Big Island

Big Island: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this island: Water flowing well · Low flow / trickle · Dry, no water · Entry closed.

Best time to visit Big Island

Season: September to February; boat services pause in floods.

Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.

Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.

Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.

How to reach Big Island — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 34.09211, -78.29972. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Big Island

• Green Swamp Preserve · sanctuary · Brunswick · ~5 km · Must-see
• Wat Carolina Buddhajakra Vanaram · Buddhist site · Brunswick · ~21 km · Must-see
• Lake Waccamaw State Park · lake · Columbus · ~35 km · Must-see
• North Carolina Coastal Land Trust: Orton Plantation Holdings, LLC · sanctuary · Brunswick · ~38 km · Must-see
• North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport · museum · Brunswick · ~41 km · Must-see
• Oak Island Lighthouse · beach · Brunswick · ~41 km · Must-see
• Historic Brunswick Town · fort · Brunswick · ~41 km · Must-see
• Fort Anderson Ruins · fort · Brunswick · ~42 km · Must-see
• Price's Creek Lighthouse · beach · Brunswick · ~42 km · Must-see
• Hatch Auditorium · church · Brunswick · ~43 km · Must-see
• Battleship North Carolina · sanctuary · New Hanover · ~45 km · Must-see
• Bellamy Mansion Museum of History & Design Arts · museum · New Hanover · ~46 km · Must-see
• Bald Head Lighthouse · beach · Brunswick · ~46 km · Must-see
• Cape Fear Museum · museum · New Hanover · ~46 km · Must-see
• Pleasure Island · river spot · New Hanover · ~46 km · Must-see
• Waites Island · river spot · Horry · ~46 km · Must-see
• M113 · attraction · New Hanover · ~47 km · Must-see
• M-60 · attraction · New Hanover · ~47 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Big Island

Other rivers, islands & mangroves near Big Island

• Pleasure Island · river spot · New Hanover · ~46 km · Must-see
• Waites Island · river spot · Horry · ~46 km · Must-see
• Topsail Island · river spot · Onslow · ~104 km · Must-see
• Little Island · river spot · Brunswick · ~1 km
• Caison Islands · river spot · Brunswick · ~3 km
• Fall Swamp Islands · river spot · Brunswick · ~5 km
• Atkinson Island · river spot · Brunswick · ~6 km
• Moon Island · river spot · Brunswick · ~8 km
• Bear Pen Islands · river spot · Brunswick · ~8 km
• Honey Island · river spot · Brunswick · ~11 km

All rivers, islands & mangroves in North Carolina

Frequently asked