Things to Do Around Engelhard
Fishing and crabbing, the ferry to Ocracoke, the lake, the scenic drive and the quiet back-door route to the Outer Banks — a small place with a lot of water around it.
In short
Engelhard is a small place with a lot of water around it. The days fill up easily — the ferry to Ocracoke, fishing and crabbing the sound, Lake Mattamuskeet, the drive along U.S. 264, the northern Outer Banks an hour away, and the porch at sunset.
People sometimes ask what there is to do out here, expecting the answer to be "not much." The honest answer is that there's plenty if you like water, quiet, and being outdoors. We're a small village, but we're surrounded by sound, lake, canals and coast. Here's how our guests spend their time.
Ways to spend a day
- Take the ferry to Ocracoke. The Swan Quarter ferry dock is about 15 minutes west of us on U.S. 264, and the crossing runs around two and a half hours each way — a real day on the water that drops you on one of the prettiest islands on the coast. See our Ocracoke island guide before you go.
- Fish and crab the sound and canals. Largemouth and striped bass, crappie, catfish, and big blue crab are all out there. Bring your gear; ask us at the desk if you need to know what's around.
- Visit Lake Mattamuskeet. North Carolina's largest natural lake is about 11 miles north, with a three-mile Wildlife Drive, observation platforms, and bald cypress standing in the water. Full rundown on our Lake Mattamuskeet page.
- Drive U.S. 264 just to drive it. The highway hugs the top of the Pamlico Sound — open water, marsh, big sky, and almost no traffic. See getting here for the lay of the roads.
- Day-trip to the northern Outer Banks. Manteo and Nags Head are only about an hour away by U.S. 64 East, so you can have a beach day and still sleep somewhere quiet and cheap.
- Watch the winter waterfowl. In the cold months swans, ducks and geese cover the lake and the fields by the thousands — beautiful to watch, and for hunters, the reason for the season.
- Sit on the porch at sunset. We've got a wide front porch with rocking chairs, and the light coming off the sound at the end of the day is hard to beat. Some evenings that's the whole plan.
None of this is fancy, and that's the point. It's water, weather, a little fishing, a slow drive, a good sunset. If you'd rather a low-key day, the breakfast and the porch will carry you a long way.
When you know your dates, book a room or call the front desk at (252) 925-2001 — a real person will answer and help you sort out your days.
The only hotel in Engelhard — and the closest bed to the ferry, the lake and the work. Call the front desk and we'll hold a room for your dates.
(252) 925-2001