Things to Do in Jacksonville NC When Visiting Camp Lejeune
Things to do in Jacksonville NC for military families: the Carolina Museum of the Marine, Lejeune Memorial Gardens, parks, a zoo and beach days nearby.
· 5 min read
The best things to do in Jacksonville NC for a visiting military family are the Carolina Museum of the Marine and Lejeune Memorial Gardens, which sit side by side on Montford Landing Road, plus the waterfront parks along Wilson Bay and a day at Lynnwood Park Zoo. Pair them with beach time: North Topsail Beach is about 40 minutes from the gardens.
I'm Dipen, and I host Topsail Paradise, a house for up to 22 guests in North Topsail Beach. Many of our guests are families in town for a Camp Lejeune graduation, homecoming, retirement or reunion, with a few free days around the main reason for the trip. Here's how I'd fill them in Jacksonville, with drive times measured from our house.
Is the Carolina Museum of the Marine worth a visit?
Yes, and it's the newest stop on the list. The Carolina Museum of the Marine opened on June 8, 2026, at 109 Montford Landing Rd., Building 1775. Its exhibits include an LVT (a tracked amphibious vehicle) and interactive aviation displays.
Here's what its visit page listed when we checked:
| Visitor | Admission |
|---|---|
| Ages 16 to 54 | $14 |
| Ages 55 and older | $10 |
| Veterans | $8 |
| Active duty | $6 |
| Ages 4 to 15 | $6 |
| Ages 3 and under | Free |
| Pre-booked groups of 10 or more | $12 each |
Hours are 9 AM to 5 PM, Tuesday through Sunday, with the last ticket at 4:30 PM, and it's closed Mondays. Parking is free, the building is fully accessible and there's a café. Group rates need booking at least 10 days ahead, and wagons aren't allowed inside. Call (910) 275-4408 with questions.
What is at Lejeune Memorial Gardens?
Lejeune Memorial Gardens, next to the museum, is the city's tribute to the service members of Camp Lejeune and beyond. The City of Jacksonville describes these memorials:
- The Beirut Memorial, honoring the 273 Marines and Sailors lost after the October 23, 1983 bombing in Beirut, under the words "They Came In Peace." The city holds a remembrance observance there every October 23.
- The Onslow County Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which the city calls the second largest Vietnam memorial in the country.
- The Montford Point Marine Memorial, honoring the first African American Marines, who trained at Montford Point.
- A 9/11 memorial with a beam from the World Trade Center, and the Eagle, Globe and Anchor.
The gardens are open 24 hours a day with free parking, paved paths and lighting at night. An evening visit after dinner is a quiet way to end a day.
Where can families get outside in Jacksonville?
Downtown Jacksonville has five parks along Wilson Bay and the New River, per the City of Jacksonville:
- Sturgeon City Park, 50 Court St., with waterfront trails, a pier, a kayak launch and picnic shelters. Visit Jacksonville's family itinerary suggests a picnic on the city's highest hill, overlooking Wilson Bay, and the boardwalk trail over the river marsh. Sturgeon City also runs an environmental education center at the same address.
- Riverwalk Crossing Park, 421 Court St., with gardens, a gazebo and walkways down to the New River.
Is Lynnwood Park Zoo good for kids?
It's a good pick for younger kids. Lynnwood Park Zoo, 1071 Wells Rd., is an animal and reptile sanctuary, and Visit Jacksonville says it has 50 animal habitats, many of them rescues and surrenders. Its plan-your-visit page lists:
- Hours: Monday and Friday through Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM. Closed Tuesday through Thursday. Last ticket at 4 PM, with no entry after that.
- Rain or shine: the zoo is entirely outdoors and stays open in rain unless severe weather is forecast.
- Bring: water, bug spray and a picnic lunch. There's no concession stand, but there are picnic tables and the paths are stroller friendly.
- No pets or emotional support animals; trained service animals are welcome.
Visit Jacksonville also lists indoor options for rainy days, including Zing Zumm Children's Museum for younger kids. Check hours before you go.
How close is the beach to Jacksonville NC?
Jacksonville sits on the New River, not the ocean. The nearest ocean beach for most visitors is North Topsail Beach, about 27 miles from the memorial gardens, roughly 40 minutes. Visit Jacksonville's family itinerary also suggests Hammocks Beach State Park near Swansboro, reached by a ferry that runs April to October in good weather.
Onslow Beach, on Camp Lejeune, is restricted to military and Defense Department personnel, according to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. If your family includes guests without base access, a public beach is the simpler plan.
What should visiting families know about base access?
The museum and memorial gardens are in Jacksonville, not on base, so you won't need a pass for them. For anything on Camp Lejeune itself, guests without a military ID will need a visitor pass. Our Camp Lejeune visitor guide walks through the Visitor Center at the Wilson Gate, pre-registration and what to bring.
How would I plan a Jacksonville day from the beach?
Here's an easy plan, Tuesday through Sunday:
- Morning: the Carolina Museum of the Marine when it opens at 9 AM.
- Lunch: the museum café, or a picnic at Sturgeon City Park.
- Afternoon: Lynnwood Park Zoo on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, or a walk at Riverwalk Crossing.
- Evening: Lejeune Memorial Gardens, then the drive back to the island for the hot tubs.
On a Monday, swap the museum for the zoo and the gardens. For graduations, homecomings and retirements, our military milestone stays guide covers timing and planning around the big day.
Where can a big military family stay near Jacksonville?
If you'd like the beach and the base in one trip, Topsail Paradise in North Topsail Beach sleeps 22 overnight guests in 8 bedrooms and 6.5 baths, and the beach is about a two-block walk. See the bedroom layout for who sleeps where.
- A private saltwater pool, with free, self-serve heat from October 1 to May 15 (warm, not spa-hot), and 2 hot tubs.
- A driveway for 6 to 8 cars, with more along the side, which helps when family drives in from several places.
- An optional 6-seat golf cart add-on (see the golf cart page for pricing). Military families who book direct get the cart free.
- Minimum stays are 3 nights from October through April and 7 nights from May through September.
No pets, please. Check dates on our booking page and save 15% by booking direct.
Thank you to every family that serves, and welcome to the coast.
Questions, answered
What is there to do in Jacksonville NC?
Start with the Carolina Museum of the Marine and Lejeune Memorial Gardens, which sit side by side on Montford Landing Road. Add the waterfront parks along Wilson Bay, Lynnwood Park Zoo, and a beach day at North Topsail Beach, about 40 minutes away.
When is the Carolina Museum of the Marine open?
The museum's visit page lists hours of 9 AM to 5 PM, Tuesday through Sunday, with the last ticket sold at 4:30 PM. It's closed on Mondays. It opened in June 2026, parking is free and the museum is fully accessible.
How much does the Carolina Museum of the Marine cost?
When we checked, admission was 14 dollars for ages 16 to 54, 10 dollars for 55 and older, 8 dollars for veterans, 6 dollars for active duty and for ages 4 to 15, and free for children 3 and under. Pre-booked groups of 10 or more paid 12 dollars each. Check the museum's site for current prices.
Do you need a base pass to visit the museum or memorial gardens?
No. Lejeune Memorial Gardens and the Carolina Museum of the Marine are in Jacksonville off Montford Landing Road, not on the base. You need a pass only for visits on Camp Lejeune itself, which the Visitor Center at the Wilson Gate handles.
Is Jacksonville NC on the beach?
No. Jacksonville sits on the New River, inland from the coast. The closest ocean beaches are North Topsail Beach, about 27 miles away, and Hammocks Beach State Park near Swansboro. Onslow Beach on Camp Lejeune is restricted to military and Defense Department personnel.
Where can a big military family stay near Jacksonville NC?
Topsail Paradise in North Topsail Beach sleeps 22 in 8 bedrooms and 6.5 baths, about 40 minutes from Lejeune Memorial Gardens. It has a private saltwater pool and 2 hot tubs, and military families who book direct get the optional golf cart free. Booking direct at topsailparadise.com/stay saves 15%.