Washington is a city on the North Carolina Coastal Plain. The architecture in the large residential and commercial Historic District captures later phases of Washington's history and development. Main Street in Washington's Historic Downtown is flanked by 19th and early 20th century commercial buildings punctuated with ornate brickwork.

Understand

This city of approximately 10,000 residents is located in northeastern North Carolina on the Pamlico River. It was the first city in America to be named after General George Washington, before he became the first president of the United States.

In its infancy, Washington was a regional shipping center because of its strategic location at the junction of inland and coastal rivers. The shipping heritage is evident in some waterfront commercial buildings from that era.

Get in

• Greyhound, 914 Carolina Ave. 

See

• 1 Washington Waterfront Docks, 301 W Stewart Pkwy, ☏ +1 252 940-1231. Daily 8AM-8PM. A great place to take a stroll along the waterfront promenade, have an ice cream cone and watch the boats go by, or just mill around. Free. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum, corner of Main and Gladden Streets, ☏ +1 609 444-8974. F Sa 11AM-2PM. A small but important museum about the underground railroad that included such far removed places as Washington even. Housed in a caboose. (updated Nov 2021)

Do

Washingtonestuarium

Reflection Goose Creek SP NC 8654

• 1 North Carolina Estuarium, 223 E Water St, ☏ +1 252 948-0000. Tu-Sa 10:30AM-3:30PM. See estuary life through taxidermy and natural history exhibits, aquariums, walks, and Pamlico River boat tours. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 Goose Creek State Park, 2190 Camp Leach Rd (12 miles southeast of Washington), ☏ +1 252 923-2191. Daily 8AM-6PM. This is a great place to check out swampy marshlands with eerie cypress trees and the occasional black bear or tawny tannic acid waters of the Pamlico River in a kayak. Boardwalk trails and a campground are part of the amenities. Free. (updated Nov 2021)
• 3 Inner Banks Outfitters, 1050 E Main St, ☏ +1 252 975-3006. You can rent kayaks or bicycles here to explore. (updated Nov 2021)
• 4 Turnage Theater, 150 W Main St, ☏ +1 252 946-2504. A vintage theater with elaborate ceiling inlay that has a fairly lively arts center called Arts of the Pamlico. (updated Nov 2021)

Eat

• 1 Main Street Scoops, 217 W Main St, ☏ +1 252 974-1114. Su-Th noon-8PM, F Sa noon-9PM. Ice cream. (updated Nov 2021)
• 2 Down On Mainstreet, 107 W Main St, ☏ +1 252 940-1988. Tu-Th 11AM-8PM, F Sa 11AM-9PM. Serving up some regional recipes. (updated Nov 2021)

Drink

Market Street Pub, 143 North Market Street +1 252-623-2063. Bar with entertainment.

Sleep

• Quality Inn, 1636 Carolina Avenue, ☏ +1 252-946-4444. 
• Days Inn, 916 Carolina Avenue, ☏ +1 252-623-3925. 
• Hampton Inn, 2085 West 15th Street, ☏ +1 252-940-4556, fax: +1 252-940-4557. 
• 1 Elmwood 1820 Bed & Breakfast Inn, 731 W Main St, ☏ +1 252 623 1466. (updated Jan 2022)

Go next

Routes through Washington

Norfolk ← Windsor ←	N  S	→ New Bern → Wilmington
Wilson ← Greenville ←	W  E	→ END