Dog walking in Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

Hammocks Beach State Park

The North Carolina coast is proud to welcome you and your pup at Hammocks Beach State Park located to the northeast of the city of Swansboro. This beautiful lush retreat is a natural escape for everyone who is tired of the busy life and looking for spending some quality time with the loved ones (especially if these loved ones have four legs). The park offers a wide beach, dunes and ocean views accessible from campsites, and a picnic complex. Bring your mutt to join you at the numerous outdoor activities, including kayaking to Bear Island, where dogs are allowed to swim, frisk and play off-leash!

Croatan National Forest

Located in the Croatan Ranger District, Croatan National Forest is one of four national forests in North Carolina. This huge park provides visitors with 160,000 acres of recreation areas and wilderness. Thinking of taking Fido with you? Bark yes! Apart from offering a range of outdoor activities such as canoeing and fishing, Croatan National Forest is a challenging place for adventurous explorers who like hiking more than anything else. Your mutt will be happy to join you on the 1.75-mile Beady Loop Trail,the pawfect place for inexperienced but aspiring adventure seekers. The hiking trails are located near Fisher Landing Recreation Site, which provides access to Neuse River. Another walking trail to hit with Fido located off Island Creek Road is the Island Creek Forest Walk. It is an easy 0.5-mile hike with lots of shade and places to explore and sniff. Don’t fur-get to pack some water and waste bags!

Morehead City

Morehead City is a port city in North Carolina located in Carteret County, east of Camp Lejeune. This is the place where fishing and scuba diving are thriving. Let your mutt to play and enjoy himself at PAWS Bark Park at 5042 Mattie Street. The park offers a double-gated entry and two separate areas for small and large breeds. This is where your lovely Pomeranian can let off some energy and make some new fur-iends in the process. There’s also plenty of shade, seating areas and doggie water fountains. Care for a snack more than for a drink? Morehead City is full of dog-friendly eateries offering a range of cuisines and welcoming Fido at outdoor tables or patios. If all the talk about water made you think of seafood, pay a visit to Tight Lines Pub and Brewing Co. in the city center, home to some of the best seafood in town!

Atlantic Beach

Set on Bogue Banks, Atlantic Beach is a town in Carteret County welcoming visitors with a subtropical climate and humid summers. It’s approximately 50 miles from Camp Lejeune, which is about an hour en route. Atlantic Beach is an extremely dog-friendly place which welcomes pups to join their owners on the white sandy beach and splash and swim in the ocean. Your mutt should be on a leash at all times on the beach. Not much into beaches? You will find the beautiful Fort Macon State Park not far from the beaches, which is a public park “with multiple personalities”. There are plenty of outdoor activities for dogs and their owners, so make sure you leave yourself enough time to explore everything you want to! Atlantic Beach offers a few dog-friendly eateries, such as Crab’s Claw in the city center.

Emerald Isle

Emerald Isle is a coastal town in Carteret County located entirely on Bogue Banks. Every summer, the population of the place soars with visitors and tourists, making it a little overcrowded in the most popular seashore areas. No wonder: its subtropical climate makes it the pawfect place to vacation. Emerald Isle has a gorgeous sandy beach where your lovely pooch is welcome to join you on-leash for a nice walk. The dogs are allowed on the beach year-round, and if you want to avoid a crowd, bring Fido during the off-season to avoid all the tourists. Emerald Isle is located west from Camp Lejeune and can be reached by car via North Carolina Highway in about an hour.