There isn’t a Wilmington-area beach that remains uncrowded in the summer, at least not compared to winter standards. But one spot has been recognized as one of the more low-key beach destinations not just in the Wilmington area, but across the United States.
The influx of crowds can keep some area residents away from the beach entirely in the summer months, while others might not mind it as much. If you are one of those people who prefers an emptier, less congested beach, then Kure Beach might be the best place for you.
Travel publication The Travel Pug recently released a list of 33 underrated U.S. beaches that stay relatively uncrowded even in the summer, and Kure Beach was included.
summer parking
How crowded is Kure Beach?
Kure Beach is one of New Hanover County’s three beach towns. Out of the three, it’s the most removed from the city itself, at around 18 miles from downtown Wilmington. Given the distance, people visiting Wilmington in the summer may be more likely to choose one of the closer beaches, which helps keep crowds away from Kure Beach.
The town of Kure Beach also has the smallest population of the three beach towns, so fewer locals can mean a less crowded beach.
But how crowded exactly is each beach? Traffic counts from NCDOT help paint the picture.
In 2025, Kure Beach’s busiest road -- Fort Fisher Boulevard -- saw around 5,700 vehicles pass through daily. Comparatively, Carolina Beach’s busiest road carried around 10,000 vehicles, while the road into Wrightsville Beach saw around 20,500.
What can you do at Kure Beach?
While Kure Beach might be less crowded than other beaches, it certainly doesn’t lack in things to do. Besides the local restaurants and shops -- and, of course, the beach itself -- Kure Beach is in close proximity to the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, a popular spot for hiking, fishing and more.
It’s also only a couple miles from the Fort Fisher Aquarium -- though the aquarium is currently closed for a multi-year renovation project. In the meantime, visitors can check out the Fort Fisher State Historic Site.
Charlie Kingree is the Pender County and trending topics reporter for the StarNews. He can be reached at ckingree@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Is this the least crowded beach near Wilmington? One travel site says so
