Luckily, there's a great coastal town that's less than three hours away. Emerald Isle is home to some of the best beaches near Durham, North Carolina. Even better, if you book your stay at Emerald Isle, you'll have quick access to other great beaches nearby. Topsail Beach is one of the best beaches in North Carolina, just 2.5 hours from Raleigh.
Its picturesque and uncrowded beaches make it a popular place to relax and enjoy the sun. Nags Head is the closest beach to Raleigh in the Outer Banks region, and it's also one of our favorites.
