You have 1 trip in progress.   See all
Trip Planner:   USA  /  North Carolina  /  North Carolina Coast  /  Kure Beach  /  Fort Fisher State Recreation Area

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, Kure Beach

4.8
#4 of 9 in Things to do in Kure Beach
Historic Site · Tourist Spot
Create an itinerary including Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area is a 287-acre (1.16 km2) North Carolina state park in New Hanover County, North Carolina in the United States. Located near Kure Beach, North Carolina, it includes Fort Fisher, site of a major naval engagement during the American Civil War. The recreation area also served as a home for the Fort Fisher Hermit, Robert Harrill. Harrill lived in a bunker and shared his beliefs about "common sense" with thousands of visitors every year while surviving on what he could gather from the surrounding salt marsh and oyster beds.

Today, the recreation area consists of the remains of the earthen Fort Fisher and a museum at Fort Fisher State Historic Site, an oceanfront beach pavilion, a large lagoon popular with windsurfers, and a long stretch of beach that is accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles. The beach is an important nesting ground for sea turtles, and state park rangers regularly patrol the beach to identify recently built turtle nests. Once they are identified, they are clearly marked and surrounded with a mesh fence to prevent vehicles from driving over the eggs. The openings in the mesh are large enough to allow newly hatched turtles to pass through and return to the sea.

PutFort Fisher State Recreation Area into our Kure Beach trip app and find out what's close by, where to stay, and where to head next.
Source
Create a full itinerary - for free!

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area reviews

Rate this attraction
TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
316 reviews
Google
4.8
TripAdvisor
  • Did not know what to expect. It looks interesting as you drive by, so we stopped. Admission to the museum is free (!!) and there is much to see, from Ft Fisher's Civil War history to its part in... 
    Did not know what to expect. It looks interesting as you drive by, so we stopped. Admission to the museum is free (!!) and there is much to see, from Ft Fisher's Civil War history to its part in...  more »
  • NICE SMALL MUSEUM beautiful location easy parking, the fort is very interesting and the beach and picnic area are wonderful 
    NICE SMALL MUSEUM beautiful location easy parking, the fort is very interesting and the beach and picnic area are wonderful  more »
Google
  • I went to Fort Fisher beach for the first time recently and really enjoyed my time there. Took my Jeep out for its first sand excursion and didn't have any issues traversing the beach. Be sure to air down to the recommended PSI and run in 4 low and you won't have any issues. While out there saw several people get stuck or didn't know how to drive in the sand and needed help. I think the biggest thing was that they didn't air down. The beach wasn't crowded at all, it was peaceful and serene. Was able to get a couple days worth of Vitamin Sea in and can't wait to come back.
  • Wonderful location. Went for the afternoon during Labor Day weekend and it was such a chill afternoon! Of course there were lots of people there and parking was a bit of an effort, but still plenty of room. Beach was clean, lots of families, no one playing super loud music or being too drunk and rowdy. Someone had an Italian ice stand, cash only $4, so good and perfect for a hot day.

Plan your trip to Kure Beach

  • Get a personalized trip
    A full day by day itinerary based on your preferences
  • Customize it
    Refine your trip. We'll find the
    best routes and schedules
  • Manage it
    Everything in one place. Everyone on the same page.