Brunswick County coast
Things to do in Sunset Beach
Things to do in Sunset Beach, North Carolina: public beaches, parks, and landmarks. Unchecked businesses stay off the list.
Last updated October 15, 2026.
Kindred Spirit mailbox on Bird Island
A mailbox in the dunes holds notebooks. People write in them and leave them. From the 40th Street access, walk southwest about 1.4 miles. The reserve mentions a flagpole as a cue. This is sand, not a boardwalk. Bring water. The mailbox does not sell any. Dogs may come if they stay on a leash. The reserve prohibits off-leash pets. Nesting closures still win.
The developed strand
East of Bird Island, Sunset Beach is a low-key cottage island. The Sunset Beach Pier stands toward the west end of that developed beach. Hours and fees are the pier's to post. Brunswick County's visitor guide says the town does not staff lifeguards. The town code also keeps ordinary vehicles off the strand.
Mainland Sunset Beach
Errands and a lot of meals live on the mainland side of the bridge, and in nearby Calabash. Calabash lent its name to a fried-seafood style. The island between the cottages is not a restaurant row.