Kure Beach Hotels are on Pleasure Island, a strip of beautiful beaches on the coast of North Carolina. This resort community is home to Fort Fisher State Historic Site, a 712-foot fishing pier, and one of North Carolina’s three aquariums. At the southern end of the beach, twisted live oaks still grow behind the dunes. The community has miles of beaches; public access points are marked by orange-and-blue signs. Visit here for the best North Carolina Beaches.
Kure Beach Weather – When to Visit
Kure Beach is best in the spring (March to May) and fall (September and October), when the weather is most temperate and the water reasonably warm. You will avoid the crowds and higher prices associated with the peak summer tourist season, if visiting during these times.
Best Kure Beach Areas
Ocean Front Park & Pavilion
The Ocean Front Park is Kure Beach’s largest public park, and is located in the heart of the downtown area next to the fishing pier. The site features beach access and a walking path, a playground for kids, swings and rain gardens, and an open air pavilion that hosts special events and concerts throughout the year.
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Kure Beach Fishing Pier
The roughly 700’ ft. long Kure Beach Fishing Pier has lots of ways to stay entertained, besides fishing and stunning views of the oceanfront shoreline. The pier also features a nearby concessions stand, an on-site fishing / bait and tackle shop, an arcade, and a large souvenir area.
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Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
The 287-acre Fort Fisher State Recreation Area features six miles of undeveloped shoreline, and is a popular destination for beach-goers who want a full day of surfing, fishing, swimming, and relaxing in the sun. Ample parking and restrooms are available on-site.
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Zeke’s Island Reserve
Zeke’s Island Reserve is one of the most important shorebird habitats along the North Carolina coastline, and is a hard-to-reach but easy to enjoy collection of completely undeveloped barrier islands that feature great birding, boating and kayaking, shelling, and wildlife watching opportunities.
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Best Kure Beach Activities
Carolina Beach State Park
Visitors who want to take a break from Carolina Beaches’ busy surf side scene, and instead enjoy its acres of wild, undeveloped territory, can pay a visit to the sprawling Carolina Beach State Park. The park, which covers 761 acres of Carolina Beach or Pleasure Island, is a blissful retreat for nature lovers, kayakers, boaters, hikers, joggers, bird watchers, and naturalists.
Southport/Fort Fisher Ferry
The Southport / Fort Fisher ferry is a unique way to explore the southern North Carolina coastline. The ferry trip gives passengers exceptional views of the Cape Fear River, and an incredible story to take back home. The ferry ride is just a short 35 minute ride from the mainland to Pleasure Island.
Oak Island Lighthouse
As the newest lighthouse in North Carolina, the distinctive white, gray and black structure is unlike any other on the coastline, prompting both curiosity and amazement from visitors, and making it a “must-see” on any lighthouse lover’s road trip list.
Southport Marsh Walk
Nature lovers who want to take an in-depth and self-guided exploration of Southport’s wild terrain can take an easy stroll down the “Marsh Walk.” This long boardwalk that begins along Brunswick Avenue on the edges of the busy downtown ends, essentially, in the middle of nowhere, with incredible views of the Cape Fear River, Elizabeth River, and miles of the waterfront terrain that defines Southport as a uniquely coastal town.
Carolina Beach State Park
The park, which covers 761 acres of Carolina Beach or Pleasure Island, is a blissful retreat for nature lovers, kayakers, boaters, hikers, joggers, bird watchers, and naturalists of all genres. With rare and unique species that can only be found in this region of North Carolina, and endless active ways to explore the terrain, Carolina Beach visitors will be pleasantly surprised by this expansive and quiet off-the-beach destination.
Best Kure Beach Restaurants
Beach House Burgers Under $10
The burger stand is pretty hard to miss, with it’s lime-green and peach exterior, and just a hop, skip and a barefoot run away from the ocean. The menu is short, but appetizing, with hamburgers and cheeseburgers, and a collection of other classic sandwiches and beach eats. Telephone: 910-458-8586 Web: Beach House Burgers
Freddie’s Italian Restaurant $11 – 30
Freddie’s serves authentic Italian cuisine in an Irish pub atmosphere. There’s a small friendly bar serving the best martinis in the area. You might even hear Al Martino or Frank Sinatra crooning in the background. Telephone: 910-458-5979 Web: Freddie’s Italian Restaurant
Jack Mackerel’s Island Grill $11 – 30
Caribbean-influenced fare with a seafood emphasis served in colorful digs with a two story deck.” Jack Mackerels offers casual dining in a festive atmosphere! From USDA Choice grade steaks to locally sourced seafood. They serve only the freshest creations. Telephone: 910-458-7668 Web: Jack Mackerel’s Island Grill
Kure Beach Diner Under $10
This classic diner features no-frills southern fare and plenty of options that allow visitors all along the beach to take a beat, and enjoy a nice dose of southern home cooking. Telephone: 910-458-8778 Web: Kure Beach Diner
Cape Fear Boil Company $11 – 30
Dining out at the beach can be a daunting task. Leaving the beach early, hour long waits for tables, expensive drinks, and mediocre food are just the start! Let Cape Fear Boil Co. solve your dining dilemma! Choose either their at-home catering or one of their steam pots to-go. Maximize your beach time and enjoy a meal and experience you won’t soon forget! Telephone: 910-707-3034 Cape Fear Boil Company
Thank you so much for this post over Kure Beach! It’s nice to have posts like this because I am planning a wedding and a honeymoon and need to find the right places to go, and Kure Beach is on that list. There seems to be a lot to do here, and it actually looks like a very romantic place so thank you for the review!
You are very welcome Jessie! Any beautiful beach is great for a honeymoon 🙂 You will truly enjoy. Thanks for visiting my Kure Beach Hotels guide.
Governor Roy Cooper has announced additional restrictions will be eased under his most recent executive order. So it’s good for all of us wanting to go to Kure Beach. This order will be in effect through June 1st, at the earliest. Face masks are still required indoors, and though they’re no longer required outdoors, they’re still recommended when social distancing is difficult or not possible.
Yes, sounds the same as here in Florida. Even for those who have had the vaccine. I am hoping that they just make the vaccine mandatory and get it over with. It would sure help out on getting the covid numbers down. Thanks for the info Ann!
Kure Beach is a Heavenly garden of beauty including its surroundings and natural beauties. Looking at the eyecatching beauty of Kure Beach someone must be lost in the love of Kure Beach, hello the community and the visitors, haven’t you lost ever in the love of Kure Beach?
Actually, while I am going to a walk through the video and other supporting images, I have really fallen in love with Kure Beach.
It is a beautiful area. I could easily live there on the beach, hands down! Thanks for the visit to my Kure Beach Hotels guide.
I have never been to North Carolina and after reading this post, I have put Kure Beach on my bucket list as one of the places I would like to visit once travel restrictions have been lifted. Fort Fischer State Recreation Area sounds like an absolute definite bit of shoreline to visit, together with the Oak Island lighthouse.
The North Carolina coast is wonderful, you can’t go wrong where ever you end up there for vacation. I am glad you enjoyed your visit to Beach Travel Destinations.
These beaches on the coast of North Carolina really look beautiful and attractive, and the choice of hotels is also suitable for every price range.
I see you suggest visiting Kure Beach Hotels on Pleasure Island between March and May and September and October when there is no peak season and no such crowds. But I’m wondering if you happen to have any information about the theft, because I have one bad experience, and I’m now careful about planning a vacation to very crowded destinations.
Thank you and best regards,
Nina
The crime in Kure Beach is really very good when you compare it to other destinations that tend to be crowded in the summer. Overall, North Carolina is a safe state. I think you will find a vacation to Kure Beach will be event free. Thanks for visiting my Kure Beach Hotels guide.
This is another excellent holiday destination that you have brought to us.
Kure beach certainly has a lot going for it. Not just the superb beaches where you can spend long summer days, but there is also plenty of other things to do to
I think the Oven Park and Pavilion would be great for families, as it has everything on site to everyone amused all day.
This is certainly a place to visit.
Yes, plenty to do on Kure Beach besides spending all day at the beach 🙂 And there is plenty to do for families for sure. Thanks for visiting beach travel destinations.
Hi Leahrae. Thank you for another great review. After such difficult year its very refreshing to see such beautiful pictures and be able to think about holidays again. I never been in Kure, but it seems a perfect place to visit with family, quite and full of natural beauty. Can’t wait to see it in person, and definitely adding this place to my travel list.
Great I am glad I could share with you wonderful Kure Beach. Thanks for visiting Beach Travel Destinations.
Thank you very much for explaining what we can expect when traveling to Kure Beach. It’s one of my preferred destinations for this summer holiday, though I hope it won’t be that crowded due to the pandemic season. I’m excited to check the lighthouse. Are there any restaurants there that provide vegetarian meals?
There are plenty of vegetarian restaurants in Kure Beach and you can find a list here. I think you will find there are plenty, and the lighthouse would be amazing for sure. Glad you enjoyed your visit to our Kure Beach Hotels guide.
Hi Leahrae Thanks for giving me the opportunity to view Kure Beach North Carolina. It looks fab, clean and friendly. Loved the video as well could see myself lying on that beach.
Can’t believe there is a Southport. I live in the UK and Southport is just outside Liverpool here. I can promise you it looks absolutely nothing like the beach in your post !!!
By the way Cape Fear, is that were the film of the same name was filmed do you know?
No, Cape Fear took place in Savannah California and not near Kure Beach 🙂 I actually had to look that one up. And I bet the Southport near you is much different 🙂 You will have to make a vacation to the U.S some time. We have a lot to offer!
Hi and thank you you allow me to read your article.
Reading and looking through your post, as always beaches fascinated and I will always be in love with, the Kura Beach Hotels destination where I believe it will be my next one. If life will allow me. So, getting back to your article, I do love it when you describe step by step what is included in this super place.
Pleasure Island consists of a large community with a pier, hotels, beach areas, fort fisher recreation area ohhhh amazing place, the reservation and also a park. There are some restaurants which everything is under $10 (what is $10 in today century,) and, the lighthouse, splendid. from where you can see the entire view. wow
I never knew. As I’ve said I like it when you explain step by step what you can do in every area and there are suggestions for where to go and what to do for everyone.
Unfortunately, I do not have any experience with the topic as my focus is not on tourism but on another field and also I never been to North Carolina.
Thank you for sharing this with us, many blessings to you
Yes, Kure Beach has some great deals. I think you will have to visit North Carolina one day if you can. I know a lot of people are still worried about the pandemic, but I believe that it will get better this year and things will return to a sense of normalcy. Might be a little different, but we’ll be able to travel again without such worry.
Thanks for a very informative blog. I have to admit I have never been to North Carolina. Pictures, video and tips on what and when to visit are great, I really enjoyed it. I will definitely visit Kure Beach as soon as we are in a slightly better situation with travel.
We should be seeing a different situation soon…I hope! I travel next month but have all my covid vaccinations so I feel pretty safe about the travel. Looks for some beach pics!
Thanks for the tip about visiting either in the spring or fall for lower prices and to avoid crowds. I find vacations are more enjoyable when areas are not too crowded.
That aerial experience video of Kure Beach really highlights what a beautiful location this would be to visit! I always enjoy finding new hiking trails when we travel and Carolina Beach State Park and Southport Marsh Walk sound like amazing places to explore.
Yes, I don’t like to have to fight a crowd or wait in line. I prefer the less crowded beaches myself. I can feel more relaxed and it’s just more enjoyable for sure. Thanks for visiting beach travel destinations Leah.
Kure beach is a beautiful resort!, I never visit North Carolina before but now that i watched the video, i will love to start making plans to visit with the family.
My question is; are these resorts for children too? i ask this because i know some resorts in other places can be only for adults.
My favorite resort has to be also with all inclusive, meaning food is included. we are a family of five, so this is very important when it comes the to book for a vacation trip.
Thanks for sharing this information!
Hi there, this area is great for kids. So much for them to do. I would stay at the Courtyard by Marriott Carolina Beach. They have a great swimming pool and it is very close to the beach. I know my kids were most entertained when they were young building sand castles, playing with beach toys, and we always took beach games with us. They will have a blast!