Kure Beach Pier gives you a way to get out over the Atlantic without getting in the water. You can walk along its wooden deck, watch people fishing and turn back toward town for a view of the beachfront. It’s an easy outing to pair with lunch or a beach day, and the history gives you a few more reasons to stop and look around.
The pier began in 1923, when reaching this stretch of coast could involve a steamer and a small train. Its first wooden supports lasted just a year. More than a century of rebuilding later, fishing and sightseeing still bring people to the same part of Kure Beach.
What to expect on the pier
The local tourism bureau describes a 711-foot wooden pier, with a bait and tackle shop, concessions and an arcade. The walk is the main attraction if you’re here to look around. As you head farther out, take a moment to look back toward the beach; the view from above the water gives you a different perspective from a towel on the sand.
This is a working fishing pier, so part of the interest is seeing what the anglers are doing. Give people room to handle rods and lines, and keep children clear of hooks and casting. A walk can include plenty of pauses, whether you’re watching someone reel in or simply looking along the shoreline. You can turn around whenever your group is ready; there’s no need to make reaching the end the goal.
If you do walk the full length and back, the pier portion is about a quarter-mile, before adding the distance from your parking space. Bring sun protection and a layer suited to the forecast, since you’ll be spending that time out over the water. For visitors with limited walking range or who need step-free access, ask the operator about the approach, entrance and restroom route before traveling.
Back near the base, Hi-Tech Arcade offers another reason to linger. The tourism bureau’s Kure Beach guide lists classics including Skee-Ball and basketball toss. A pier walk followed by a few games makes a simple family outing, especially when everyone has a different idea of how long to spend watching the fishing.
The first pier, the rebuilds and the old railway
L.C. Kure built the first pier in 1923. It extended just 120 feet, considerably shorter than today’s walk. The town’s historic-district report describes supports made from untreated local pine, which marine borers damaged until the structure collapsed. Those small wood-boring organisms ended the first version of the pier after only a year.
The replacement went up in 1924 and reached 240 feet, twice the original length. This time, the builders used reinforced-concrete supports, with construction materials carried on the Fort Fisher rail line. The pier’s early history involved figuring out how to keep a structure standing in salt water as well as giving people somewhere to fish.
Storms brought their own rebuilding work. The operator’s family history records that Bill Robertson bought the pier from his grandfather, L.C. Kure, in 1952, only for Hurricane Hazel to wash it away in 1954. Today’s pier carries a history of repairs and replacements; the 1923 date marks the beginning of that story.
There’s another piece of the past to look for before or after your walk. The town’s Historic Preservation Commission records describe visitors arriving from Wilmington by steamer on the Cape Fear River, then taking a small train toward the ocean. K Avenue’s broad layout and angled median parking, between Fourth Avenue and the pier, follow that former railway corridor. The approach to the pier was part of the excursion long before visitors were looking for a parking space.
If you want to fish
A fishing visit takes more preparation than a walk. Bring your own rod and reel, tackle and bait, because the operator doesn’t offer rentals. Its fishing page describes a fish board and a high-tide chalkboard, so check those when you arrive and ask staff about current catches and suitable tackle. The shop sells fishing supplies, but sorting out your equipment beforehand will make the start of the day easier.
The standard permit allows one rod and reel. King mackerel fishing has a separate permit and a three-rod arrangement for an anchor, bait and fighting rod; ask staff about that setup if it’s the fishing you have in mind. According to the Town of Kure Beach FAQ, you don’t need an individual fishing license to fish from this pier. That coverage is specific to the pier, and current catch and possession rules still matter.
Visiting details, without the guesswork
Use 100 Atlantic Ave., Kure Beach, as your destination. The operator advertises seasonal, 24-hour opening from Good Friday through the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Call 910-458-5524 for a date-specific check, particularly around the beginning or end of the season or after severe weather.
These posted fees were checked Oct. 9, 2026, using the operator’s fishing policy and the town’s 2026 parking fee sheet.
| Part of your visit | Posted charge |
|---|---|
| Walking or watching the fishing | Free |
| Standard fishing permit | $8 per angler, per day; midnight to midnight |
| King mackerel fishing permit | $16 per angler, per day; 5 a.m. to sunset |
| Municipal parking during paid hours | $6 hourly or $25 daily |
For one example, two standard fishing permits plus three hours of paid town parking for one car come to $34 ($16 + $18), before equipment, bait, food or any payment charges or taxes added at checkout. People who only accompany the anglers don’t need fishing permits.
The town’s 2026 paid-parking season runs March 15 through Sept. 30, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check the signs for your space and enter the correct license plate when paying. Those dates and rates apply to municipal parking in 2026; private spaces have their own terms. If your trip includes other beaches, our Wilmington beach parking guide compares the towns.
Make an afternoon of it
You can keep the rest of the visit close to the pier. Nearby Ocean Front Park, at 105 Atlantic Ave., has a lawn, children’s playground, public restrooms and an open-air pavilion overlooking the ocean. It’s a useful next stop when children are ready to play or someone wants a break from the pier walk.
For a meal, the Kure Beach restaurant guide covers nearby choices and seasonal service. If you’re also heading toward Fort Fisher, check our aquarium closure guide first. The aquarium is closed for expansion, so it won’t work as the next indoor stop.
Leave time to pause on the way back from the pier. Look along the beach, watch the fishing for a few more minutes, then head toward the park or a table in town. You don’t need to pack the afternoon with stops to enjoy this part of Kure Beach.
