Bonner Bridge Pier

Bonner Bridge Pier is a 1,046-foot section of the former Bonner Bridge, retained beside the south end of the Marc Basnight Bridge at Oregon Inlet. Its concrete deck runs out over the inlet as a pedestrian and recreational-fishing pier. This is a bridge remnant with open water around it, not a beach or an oceanfront boardwalk. The place suits a walk, a look at the channel, or time with a fishing rod; the long reach is the point.

Oregon Inlet is a tidal passage between the Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico Sound. From the pier, the water and the two bridges make the setting clear: this is a working route through the barrier islands, used by recreational and commercial fishing boats. The National Park Service also identifies marine-life watching as one reason to come. On a broad view from the deck, you can look toward Bodie Island Lighthouse and the historic Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station.

The Bonner Bridge opened in 1963 and was the first bridge connecting Hatteras Island with the rest of the Outer Banks. Before it, a vehicle ferry across Oregon Inlet was the only way to reach the island by road. The aging bridge closed to traffic when the Marc Basnight Bridge opened in 2019, but this 1,046-foot section stayed. The Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and North Carolina Department of Transportation opened it as a public pier in 2021.

The remnant has a practical role as well as a historic one: it helps direct the ocean current toward the center of the inlet channel for navigation. That makes the walk an unusual chance to stand on a piece of retired highway infrastructure that still affects how the water moves. For a photo, use the deck edge or railing to lead into the inlet, and include the newer bridge so the old and new crossings read together. A wide view can take in the water and the distant shoreline landmarks.

The pier is free and, according to published park information, open 24 hours. There is a parking lot at its entrance and portable toilets nearby; expect basic facilities. There is no pier house selling food, drinks, or fishing supplies, and the concrete walkway has no shade. Bring what you need before heading out, especially if you plan to stay for fishing or wildlife watching.

Fishing requires a North Carolina coastal recreational fishing license, and the park limits anglers to two rods each. Pets, drones, glass containers, bicycles, and several wheeled recreation devices are prohibited. Do not jump from the pier or climb down its pilings. If you're after a sandy beach, a shaded break, or services close at hand, choose another stop; come here for the long walk over the inlet, the bridge story, and the view of boats moving through the channel.