Directions to Carolina Beach from Raleigh (vacation, driving, roads)

[zitsky]

This will be only my second trip to Carolina Beach coming from Raleigh. I seem to remember taking an exit somewhere but if I look at directions on Mapquest it looks like you just take I-40 all the way and stay straight to get to Carolina Beach?

Do these directions look right to you?

1. I​-​4​0​ ​E​ ​b​e​c​o​m​e​s​ ​N​ ​C​o​l​l​e​g​e​ ​R​d​.​ (go 9.14 miles)
2. S​t​a​y​ ​s​t​r​a​i​g​h​t​ ​t​o​ ​g​o​ ​o​n​t​o​ ​U​S​-​4​2​1​ ​S​/​C​a​r​o​l​i​n​a​ ​B​e​a​c​h​ ​R​d​.​ ​C​o​n​t​i​n​u​e​ ​t​o​ ​f​o​l​l​o​w​ ​U​S​-​4​2​1​ ​S​.​ (go 7.46 miles)
3. W​e​l​c​o​m​e​ ​t​o​ ​C​A​R​O​L​I​N​A​ ​B​E​A​C​H​,​ ​N​C​.​

Also, as far as driving time, if I leave on a Friday at noon and come back Sunday afternoon, should I expect it to take about 2 or 2 1/2 hours to get back and forth?

[carolinadawg2]

Those directions look exactly right to me and I'd say the drive should be 2 1/2 max, assuming no traffic issues.

[zitsky]

Thanks. My partner and I just went to Hilton Head about a month ago. I wasn't excited about heading to the beach again when my partner brought it up. I know, what's wrong with me. If there were decent surfing, I'd be a lot more excited. We will probably go sometime in the next 1-2 weeks. We have a vacation planned for right after Labor Day so we would go to the beach before then. I wonder how crowded it's going to be on the beach and on the roads.

[Sue at the Rock]

Originally Posted by zitsky

Thanks. My partner and I just went to Hilton Head about a month ago. I wasn't excited about heading to the beach again when my partner brought it up. I know, what's wrong with me. If there were decent surfing, I'd be a lot more excited. We will probably go sometime in the next 1-2 weeks. We have a vacation planned for right after Labor Day so we would go to the beach before then. I wonder how crowded it's going to be on the beach and on the roads.

Surf is bigger on the Outer Banks. I love it out there. It's further than CB, but not as far as HHI. I've never been nuts about HHI-too developed.

[LRoyal10900]

Once you get into Carolina Beach, it can be bumper-to-bumper and take you a little while to get from Point A to Point B. Make sure you go to the Boardwalk and get some Britt's Doughnuts and a cup of milk!

[pumpkin5]

Usually the hardest part of the drive for us is getting out of Raleigh on a Friday afternoon.