North Carolina has been the setting for many movies, but no one has showcased the state on the silver screen more often – or more beautifully – than Nicholas Sparks. Living in North Carolina for more than 25 years, Sparks’ love of the state comes through in every chapter and scene where the stunning scenery becomes a character on its own. Many of these backdrops – and the character of the North Carolina coast – can be explored on romantic getaways or weekend road trips from the Outer Banks to Wilmington and the Brunswick Islands.

Nicholas Sparks in North Carolina

The Choice (2016)

The Choice (2016)

The spirit of keeping love alive in The Choice has fingerprints along the gazebos of Beaufort, plus the beaches, dockside bars and waterways of Wilmington.

Filmed in:

Crystal Coast
Inner Coastal Plain
Wilmington Area

12 Real-Life Ways to Experience The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

 

The Longest Ride (2015)

The Longest Ride (2015)

Relive the romance of Luke and Sophia – and soulmates Ira and Ruth Levinson – at Luke’s house in the Yadkin Valley, in downtown Wallace or at multiple locations around Wilmington.

Filmed in:

Brunswick Islands
Greensboro & Winston-Salem Area
Inner Coastal Plain
Topsail Area
Wilmington Area

Additional Featured Location:

Asheville & the Foothills

Tour the Places That Inspired The Longest Ride

 

Safe Haven (2013)

Safe Haven (2013)

Explore places where Katie sought haven from her past in Wilmington’s historic riverfront, the beach at Fort Fisher and many sites in charming Southport.

Filmed in:

Brunswick Islands
High Country
Raleigh, Durham & the Triangle Area
Wilmington Area

See the Sites Where Safe Haven Filmed

 

Nights in Rodanthe (2008)

Large beach house standing alone surrounded by sand during daytime

Nights in Rodanthe (2008)

See the idyllic beach house in Rodanthe along the Outer Banks where Richard Gere and Diane Lane weathered the storm – and their life-changing romance.

Filmed in:

Outer Banks & Currituck
Wilmington Area

Explore Nights in Rodanthe Sights on the Outer Banks

 

A Nicholas Sparks Tour of the North Carolina Coast

A Nicholas Sparks Tour of the North Carolina Coast

Take a trip down the coast to see the beaches, lighthouses, sunsets and coastal communities that come to life in many of Sparks’ novels and films.

Filmed in:

Albemarle & Pamlico Sounds
Brunswick Islands
Outer Banks & Currituck
Topsail Area
Wilmington Area

See the Trip Idea

 

Seen & Heard

“When I first moved to North Carolina in 1992, I was immediately struck by how varied and vast the landscape was. North Carolina is a rare state that has gentle mountains, expansive farmland, slow-moving rivers and an incredible coastline. Practically every city has its own identity, idiosyncrasies and charms, but the beauty of the state as a whole is unparalleled, and I knew when I started writing The Notebook that North Carolina (where I then lived) would be the setting. Since then, every book I’ve written has been set in North Carolina.”

Source: Nicholas Sparks, Los Angeles Times

 

“They know there will be a love story, and it will be set in North Carolina. Those are the only two constants.”

Source: Nicholas Sparks, The Washington Post

Updated May 13, 2024
About the Author
Cele and Lynn Seldon

Cele and Lynn Seldon

Cele and Lynn Seldon miss the sunsets and walks on the beach in Oak Island, where they basked in the North Carolina sunshine for 15 years.

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