Iconic Piers on the North Carolina Coast
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by Sea Scape Properties
- June 16, 2025
- Blog
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Piers are a key feature defining the North Carolina coast—see for yourself by Googling any of our amazing beaches! It’s part of what makes our coast so stunning, adds historical charm, and gives tourists a unique way to experience the beach!
There is no “pier” pressure, but these are the most iconic piers on the North Carolina coast you don’t want to miss during your stay in our Sea Scape vacation homes.
Experiencing “Pier” Joy on the North Carolina Coast
Piers are engrained in coastal Americana, with iconic piers like the Navy Pier in Chicago, the Santa Monica Pier near Los Angeles, and the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. Soon, you’ll have several North Carolina piers to add to the list.
Historically, piers were used by fishermen to access deeper waters offshore, dock boats, and unload cargo or passengers. Today, piers have become iconic coastal attractions. In North Carolina, they’re still used for anglers, along with other exciting functions that benefit tourists. The oldest piers on the North Carolina coast are an excellent location to literally “walk through” history. For the social media generation, they’re excellent photo ops spots. As for the everyday tourist, their expansive lengths make them great for scenic strolls, offering unobstructed ocean views, and even finding restaurants perched right on the piers.
The North Carolina coast has plenty of piers suitable for any category you fall into. See how many of these piers you can see during your vacation.
Best Piers on the North Carolina coast
Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier
- 23 E Salisbury St, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
- Hours: 6am to 11pm
- https://johnniemercersfishingpier.com
Originally named the Atlantic View Pier, the first pier structure was constructed in 1937 with wood. That pier was ultimately damaged by hurricanes and rebuilt in its current form in 2001, becoming the first concrete pier in North Carolina. It juts 1,200 feet over the Atlantic Ocean and has become a Wrightsville Beach landmark.
Its primary use is for fishing. It features an onsite tackle shop for all your fishing needs—from rod rentals to bait. Chat with the friendly workers for tips on how to catch fish here! The pier house also hosts a restaurant serving food and beer from spring to fall. Stop by the gift shop for pier-inspired t-shirts, hats, pins, magnets, and other souvenirs.
Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier costs $2.00 to walk out ($1.00 for kids), and day fishing passes start at $8.00. Season passes are also available.
Crystal Pier
- 703 S Lumina Ave, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
- Hours: 8am to 10pm
Take in the breathtaking views of Wrightsville Beach and the Atlantic Ocean from Crystal Pier. The original pier was built in 1939, but it also suffered damage from hurricanes. The current pier was rebuilt to a length of only 475 feet and retains its wooden structure.
Crystal Pier is home to the Oceanic Restaurant, one of the best seafood spots in Wrightsville Beach. In addition to serving delicious food, it hosts concerts and yoga sessions right on the pier during the summer.
Carolina Beach Pier
- 1800 Carolina Beach Ave N, Carolina Beach, NC 28428
- Hours: Until 10pm
- https://carolinabeachpier.com
The Carolina Beach Pier is the perfect complement to the fun atmosphere for which Carolina Beach is known. It’s one of the most commercialized piers on the North Carolina coast, with three different bars/eateries, and hosts events throughout the year. It was named the Best Waterfront Dining by Wilmington Magazine. Visit the Tiki Bar for cocktails. Dine breakfast to dinner inside the High Tide Lounge. Finish with an ice cream dessert served in the Pink Cafe.
Bring your furry friends because Carolina Beach Pier is also pet-friendly! Check out our pet-friendly Carolina Beach vacation homes (https://seascapevacationhomes.com/search-results?area=&arrive=&depart=&guest=&adult_guest=0&child_guest=0&pet_guest=0&bedrooms=&min-price=&max-price=&facility%5B%5D=pet-friendly).
Kure Beach Pier
- 100 Atlantic Ave, Kure Beach, NC 28449
- Hours: 24 hours, year-round
- https://www.instagram.com/kurebeachpier/
Kure Beach Pier ranks among the oldest piers on the entire Atlantic Coast. Originally built in 1923, it has been restored numerous times since then to preserve its coastal charm. You can feel its history in every wooden plank composing the 711-foot-long structure.
Ocean views and fishing are the primary activities on Kure Beach Pier. The bait shop at the pier entrance sells fishing essentials. Fees start at $5 to fish on Kure Beach Pier, but it’s free admission if you’re only there to enjoy the stunning views.
Surf City Ocean Pier
- 112 S Shore Dr, Surf City, NC 28445
- Hours: 24 hours from Mid-March to December 1st
- https://www.surfcityoceanpier.com
Surf City Ocean Pier is great for a family-friendly fishing outing—after all, it’s a family-owned pier! Pick a spot on the 937-foot structure for a chance to catch Barracuda, King Mackerel, speckled Trout, Sand Perch, Lizardfish, Virginia Mullet, and many more species! The pier house keeps a record of who caught what and gives prizes if you’re the first of the season!
The original pier was built in 1948, and several restorations later, it’s become a haven for anglers. It features a 40-foot octagon at the end of the pier, seating, rod rentals, a fish cleaning station, rod rentals, and a dining area. It’s open 24 hours seasonally, so there are plenty of lights overhead for night fishing!
Seaview Fishing Pier
- 123 Fishing Pier Ln North Topsail Beach, NC, United States, North Carolina 28460
- Hours: 24 hours
- www.seaviewfishingpier.com
Plan a day of leisure at the Seaview Fishing Pier. It’s the northernmost fishing pier on Topsail Island, known for its amazing fishing. At 1,000 feet in length, it’s also one of the longest! Pick up your rod and bait at the tackle shop and see how many fish you can catch for the day. It’s also pet-friendly if you need a companion while waiting for your first bite. The exciting thing about fishing at this pier is that the onsite restaurant will happily cook any fish you catch and serve it to you.
Day passes cost $2.00 for spectators. Fishing passes cost $17.00, with additional fees for rod rentals.
Jolly Roger Pier
- 803 Ocean Blvd, Topsail Beach, NC 28445
- Hours: 24 hours
- https://www.thejollyroger.com/index.php?c=pier
Did you know the Jolly Roger Pier was the original site of a NASA Observation Tower used for Operation Bumblebee, a secret missile-testing project? Don’t worry, this project was active during the 1940s and is now a safe public fishing pier. The 850-foot-long Jolly Roger Pier stretches far enough into the Atlantic Ocean to catch plenty of mackerel, flounder, trout, mullet, and more.
In the spirit of viewing missiles, it remains an excellent location for sightseeing on the North Carolina coast. Dolphins are frequently spotted from the pier. Head to the pier in the morning from your Topsail Island vacation rental to view the stunning sunrises.
Ocean Isle Beach Pier
- 1 W First St, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
- Hours: 7am to 10pm
- https://oibpier.com
Continue along the Causeway Drive long enough, and you’ll eventually run right into the Ocean Island Beach Pier (OIB Pier). The privately owned structure is designed for fun for all visitors. It offers 968 feet of fishing fun, where you might even catch a small shark! The pier offers fishing classes to teach the basics of fishing. In addition to fishing, there’s an arcade and grill.
Admission fees are $1.00 for adults to walk the pier and additional costs for fishing.
Pier-inspired vacation homes on the North Carolina Coast
These iconic North Carolina piers are the focal point of many of the top Sea Scape vacation homes. Our pier-inspired vacation rentals offer a prime location, allowing you to see the piers right from your balcony and are within walking distance of them. Check out these pier-inspired vacation rentals in Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach:
