Kure Beach.
A fishing pier and oceanfront park, with Fort Fisher history and beach trails to the south.
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Getting to know
Kure Beach.
Kure Beach is south of Carolina Beach on Pleasure Island, with a town-center outing built around the fishing pier and Ocean Front Park. It's a useful base if your plans include the beach and Fort Fisher. Choose your accommodations by their exact location, and check how you'll reach the pier, a public beach access or the attractions farther south.
Kure Beach Fishing Pier is at 100 Atlantic Ave.; its history dates to 1923. Nearby Ocean Front Park, at 105 Atlantic Ave., has a playground, lawn and public restrooms. Fort Fisher State Historic Site is a separate stop at 1610 Fort Fisher Blvd. S., where exhibits and a trail explain the surviving Civil War earthworks. Fort Fisher State Recreation Area offers ocean beach access and a marsh trail from its Loggerhead Road entrance.
The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is closed for a multi-year renovation and expansion. Its free Discovery Bay mini aquarium is at Independence Mall in Wilmington, so it belongs in a separate mainland plan. For a Southport outing, the state ferry crosses the Cape Fear River from Fort Fisher in about 35 minutes, excluding boarding and any wait. Plan your return sailing and transport from the Southport landing before leaving.
Read up on
Kure Beach.
Choose a meal, a place to stay or an outing from our published guides. Each guide explains its sources and planning limits; current hours, access and event details still need the relevant operator's notice.
Where to Eat
Choose a meal, a waterfront setting or a food budget. Guides are ordered by original publication date within each topic; check each guide's update and schedule notes.
Things to Do
Plan an outing, check local rules or find dated event coverage. Guides are ordered by original publication date within each topic; check each guide's update and schedule notes.
Kure Beach Pier: What to Expect and a Century of History
Explore Kure Beach Pier with its century of history, ocean views, fishing and nearby arcade. Find what to expect, what to bring and essential visiting details.
Fort Fisher State Historic Site: Visiting Wilmington's Civil War Fort by the Sea
Fort Fisher State Historic Site in Kure Beach is free to visit. See the new visitor center, walk the earthworks trail, and plan your time at the fort.
Take the Ferry to Southport: Fares, Return Times, and a Day-Trip Plan
Plan a Fort Fisher–Southport ferry day trip from Wilmington: crossing time, car and walk-on fares, schedule links, queue tips, and waterfront stops.
The Cape Fear Kite Festival at Fort Fisher: What to Expect on Kite Weekend
Plan Cape Fear Kite Festival weekend at Fort Fisher, Nov. 6-8, 2026. Find free admission details, beach activities, and where to park for the kite displays.
Fort Fisher Aquarium closure and the free Discovery Bay alternative
Fort Fisher Aquarium is closed for expansion. Plan Discovery Bay at Independence Mall with its current hours, location and free admission.
Places to
look up.
Business links for this area. Check the operator's current hours and service details before visiting.
Questions we
get asked.
Frequently asked
Is the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher open?
No. All areas closed May 26, 2026 for a renovation and expansion that the aquarium estimates will last more than two years. Check its official updates before planning around a reopening. Discovery Bay, its free mini aquarium, is open in the JCPenney wing of Independence Mall in Wilmington; check that location's current hours for a mainland visit.
What can you visit at Fort Fisher during the aquarium closure?
Fort Fisher State Historic Site and Fort Fisher State Recreation Area are separate destinations with their own hours and notices. The historic site offers exhibits and an earthworks trail, with free general admission and separately priced guided tours. The recreation area has beach access and a marsh trail. Check each destination before combining them, especially on days when the historic site is closed.
How do you get from Kure Beach to Southport?
The Southport-Fort Fisher state ferry carries vehicles and walk-on passengers across the Cape Fear River. The published crossing is about 35 minutes; queues, loading and travel to the terminal add time. The Southport landing is at 1650 Ferry Road. Before traveling as a walk-on, arrange transport for the places you want to visit and back to the terminal. Check NCDOT's schedule and service status in both directions.
How should you plan parking in Kure Beach?
Choose your beach access or town-center stop first, then consult the town's parking map and signs. The town lists its 2026 paid season as March 15 through Sept. 30, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Permits are tied to your license plate, and the town says they don't guarantee a space. Parking at a separate attraction has its own arrangements.
Check the
details.
- Kure Beach Fishing Pier
Pier address and history dating to 1923. Checked .
- Town Ocean Front Park information
Park address, playground and restrooms. Checked .
- Fort Fisher Historic Site visitor information
Historic-site location, earthworks, admission and operating days. Checked .
- Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
Separate beach and marsh-trail destination. Checked .
- Aquarium renovation FAQ
Full aquarium closure and multi-year project. Checked .
- Discovery Bay visitor information
Free mini aquarium at Independence Mall. Checked .
- NCDOT ferry schedule
Published crossing time and vehicle/walk-on service. Checked .
- NCDOT ferry routes and service updates
Check schedules and service status before travel. Checked .
- Town parking information
2026 paid season, plate-based permits and space availability. Checked .
- Southport ferry visitor information
Southport terminal address and onward trip planning. Checked .