The Crystal Coast is full of fun activities for visitors of all ages. You’ll experience clean beaches with clear water, delicious local seafood, and unique shopping to help you find the perfect souvenir. All along the coast, you’ll find laid-back towns with charms all their own.
One of our favorite spots is Atlantic Beach, which is perfectly situated near plenty of great day trips. Getting to the Crystal Coast is half the journey, and you’ll have beautiful views along the way. Here is our ultimate guide on how to reach the Crystal Coast and our rentals in Atlantic Beach.
How many minutes is it from…?
There are several fun day trips just minutes away from Atlantic Beach. By staying in a central location, you’ll have the option to pick a new city every day! You can choose a smaller city like Beaufort or Emerald Isle, or head a bit further to larger locations like Raleigh. Here are a few typical drive times from Atlantic Beach’s neighbors.
- Morehead City: Morehead City is just a 5-10 minute drive from Atlantic Beach. Simply hop on the Atlantic Beach Causeway to travel between these beautiful neighboring towns.
- Beaufort: Beaufort is about 15 minutes away from Atlantic Beach. Use the Atlantic Beach Causeway to get to Morehead City, then connect to US-70 E for the next 5 miles.
- Emerald Isle: It takes 20 minutes to drive from Atlantic City to Emerald Isle. Get onto North Carolina Highway 58 N and follow it for 10 miles.
- New Bern: New Bern is a bit further away, almost an hour’s drive from Atlantic City. The fastest way to get there is by taking US-70 W.
How to Drive to Atlantic Beach from Charlotte
If you’re flying into Charlotte, it will take you about 5 hours to reach Atlantic Beach. The most convenient route is via US-74 E, where you will drive for about 3 hours or 175 miles. You will continue your journey via NC-53 E and NC-24 E.
How to Drive to Atlantic Beach from the Outer Banks
It takes about 4 hours to reach Atlantic Beach from the Outer Banks. Use NC-12 N to get to US-158 E, then follow US-64 W to NC-171 S and stay on this road for 80 miles. You’ll then get on US-17 N and US-70 E to reach Atlantic Bridge in Morehead City, another 80-mile trip.
How to Drive to Atlantic Beach from Wilmington
The trip from Wilmington takes about 2 hours. Just hop onto US-17 N and NC-24 E, which will bring you to Atlantic Beach Bridge and the Causeway.
Where is the Closest Airport to Atlantic Beach?
The nearest airport to Atlantic Beach is the Coastal Carolina Regional Airport (EWN) in New Bern. Other nearby options are the Albert J. Ellis Airport (OAJ) in Richlands, about an hour away, or Wilmington International Airport (ILM), about two hours away.
Atlantic Beach Vacation Rentals
Our rentals in Atlantic Beach are easy to get to from any of these locations. There’s so much to see and do along the Crystal Coast, you may find you have trouble fitting it in! When you want to relax after a long day of exploring, our rentals make the perfect havens to unwind and soak up your alone time. Watch the gorgeous waves from your balcony, or curl up with your sweetheart for movie night.
All this and more is possible thanks to our wide range of rentals throughout the Crystal Coast, and we can’t wait to help you plan the vacation of your dreams! For more information on traveling throughout the Crystal Coast and our full range of property rentals, contact us today!