Family friendly beach town on North Carolina’s Topsail Island
Home to less than 5,000, Surf City is one of the quieter coastal communities in Southeastern North Carolina. In both Pender and Onslow counties, the town sits in the middle of Topsail Island and extends inland across the Intracoastal Waterway to U.S. Route 17. “We’re a little beach town, though it’s not as quaint as it used to be,” says Steve Herring, a lifelong resident and the owner of Herring’s Outdoor Sports.
First, a little fishing village and then the site of the U.S. Navy’s secret guided missile testing program Operation Bumblebee, Surf City was officially established in 1949 as a seaside resort town. Today, it’s the largest community on Topsail Island, swelling each summer with the tide of tourism. “You’re going to have your busy months of May through August, and you’ll have to get used to it,” Herring says. “You don’t go grocery shopping on a Saturday at 3 o’clock.” But the vibe is more laid-back in the off-season. “Everything gets back to a slower pace,” he says.
While not the subject of Jan & Dean’s beloved hit “Surf City,” the town did inspire the swinging “18th Avenue,” written by North Carolina’s so-called Singing Senator Charlie Albertson. The song evokes why many families, retirees and surfers fall in love with this town along the Atlantic Ocean: “The folks down there treat you mighty fine. When you’ve worked all week, and it’s time to unwind, relax and have one that’s cold, and let the good times unfold.”
As a popular summer vacation spot, Surf City has a tourism and service-based economy. Major employers include the town of Surf City, the State of North Carolina, the Pender County and Onslow County school systems, Harris Teeter and Lowe’s Home Improvement. As a primarily residential town, Herring notes that some residents commute roughly 30 miles to Wilmington to work at companies such as General Electric and Corning Inc. “They go to work in Wilmington but want to live with their family in Surf City,” he says.
Enjoy the view or fish along Surf City Pier.
Reeling in the tranquility of Surf City's shores.
The perfect blend of sun, sea, and surf in Surf City.
Dogs living their best life on Surf City's sandy shores.
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From oceanfront homes to master-planned subdivisions
Colorful three-story stilt homes and condo communities line the oceanfront, while townhouses face the sound in Osprey Cove. “We’re not your big high-rise beach town like Myrtle Beach,” Herring says. The coastal vibe shifts to a suburban atmosphere in off-island neighborhoods like the master-planned Magnolia Reserve, which features newly built New Traditional homes.
Home prices in Surf City are dropping, down 6% from October 2023 to October 2024. The median price is $1.2 million, significantly higher than the national median of $416,700. On the low end, a one-bedroom condo near the sound can list for around $150,000, while prices can reach nearly $3 million for an oceanfront estate. Homes typically sell after 50 days on the market, near the national average of 44 days. Herring notes that the town is a hot spot for investment properties. “People have second homes that they rent out. During the summer, it’s a Sunday-to-Sunday crowd renting homes,” he says. “The homeowners come down before May and after August.”
Find a variety of homes along the waterfront of Surf City beach.
Coastal charm meets ocean views in Surf City
Surf City's inland homes offer a peaceful retreat just minutes from the shore.
a The perfect blend of color and coastal charm in Surf City.
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Family focused parks and the new Earl G. & Inez Batts Recreation Complex
A town surrounded by bodies of water, Surf City’s geography encourages an active and outdoorsy lifestyle all year long. Miles of sandy shoreline are used for sunrise walks, fishing off the Surf City Pier, swimming and surfing. The marshy sound is popular with kayakers and paddleboarders, while the busy Intracoastal Waterway provides a highway of sorts for sailing. The town park system is family friendly by design, with Soundside Park being one of the most popular. It features an amphitheater, a public boat ramp, picnic shelters with views of the sound and a playground. Herring says it’s often used as a starting point for long walks over the Surf City Bridge, which has a barrier-protected sidewalk. “Wrightsville Beach has the loop. Surf City is known for the bridge walk,” Herring says. “There’s parking available at either end, but at Soundside Park, you can walk along a wooden bridge leading you to the high-rise bridge. It can be a little noisy with the traffic.” The high-rise bridge replaced the town’s aging swing bridge in 2018.
The Earl G. & Inez Batts Recreation Complex is a new addition featuring a skatepark, sand volleyball courts and an inclusive playground. Green spaces here often double as event spaces, hosting children’s fishing tournaments, outdoor movie showings and holiday gatherings. From recreational leagues to amateur surfing competitions, athletes of all ages stay active in Surf City. The community center is the hub for many sports, including youth football, basketball and t-ball teams as well as adult volleyball, softball and futsal leagues.
Beach access from Tower 3, also a symbol of heritage and coastal pride, in Surf Beach.
Soundside Park offers stunning waterfront views, and of Surf City Bridge.
Surf City added 45.85 acres to the Earl G. & Inez Batts Recreation Complex.
Fall offers the best conditions with clean swells and fewer crowds in Surf City
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Coastal-themed art, a compassionate community and eateries in view of the Atlantic Ocean
A colorful mural representing Surf City, featuring images such as a sea turtle and the former swing bridge, welcomes residents and visitors arriving on Topsail Island. This public art piece, unveiled in May 2024, is the newest addition to Surf City’s creative scene. The coast's natural beauty often inspires area artists whose work decorates the walls of Surf City Coffee, Seacoast Art Gallery and Locals Art Gallery & Wine Bar. Pieces will soon adorn the Surf City Community Center, which hosts Art Exploration sessions for children and Artful Afternoons for adults.
Herring says the beach culture here often includes good tunes. “There are a lot of restaurants with live music every week. A lot of local artists play at various spots around town.” He adds that the community loves to give back, with many events doubling as fundraisers. “We do so many things: Paddle for the Troops, Reel Housewives of Topsail Island, which is a breast cancer bike ride. There’s the Dolphin Dip, which goes to Share the Table, the local food bank. Oceanfest raises money for humanitarian and environmental causes.” Soundside Park is the venue for many town-sponsored events, from Movies in the Park to Sip, Shop & Stroll, highlighting local bands, vendors and food.
Surf City’s locally owned shops, beach bars and restaurants are centered around the town’s fishing pier that stretches over 900 feet into the Atlantic. “There are not many name-brand stores. We have some really cool surf shops, a lot of great little restaurants and good coffee shops,” Herring says. Fish tacos from Shaka Taco and hand-dipped donuts from Daybreak Donuts are the specialties. Still, Mediterranean cuisine, Italian classics, American fare and sushi can all be found on the island. On the mainland, micro-breweries, local restaurants and boutique businesses fill Triton Village Plaza. National retailers dot Roland Avenue, including Publix, Walmart Neighborhood Market and Pet Supplies Plus.
Unwind with a beverage at Unwined in Surf City.
handcrafted delights that hit the spot at Dreamy Donuts in Surf City.
Golden skies and peaceful waters as the sun sets on the Surf City Pier.
Vibrant murals bring color and creativity to Surf City.
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Topsail High School inspires the next oceanographers
Pender County Schools, which earns a B-plus grade from Niche and has nearly 11,000 students, serves most of Surf City. Onslow County Schools, which receives a B rating and has almost 28,000 students, serves a small portion of the northern part of town. “We have a lot of families moving in because of the school system,” says Herring, who adds that Topsail High is a standout school. Getting a B-plus from Niche, Topsail High offers classes in oceanography and hosts the Coast Guard Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program. The school’s gymnasium was used for basketball scenes in the early 2000s teen television drama “One Tree Hill.” While there are no private schools in town, Topsail Montessori in Hampstead and American Leadership Academy Coastal in Wilmington are the nearest alternatives.
Crime during beach season
The Surf City Police Department reports an over 16% increase in call volume from 2022 to 2023, and they expect this trend to continue as more people visit the town during the beach season, which is a particularly busy time of year for the department. FBI crime data from 2020 to 2024 indicates that violent crime in Surf City typically increases between May and August, when the city’s population more than doubles due to tourism. The same data shows that property crime has been trending downward after a spike in April 2020. The Surf City Police Department takes a community policing approach, hosting events such as Fishing with the Fuzz and Coffee with a Cop so the 18 officers and one police K9 who patrol the town year-round can build relationships with the public.
The overall crime rate in Surf City is 44.16 per 1,000 residents.
Mainland homes in Surf City are just a short drive away from Surf City beaches.
nland homes in Surf City offer the perfect balance of peaceful living and beach access.
Take in the beauty of Surf City Beach as the sun sets.
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Karen Beasly Sea Turtle Rescue and combating beach erosion
A designated sea turtle sanctuary, Surf City is home to Karen Beasly Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation Center. Beginning as a small group of passionate volunteers in the 1990s, the center today occupies an over 13,000 square foot space featuring exhibits, a special bay for sick turtles and an observation area where the public can see turtles nearing the end of their stay. “They have teams that go out and monitor the nests. They rehabilitate injured turtles and have turtle releases,” Herring says. “Sometimes it’s kept quiet, but my goodness, it’s crowded when they do them. It’s special.”
Like many seaside towns, Surf City faces challenges due to its coastal environment, from stormwater runoff flooding roadways to beach erosion. The town has a handful of programs and partnerships to address these issues. The Coastal Storm Risk Management Nourishment Project periodically adds sand back to the beach in specific places to minimize the impacts of storms, while the Topsail Island-Wide Coastal Resiliency Project is working to install permeable pavers and vegetated roadside channels to collect and filter stormwater.
Surf City experiences all four seasons. Summers are hot and humid, but winters are mild. “The weather, barring hurricanes, is pretty nice,” Herring says. “October through November is one of the better times to come. It’s cooler. It’s beautiful, and people are catching on to that.” Hurricanes and tropical storms come with the risk of strong winds, heavy rain, storm surge and landslides. Sometimes, these events can lead to mandatory evacuations. The North Carolina Department of Insurance encourages homeowners along the coast to have flood insurance and separate wind and hail policies.
Surf City is a sanctuary for sea turtles and coastal wonders.
Helping heal sea turtles at the Karen Beasley Rescue Center.
Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation Center is a must visit in Surf City.
Surf City is known for its pristine beaches, surfing spots.
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Getting around Surf City, plus a look to the future
While small, this is a car-dependent community. North Carolina Highways 50 and 210 are the main roads on and off the island. U.S. Route 17 connects the community to Wilmington, Hampstead and Jacksonville, home to the nearest hospital, Onslow Memorial Hospital. Residents and tourists commonly use golf carts and bicycles to get around town. “You can own one or rent one. They have electric bikes all over the place,” Herring says. Bike lanes line State Highway 50 and the Surf City Bridge, which can get congested during tourist season. Wilmington International Airport is about 30 miles away.
Improving bike and pedestrian safety is a priority. According to the 2019-2024 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan, Surf City is creating a multi-use trail system throughout the town that will link to the Surf City Bridge. Construction is expected to take several years and will be an ongoing project. Meanwhile, a right-of-way cleanup initiative is underway to increase visibility along town-owned streets and allow for better stormwater drainage. Future plans include building an indoor/outdoor swimming facility, an environmental education center and a sports complex.
Pedal your way through Surf City, with scenic routes and easy access to the beach.
Explore the waters of Surf City.
Find footprints in the sand along Surf City beach.
Living in Surf City, NC, means enjoying sandy shores, and stunning sunsets.
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Written By
DeeVa Payne
Photography Contributed By
Anna Cheng
Video By
Brad Davis
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