Located on the southernmost coast of North Carolina, between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach, Sunset Beach is the smallest of five barrier islands, only 3 miles long, known as North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands.  This seaside town got its start in 1955 when the land it occupies was bought by a property developer. Development began in earnest with the completion of a bridge connecting the beach island to the mainland in 1958.   Sunset Beach was incorporated as a town in 1963.  One-third of the town’s area occupies a barrier island between the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.

The Town of Sunset Beach invites you to visit and enjoy several points of interest in our beautiful coastal community. This self-guided tour will take you from our mainland to our island, which – we think – is the most beautiful beach in North Carolina. This tour was developed as part of the Town’s 50th Anniversary, celebrated on March 26, 2013.  Click Self Guided Tour to begin!

Since most of Sunset Beach and the adjoining Bird Island coastal reserve encompass a barrier island, the only way to get there from the mainland was by crossing a pontoon bridge (swing bridge) straddling the Intracoastal Waterway and adjacent marshland.

It was a wooden structure that could only hold one lane of traffic at any given time, and was the only one of its kind still in use along the East Coast until 2010. During the day in the summer, traffic would be stopped every hour, on the hour, and the bridge would open to boat traffic on the waterway for 10 minutes. At 10 minutes after the hour, every hour, the bridge would reopen for vehicular traffic again for 50 minutes. During the off-season, the bridge only opened at the request of boat traffic. While this caused headaches for those trying to get on or off the island, many locals said the bridge did, however, give the town a more relaxed feel. Historically, this had been in stark contrast to the rapid growth affecting other beach communities along the Grand Strand.

In February 2008 the NCDOT started construction to replace the old bridge with a modern, 65-foot-high (20 m) arc bridge (non-draw, non-swing). The bridge opened November 11, 2010. The old Sunset Beach pontoon swing bridge was saved by the The Old Bridge Historical Society which created a museum celebrating the old bridge and the town’s history.  The new bridge eliminates the need for a bridge keeper and provides for a continual flow of vehicle traffic on and off the island, and water traffic on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Sunset Beach features a wide and level strand of soft white sand with undisturbed sand dunes, a natural habitat and a nesting ground for coastal wildlife of all kinds, including the endangered loggerhead sea turtle.  The beach extends far out into the very warm summer water without sea-weed catching in your toes; beach homes sit behind the dune that preserve the breath-taking scenery, birds and other wildlife.

Stay off the dunes – they are turtle nesting grounds and protect the Island during storms.  Use only public access walkways.

The Town of Sunset Beach has made it easy for you to find the best way to access our beautiful shoreline. Use the interactive Sunset Beach Access Map to locate convenient entry points to the beach.  Click HERE to visit the Beach Access page on the Town;s website.  Please Note: Zoom out to see more clearly each point and the specific street/area.  We have also listed the access points below.

East End handicapped accessible walkways

• Gazebo – located at the public parking area on Main Street
• 1st Street
• 3rd Street

East End non-handicapped accessible walkways

• 1st Street, 2nd Street, 3rd Street
  4th Street, 5th Street, 6th Street
  7th Street, 8th Street, 9th Street
  10th Street, 11th Street, 12th Street
• Located between the homes at the following addresses on Main Street:
  1220–1302, 1318–1404, 1414–1502
  1516–1602, 1616–1702, 1718–1802
  1816–1818

West End handicapped accessible walkways

• 40th Street

West End non-handicapped accessible walkways

• 28th Street, 29th Street, 30th Street
  31st Street, 32nd Street, 33rd Street
  34th Street, 35th Street, 36th Street
  37th Street, 38th Street, 39th Street
  

From the Mayor and Town Council Members of Sunset Beach

Over the years, the popularity of our beach with both visitors and permanent residents, has grown to the point that we now need to ask all who use the beach to help maintain its charm and beauty for the future. To help us preserve and protect this wonder of nature so you and your family can enjoy it this year and your grandchildren and their families in the future, we ask you to abide by a few rules.

We have instituted these solely for your safety and the protection of the environment. Our goals are to preserve the family atmosphere of Sunset Beach and add to your enjoyment and relaxation during your visit. Again, welcome to Sunset Beach and have a safe and relaxing visit with us.

• Click General Beach Rules
• Click Sunset Beach Code of Ordinances for all of the details.

PETS:  While we welcome your dog joining you on our beach, we do have rules about when and under what circumstances.

1. 1. When off your property, dogs must remain on a leash, any time, any place, in Sunset Beach. This includes the mainland, island, and the beach.
   2. Leash length should be no longer than 10 feet. Electronic leashes are not permitted.
   3. Dogs are prohibited on the beach between the hours of 9:00am—6:00pm, beginning the Friday before Memorial Day and continuing through Labor Day.
   4. Pet owners must carry, in plain view, bags to remove all waste left by their pet on any public or private property that is not owned by said person. Failure to do so can result in a $100 fine per offense.

WILD ANIMALS:  It is not uncommon to see a fox, raccoon, opossum or other wild animals here at Sunset Beach.  It is unlawful to feed wild animals and feral cats.  Please call the Sunset Beach Police if you feel threatened by a wild animal or they are showing signs of illness.

ALLIGATORS:  Do not feed the alligators, they are very dangerous.  If you see someone feeding or otherwise tampering with an alligator, CALL 911 immediately.

From the Town of Sunset Beach (2026)

Planning a day at the beach? We’ve made parking simple and convenient for you! Here’s everything you need to know to make your visit smooth and stress-free.  Click Sunset Beach Resident’s Paid Parking for all of the information about the paid parking process for the Beach.

Purchasing a Pass

*If you are a Sunset Beach taxpayer and registered a vehicle in Summer 2025, you will automatically be registered for 2026 by OttoConnect. You can verify this after February 1 by logging into your account or by downloading the SurfCast App for 📲iPhone or 🤖Android.

Sunset Beach Taxpayers (who were not previously registered): register up to two (2) vehicles for free using your Parcel ID number. You can verify your residency and obtain this number by searching the Brunswick County Tax Website. You must see “Sunset Beach” under the tax description in order to be eligible. For instructions on locating this number, click here. 

Here are the general Parking Rules:

A trip to the beach should be fun. Unfortunately, many people are injured or killed along our nation’s beaches by hazards such as dangerous currents, heat and lightning. The National Weather Service can help ensure you leave the beach with good memories.   Click Beach Hazards & Safety to provide you the information you need to stay safe on beaches and in coastal areas and surf zones (the area of water between the beach/shore and the first line of breaking waves).

The safety of anyone in your party is your responsibility.  Please be vigilant while swimming.  If you see someone in distress CALL 911 immediately.

The placement of tents, cabanas, shading devices, canopies, sporting equipment or similar items on the town’s beach strand must abide by the following regulations.  Click HERE to review so you are aware before lugging all of your ‘stuff’ to the beach!

Sunshades 

• No shade devices are allowed before 7am and must be removed by sunset.
• No shades other than umbrellas are permitted between 3rd through 29th Streets. This includes wind-driven shades.
• Umbrellas are allowed anywhere along the strand but must be out of the emergency access line.
  • If using extra support and/or tie downs on umbrellas, they must follow all rules for cabanas.
• Wind-driven shades with two points of contact and anchors are allowed forward of the emergency access vehicle access.
• Canopies, tents, and cabanas must be placed in a single line between the trashcan poles and parallel to the ocean. These items cannot be larger than 12′ x 12′ in overall footprint.
• Users must maintain a distance of at least 10′ from other shades.
• All devices must be collapsed and secured when sustained wind speeds render them unsafe for use.
• Pop-up tents/shading devices designed for infants are not regulated by the cabana rules. However, if the device is large enough for a toddler, a child, or an adult, it is then considered a cabana and must follow all cabana regulations.

No camping and/or open fires on the beach strand is permitted.  No grills of any kind.  It is unlawful for any person to start, kindle, operate or maintain any open fire or flame including barbecue, charcoal, gas or other similar type of device or grill, fire pit, ski lantern, fireworks, or sparklers on the beach strand.

I have heard of ‘dust devils’ happening on the beach. What are they?  The National Weather Service defines a ‘dirt devil’ as a small rapidly rotating wind that is made visible by the dust, dirt or debris it picks up.  Also called a whirlwind, it develops best on clear, dry, hot afternoons.  This rare weather occurrence can fling cabanas, umbrellas and belongings into the air.  Sunset Beach experienced this in August, 2023 when three separate ‘dust devils’ were reported within minutes along the beach.

NO Fireworks of any kind, this includes laser pointers and wire sparklers.  These are illegal and not permitted.  The Sunset Beach Police Department will strictly enforce fireworks.  If you are found in the possession of and/or using fireworks, they will be confiscated and you could be fined up to $500 and/or 30 days in jail. 

No surfing or net fishing between 5th Street and 32nd Street May 1st through October 31st.

Rip currents are the leading surf hazard for all beachgoers. The U.S. Lifesaving Association reports 80 percent of all surf rescues are related to rip currents. On many beaches, rip currents are present every day. In most cases, rip current speeds are too slow to be a danger to most swimmers. However, when wave conditions, shape of the offshore beach and tide elevation are just right, rip current speeds can reach speeds faster than Michael Phelps can swim.

Sunset Beach Patrol uses a rip current hazard flag system on our UTVs. The color of the flags will correspond with the US National Weather Service Wilmington NC daily rip current hazard forecast.

During The months of May through September, swim the hours from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.  Avoid the water at night, dawn, or dusk.  To decrease your already small chance of becoming a victim of a shark bite, observe the following rules:

1. Always swim in a group.  Sharks most often attack lone individuals.
2. Don’t wander too far from shore.  Doing so isolates you and places you away from assistance.
3. Avoid the water at night, dawn, or dusk.  Many sharks are most active at these times and are better able to find you than you are to see them. 
4. Don’t enter the water if bleeding.  Sharks can smell and taste blood, and trace it back to its source.
5. Don’t wear shiny jewelry.  The reflected light looks like shining fish scales.
6. Don’t go into waters containing sewage.  Sewage attracts bait fishes, which in turn attract sharks.
7. Avoid waters being fished and those with lots of bait fishes.  Diving seabirds are good indicators of such activities. 
8. Don’t enter the water if sharks are present.  Leave immediately if sharks are seen.
9. Avoid brightly colored clothing.  Sharks see contrast particularly well, so use extra caution when waters are cloudy. 
10. Don’t splash a lot.  Also, keep pets out of the water. Erratic movements can attract sharks.
11. Use care near sandbars or steep drop-offs.  These are favorite hangouts for sharks.
12. Don’t relax just because porpoises are nearby.  Sightings of porpoises do not indicate the absence of sharks. Both often eat the same foods. 
13. If attacked by a shark, the general rule is “Do whatever it takes to get away!”  Some people have successfully chosen to be aggressive, others passive. Some yelled underwater, others blew bubbles.  

For more information, click How to Avoid Shark Attacks

Surf Report & Forecast for Sunset Beach

Click HERE for the Sunset Beach Tide Chart

The Island Market located on Sunset Beach, this is an “on island” place to shop for basic grocery items including a deli with fresh-made sandwiches, salads, and hot food items. Good wine and beer selection is available. Visit during your stay at Sunset Beach for fast service and a convenient location. Grocery delivery service available- order online and have your groceries waiting in your home upon arrival.

Sunset Beach Trading Company is an “on island” place to buy all your beach needs. A great selection of chairs, floats, rafts, sunglasses, t-shirts, and other beach souvenir items. Be sure to try their homemade fudge and their great selection of dip ice cream and shakes.

Sunset Blue is a locally owned and operated beach store with apparel, games, souvenirs and more for locals and visitors.  They sell everything from beach items and accessories to clothing and footwear to jewelry, gifts, games, specialty items and souvenirs such as decorative Sunset Beach license plates and sand in a bottle.

Sunset Slush Classic Italian Ice is located at 426 S. Sunset Boulevard in the bright yellow building!  Swing by any time you are on the beach strand and try their awesome cold treats! 

Sandcastles Sweets & Treats is located in the bright yellow building and serves candy of the utmost variety, from old favorites to new ones.  Certainly any sweet tooth can be filled easily!

Julies Rentals has a wide line of domestic wares and activity rentals, we got you covered. No need to drag all that from home when its already here waiting for you. we got it all. From bikes and wagons to kayaks, boogie boards, and even surfboards.

Sunset Inn Bed & Breakfast opened its doors to the beauty of the saltwater marsh and island life in June 2000. The quiet comfort of our Sunset Beach Hotel overlooks the marsh out towards the Intracoastal Waterway and is just a five minute walk to the ocean. Our picturesque island has a temperate climate without the brutal extremes of summer or winter. The Sunset Inn is the place to stay on Sunset Beach!

At the Town of Sunset Beach, we believe everyone should have the chance to enjoy our beautiful shores. That’s why we offer surf chairs and walkers for those who need assistance getting to the beach!  The Town has beach “All Terrain” wheelchairs (surf chairs) that were donated to the Town by Sunset Vision as one of their community projects.  To read all of the details about these devices and complete a reservation form, click HERE

Vesta Pier (Sunset Beach Pier) is located in the center of the island and is the southernmost fishing pier in North Carolina.  Named for the buried civil war blockade-runner, Vesta, which rests in the sand under the pier, the 900-foot-long pier is a favorite for anglers.  A walk on the pier offers a self-guided tour providing information about the history of the island. The cost to walk the pier is $1.00.  

For all information about Fishing off the pier, click Bait & Tackle 

For the pier’s full website click Sunset Beach Fishing Pier

Sunset Beach Maze Man  On Sunset Beach, one particularly a-MAZE-ing artistic phenomenon has captured the fascination and curiosity of locals and visitors alike. Local celebrity artist Hunter Gibbes, better known as the Sunset Beach Maze Man, adorns the beach with his larger-than-life sand mazes. If you’re lucky enough to come across one of his intricate designs, you can face the challenge of completing it!  Click Sunset Beach Maze Man or Sunset Beach Maze Man Facebook page for additional information and pictures.

Sunset Sand Artists is an informal group who come together to make sculptures on the beach just for fun.  When Stuart Jones moved to Sunset Beach in 2018 he learned some of the sand techniques from long time beach visitors and amazing artists Steve and Karen.  Stuart then encouraged neighbors Leslie and Robin to try it out and they have now been making sculptures for over two years.  Our most recent addition to the group is Amy and she’s been working with us for over a year now.  We have several people who help on occasion and they are learning fast!

To read more about this amazing group, click Sand Shapers | Life in Brunswick County, NC   Also the artists encourage people to follow them on Facebook because they try to give a heads up on sculpture days.  People can also come and sit near to watch the art come out of the sand and then see it turn from a block of sand into some nice sand art.

Sunset Beach offers a unique opportunity, a walk to Bird Island. Bird Island was once a separate island accessible only by walking through shallow Madd Inlet at low tide. Today it is connected to Sunset Beach as the inlet has filled in with sand.

Bird Island is completely untouched by development as its nearly 1,300 acres of beach, marsh and wetlands were dedicated as a North Carolina Coastal Reserve in 2002 following 10 years of work by the Bird Island Preservation Society to protect it. This designation protects habitat used by several threatened or endangered species, including Kemp’s Ridley and loggerhead sea turtles, sea beach amaranth, piping plover, wood stork and black skimmer. Early morning bird walks are conducted during the summer months by persons working with the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust.

The Town of Sunset Beach is proud to be included in the North Carolina Birding Trail. Click Birding Trail Brochure for all of the information.

Also guided tours of the island are held each Wednesday in the summer.  The tours begin at the 40th St. access on Sunset Beach at 8:30 AM.  Explore diverse barrier island communities amidst 1,300 acres of marsh, flats, and subtidal areas.  Take a hike along the nature trail, visit the famous Kindred Spirit mailbox, and keep an eye out for nesting loggerhead sea turtles and seabeach amaranth! You must be able to walk 3 miles in the sand.  Reservations are not required. For more information on the Bird Island Tours, click HERE Can’t make it down there? Don’t worry! Check out our bio for a virtual tour. #BirdIslandReserve #VirtualTour

Check out their Facebook page HERE

Kayak Launch Sites:

The best way to get to the Kindred Spirit Mailbox on Bird Island is to start at the Public Beach Access located at West 40th Street.  Take the access to the beach, and head Southwest (away from the pier). You can either walk or ride a bike, it is about 1.5 miles from the 40th Street access to The Kindred Spirit Mailbox.

The Mailbox is a little hidden but it’s visible from the beach. If you reach the rocky jetty you’ve gone a little too far.

For decades visitors to the Kindred Spirit Mailbox on Sunset Beach, NC have wondered Who is the Kindred Spirit?  The keeper of the mailbox was Claudia Sailor, a woman originating from Hope Mills, NC.

She had a dream about a mailbox in the sand and she and her boyfriend at the time planted the mailbox on Sunset Beach. Claudia Sailor maintained the mailbox in secret along with Frank Nesmith (the mailbox co-founder) since its inception.

Over time her walks to the mailbox became increasingly difficult. She began contacting local author Jacqueline DeGroot because of her local ties to the area and the mailbox.  It is featured in her novel The Secret of the Kindred Spirit. They communicated by email for years and Claudia asked Jacqueline to help replace the notebooks periodically.  Claudia passed away in Winter of 2013.

Jacqueline recruited a team of volunteers to help watch over the landmark. They walk or ride bikes to gather and replace the notebooks every week in the summer and do repairs on everything from the flag, to the dunes, to the mailbox itself.

Enjoy LIVE Music at the Pier!  Bring your beach chairs, blankets, picnic dinner and set up on the beach or sit on the pier ($1.00 pp) and enjoy FREE LIVE MUSIC as the pier becomes a stage! The pier grill will be OPEN with a limited menu. They also have plenty of snacks, cold beverages, beer and more on the pier.

Click Events Calendar to find the schedule.

One Love Market NC is an open-air artisans and farmers pop up market. The market features creators and Artisans from Wilmington to Murrels Inlet.  With live music, a craft table for young and older, the market benefits the area’s rescues: human, furry & wild!  Click One Love Market Website for all of their information.

North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands features miles of scenic beaches perfect for every kind of shell-hunter. From sand dollars and scallop shells to true tulips and olive shells, visitors have a unique opportunity to discover coastal treasures and collect souvenirs as a reminder of their beach vacation.  Keep reading to discover some Shelling Tips to help you find where you might find natural treasures washed up in the sand.

The bin of toys are found in the sand at the foot of the gazebo access walkway.  If you forgot some toys or have some to donate after your vacation, this is the toy place for you!

Click Beach Walk Workout for tips on walking in the sand and a routine to follow to have a maximum work out walking on the beach.

Sunset Beach is a turtle sanctuary, therefore all personal property must be removed from the beach strand at dark and not returned until sunrise each day so that turtles can come ashore unobstructed. This also ensures safe walking on our beautiful shore at night.

If you dig holes in the sand, please refill the sand to prevent visitors from being hurt and to ensure that turtles may come ashore without danger of falling in the hole.

Never disturb a turtle nest. Turtle nests are easily identified by the four wooden stakes and yellow caution tape encircling the stakes plus a sign indicating a nest.

Sunset Beach is home to The Sunset Beach Turtle Watch Program a private, non-profit program whose volunteers help monitor turtle nesting at the beach.  The program is staffed by volunteers who walk the beach every morning, sit at nests when the hatchlings are ready to emerge and conduct informational and educational programs.

CALL or TEXT: Sunset Beach Turtle Watch – (910) 209-1079 or Sunset Beach Police Department – 910) 579-6297 if you see any sea turtle activity on Sunset Beach day or night, (turtle tracks, nesting turtles, hatchlings, hooked turtles, deceased turtles, people disturbing the nests, etc.  Please contact us immediately!

If you see a nesting turtle, please stand back a minimum of 25 feet, do not shine lights on her, do not use flash photography, stay quiet, and hopefully, you will witness her lay a nest! Please contact us so we can come out and mark the nest and complete some data and research for the state to help protect them. Thank you for your assistance!

Informational programs, called “Turtle Time”, are free at 7 p.m. on Sunday evenings beginning in June and run during the nesting months at Sunset Properties (419 Sunset Blvd S) Parking lot – weather permitting. There is also a program on Wednesdays at noon at Ingram Planetarium.

Click 20 Facts About Sea Turtles to learn some interesting info you might not know about sea turtles.

REMINDER: Conservation work for protected sea turtles on Sunset Beach is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (ES Permit 21ST04). Harassment of sea turtles, an endangered or threatened species, or their nests, is a violation of State and Federal laws, punishable by a fine up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment.

You can visit the Sunset Beach Pier “virtually” anytime you like! Our Live “Pier Cams” are available 24/7 year-round. Use them to check out the conditions or simply consider them your own personal windows to Sunset Beach’s sand, surf and pier.  Click Live Pier Cams to view.

Om Sweet Om Yoga will be guiding Yoga on Sunset Beach just west of the pier from 7:30 – 8:30 AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning June 2nd and will run through Labor Day. Cost is $10.00/class via cash or Venmo.