Transportation Options After Your Arrival
Though Caswell Beach, Oak Island and Southport are largely drive-to destinations, some travelers need transportation options after arrival. Some local options are, if we're honest, purely for the fun of trading your normal ride for something a little different. Top of that list is exploring the area by ferry. A favorite day trip of regular visitors to the area is to catch the Southport-Fort Fisher ferry. The roughly 30-minute ferry ride is a chance to see the beauty of our shores from a different vantage point. Once on the other side, you can explore the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher or walk through the historic battleground at Fort Fisher. A little further down the road, catch the Bald Head Island Ferry for a day trip to climb Old Baldy or play a round of golf.
Select vacation rentals have golf carts available for guest use (an additional fee may be required), but for guests looking for a street-legal golf cart rental there are local companies that will deliver a golf cart to your vacation rental for use during your stay. Note that not all vacation rentals or select condo communities will permit golf cart parking or have easy access to charge a golf cart. Contact our guest services department with questions. There's also two local rental car options for those flying in that prefer to rent closer to their destination.
Public Parking
Oak Island has a paid parking program that charges for the majority of public parking spaces within the Town of Oak Island from April 1- September 30 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Paid parking passes are purchased at time of use through a mobile app at a rate of $5/hour, $20/day or $80/week. Town of Oak Island public parking spaces are clearly marked and are generally located at public beach access points and at town managed recreation areas such as Middleton Park. You may find further information on the Town of Oak Island website. Parking on a vacation rental’s driveway or in designated condo parking spaces is free, as is parking at most local businesses, but parking on the right-of-way is prohibited. The right of way is the grassy area immediately adjacent to the road that locals and visitors to Oak Island may have used for overflow parking at a property in the past, otherwise known as streetside parking. Driveways usually cross over the right of way and are exempt from restriction. Caswell Beach and Southport continue to offer free public parking.
