Beaufort, NC Waterfront and Historic District on a Day Trip

The drive from Atlantic Beach to Beaufort takes about 20 minutes via the Atlantic Beach Causeway and Highway 70 through Morehead City. Starting from a motel in Atlantic Beach, you can make the trip by car and begin your day near downtown Beaufort’s waterfront.

For Beaufort, it makes sense to start with the waterfront, then head to the Historic Site or museum depending on your schedule.

Beaufort’s downtown waterfront combines a boardwalk, public areas that include two parks, small public and privately owned docking facilities, and two parking areas. You can build a relaxed harbor walk around the landings and parks, then pause at an overlook before continuing along Front Street.

Turner Street Landing is a water overlook at the north end of Turner Street, with public parking along Front Street. At the west end of Broad Street, Derwood’s Landing is a day dock and water overlook, but it has no public parking.

At the east end of Front Street, Topsail Marine Park has public parking, a boat ramp and water access, public restrooms, and recycling. Grayden Paul Park sits at the south end of Pollock Street on Front Street; it has a large park area, a gazebo, public parking along Front Street, and recycling.

Curtis Perry Park, at the south end of Orange Street on Front Street, has a public garden area and public parking along Front Street.

Turner Street Landing, Derwood’s Landing, Topsail Marine Park and Grayden Paul Park have day docks for small boats, kayaks and canoes up to 13 feet.

If you are arriving by water, West Beaufort Road is a county-operated access area with public restrooms, recycling, a gazebo with picnic tables, public parking and three boat slips, including one reserved for kayaks and canoes.

The Beaufort Historic Site brings together six authentically restored buildings on a two-acre site on Turner Street. Entry to the site is free, and guided tours of the buildings run Monday through Saturday year-round, weather permitting.

Guided walking tours depart at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. from December through March, and at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. from April through November. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $6 for children ages 6 to 12; children age 5 and under enter free. Taxes are included.

Call 252-728-5225 with 24 hours’ notice to reserve a walking tour. The Historic Site may reschedule tours for extreme heat, storms or heavy rain, so check the official site before you go.

The Historic Site also operates a double-decker bus tour of the Historic District Monday through Saturday at 1:30 p.m. from April through November. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $6 for children ages 6 to 12; children age 5 and under ride free.

The Robert W. and Elva Faison Safrit Historical Center at 130 Turner Street also serves as the Town of Beaufort’s official visitors center and provides a walking map. Picking one up can help you organize the district’s sights on foot.

The North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort is at 315 Front Street and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed Sunday, Monday and state holidays. Admission is free, and donations are appreciated.

Exhibits interpret lighthouses and lifesaving stations, the seafood industry, motorboats, marine life, science and ecology. The museum also holds artifacts from Blackbeard’s flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge. Across the street, the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center follows the same schedule and teaches boatbuilding for all ages.

If you want to focus your visit on the museum and its nearby boatbuilding center, what to know before visiting the North Carolina Maritime Museum offers a more focused guide.

Downtown Beaufort has two waterfront parking areas, with additional public parking along Front Street at several parks and landings. Derwood’s Landing has no public parking, so choose another waterfront access point if you need to park close to your starting spot.

You can combine the waterfront and Historic District on foot, then make the museum a separate stop on Front Street. For a guided district visit, allow your schedule to fit one of the seasonal tour departures; museum visits need to fall within its Tuesday-to-Saturday opening hours.

If you are planning beach time around the outing, what to do in Atlantic Beach can help you shape the rest of your visit.

Opening schedules, tour departures and access conditions can change. Before setting out, check the official sites for the Beaufort Historic Site, Town of Beaufort and North Carolina Maritime Museum.

Is Beaufort, North Carolina, a day trip from Atlantic Beach?

Yes. The drive is about 10 miles and 20 minutes via the Atlantic Beach Causeway and Highway 70 through Morehead City.

Is the North Carolina Maritime Museum free?

Yes. Admission is free, and donations are appreciated.

When do Beaufort Historic Site walking tours run?

Guided walking tours run Monday through Saturday year-round, weather permitting. Departure times vary between December–March and April–November.

Where can you park near the Beaufort waterfront?

The downtown waterfront has two parking areas, and public parking is available along Front Street at several waterfront locations. Derwood’s Landing has no public parking.