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Jacksonville began as Wantland's Ferry, a crossing on the New River that became the Onslow County seat after a 1752 hurricane wiped out the old courthouse town. Renamed in 1842 for President Andrew Jackson, it stayed a quiet riverside town of naval stores, lumber and tobacco until 1941, when the Marine Corps opened the base now known as Camp Lejeune and the population grew from a few hundred to tens of thousands.
The Marines still shape the city, which is one of the youngest in the country. Lejeune Memorial Gardens gathers the Beirut Memorial, a Vietnam memorial and a tribute to the Montford Point Marines, the first Black Americans to serve in the Corps, whose story is told at a museum on Camp Johnson. Downtown, the restored Mill Avenue district and the Riverwalk along the New River make for a relaxed stroll.
Jacksonville is also a handy base for the coast. Sturgeon City's boardwalks explore restored wetlands in town, Hammocks Beach State Park's Bear Island is a short ferry ride from Swansboro, and the beaches of Topsail Island are about half an hour away.
WiserMap travel guideJacksonville North Carolina Topsail Island Beach DaysPlan a Jacksonville, North Carolina trip with Lejeune Memorial Gardens, the Beirut Memorial, the New River waterfront, Sturgeon City and nearby Topsail Island b...Read the guide
A memorial park along Lejeune Boulevard that honors service members, with the Beirut Memorial for those killed in the 1983 bombing in Lebanon, a Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and a 9/11 memorial using steel from the World Trade Center. It is free and open daily; allow about an hour for a quiet visit.
Located at Camp Johnson, this museum tells the story of the Montford Point Marines, the first African Americans to serve in the Marine Corps, who trained here from 1942 to 1949. Exhibits include photos, uniforms and personal stories. Hours are limited, so call ahead; visitors may need base access.
A waterfront park on Wilson Bay and the New River near downtown Jacksonville with a boardwalk, an amphitheater, a playground, a splash area and open lawns used for concerts and festivals. It is a good spot for sunset views over the water, and it connects to walking paths along the bay shoreline.
A former wastewater plant on Wilson Bay turned into an environmental education center, with boardwalks over restored wetlands, outdoor classrooms and programs about the New River's ecology and water quality. It is free to walk the grounds; check the center's calendar for guided paddles and family science days.
A small family-run zoo in Jacksonville with more than a hundred animals, including big cats, primates, birds and reptiles, plus a petting area. Visits are short and relaxed, usually an hour or two, which suits young children. Check opening days before you go, as hours vary by season and weather.
A 26-mile barrier island southeast of Jacksonville shared by North Topsail Beach, Surf City and Topsail Beach, known for quiet beaches, fishing piers and the old missile-testing towers from Operation Bumblebee. North Topsail is the closest end, about 30 minutes away. Public beach access points have parking.
This state park near Swansboro is best known for Bear Island, an undeveloped barrier island reached by passenger ferry or by paddling a marked kayak trail. The island has wide beaches, high dunes and maritime forest, with no shops. Bring water, food and shade, and check the seasonal ferry schedule.
The New River flows through Jacksonville and widens into a broad tidal estuary before reaching the sea at Camp Lejeune. Its calm bays are popular for fishing, kayaking and paddleboarding, with public launches near downtown. Stay clear of restricted military areas downstream, which are marked on local charts.
Located in Richlands, a short drive north of Jacksonville, this free county museum covers local history from Native American settlement through colonial farming, the naval stores trade and the arrival of Camp Lejeune in 1941. It is small but well organized; plan about an hour and check weekday opening hours.
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North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
North Carolina, United States
Photo: Indy beetle, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Indy beetle, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Indy beetle, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Indy beetle, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Indy beetle, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Indy beetle, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Indy beetle, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
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Photo: Indy beetle, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
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Photo: Sgt Christopher Q. Stone, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
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Photo: Boston Public Library, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0