Welcome to Bear-O-Lina

Northeast North Carolina. Across the river from Edenton. 60 miles from the Outer Banks. 60 miles from I-95. And hour and a half from Raleigh-Durham.

Bearolina is sandwiched between wildlife refuges, state parks, native tribal land, river deltas, the expansive Albemarle sound, and vast farming communities.

It is where the road ends and adventure begins. It’s where you can go wild. Explore Bearolina’s top things to do here.

Bearolina is a year-round destination. Every season is a different flavor of wild.

SPRING: Find bears emerging from their dens. Nesting birds and other wildlife awakening to spring flora and freshly planted fields for grazing.

SUMMER: We kick each summer off with the National Black Bear Festival, a wild celebration of Bearolina! Warm waters, warm breeze, warm air. Corn and other seasonal crops grow high in the heat and humidity. The crystal-clear summer water of Phelps Lake offer fly casting for bass and tons of panfish.

FALL: Annual fall bird migrations are here! Waterfowl start arriving around the first full moon of November. View our fall travel guide for more inspiration into this amazing season.

WINTER: Bright days with mild winters. Female bears are in the den until mid-March, venturing out from time to time to feed. Teenage bears are still bulking up and come out to feed no matter what the weather. Tundra Swans blanket the fields.

River life at its best - wild, unspoiled and breathtaking. It has the largest population of black bears in the east and they are biggest in size too - an 800 pound bear was found here!

There is history here. This is ancient land, Native American dugout canoes have been found in Lake Phelps, cypress trees dot the shoreline and create living art museums without walls, and the Roanoke flows 400 miles to this point. It was once home to some of the first english settlers of the Virginia Colony and Carolina Colony. And it played a vital role in the Civil War with the C.S.S Albemarle and a boy named Gilbert Elliott.

It’s called Bear-O-Lina after all. Learn more about the bears and find a list of local bear and wildlife tour guide before you go.

Plymouth is a great base camp to eastern North Carolina. From Plymouth you can venture out to Pettigrew State Park, Roper, Wenona, Mackeys, Creswell and neighboring regions of the Outer Banks, Edenton, and the Sylvan Heights Bird Park. Plymouth has the majority of hotels in the region, while you can rent Air BnBs or VRBOs or stay at one of many local campsites or natural areas. Find a full list of lodging available in Washington County and book your stay now.