In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
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 taxi or ride-hailing trip3.1 mi 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
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.