Holden Beach Webcam – Dunes and Surf on the Carolina Coast

The Holden Beach Webcam looks across dune grass and sand to the Atlantic Ocean from the oceanfront of Holden Beach, a barrier island town in Brunswick County, North Carolina. A white gazebo with a green metal roof stands on the left of the frame, and a wooden walkway runs from it toward the dunes. Beyond them, waves break along the shore and the horizon cuts straight across the picture. The scene moves slowly: people walk the waterline, wind combs the grass, and the sea shifts between gray and blue with the cloud cover. The stream comes from Holden Beach Vacations, a local rental company, and a caption along the bottom of the picture carries its web address, phone number and the local date and time.

About Holden Beach

Holden Beach occupies a barrier island about 13 kilometers (8 miles) long, with the Intracoastal Waterway to the north, Lockwood’s Folly Inlet to the east and Shallotte Inlet to the west. The town sits just 0.9 meters (3 feet) above sea level. It counted 921 residents at the 2020 census, up from 575 in 2010. North Carolina Highway 130 crosses the waterway to the mainland and reaches Shallotte about 16 kilometers (10 miles) away.

The island takes its name from Benjamin Holden, who bought it along with four mainland tracts in 1756. John Holden built a bridge in 1925, and construction of the Intracoastal Waterway later destroyed it. Hurricane Hazel struck on October 15, 1954, when the island had about 300 homes, and rebuilding was slow. The town incorporated on February 14, 1969, and a high-rise steel and concrete bridge was dedicated on May 13, 1986.

Most of the frame is sky and sea, with the land confined to the lower third. Low shrubs give way to a wide band of dune grass, and the raised walkway from the gazebo steps down into it on its way to the sand. A low white shelter roof sits at the bottom of the view, and a one-way road sign stands in the lower right corner.

Weather and Climate in Holden Beach

Summer is hot and humid. Over the last ten years, daytime highs in June, July and August averaged 28°C to 29°C (82°F to 85°F), with average lows of 22°C to 25°C (72°F to 77°F). Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through November, and a passing storm can bring heavy surf to this stretch of shore. Spring warms quickly, from highs near 18°C (64°F) in March to 25°C (77°F) in May.

Autumn stays mild, with highs of 24°C (75°F) in October and 19°C (66°F) in November, and by late October the dune grass in the frame has turned a dry straw color. December through February brings highs of 13°C to 15°C (55°F to 59°F) and lows of 5°C to 8°C (41°F to 46°F). Gray skies can flatten the ocean and the sky into a single tone, with only the white line of the surf between them.

Things to Do Near Holden Beach

The island has 23 public beach access points, plus public parking at lots including 220, 317 and 343 Ocean Boulevard East and near the bridge at 131 Jordan Boulevard. Arrive early in summer, because spaces go quickly. The Olden Holden Bike Tour links 23 stops on three routes of 5.6, 8 and 16 kilometers (3.5, 5 and 10 miles). At the western tip, a public access at the end of Brunswick Avenue West leads to a wide sandspit that shifts with every storm.

The Holden Beach Fishing Pier on Ocean Boulevard dates to 1959, and the town bought the property in 2022 with plans to refurbish it, so check its status before you go. Anyone fishing needs a North Carolina license. Holden Beach Jet Ski offers watersports on the Intracoastal Waterway, and Dock House Seafood and Castaways are two places to eat. The Holden Beach Turtle Watch program hosts talks and walks about nesting loggerheads. Lockwood’s Folly Inlet, on the island’s eastern end, was the scene of several Civil War shipwrecks. Southport, along the coast, hosts the North Carolina Fourth of July Festival.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

These cameras cover more of the Carolina coast and the Atlantic shore to the north.

• Sunset Beach Pier Webcam
• Virginia Beach Boardwalk Webcam
• Beaufort Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Holden Beach located?

Holden Beach is a barrier island town in Brunswick County, on the southern coast of North Carolina. It lies between Oak Island and Ocean Isle Beach, about 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Shallotte by road.

What can you see on the Holden Beach Webcam?

A green-roofed gazebo and wooden walkway fill the left of the picture, with dune grass, the beach, breaking waves and the Atlantic horizon beyond them. People on the sand appear as small figures along the waterline.

What is the weather like in Holden Beach?

Summers are hot and humid, with highs of 28°C to 29°C (82°F to 85°F). Winters are cool, with highs of 13°C to 15°C (55°F to 59°F). Hurricane season runs from June through November.

Who operates the Holden Beach Webcam?

The stream is credited to Holden Beach Vacations, a company with more than one hundred vacation rentals on the island. It broadcasts on the Carolina Webcam Streaming channel, which also carries cameras from Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle Beach.

How long is Holden Beach island?

The island runs about 13 kilometers (8 miles) from Lockwood’s Folly Inlet in the east to Shallotte Inlet in the west.

When is sea turtle season at Holden Beach?

Loggerheads nest here each summer, and hatchlings make for the ocean between May and October, according to local guides. The Holden Beach Turtle Watch program runs educational talks and walks.

Is there a fishing pier at Holden Beach?

Yes. The Holden Beach Fishing Pier stands on Ocean Boulevard and has been owned by the town since 2022, with refurbishment planned, so confirm whether it is open before making the trip.

How far is Holden Beach from Wilmington and Myrtle Beach?

Wilmington is roughly 45 minutes to an hour away by car, and Myrtle Beach is about an hour away.

Source: Holden Beach Vacations