Jacksonville, NC guide

Things to do in Jacksonville, NC,
day and night.

Where to go in Jacksonville, North Carolina: the memorials, the New River, rainy day ideas, and how to spend a Friday or Saturday night, from the people who run the Brew Loop shuttle.

HistoryThe New RiverIndoor funWeekend nights
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What Jacksonville is good for.

Jacksonville sits on the New River in Onslow County, right beside Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. That shapes what there is to do here: Marine Corps history you won’t see anywhere else, a waterfront downtown, and plenty of ways to fill a weekend indoors or out.

If you have one day, walk Lejeune Memorial Gardens, then head downtown to Riverwalk Crossing Park on the river. If you have kids with you, Zing Zumm Children’s Museum and Lynnwood Park Zoo are the easy picks. If you are 21+ and it is a Friday or Saturday night, the Brew Loop shuttle runs between partner bars so nobody has to drive between them.

Outside

History, parks and the river.

Lejeune Memorial Gardens

A pathway past monuments to Marine Corps heritage, including the Beirut Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Montford Point Marine Memorial and a 9/11 Memorial Beam.

Riverwalk Crossing Park

In the historic district on the New River, with brick paths, benches and a covered pavilion. It hosts Onslow Oktoberfest in the fall and Jacksonville Winterfest in December.

Jacksonville Landing

Boat and kayak launches, boardwalks and piers for fishing on the New River, downtown.

Sturgeon City

An environmental education center at 50 Court Street, with boardwalk trails over the water.

Greenways and blueways

Jacksonville’s greenway paths are for walking and biking, and its blueways are paddling routes. Kayak rentals are available at three locations.

Hammocks Beach State Park

The beach trip. Shelling, tours and camping at 1572 Hammocks Beach Road in nearby Swansboro.

Family fun

Indoor picks and kids.

Zing Zumm Children’s Museum

Hands-on fun for kids in downtown Jacksonville, at 625 New Bridge Street.

Lynnwood Park Zoo

Farm animals at 1071 Wells Road.

Bowlarena Lanes

Bowling and an arcade at 433 Western Boulevard.

Roller City

Roller skating at 120 Bridget Lane.

Cracked It! Escape Games

Escape rooms and puzzles at 559 Freedom Way in Midway Park.

Altitude Trampoline Park

Trampolines at 1030 Henderson Drive.

Glomania Lazer Tag

Laser tag at 375 Western Boulevard.

Swingin’ Things

Mini golf, a driving range and batting cages at 133 Batting Cage Trail.

After dark, 21+

Friday and Saturday nights.

A night of bar hopping

One $20 seat on the Brew Loop rides a scheduled shuttle between 9 partner bars, about an hour and 15 minutes at each stop.

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Jacksonville nightlife

Bars, pool halls, a nightclub and where to start, in one guide.

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Date night

Dinner, a few bars, and neither of you has to be the one who drives.

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FAQ

Questions people ask.

What is there to do in Jacksonville, NC?

Walk the monuments at Lejeune Memorial Gardens, spend time on the New River at Riverwalk Crossing Park or Jacksonville Landing, take kids to Zing Zumm Children’s Museum or Lynnwood Park Zoo, or go bowling, skating or to an escape room. On Friday and Saturday nights, adults 21+ can ride the Brew Loop shuttle between partner bars.

What can adults do in Jacksonville, NC this weekend?

During the day, try the greenways, a kayak on the blueways, or Cracked It! Escape Games. On Friday or Saturday night, the Brew Loop runs a shuttle between partner bars for $20 a seat. Check the events page for the nights that are open.

What is there to do in Jacksonville, NC with kids?

Zing Zumm Children’s Museum, Lynnwood Park Zoo, Roller City, Altitude Trampoline Park, Glomania Lazer Tag and Swingin’ Things are all local family picks.

Is Jacksonville, NC near a beach?

Yes. Hammocks Beach State Park is in nearby Swansboro, at 1572 Hammocks Beach Road.

What is there to do in Jacksonville, NC at night?

Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest. The Brew Loop shuttle runs between partner bars from around 7:30 PM to around 1:30 AM. It is strictly 21+ and $20 a seat.

How do I get to the shuttle and back?

Leave your car at home. Take an Uber or one of our partnered taxis to your pickup bar. The Loop runs between the bars all night and brings you back to that same pickup at the end, and you take it from there.

More answers on How It Works, or send us a message.

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Got your days covered?
We’ll take the nights.

$20 a seat, Friday and Saturday nights, back to your pickup at the end.