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New
Bern is growing with new restaurants, new shops, new living spaces. The
number of retirees and new residents moving in and the number of tourists
coming to explore the area's many treasures increases every year. No
matter how they arrive — by land, air or sea — all routes lead to
attractions that everyone will enjoy.
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By LandFrom the north, U.S. Highway 17 leads directly into the heart of New Bern. From the west, Interstate 95 leads to U.S. Highway 70, which continues straight into New Bern. From the north or south, U.S. 17 is the most direct route to the area. From the east, the drive here is along U.S. 70 from the Morehead City area. The $93 million Neuse River Bridge, the costliest in North Carolina's history, opened in late 1999. The 1.9-mile, four-lane bridge spans the Neuse River from Bridgeton to James City, connecting U.S. 17 to U.S. 70. At its highest point, the bridge arches 65 feet above the Neuse River. It replaced the two-lane John Lawson drawbridge, which was dismantled shortly after the opening of the new bridge. The Neuse River Bridge allows travelers heading directly to the beaches from the south or north to bypass the heart of New Bern. Exit ramps along U.S. 70 can take you into the downtown historic district, to Trent Woods (Pembroke), to U.S. 17 N. or to Glenburnie Road. The Alfred Cunningham Bridge, which once spanned the
Trent River and connected the downtown historic district with the Neuse
River Bridge and U.S. 70, has been dismantled and construction has begun to
replace that span by 2009. During the two-year construction period, traffic
to the downtown area will be routed through the Trent Woods/Pembroke exit. |
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Bus ServiceCarolina Trailways/New Bern Bus Terminal Carolina Trailways provides bus service to and from New
Bern. Direct service to all points north and south depart and arrive
daily. Connections to New Bern from all directions are made in Raleigh.
Call for schedule and fare information; the terminal is open from 10 AM
to noon and from 3 to 7 PM daily. |
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Taxi and Shuttle ServicesNew Bern offers several professional taxi franchises that run 24 hours a day. The cars are clean, the drivers are courteous and the fares are moderately priced. If you need a cab, try: New Safeway Taxi Service, (252) 636-9000 or (252) 633-2828 Tryon Cab Co.,
(252) 638-8809 or (252) 636-9335 |
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Car RentalYou will need a car if you plan to see more of the area than downtown New Bern. A few car rental businesses are based at the Craven County Regional Airport, 200 Terminal Drive in New Bern. Avis Rent A Car, (252) 637-2130 Hertz Rental Car, (252) 637-3021 National/Alamo Car Rental,
(252) 637-5241 |
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By Air
Daily US Airways Express flights to and from Charlotte are
available at the Albert J. Ellis Airport, located 30 miles south of New Bern
and at Craven County Regional Airport in New Bern. The Ellis Airport also
has four Delta flights to Atlanta. Call to make your most advantageous
connection. Car rentals are located at both airports. Craven County Regional Airport New Bern offers the convenience of the Craven County
Regional Airport, 2 miles southeast of downtown New Bern off U.S. 70. The
airport offers as many as 10 daily nonstop flights to Atlanta or Charlotte
with one-stop connections to more than 300 destinations worldwide via US
Airways Express and Delta Connection. Food is available in the terminal,
and airport parking is available for 50¢ an hour or $6 daily. Michael J. Smith Airport Within an hour's drive of New Bern, this
airport only offers chartered or private aircraft service. The fixed-base
operator is Segrave Aviation, (252) 728-2323, which handles fueling, car
rentals, flight instruction, charters, sightseeing flights, pilot supplies
and charts, maintenance and more. Albert J. Ellis Airport Eight daily US Airways Express flights to and from
Charlotte are available at the Albert J. Ellis Airport, as are four
flights daily to Atlanta on Delta. The airport is located 30 miles south
of New Bern. Short-term parking prices range from free for the first 10
minutes to $6 a day for long-term parking. Car rentals are available.
A restaurant and gift shop are located on-site. Fixed-base services are
available through Jacksonville Flying Service, (910) 324-2500. Raleigh-Durham International Airport Raleigh-Durham (RDU) is the major international airport
serving North Carolina from the Research Triangle Park area. RDU, a
two-hour drive from New Bern, is a major hub for domestic and
international travelers and has nearly 450 daily arrivals and departures,
serving 47 destinations nonstop. RDU has nine major and 18 regional
airlines. Car rental services are available at the airport.
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By SeaBoaters arriving on the water come up the Intracoastal
Waterway and then travel the Neuse River to New Bern. The Neuse River
flows into the Pamlico Sound and has well-marked channels. New Bern also
fronts the Trent River, which flows into the Neuse. A complete description
of the rivers, bridges, ferry schedules and marinas is offered in our
New Bern On the Water chapter.
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Once You're HereIf you arrive by air or water and are interested in exploring all that New Bern has to offer, a rental car would be a good investment. There is no public transportation in New Bern. Bikes are a wonderful way to get around the downtown and waterfront areas. However, because of the narrow shoulders and increasingly heavy traffic, we wouldn't recommend biking along the highways that immediately lead to and from New Bern. Walking is the most interesting way to travel in the
downtown area, so park the car in any of the well-planned downtown parking
areas and see New Bern at a slower pace.
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Tourism/Relocation Information New
Bern-Craven County If you are a visitor, here's your first stop — the
friendly staff would love to help you prepare for your stay in New Bern and
Havelock. Located in the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center, the New
Bern-Craven County Convention and Visitors Center staff will equip you with
maps, brochures and suggestions that will get your visit off to a fantastic
start. You'll be greeted warmly Monday though Friday from 8 AM to 5
PM and Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. The center is closed on Sundays.
New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce If you are exploring the possibility of opening a new
business or relocating to New Bern or the surrounding area, contact the New
Bern Area Chamber of Commerce for specific information to help with your
considerations. Chamber hours are Monday through Friday 9 AM to 5 PM. New Bern Riverfront Convention Center The New Bern Riverfront Convention Center
features 28,000 square feet of meeting and special event space, including
a 12,000-square-foot ballroom. It is within walking distance of nearly all
downtown accommodations and shopping. Businesses and groups can take
advantage of the center's many amenities to host successful meetings and
conventions. The center offers a large waterfront veranda overlooking the
Trent River and in-house kitchen facilities for on-site catering.
Handicapped accessible and with ample parking, the center is home to a
number of great annual trade shows and special events, many of which are
open free to the public. Insiders consider the New Bern Riverfront
Convention Center a great asset to the downtown historic district.
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