The island located on the southern side of Brunswick County is called Oak Island and consists of Oak Island Beach and Caswell Beach. Oak Island was formally Long Beach and Yaupon Beach, which have been consolidated over the years. The far eastern tip of the island is home to Fort Caswell at the mouth of the Cape Fear River across from Southport, North Carolina. The island is a prime spot for surfing, sailing, and fishing. Also, the Sea Turtle Protection Program has been located on Oak Island since 1989.

Southport, North Carolina is about a 20-25 minutes drive from Oak Island and Wilmington is a little under an hour away. One can expect a moderate commute off the island with increases in traffic during the summer months.

The island has its beach towns of East and West Long Beach, Yaupon Beach and Caswell Beach. Also, within these neighborhoods are several subdivisions such as Pinners Point, Kings Lynn, South Harbor Village, Arbor Creek, Turtlecreek, Tranquil Harbor and Ocean Greens.