Swansboro, NC Road Trips
Sitting in the Southeast, Swansboro, NC is a local road trip base with 5 trip routes mapped and ready to explore. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 41-mile quick runs to 259-mile cross-state drives. Most routes from Swansboro, NC head west, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Michael Ken
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
258.8 mi
Charlotte, NC
Quickest Drive
59m
North Topsail Beach, NC
Plan Around Swansboro, NC
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Swansboro, NC is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Swansboro, NC
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Swansboro, NC
Driving from Swansboro, NC
The typical drive from Swansboro, NC covers about 150 miles and takes around 3h 16m. There is a healthy spread of short hops, medium drives, and longer road trips to pick from. The longest mapped route runs 259 miles (5h 34m), while the shortest is just 41 miles.
Popular Destinations
Top road trip destinations from Swansboro, NC are Charlotte, NC (258.8 mi, 5h 34m) and North Topsail Beach, NC (41.3 mi, 59m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in NC currently averages around $3.96 per gallon. For the typical 150-mile trip from Swansboro, NC, budget about $23 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring. Most routes head west — leaving in the morning keeps the sun behind you for a more comfortable drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 2 mapped routes leaving Swansboro, NC and 3 routes heading into Swansboro, NC, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 41 to 259 miles.
The longest mapped route from Swansboro, NC covers 259 miles and takes approximately 5h 34m. Shorter options start at just 41 miles.
The average route from Swansboro, NC runs about 150 miles with a drive time of roughly 3h 16m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.96/gallon for regular), the average 150-mile trip from Swansboro, NC costs roughly $23 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Swansboro, NC include Charlotte, NC and North Topsail Beach, NC. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Swansboro, NC by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
3,887
Median Income
$112,382
Median Home Value
$356,900
Median Age
43.3
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Swansboro, NC at a Glance
Founded
1783
Elevation
16 ft
Area
1 mi²
City data from Wikidata (Q2022530), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Swansboro, NC
Swansboro, sometimes called the "Friendly City by the Sea", is a town of 3,700 people (as of 2020) in Onslow County, North Carolina, between the White Oak River and the Intracoastal Waterway. The town was incorporated in 1783, and named for Samuel Swann, a former Speaker in the North Carolina legislature. It's on the western border of the popular Crystal Coast tourist region, and is often considered to be unofficially part of the region. The town's main attractions are its beautiful waterfront views and its quaint downtown, filled with boutiques, shops and delicious restaurants.
Bicentennial Park, at the base of the Highway 24 bridge, gives visitors a chance to fish in the White Oak River or relax and watch the water. There's also a statue of Otway Burns, a local privateer who built the first steamboat in North Carolina. Hammocks Beach State Park. On Bear Island. Secluded beaches for picnicking, sunbathing, swimming, hiking, fishing and shelling. Loggerhead turtle nests can be viewed as well. 14 primitive backpack campsites, 3 primitive group campsites, 4 sites for canoe campers. A passenger ferry runs to the island between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but pets are not allowed onboard.
The main downtown area is along Front Street, which features numerous shops, restaurants and historic buildings. Aquaculture Dude Ranch, 334 Journey's End Lane, +1 910-326-5106. Offers ecology tours into the Croatan National Forest, and has a dock where you can dig for clams, dip for crabs, catch shrimp and oysters, and set fish traps. If you want to bring your own boat for fishing or cruising, Swansboro has three marinas: Casper's Marine Service, 301 South Water Street, +1 910-326-4462. 150 slips. Dudley's Marina, Highway 24 East, +1 252-393-2204. 25 slips. Also has hot showers and a store for fishing equipment. Swansboro Yacht Basin, Highway 24, +1 252-393-2416. 90 feet of dockage. Also has three restaurants, including the Flying Bridge. There are two fishing piers in the area, a small city-maintained pier by the bridge and one pay pier. The 25-mile Bicentennial Bicycle Trail loops through downtown historic Swansboro and into the Croatan National Forest. Swansboro is a town that loves its festivals. Among the highlights: One Saturday in mid-March, the Rotary Civic Center puts on the Swansboro Rotary Oyster Roast with all-you-can-eat steamed oysters, flounder, clam chowder, sides (hush puppies and coleslaw) and beverages, as well as a traditional North Carolina pig pickin'. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door. At the end of May, Swansboro hosts the King Mackerel Blue Water Tournament with prizes up to $25,000, and a barbecue cookout for participants. Advance entry fee is $300 per boat.
Swansboro Food & Beverage Co., 106 Front Street, ☏ +1 910-708-1305. Locals claim it serves some of the best fried seafood in the state, and you get a complimentary bowl of down east chowder with every meal. Riverside Steak and Seafood, 1 Main Street, ☏ +1 910-326-8847. Famous for their secret-recipe sweet-potato muffins. Sandwiches, steaks, seafood and pasta. $6.95 (sandwiches) - $26.95 (steaks). il Cigno Italiano, 206 West Corbett Ave (on the banks of the White Oak River), ☏ +1 910-325-7845, [email protected]. W-M 4-9PM, closed Tu. Italian cuisine. Try the il Cigno Mozzarella platter and house-made desserts. Yana's Ye Olde Drug Store, 119 Front St, ☏ +1 910-326-5501. Open for breakfast and lunch. Reminiscent of 1950s drugstore lunch counters, serving omelettes, pancakes, burgers, sandwiches, salads, homemade onion rings and old-fashioned ice-cream desserts. A 1950s memorabilia shoppe is right next door. The Boro Restaurant & Bar, 109 Front St, ☏ +1 910-325-0502. Daily 11AM-9PM. Live music on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights. (updated Jan 2023) 1 By The Bridge, 108-3 W Corbett Ave, ☏ +1 910-708-1020. Su-Th 8AM-midnight, F Sa 8AM-2AM. Breakfast, lunch and bar, with fusions of South Florida flavors. (updated May 2023) 2 El Cerro Tacos, 714 W Corbett Ave, ☏ +1 910-708-1015, [email protected]. Flavors From Jalisco and Michoacán, Mexico. (updated May 2023)
Church Street Coffee, Deli, and Irish Pub, 105 Church St, ☏ +1 910-326-7572. Located in the 1888 James Moore House. Eat indoors or on our outdoor Bistro tables. Bake Bottle & Brew, 147 Front St, ☏ +1 910-325-7550. Wine and craft beer bar, ice cream and gifts, with a beautiful deck overlooking the Intercoastal waterway. Also has a Homebrew and winemaking section.
Best Western Silver Creek Inn, 801 Cedar Point Boulevard, ☏ +1 252-393-9015. 65 rooms, including suites and whirlpool rooms. Outdoor pool, jacuzzi and fitness center. Adjacent to the Cedar Point Grill and Silver Creek Golf Course (golf packages available). Average price $102. Hampton Inn & Suites, 215 Old Hammock Road (behind Hardees), ☏ +1 910-325-9000. 98 rooms, including suites. Gym/fitness center, free breakfast, free high-speed internet access, two versatile function rooms for up to 100 guests. Average price is $82. Waterway Inn, ☏ +1 252-393-8027, toll-free: +1-877-216-4206, [email protected]. Owned & operated by Dave & Kay Owens, 160 Cedar Point Boulevard. 16 new rooms with sea themes, accessible by car or boat; wireless internet access; refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker available in every room; cable w/ HBO; A/C and heat; free local calls; family bar-b-que area; boat slips; 90-ft fishing pier; picnic and play area. Adjacent to a public boat ramp.
Swansboro is on NC-24, about half an hour east of Jacksonville and just across the White Oak River from Cape Carteret. If you're coming from Raleigh, the quickest route is to take I-40 to Kenansville (exit 373) and then follow US-258/NC-24 past Jacksonville.
Parking in town is free, and many people enjoy walking or biking through the downtown area.
Travel tips adapted from Swansboro on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
Trips to Swansboro, NC
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