Looking at a map, you may think Morehead City is farther away from Fayetteville, North Carolina, than 140 miles, but the coastal town is just a 3-hour drive down Highway 24.
Beaches used by Morehead City locals include Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle--also known as The Crystal Coast--and both have plenty of public parking available.
Morehead City plays up its maritime past, and is home to local attractions that include everything from antique shops and boardwalk boutiques to tours of Fort Macon and the North Carolina Maritime Museum.
If you take Highway 421--also known as Carolina Beach Road--about 15 miles south of Wilmington, North Carolina, you'll run into the quaint town of Carolina Beach, home of Carolina Beach State Park.
Carolina Beach is known for its excellent fishing and surfing spots, secluded camping opportunities, hiking trails and distinct local plants that include Venus flytraps, according to the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation. And it's an easy trip to Carolina Beach from Fayetteville--only about a 2.5-hour, 100-mile drive.
Sunset Beach is only about a 2.5-hour, or 100-mile, drive from Fayetteville, North Carolina, on Highway 87. Don't blink, though, because you might miss Sunset Beach--the town limits only stretch for 3 miles.
The beaches there, however, are very wide--you'll pass through sand dunes on the walk from public parking spaces--and it can be a bit windy for would-be sunbathers. It also is important to realize that surfing is illegal along the beach within the 3-mile stretch that is Sunset Beach, according to the Town of Sunset Beach's website.
The nearby town of Callabash, North Carolina, bills itself as the "Seafood Capital of the World," but Sunset Beach itself is home to more than just restaurants specializing in deep-fried delights. Other Sunset Beach attractions include the Bird Island Coastal Reserve, the Ingram Planetarium and the Museum of Coastal Carolina, which is a great stop for people with children who are visiting North Carolina beaches near Fayetteville.
