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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Beaufort, North Carolina
Beaufort
Give Beaufort two nights, not one: the historic district and the ferry islands are separate half-days, and US-70 traffic eats the rest.
Beaufort is a small waterfront town on the Crystal Coast, the county seat and the third-oldest town in North Carolina, settled in 1713. Two things fill a visit: a compact grid of restored 18th- and 19th-century houses, and the water — Taylor's Creek, Carrot Island and Shackleford Banks, reached by passenger ferry. The town is walkable end to end in about 20 minutes. It is pronounced "BO-furt", unlike the South Carolina Beaufort.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Beaufort
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat, humidity, crowds), hurricane season peaks Aug–Oct
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget US$90–140 excl. bed · Mid US$150–250 excl. bed · High US$280+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Poison Control (24 h) 1-800-222-1222
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | US$3–6 |
| Fried seafood plate or shrimp basket | US$16–28 |
| Raw oysters, half dozen | US$14–22 |
| Beer: draught at a bar / six-pack at a store | US$7–9 / US$10–14 |
| Passenger ferry to the islands, round trip | US$8–14 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi or ride-hailing trip3.1 mi (5 km) taxi or ride-hailing trip | US$12–20 |
| Museum or historic-site tour | US$0–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- EWN · Coastal Carolina Regional (New Bern)
- Closest commercial airport, about 45–60 min west on US-70; small, limited routes
- RDU · Raleigh-Durham International
- About 3 h by car via US-70 and I-40; the usual choice for cheaper fares
- ILM · Wilmington International
- About 2.5 h south
Typical fares
- Ferry Beaufort → Shackleford Banks, round trip
- about US$14 per adult, weather permitting
- Ride-hailing Beaufort → Morehead City
- US$12–20
- Drive Beaufort → New Bern (EWN airport)
- about 45–60 min on US-70
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The historic core is walkable: Front Street to the Old Burying Ground is about 15–20 minutes on foot. For anything beyond that — the marina, the beaches, Morehead City — you need a car; there is no useful local bus. Bikes and golf carts are common in summer. Passenger ferries leave from Front Street for the islands.
See and do
Known for
- Restored historic homes
- Blackbeard and Queen Anne's Revenge
- Wild horses on Carrot Island and Shackleford Banks
- North Carolina Maritime Museum
- Waterfront boardwalk
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Morehead City | US-70 west, about 10 min by car | About 15 min |
| Atlantic Beach | US-70 west then NC-58 over the causeway, about 20 min by car | About 25 min |
| Harkers Island | US-70 east then NC-70, about 30 min by car | About 35 min |
| Swansboro | NC-24 west, about 45 min by car | About 50 min |
| New Bern | US-70 north, about 1 h by car | About 1 h 10 min |
| Emerald Isle | NC-24 west then NC-58, about 45–55 min by car | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Historic district (Front, Turner, Craven, Ann streets)
- Walk to the museum, boardwalk and restaurants; mostly inns and B&Bs, few chain hotels.
- Waterfront / Front Street
- Boardwalk views over Taylor's Creek; the priciest rooms and the noisiest evenings.
- US-70 corridor and outskirts
- Motels and vacation rentals with parking; you will drive in for dinner.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you |
| Where is the ferry dock? | Where is the ferry dock? |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Where is the restroom? | Where is the restroom? |
| Is it safe to swim today? | Is it safe to swim today? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer heat and humidity: plan the walking between 08:00 and 11:00.
- Hurricane season runs Jun–Nov, peaking Aug–Oct; coastal flooding and evacuation orders are possible — check forecasts.
- Ferry and cruise sailings are weather-dependent and can be cancelled the same day.
- Restaurant kitchens close early outside summer; many places shut one or two weekdays in the off season — check before you walk.
- Parking in the historic district is limited and metered in places; park once and walk.
Beaufort is a small, low-crime town and the historic district is safe on foot after dark. The real risks are summer heat, rip currents on the ocean beaches, and storms: check the forecast in hurricane season and never swim near a red flag.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Beaufort, North Carolina yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Restored historic homes
- Blackbeard and Queen Anne's Revenge
- Wild horses on Carrot Island and Shackleford Banks
- North Carolina Maritime Museum
- Waterfront boardwalk
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Beaufort Historic Site: beauforthistoricsite.org/
- Wikivoyage: Beaufort (North Carolina), revision 5191980 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5191980
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Beaufort, North CarolinaBeaufort
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Poison Control (24 h)1-800-222-1222
No embassies in Beaufort. Consulates and embassies are in Washington, DC, Atlanta and Raleigh — check your country's list.
Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, US$1–2 per drink at a bar, US$3–5 a night for housekeeping.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/beaufort-north-carolina). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.