94Excellent
AArea Behind The Northern End Of Masonboro IslandNew Hanover0%94Excellent
AShackelford Banks- By RestroomsCarteret0%93Excellent
ANeuse River- End Of State Rd 1310Pamlico0%93Excellent
ASound-Side Park Public Access In Capen Carteret At Manatee SCarteret0%92Excellent
ASouth End Of Masonboro Island, Carolina Beach InletNew Hanover0%91Excellent
ARamp #38 And Access Along The Cape Hatteras National SeashorDare0%64Excellent
ABeach Access By Airport RampHyde0.2%456Excellent
AFirst Beach Access On Right Off New River Inlet Rd On North Onslow0.3%335Excellent
APublic Access #S-1 At End Of Shore Line Dr. (Soundside StatiPender0.3%334Excellent
AOcean Pier At Ocean Blvd. And Durham St.Brunswick0.3%332Excellent
AOcean-Side Of Corolla Village Road Near The Lighthouse In CoCurrituck0.3%332Excellent
A48th Pl West, Oak IslandBrunswick0.3%328Excellent
AVehicle Access, 600 Yds. N. Carolina Beach Pier At Dune MarkNew Hanover0.3%327Excellent
AGreensboro St. Emergency Vehicle AccessBrunswick0.3%324Excellent
ANags Head Bath House At Mile Post 15Dare0.3%288Excellent
ABogue Sound- W Salter Path, ~200 Yds Off Of Wam Squam LnCarteret0.4%263Excellent
ABogue Inlet Mouth Of Coast Guard ChannelCarteret0.4%262Excellent
ASpoils Island Off Salty ShoresCarteret0.4%260Excellent
APublic Access Near Fawn Drive In Emerald IsleCarteret0.6%336Excellent
APublic Access At The Hanby Beach Storm DrainNew Hanover0.6%334Excellent
APublic Beach Access Off Atlantic Boulevard In Atlantic BeachCarteret0.6%333Excellent
ASoutheast 74th Street, Oak IslandBrunswick0.6%326Excellent
APublic Access At Southeast 58th St. And E. Beach Drive - OakBrunswick0.6%318Excellent
ADrain Pipe At Oregon StDare0.6%168Excellent
ABath House At Ocean Bay BlvdDare0.6%168Excellent
AOcean Pier At Salisbury St. Public AccessNew Hanover0.6%168Excellent
ABeach Access 1 1/2 Mile N Of Kitty Hawk PierDare0.6%168Excellent
A750 Yds Off Ocean Bay Blvd.- Currituck Sd.Dare0.6%167Excellent
ADrain Pipe At Curlew StreetDare0.6%167Excellent
AL-Shaped Parking Lot, Wrightsville BeachNew Hanover0.6%167Excellent
AMile Post 4 1/2, Oceanside Of Pelican Dr.Carteret0.6%167Excellent
ANorth Side Mouth Of Town Creek In BeaufortCarteret0.6%166Excellent
AOregon Inlet Coastguard StationDare0.6%166Excellent
ASouthern Shores Private Soundside AccessDare0.6%166Excellent
A100 Yds Ene Of Little Bridge, Causeway, Nags HeadDare0.6%165Excellent
ANew Inlet Sound Access- Pea IslandDare0.6%165Excellent
ARamp #34 And Access Along The Cape Hatteras National SeashorDare0.6%165Excellent
A1/4 Miles E Of Ems Station Along The Cape Hatteras National Dare0.6%165Excellent
AFrisco Federal Campground Along The Cape Hatteras National SDare0.6%164Excellent
A20th Place West In Oak IslandBrunswick0.6%164Excellent
AMiddleton Public Access - Oak IslandBrunswick0.6%163Excellent
ALast Access Near 69th Pl West, Oak IslandBrunswick0.6%162Excellent
AOcracoke- 1st Public Access SW Of State FerryHyde0.6%161Excellent
ABeach Access Between Bald Head Harbor Entrance & Bald Head CBrunswick0.7%276Excellent
A100 Yds Offshore At Island Creek Ct. - AvonDare0.7%137Excellent
ACape Lookout Coast Guard DockCarteret1%96Excellent
AW Side Of Mouth Of South RiverCarteret1%96Excellent
AEast Of Pine Cliff Sr 167,Near HavelockCraven1.1%95Excellent
ANeuse River- Pine Cliff Recreation AreaCraven1.1%95Excellent
ASanders Creek At Bear CreekOnslow1.1%94Excellent
AHarker's Island Bridge At Swimming AreaCarteret1.1%94Excellent
ABogue Sound- Goose Creek, Off CampgroundCarteret1.1%94Excellent
ABrown's Island Public Beach In Core Sound Near Harkers IslanCarteret1.1%94Excellent
AEmerald Woods Sound-Side Public Access Near Burden ChannelCarteret1.1%94Excellent
AKnob Island- N SideCarteret1.1%94Excellent
AKennals BeachPamlico1.1%93Excellent
AJust E Of The Mouth Of Beard CkPamlico1.1%93Excellent
AShellrock Landing Wildlife Ramp In HubertOnslow1.1%93Excellent
ABeach Access At Conch Street / Drain PipeDare1.2%565Excellent
APublic Beach Access Near Drain Pipe At E. Baum Street In KilDare1.2%337Excellent
AOcean End Of Henderson Blvd., AoCarteret1.2%336Excellent
AOcean Pier At K. Ave.New Hanover1.2%333Excellent
ACaswell Beach Public Access Off Caswell Beach Rd.Brunswick1.2%322Excellent
ASound Side Bear IslandOnslow1.2%259Excellent
ADrain Pipe At Martin StreetDare1.2%169Excellent
ACurrituck S Beach Access At Pine IslandCurrituck1.2%169Excellent
ABeach Access At 3rd StDare1.2%169Excellent
APublic Access At Mile Marker #19 Off New River Inlet Rd On NOnslow1.2%168Excellent
AKill Devil HillsDare1.2%168Excellent
AFort Macon Beach Access At BathhouseCarteret1.2%167Excellent
APublic Access At Southeast 46th St. And E. Beach Drive - OakBrunswick1.2%162Excellent
ARadio Island Public Beach AccessCarteret1.5%261Excellent
ACedar Island- Beach West Of Ferry Landing Off Sound View DrCarteret1.5%194Excellent
ADrain Pipe At S Nags Head/Federal Park BorderDare1.5%65Excellent
ADrain Pipe At Mile Post 12.5Dare1.6%442Excellent
ADrain Pipe At Lake Dr Beach AccessDare1.6%438Excellent
AIcw, Marker #92 In Topsail SoundPender1.8%168Excellent
AEast End (Hb)Brunswick1.8%168Excellent
AFrisco Bath House Along The Cape Hatteras National SeashoreDare1.8%164Excellent
AHatteras Village Ramp #55 Access Along The Cape Hatteras NatDare1.9%160Excellent
ABuxton, Sound-Side Haulover Day UseDare2%254Excellent
ABogue Sound- E Side Of Mouth Of Gales CreekCarteret2%98Excellent
ABogue Sound- Canal Leading To Moonlite BayCarteret2%98Excellent
APamlico River- Maul's PointBeaufort2.1%96Excellent
AE Shore Of Blounts Bay- Pamlico RiverBeaufort2.1%95Excellent
ACore Sd.- Shell Point Off Harkers IslandCarteret2.1%95Excellent
AShackelford Banks- Nun Bouy #2Carteret2.1%95Excellent
AIcw, Hwy. 210 Bridge At Surf CityPender2.2%269Excellent
APalm Tree IslandNew Hanover2.2%92Excellent
AIcww, Near Marker #67, Sailfish Street (Hb)Brunswick2.3%437Excellent
AWards Shore Public Access Off South Waters St. - SwansboroOnslow2.8%107Excellent
ABanks Channel - Waynick Blvd. Approx. 150 Yds N Of Iula St.New Hanover2.9%174Excellent
AOregon Inlet Federal CampgroundDare3%169Excellent
BCcc- Aquatic Education LocationCarteret3%99Good
BBogue Sound- Boat Landing Tourist CenterCarteret3%99Good
BNear Mouth Of Gatlin CrkPamlico3.1%96Good
B100 Yds. NE Gallant's Channel Bridge By ShoreCarteret3.2%95Good
BPublic Access At John Bond Town Beach In OrientalPamlico3.2%95Good
BPamlico River- Junction Of Upper Goose Creek And Dinah's LanBeaufort3.2%95Good
BJust E Of Wilkinson PtPamlico3.2%94Good
BIntracoastal Waterway, Masonboro Sound Near Marker # 135New Hanover3.3%92Good
BBanks Channel - Waynick Blvd. - Between Taylor And Bellamy SNew Hanover3.4%349Good
BCama Access, Corner Of Waynick & Sunset Blvd. - WrightsvilleNew Hanover3.5%344Good
BPamlico River- Ragged Point Swim AreaBeaufort3.5%171Good
BN. Topsail Bridge - Wildlife RampOnslow4%100Good
BNewport River- Public Access NW Of BridgeCarteret4%99Good
BBanks Channel, Swimming Beach South Of Coast Guard StationNew Hanover4.1%169Good
BPamlico River- Tripp Point Recrational AreaBeaufort4.1%98Good
BPublic Sound-Side Access At The End Of Bogue Sound Drive In Carteret4.2%96Good
BNeuse River- 200 Yds. N Of Mouth Of North West CreekCraven4.2%95Good
BVandemere Creek- Just N Of Windmill Pt.Pamlico4.3%94Good
BNeuse River- Union PointCraven5.2%97Good
BSound Access Across From Ramp #23 Along The Cape Hatteras NaDare5.6%232Good
BSE Of Austin Pt- Pamlico RiverBeaufort6%100Good
BTaylor's Creek At Post Office DockCarteret6.1%99Good
BMouth Of Slocum Creek, North Side BeachCraven6.1%99Good
BW Of Hills Point- Pamlico RiverBeaufort6.1%98Good
BPublic Beach S Side Of Dawson Crk BridgePamlico6.5%93Good
BDawson Crk., 500 Yds N Of BridgePamlico6.5%93Good
BColington Harbour Swimming BeachDare6.7%240Good
CLennoxville Boat RampCarteret7%100Fair
CHancock Creek- Just South Of Mouth Of Cahooque CreekCraven7.2%97Fair
CCape Fear River, Junction Of Snow's Cut And Cape Fear RiverNew Hanover7.3%109Fair
CNeuse River- Flanner's BeachCraven7.3%96Fair
CPublic Access At Sunset DriveCarteret7.6%277Fair
CSound Access At The Intersection Of E. Main St. And Tooley SBeaufort7.6%172Fair
CSandy Bay Parking Area Sound Side AccessDare7.9%291Fair
CThe Swimming HoleDare7.9%89Fair
CPamlico River- Washington- Railroad TrestleBeaufort8%100Fair
CMorehead City - Drain Pipe At 16th St.Carteret8.5%281Fair
C400 Yds SE Of Bean Island Off Core BanksCarteret9.3%97Fair
CCape Fear River, Beach Area Adjacent To Southport Municipal Brunswick10.3%107Fair
CStump Sound Just East Of Dixon PointOnslow10.6%104Fair
CNorth River- At Hwy 70 BridgeCarteret10.8%102Fair
CPublic Beach On Masonboro Sd. - End Of Florida Ave. In CarolNew Hanover11.5%113Fair
DPamlico River- City ParkBeaufort13.7%102Poor
DJockey's Ridge Soundside AccessDare14.8%183Poor
CSV

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