Cape Carteret: Trails, Waterfront and Boating Activities

You can start by considering whether trails, waterfront scenery, or water activities are especially important to your travel plans.

Location and orientation

Cape Carteret lies at the western end of the causeway to Emerald Isle and is the last mainland stop before the barrier island offshore. This is a clear geographic reference for choosing your destination if you want to distinguish between a stay on the mainland and a destination on the barrier island.

From Cape Carteret, boaters have direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway, where there are marinas and boat launch ramps. These boating options are a different planning consideration from the waterfront parks and multi-use trail. Individual facilities may change, so check the latest information when making specific boating plans.

Trails and water

The Cape Carteret Trail is a designated multi-use trail along NC 58, NC 24, and Taylor Notion Road in the center of Cape Carteret. The named roads help you locate the trail in town. If you are looking for a designated trail when choosing a destination, this gives you a specific local reference rather than just a general description of the area.

The Town of Cape Carteret also provides a kayak launch on Pettiford Creek. It is located off NC 58 and north of Taylor Notion Road. When comparing water activities, you can distinguish between this kayak launch and boaters’ direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway: they are different starting points for your plans.

Cape Carteret has more than 6 miles of waterfront along Bogue Sound, Deer Creek, and adjacent canals. Ferry Landing Park, the town’s largest waterfront park, is on Bogue Sound. It is located at the end of Lejeune Road. The more than 6 miles describe the town’s waterfront; the park is a specific, named location among these features.

Parks and event venues

The Community Park includes a concert stage and a pavilion used for festivals and concerts. This means that, alongside water and trail options, community event venues are also part of the town’s offerings. The event schedule may vary. If you are planning around a particular concert or festival, check the relevant dates.

When choosing a hotel, you can sort these features by their function: the trail is a multi-use path in the center of town, the kayak launch is on Pettiford Creek, and access to the Intracoastal Waterway is for boaters. The waterfront and parks add to these different options, while the Community Park venues offer yet another focus. This makes it easier to first assess whether Cape Carteret suits your trip before comparing hotels for your stay.

Explore more destinations: Indian Beach, Sealevel, Harkers Island, Morehead City, Emerald Isle, Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, Newport

Return to the main travel overview: Carteret County.