Discover Johnston

These varied themes can help you decide what kind of trip you want before choosing a hotel offer.

Nature and self-guided exploration

Howell Woods encompasses more than 2,800 acres of wetlands, forests and streams in southeastern Johnston County. The landscape is therefore more than just forest: wetlands and streams are also part of the area described. If you include nature in your trip planning, this mix offers a different focus from the region’s museums and historic homes.

Clemmons Educational State Forest was the first Educational State Forest in North Carolina. It offers self-guided trails and exhibits, as well as ranger-led programs. These provide different ways to learn: you can explore the self-guided offerings or take part in a ranger-led program. This gives you a specific point of reference if you want to combine nature and learning in your trip planning.

Places to explore regional history

The Johnston County Museum has more than 4,500 square feet of exhibit space dedicated to the history of Johnston County, from prehistory to the present. This broad span of time makes the museum a destination for a wide range of historical interests, rather than focusing on just one era.

The Tobacco Farm Life Museum combines historic buildings with exhibits. The grounds include a restored home dating from around the turn of the 20th century, a separate kitchen, a smokehouse, a log-built tobacco barn and an outbuilding. The museum also has 6,000 square feet of permanent and changing exhibits. Their topics range from farm life and medicine in the American South to domestic skills, rural social life and historic artifacts. For more than 35 years, the museum has preserved the history and cultural heritage of rural life in Eastern North Carolina. The buildings and the exhibits’ range of topics offer different points of interest for a visit focused on regional history.

The Harper House on the Bentonville Battlefield offers another perspective on the history of the American Civil War: it is furnished as a field hospital from that period. The Ava Gardner Museum, meanwhile, houses original scripts, photographs, costumes and personal belongings of the film actress. These items offer film and culture enthusiasts a specific point of interest, while the Johnston County Museum covers a broad sweep of time.

Harvests, shows and regional cuisine

Hinnant Family Vineyards & Winery is North Carolina’s oldest and largest commercial Muscadine vineyard. Every September, the winery invites the public to pick Muscadine grapes. Because seasonal arrangements should be checked again before visiting, this tradition is a particularly useful planning consideration if you’re traveling in September.

Live @ the Rudy presents four different seasonal shows year-round, featuring music, comedy and other performances; they are described as family-friendly. Exact dates change annually, so check the dates ahead of time if you want to plan around a particular show. Regional food culture also has a distinctive feature: Eastern-style barbecue in Johnston County consists of chopped pork with a vinegar-based sauce. The combination of chopped pork and vinegar sauce distinguishes this style.

Getting here and getting oriented

Johnston County is located at the junction of Interstates I-95 and I-40. The Johnston County Visitor Center is at I-95 Exit 95. RDU International Airport is 30 to 45 minutes from the center of Johnston County; actual travel time may vary. Use this time range as a general guide for planning your trip, and keep in mind that it is not a fixed travel time for every departure time.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Clayton, Kenly, Smithfield, Four Oaks, Middlesex, Durham, Lincoln County, Wayne.

For the broader travel overview: North Carolina.