Local guide · Kure Beach
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
Six miles of undeveloped beach at the bottom of Pleasure Island, with free parking, restrooms and summer lifeguards. It’s also the only North Carolina state park where you can drive your four-wheel-drive onto the sand.
Why families go
Visitors come for a natural beach without high-rises, plus the practical things: free parking, restrooms and picnic tables. The Basin Trail is the family favorite. It winds through marsh to the World War II bunker where the Fort Fisher Hermit lived for 17 years. On peak days the lot near the swim beach fills, so arrive early.
Don’t miss
- The Basin Trail1.1 miles each way to the hermit’s bunker and an overlook of Zeke’s Island.
- The swim beachLifeguarded in summer, with a bathhouse by the parking lot.
- Beach drivingDrive a 4WD vehicle onto the sand with a paid permit, for fishing or a quieter spot.
- The Fort Fisher Hermit’s storyRobert Harrill lived alone in the marsh bunker from 1955 to 1972, and visitors came from far and wide to meet him.
Photo: NC State Parks
Before you go
- Gate hours change by month; the pedestrian beach is open around the clock.
- Swim near the lifeguards; rip currents happen here.
- Bring bug spray for the trail. Leashed pets are welcome, but not on the swim beach.
Plan your visit
- Where: 1000 Loggerhead Rd., Kure Beach, NC 28449
- From Topsail: About 1 hour 15 minutes from central Surf City.
- Hours: Gate opens 8 a.m.; closing varies by month (as late as 9 p.m. in summer).
- Admission: Free day use (paid permit for 4WD beach driving).
- Official site: NC State Parks: Fort Fisher
- More nearby: more family fun in Kure Beach
A short drive from the island. Browse our Topsail Island vacation rentals, all cared for by our local team.
Based on official information from the attraction and on recurring themes in public reviews; checked October 2026. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.