Estimated Trip Costs & Tips to Budget for Your Weekend

With about 80% of our registrants coming from out of town, we know a thing or two about the costs associated with accommodations, transportation, meals, drinks, and all the other little things that add up.

Based on surveys and feedback from previous years, the average registrant spends about $300 to $500 on weekend expenses, not including transportation.

Save on Your Stay with Our Host Sponsor

Our Host Sponsor, Oak Island Accommodations, is offering Pledge the Pink participants up to 10% off a new stay of three nights or more between October 9 and October 15, 2027.

View the Pledge the Pink lodging offer and available rentals.

Buddying up in a larger vacation rental can make your stay even more affordable. Depending on the property, group size, and booking dates, you may be able to keep your accommodations around $60 to $100 per person, per night.

Accommodations Tips:

• Start with the special offer from our Host Sponsor, Oak Island Accommodations. Pledge the Pink participants can receive up to 10% off a new stay of three nights or more between October 9 and October 15, 2027. Shop the special offer here.
• Generally, the bigger the house, the more people you can accommodate and the lower the cost per person. That’s why you’ll see so many great deals in our Facebook Group, where FlockStars are often looking to fill an extra bedroom and split the bill. Not only will you save money, but you may also leave Oak Island with 10 new besties.
• Look for a rental with a kitchen so you can save money on breakfasts, dinners, snacks, and those emergency late-night carbs. We’ll provide lunch at the finish line on Friday and Saturday, followed by brunch on Sunday.
• If you or your friends are driving, consider preparing meals and snacks ahead of time and bringing them in a cooler. You’ll spend less time cooking, less money eating out, and more time enjoying the beach.
• Before booking, check the property’s parking, golf cart, linen, cleaning fee, and check-in policies. These details vary by rental and can affect the final price.

Transportation Tips

• Flying in? Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is the closest commercial airport to Oak Island. It is also worth comparing flights into Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), especially if the savings justify the longer drive.
• Plenty of FlockStars will be flying into these airports. Before renting a car or booking a ride, post on our Facebook Rideshare Board to see whether you can catch a ride or split the cost of a rental with other participants.
• If you’re within the infamous six-hour drive zone, use the Rideshare Board to find people traveling from your area. Share the gas, enjoy some car games, and cruise into Oak Island in your pinked-out ride.
• Unlike Fripp Island, Oak Island vacation rentals do not automatically include golf carts. Some properties may offer one, while others may not allow golf cart parking or charging. Check directly with your rental company or property owner.
• If you want a golf cart, reserve a street-legal low-speed vehicle early and review Oak Island’s rules before driving it. Golf carts are fun, but they are not permitted everywhere, and some of the island’s busiest roads should be avoided.
• Oak Island also has a multi-use path and is easy to explore by bicycle in many areas. Depending on where you are staying, bikes may be a convenient option for shorter trips.

Food & Drinks

• Oak Island has grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacies, convenience stores, and other essentials. Additional shopping options are available just across the bridge in Southport.
• Consider placing a grocery pickup order or stopping for supplies before checking into your rental. Stocking the house with breakfast food, snacks, water, and drinks can save a surprising amount of money.
• Oak Island and nearby Southport have plenty of casual restaurants, seafood spots, bars, and nicer dinner options. Review menus and prices in advance if you plan to eat out.
• If you’re a party flocker, you already know how quickly drinks add up. Grocery stores sell beer and wine, while liquor is sold through North Carolina ABC stores. A little planning can keep your drink budget from wandering off unsupervised.
• Check our weekend schedule before making dinner reservations. Between races, parties, Bingo, the auction, and general FlockStar shenanigans, your free time may disappear faster than you expect.

Basically, it is entirely up to you how much you spend.

Share a house with friends. Eat some meals at your rental. Splurge on a dinner or two. Stock your own drinks. Rent a golf cart. Explore Southport. Spend some time on the beach.

Your choices will determine whether you keep things simple or turn the weekend into a full vacation.

Budget accordingly, buddy up when you can, and get ready to have the time of your life!