Oriental, NC: The Charming Town You’ll Visit and Won’t Want to Leave

As we pulled into the harbor in Oriental, NC, we were looking for a mythical free dock and a comfortable place to sleep. We didn’t expect to find a town as unique as its name. Walking through Oriental, we quickly found a common theme: people who had passed by car or sailboat once and then decided to return and make Oriental, NC, their home. 

Why you should visit Oriental, NC

The story of why Oriental is called Oriental sets the tone for the town. The story is that the town needed a post office and, as such, needed to register a name. The area was called Smith’s Creek, but the town didn’t think that fit. The wife of the postmaster found a piece from a shipwrecked Union vessel named the S.S. Oriental, and thus, the town had a name.

Oriental became more than a name; it became a signal that the residents were unafraid to be different and could follow their path. A century later, the town was infested with Dragons! They say Dragons have a 100-year gestation, so on the town’s 100th anniversary, a dragon showed up for the New Year’s Eve celebration, thus starting the dragon theme you’ll see around town. Whether it’s a painting, sculpture, or simply a painted rock – they are all around Oriental.

Besides its quirkiness, Oriental is also known as the Sailboat capital of North Carolina! Located right on the Neuse River, the widest river in the United States, you have a playground and can easily sail East to the Outer banks, West to the historic New Bern, or out an inlet into the world beyond.

You shouldn’t visit Oriental to see Dragon sculptures, or because it has more sailboats than people, or because it has a fun name. You should go to a town that is unapologetically unique. Visit the only coffee shop at the end of the town dock and experience why people come to Oriental and decide to make it their home.

How to get to Oriental, NC

Oriental is located in Eastern North Carolina, along the Neuse River, just West of the Pamlico Sound and the Outer Banks.

Flying into Oriental, NC

The closest large airport to Oriental is Raleigh Durham or RDU (2 hours and 30 minutes away by car), and the closest small airport is in New Bern, NC or EWN (35 minutes away by car). We recommend checking Skyscanner for flights!

Traveling to Oriental by Boat

Most people traveling to Oriental by Boat will come from the South or North. If you’re traveling from the South, you’ll travel through Adam’s Cut. You’ll want to time your tides for a falling tide, which can give you an extra speed boost. In either direction, check the winds and tides on the Neuse River; remember to watch out for wind vs current as the Neuse River is wide and can develop some nasty chop. Most people traveling from the north stage their trip from the Southside of Alligator Cut, so you’ll want to watch your weather for the Pamlico and Neuse rivers.

Where to stay in Oriental

Oriental is a small town; there are no Four Seasons on the waterfront, but you can find some lovely inns and bed and breakfasts throughout town. Enjoying the local businesses and getting to know the people are part of the true charm and uniqueness of Oriental. Here are our suggestions for places to stay in Oriental.

Oriental Marina & Inn

The Oriental Marina & Inn is located right next to the town dock, which is the town center in Oriental. With just a 2-minute walk to The Bean for a coffee and a bagel, you are right where people in Oriental hang out. The Oriental Marina & Inn will frequently be packed with boaters transiting through Oriental, so even if you’re not a sailor, you’ll get an introduction to what is many find so alluring.

Inn at Oriental

The Inn at Oriental is a renovated Inn by Kate and Dustin. They’ve restored this beautiful old cottage and offer a fantastic breakfast with local knowledge of Oriental. Their Shiba Inu, Brody, is the official Innkeeper, and the inn is dog-friendly. Only a few blocks from the Town Dock, this Inn is right next to the Old Theatre and local Brewery, a huge plus!

Magnolia House Bed & Breakfast

The Magnolia House Bed & Breakfast is a luxury Inn where you can stay for the local Oriental experience. Among all the tools you need to get around town, they offer a self-serve evening Wine and Cheese board. 

River Neuse Suites

River Neuse Suites are slightly farther away (but still walkable to downtown) but feature fantastic views of the Neuse River. If you time your trip well, you can sit on their Adirondack chairs and enjoy local sailing regattas or the collegiate races!

Local Cottages

There are a few VRBO options in the city proper. These can be great options if you are going with a group!

What to eat in Oriental

In our dream town checklist, Oriental has every option we care about (except a local pizza joint). A local coffee shop where the locals gather, a brewery with food trucks, and a few local standout restaurants!

The Bean

The Bean (aka the center of everything Oriental) is the local coffee shop on the end of the Town Dock, where all residents gather for scuttlebutt. Consider it Central Perk from Friends or Luke’s Diner from Gilmore Girls. We recommend starting every day here during your trip to Oriental. If you don’t like coffee, they have other drinks or even ice cream if you visit later in the day. We loved stopping in for a flat white and a toasted everything bagel with cream cheese.

The New Village Brewery & Taproom

New Village is a nano brewery featuring only their and other local North Carolina brews! We come here every time we visit Oriental; it seems to be the afternoon and evening equivalent to the Bean. You can walk here, bring your pup, grab a local brew, and enjoy live local music or mingle with the locals. They don’t serve food but frequently have a local food truck rotation for you to try.

We recently heard a story from a friend about when the planned food truck didn’t make it to the brewery for some reason. The locals hosted an impromptu potluck, including the mayor bringing homemade baked ziti! The community in Oriental is incredible.

M&Ms Cafe

M&Ms Cafe is a local spot for a nice night out in downtown Oriental, closer to the marina. We recommend trying their local Applewood-Smoked Salmon or Seafood Lasagna and a homemade dessert!

Ricks NC BBQ

Ricks NC BBQ creates the famous, authentic North Carolina BBQ. It’s a carryout joint, so pull up and get some NC pulled pork!

Brantley’s Village Restaurant

Brantley’s Village Restaurant is a local family restaurant. Visit with your kids for some southern family food in a friendly atmosphere.

What to do in Oriental

What we loved most about visiting Oriental was the small-town culture. With no stoplights, plenty of parks, and always something going on. We enjoyed starting our day at The Bean and going from there.

You’ll want to check their amazing town website for current events; it’s probably the best local website we’ve ever seen. They have a few live cameras of the harbor, a schedule of current events, articles, and town history. Head to towndock.net before you visit!

Act Like a Local – One Day Itinerary

Our favorite way to explore a new destination is to act like a local. Here’s a sample itinerary:

1. Watch the Sunrise over the Neuse River ☀️
2. Grab a coffee and bagel at The Bean ☕️
3. Wander Hodges St and up the Oriental Town Dock to view the local fishing vessels and visitors in town. Stop into The Provision Company and explore their local marine supply store 🚶‍♂️‍➡️
4. Get an authentic and hand-crafted meal at M&Ms Cafe 🍽️
5. Grab a drink and listen to live music and New Village Brewery 🍻
6. Watch a local performance at the Old Theatre 🎭

Sailing

Oriental is known as the sailing capital of North Carolina. Located right on the mouth of the widest river in the United States, the Neuse River, you’ll always see sailboats on the water. Some of the best days to visit Oriental are when the collegiate sailing races are in town. NC State has its annual SailPack Oriental Intercollegiate Regatta every April. Check out Bow to Stern boating for chartering a sailboat with a captain or taking one out yourself.

Farmer’s Market

We love traveling to Farmer’s Markets whenever possible, and Oriental has theirs on Saturday mornings from 8-11 am. Just like the town of Oriental itself, don’t expect a vast farmers market, but there’s something lovely with the local region coming together and taking over the street in front of The Bean on Hodges Street. We loved this local farmer’s small pots of various herbs and small cooking plants, so we grabbed a few for our boat! For a current list of vendors, check out their Facebook page.

When to visit Oriental, NC

You’ll want to visit Oriental anytime from Wednesday to Sunday. You’ll find that most places are closed on Monday and Tuesday. There are quite a few festivals in Oriental, so if you can align your visit, it’ll be one you won’t forget.

• Dragon Boat Races – Early November
• The Dragon Burn – Late March
• Croaker Festival – July 4th Weekend
• Dragon Run & Croaker Drop – New Year’s Eve

Average Temperatures in Oriental

Boaters Guide to Oriental

We’ve visited Oriental, North Carolina, on three occasions on our trawler, Pivot. The first time, we stayed for two nights at their 48-hour free town dock; our second visit was at the Oriental Marina & Inn, and our third was at Oriental Harbor Village Marina, just at the entrance of Raccoon Creek. Oriental has boating in its bones, from being named after a ship and now considered the Sailing Capital of North Carolina.

How to Approach Oriental

Oriental is located on the Neuse River, so you must plan your trip carefully. Check the tides and specifically look out for high winds against the current. If you’re coming from Pamlico Sound, then you’ll want a light winds day if you’re on a motor boat. As that is a large body of water with current, it should be respected. Fortunately, Oriental has a break wall that protects this quaint harbor.

Where to Dock in Oriental

The best place to dock in Oriental is the Town Dock. A free 48-hour stay every 30 days gives you the perfect time to explore this cute southern town. There are two docks, with room for at least four boats, up to eight, depending on how small the boats are on the docks. Some people are skittish about staying at free docks because they can’t reserve them beforehand. Fortunately, TownDock.net has live views of the harbor on its webcams. You can check the current status of the harbor before you leave! Please follow the 48-hour stay honor system to keep this treasure for future boaters. Alternatively, you can check the Nebo app to see if any boats are located at the dock ahead of time.

If the town dock is full or you require power and water, which isn’t available at the free dock, you’ll need to go to a local marina. We recommend calling the Oriental Marina & Inn and asking for their current rate. They also manage the transient reservations at Oriental Harbor Village Marina if you need to stay longer.

Where to Anchor in Oriental

Most people anchor just into the breakwater outside Raccoon Creek. It is a tight anchorage right next to the channel, but it is a no-wake zone and a short dinghy ride to the free town dock.

If your air draft is less than 45 feet, you could anchor on the other side of the bridge. There is enough depth, but you’d be a bit farther away from the town center. It can be a backup option!

Internet in Oriental

Being a small North Carolina town, Oriental doesn’t have many options for good internet. You can head to The Bean and grab their Wi-Fi, or we recommend boating with Starlink, as it gives great speeds no matter where you are. We had great cell service in Oriental, so that is another option, too.

Provisioning in Oriental

Oriental is a great stop to re-provision! The local grocery store, Piggly Wiggly, is about 1.5 miles from the town dock, which is a far walk. However, they have a free service nicknamed “The Piglet” that will pick you up and drop you off at any dock in town. Call 249-3000 or 249-3100 to arrange pickup! We also recommend tipping the drivers as a show of appreciation.

Our Videos in Oriental, NC