Surf City NC Day Trip: Pier, Turtle Hospital and Food

The best things to do in Surf City NC on a day trip are a walk out on the Surf City Ocean Pier, a guided tour at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, and an evening at Soundside Park on the sound. From the north end of North Topsail Beach, Surf City is about 13 miles down the island, roughly a 25-minute drive.

I'm Dipen, and I host Topsail Paradise, a house for up to 22 guests in North Topsail Beach. We're not in Surf City; we're at the quieter north end of Topsail Island. But Surf City is where our guests go when they want a change of scene for a day. Here's how I'd plan it for a big group.

How far is Surf City from North Topsail Beach?

Topsail Island has three towns. North Topsail Beach is the north end, Surf City is the middle, and Topsail Beach is the south end. From our house, the Surf City Ocean Pier is about 13.2 miles, roughly 24 minutes with no traffic. On a summer Saturday, plan on longer.

It's a simple drive: head south down the island and you're there. Go mid-morning or after lunch and you'll miss most of the beach traffic.

What is there to do at the Surf City Pier?

The Surf City Ocean Pier is 937 feet long, with an octagon at the end. Its site says it's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in season, with lights for night fishing, a tackle shop, and a grill and ice cream counter.

• Just walking out? The pier's fee page lists a $1 spectator pass for everyone 11 and older who isn't fishing. Kids 10 and under walk on free.
• Fishing? Daily rod passes are listed on the same page, and the pier has a blanket license, so you don't need your own state license while fishing on the pier.
• Parking: free while you're fishing on the pier. If you head to the beach, the pier asks you to move to paid parking.

Sunset from the end of the pier is the photo everyone wants. Early morning is the quiet time, when the anglers have the place mostly to themselves.

How do we visit the sea turtle hospital?

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, at 302 Tortuga Lane in Surf City, is the island's sea turtle hospital, and touring it is a favorite with kids and grandparents alike. Its visit page is clear: reservations are required, it offers guided tours only, and it lists no public tours in October. Tickets can sell out, so book online as soon as you know your dates.

With a big group, plan ahead. The center asks large groups to email tickets@seaturtlehospital.org instead of trying to buy a block of tickets online. From our house it's about 15 miles, roughly a 30-minute drive.

If the turtles are a hit, our sea turtle season guide explains nesting season on Topsail Island and how to be a good beach neighbor to the nests.

What can kids do in Surf City?

Soundside Park, at 517 Roland Avenue, is the town's park on the sound. The town lists:

• A playground and picnic shelters
• A boardwalk and fishing pier
• An ADA kayak and paddleboard launch
• A public boat ramp, restrooms and parking

It's a good place to let little ones run around on the way home, and sunsets over the sound are lovely. Surf City's town parks page also lists other playgrounds and a 9-hole disc golf course.

On the beach itself, a few Surf City rules are worth knowing: no glass on the beach, only gas grills, and all beach gear has to come off the sand every day.

Where should we eat in Surf City?

Two places I'm comfortable naming, with the caveat to call ahead because hours change with the season:

• Daddy Mac's Beach Grille, 108 North Shore Drive, next to the pier. Seafood, crab cakes and steaks. It doesn't take reservations in summer, and its site says it can't seat groups over 14. Bigger groups split into two on the waitlist, each with its own phone number. From October to March it takes large-group requests through its contact form.

With 20 people, my honest advice is to eat lunch out and cook dinner at home. Our kitchen seats about 10 to 12 at the table and counter, there are 2 charcoal grills, and Mitchell Seafood in Sneads Ferry has local shrimp. Our things to do guide has more food ideas closer to the house.

How should we plan parking in Surf City?

The town says all Surf City beach accesses are paid parking, posted at $3 an hour, $20 a day or $60 a week. You pay by scanning the QR code or texting the number on the sign. Parking on the right-of-way isn't allowed unless it's marked with a yellow town bumper.

For a group of 22, that means two or three cars, so carpool if you can. I'd park once near the pier, walk, then drive to Soundside Park for the evening.

Why stay in North Topsail Beach for a Surf City day trip?

Because the north end is quieter when you get back. Topsail Paradise sleeps 22 in 8 bedrooms and 6.5 baths, about a two-block walk to the beach, with a private saltwater pool and 2 hot tubs. The house has an optional 6-seat golf cart add-on for short trips around the island (see the golf cart page for pricing), and the bedroom layout shows how 22 people fit.

From May through September we rent by the week, Saturday to Saturday preferred. Book direct on our booking page to save 15%, and you'll see the full total before you pay.