River Dunes, NC

River Dunes, NC lies right at the SW corner of the Pamlico Sound - big water with great boating. Across the Sound, the Outer Banks are the gateway to the blue water fishing grounds of the Gulf Stream, an easy day trip from the River Dunes marina. Just to the south on the ICW are the historic seaside towns of Beaufort and Morehead City.

Directions to River Dunes by Land:

From New Bern and Highway 70 E or W, take Hwy. 55 E exit for Bayboro, continue on 55 E towards Oriental (Approx 30 minutes). Just prior to reaching Oriental at Moore's Corner (approx 9 miles past Bayboro), turn left onto Straight Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles and turn right onto Orchard Creek Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles on Orchard Creek Road, and you will see the sign for "River Dunes - Community Information". Turn right on Old Lighthouse Road - the entrance to River Dunes. You'll see a white fence, a Caretaker's Cottage, Boathouse, and Barn. Turn right at the Stop Sign after the Lakehouse (you'll see directional arrows pointing you to the Marina.) Turn right when Old Lighthouse Road meets Harborside Road (at the grassy common area). Follow East Harborside Road to the Harbor Club (465 E. Harborside Road). The Harbor Club is the white building with black shutters and a red roof (pictured above, far left).

Driving Directions to River Dunes from Everywhere:

From the Outer Banks:

Hwy 64 in Manteo to Plymouth
In Plymouth take left on Hwy 45
At stop sign take left on Hwy 32
Merge right off Hwy 32 onto Hwy 264 to Little Washington
In Little Washington take a left on Hwy 17 South
1 mile North of New Bern take Hwy 55 exit towards Bayboro
Continue on 55E towards Oriental. (Approx 30 minutes from the bridge).

Just prior to reaching Oriental at Moore's Corner (approx 9 miles past Bayboro), turn left onto Straight Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles and turn right onto Orchard Creek Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles on Orchard Creek Road, and you will see the sign for "River Dunes - Community Information". Turn right on Old Lighthouse Road - the entrance to River Dunes. You'll see a white fence, a Caretaker's Cottage, Boathouse, and Barn. Turn right at the Stop Sign after the Lakehouse (you'll see directional arrows pointing you to the Marina.) Turn right when Old Lighthouse Road meets Harborside Road (at the grassy common area). Follow East Harborside Road to the Harbor Club (465 E. Harborside Road). The Harbor Club is the white building with black shutters and a red roof.

From I-95 (Two routes):

95 South to Rocky Mt.
Exit off 95 to Hwy 43 to Greenville
Through Greenville on 43 merge onto 17 South
17 South to Hwy 55, follow signs to Bayboro.

Continue on 55 E towards Oriental (Approx 30 minutes). Just prior to reaching Oriental at Moore's Corner (approx 9 miles past Bayboro), turn left onto Straight Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles and turn right onto Orchard Creek Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles on Orchard Creek Road, and you will see the sign for "River Dunes - Community Information". Turn right on Old Lighthouse Road - the entrance to River Dunes. You'll see a white fence, a Caretaker's Cottage, Boathouse, and Barn. Turn right at the Stop Sign after the Lakehouse (you'll see directional arrows pointing you to the Marina.) Turn right when Old Lighthouse Road meets Harborside Road (at the grassy common area). Follow East Harborside Road to the Harbor Club (465 E. Harborside Road). The Harbor Club is the white building with black shutters and a red roof.

OR

I-95 South to I-70
I-70 to New Bern

From New Bern and Highway 70 E or W, take Hwy. 55 E exit for Bayboro, continue on 55 E towards Oriental (Approx 30 minutes). Just prior to reaching Oriental at Moore's Corner (approx 9 miles past Bayboro), turn left onto Straight Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles and turn right onto Orchard Creek Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles on Orchard Creek Road, and you will see the sign for "River Dunes - Community Information". Turn right on Old Lighthouse Road - the entrance to River Dunes. You'll see a white fence, a Caretaker's Cottage, Boathouse, and Barn. Turn right at the Stop Sign after the Lakehouse (you'll see directional arrows pointing you to the Marina.) Turn right when Old Lighthouse Road meets Harborside Road (at the grassy common area). Follow East Harborside Road to the Harbor Club (465 E. Harborside Road). The Harbor Club is the white building with black shutters and a red roof.

From Crystal Coast Beaches: (Two routes):

Emerald Isle, Atlantic Beach, Beaufort
In Beaufort, take Hwy 101 North, follow signs for Minnesott/Cherry Branch Ferry
Cross Neuse River, take left on Hwy 306 off Ferry
Right on Buckland and turns into Janeiro
Right on Oriental Road and go through Oriental

Just after Oriental, (past the West Marine, and at the water tower) at Moore's Corner, turn right onto Straight Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles and turn right onto Orchard Creek Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles on Orchard Creek Road, and you will see the sign for "River Dunes - Community Information". Turn right on Old Lighthouse Road - the entrance to River Dunes. You'll see a white fence, a Caretaker's Cottage, Boathouse, and Barn. Turn right at the Stop Sign after the Lakehouse (you'll see directional arrows pointing you to the Marina.) Turn right when Old Lighthouse Road meets Harborside Road (at the grassy common area). Follow East Harborside Road to the Harbor Club (465 E. Harborside Road). The Harbor Club is the white building with black shutters and a red roof.

OR

Take Hwy 70 West to Cherry Point
Take right onto Hwy 101
Follow signs to Cherry Branch/Minnesott Ferry
Cross Neuse River, take left on Hwy 306 off Ferry
Right on Buckland and turns into Janeiro
Right on Oriental Road and go through Oriental

Just after Oriental, (past the West Marine, and at the water tower) at Moore's Corner, turn left onto Straight Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles and turn right onto Orchard Creek Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles on Orchard Creek Road, and you will see the sign for "River Dunes - Community Information". Turn right on Old Lighthouse Road - the entrance to River Dunes. You'll see a white fence, a Caretaker's Cottage, Boathouse, and Barn. Turn right at the Stop Sign after the Lakehouse (you'll see directional arrows pointing you to the Marina.) Turn right when Old Lighthouse Road meets Harborside Road (at the grassy common area). Follow East Harborside Road to the Harbor Club (465 E. Harborside Road). The Harbor Club is the white building with black shutters and a red roof.

From Wilmington, NC / Myrtle Beach, SC:

Take Hwy 17 North to New Bern. Take the on-ramp for Highway 70 E. Cross the river and take Hwy. 55 E exit for Bayboro, continue on 55 E towards Oriental (Approx 30 minutes). Just prior to reaching Oriental at Moore's Corner (approx 9 miles past Bayboro), turn left onto Straight Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles and turn right onto Orchard Creek Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles on Orchard Creek Road, and you will see the sign for "River Dunes - Community Information". Turn right on Old Lighthouse Road - the entrance to River Dunes. You'll see a white fence, a Caretaker's Cottage, Boathouse, and Barn. Turn right at the Stop Sign after the Lakehouse (you'll see directional arrows pointing you to the Marina.) Turn right when Old Lighthouse Road meets Harborside Road (at the grassy common area). Follow East Harborside Road to the Harbor Club (465 E. Harborside Road). The Harbor Club is the white building with black shutters and a red roof.

From Raleigh (Two routes):
From the Raleigh Durham Airport

I-40 to 540 E. around Raleigh
Hwy 64/264 E. towards Rocky Mount
Take 264 E towards Wilson
Take 117 South towards Goldsboro
Take Hwy-70 East to New Bern
In New Bern, take exit 417: follow signs for 17 North/Bayboro

Take Hwy. 55 E exit for Bayboro, continue on 55 E towards Oriental (Approx 30 minutes). Just prior to reaching Oriental at Moore's Corner (approx 9 miles past Bayboro), turn left onto Straight Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles and turn right onto Orchard Creek Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles on Orchard Creek Road, and you will see the sign for "River Dunes - Community Information". Turn right on Old Lighthouse Road - the entrance to River Dunes. You'll see a white fence, a Caretaker's Cottage, Boathouse, and Barn. Turn right at the Stop Sign after the Lakehouse (you'll see directional arrows pointing you to the Marina.) Turn right when Old Lighthouse Road meets Harborside Road (at the grassy common area). Follow East Harborside Road to the Harbor Club (465 E. Harborside Road). The Harbor Club is the white building with black shutters and a red roof

or

I-40 to Hwy-70 East in Raleigh to New Bern
In New Bern, follow signs for 17 North/Bayboro.
Take Hwy. 55 E exit for Bayboro, continue on 55 E towards Oriental (Approx 30 minutes). Just prior to reaching Oriental at Moore's Corner (approx 9 miles past Bayboro), turn left onto Straight Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles and turn right onto Orchard Creek Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles on Orchard Creek Road, and you will see the sign for "River Dunes - Community Information". Turn right on Old Lighthouse Road - the entrance to River Dunes. You'll see a white fence, a Caretaker's Cottage, Boathouse, and Barn. Turn right at the Stop Sign after the Lakehouse (you'll see directional arrows pointing you to the Marina.) Turn right when Old Lighthouse Road meets Harborside Road (at the grassy common area). Follow East Harborside Road to the Harbor Club (465 E. Harborside Road). The Harbor Club is the white building with black shutters and a red roof.

From Charlotte:

I-85 North to I-40
I-40 to 540 E. around Raleigh
Hwy 64/264 East towards Rocky Mount
Take 264 towards Wilson
Take 117 South towards Goldsboro
Take Hwy-70 East to New Bern

Or -

I-85 N to I-40. Stay on I-40 through Raleigh.
Hwy Hwy-70 East to New Bern.

Take Hwy. 55 E exit for Bayboro, continue on 55 E towards Oriental (Approx 30 minutes). Just prior to reaching Oriental at Moore's Corner (approx 9 miles past Bayboro), turn left onto Straight Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles and turn right onto Orchard Creek Road. Go approximately 2.4 miles on Orchard Creek Road, and you will see the sign for "River Dunes - Community Information". Turn right on Old Lighthouse Road - the entrance to River Dunes. You'll see a white fence, a Caretaker's Cottage, Boathouse, and Barn. Turn right at the Stop Sign after the Lakehouse (you'll see directional arrows pointing you to the Marina.) Turn right when Old Lighthouse Road meets Harborside Road (at the grassy common area). Follow East Harborside Road to the Harbor Club (465 E. Harborside Road). The Harbor Club is the white building with black shutters and a red roof.

By Water

River Dunes entrance is located approximately one mile inside the mouth of Broad Creek. 7 1/2' can be carried into Broad Creek and River Dunes.

From the North:

Leave Piney Point Light ("4" FL R 2.5 S 15ft. 4m Ra Ref) To starboard and head for Marker #1 at entrance to Broad Creek. Marker # 1 is located at 35 05 30 N x 76 35 00 W.

From the South:

Leave Gum thicket Shoal to Port ("6" FL R 4 S 15ft 3m Ra Ref) and head for Marker #1 at entrance of Broad Creek. Continue into Broad Creek to R "4". Immediately to Port at R "4" is the channel entrance to River Dunes.