New Hanover County, NC · Atlantic Ocean

Kure Beach

Quietest of the Pleasure Island beaches just south of Carolina Beach. The 711-foot Kure Beach Pier is the oldest on the Atlantic coast. NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher and the Civil War earthworks are within 5 minutes.

Today's Conditions

Ideal for a beach walk.

82°F water · 84°F air

Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon

Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. South wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 81. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Weather

84°F air — ideal beach weather
Sunny skies — mostly sunny

Water

82°F water — warm — full-day swim weather

Safety

UV 11 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure

78 /100

great

80 Swim

81 Sunbathe

87 Walk

70 Fish

80 Photo

Best for walking today

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Atmosphere

Air Temp

84°F

Mostly Clear

Wind

14 mph

Rain

12%

This Afternoon

UV Peak

11 Extreme

High 11 AM–04 PM · burn in ~18m

Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM

Tomorrow

83°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Water

Water Temp

82°F

Swimming weather

Barometer

30.14 inHg

1021 hPa

Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference

No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (AMZ250)

The ILM office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.

NCZ106 Coastal Pender — Surf City and Topsail Beach n/a
NCZ108 Coastal New Hanover — Wrightsville Beach, Masonboro Island, n/a
NCZ110 Coastal Brunswick — Bald Head Island, Oak Island, Holden Beach, n/a
SCZ054 Coastal Horry — Cherry Grove, North Myrtle Beach, n/a
SCZ056 Coastal Georgetown — Murrells Inlet, Litchfield Beach, n/a

NWS SRF · ILM · Issued Jun 26, 2:42 PM

Sun & Moon

Sunrise

6:02 AM

Sunset

8:26 PM

Moon · 89%

Waxing Gibbous

Neap tides — smaller range

Today's Tides

7-day chart →

Time	Type	Height
5:28 AM	High	3.1 ft
11:33 AM	Low	0.3 ft
6:06 PM	High	4.4 ft

7-Day Beach Day Forecast

Today Jun 26

84°

Mostly Sunny

12%

Sat Jun 27

83°

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

46%

Sun Jun 28

86°

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

27%

Mon Jun 29

84°

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

40%

Tue Jun 30

83°

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Sunny

15%

Wed Jul 1

82°

Sunny

Thu Jul 2

85°

Sunny

What to Bring Today

critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 11 — very high
recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 14 mph wind
optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 82°F

Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).

Best Fishing Times Today

Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.

Major

9:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Minor

2:40 AM - 3:40 AM

Major

9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Minor

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Beach Info

Parking

Free public lots at major accesses. Metered street parking near the pier.

Dogs

Dogs prohibited on the beach 9 AM – 5 PM, April 1 – September 30. Leashed (max 15 ft) at other times.

Entry Fee

Free

Address

Atlantic Ave, Kure Beach, NC 28449

Amenities

lifeguardsfishing pierrestroomsaquarium nearbyhistorical site nearby

7-Day Tide Chart →

Full high/low predictions for the next week at Kure Beach.

7-Day Weather →

Extended forecast for Kure Beach from the National Weather Service.

Frequently Asked

Is Kure Beach dog-friendly?

Dogs prohibited on the beach 9 AM – 5 PM, April 1 – September 30. Leashed (max 15 ft) at other times.

Is there an entry fee at Kure Beach?

Entry to Kure Beach is free.

Are there lifeguards at Kure Beach?

Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Kure Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.

What amenities are at Kure Beach?

Amenities at Kure Beach include lifeguards, fishing pier, restrooms, aquarium nearby, historical site nearby.

When is the water warmest at Kure Beach?

Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.

Where is Kure Beach located?

Kure Beach is in New Hanover County, NC, at Atlantic Ave, Kure Beach, NC 28449.