Boat Ramps Nearby
Illustration Life jackets
The life jacket rule for every paddler
What the Coast Guard requires on kayaks and canoes, and kids' vests with head support.
Life jacket rulesBoat ramps in North Carolina
258 launches in 126 cities.
The cities with the most launches are Eden (9), Murphy (8) and Boone (7). See them on the map
North Carolina boat access in numbers
| Boat ramps | 200 |
|---|---|
| Kayak and canoe launches | 105 |
| Fishing piers and access | 24 |
| Marked free | 29 |
Lakes, rivers and bays near these launches: French Broad River, Madison River, Lawson Creek, Swepsonville River, Little River, Lewellyn Branch Lake, Panel Branch Lake, Rymers Ferry Lake.
North Carolina rules to know
- On North Carolina piers with a blanket license you do not need your own coastal license.
Helpful before you go: launching a boat, ramp etiquette and launch fees.
Illustration 
Illustration Ramp etiquette
12 rules regulars expect you to know
Staging, courtesy docks and the Clean, Drain, Dry laws that can bring a fine.
Ramp etiquetteBoat ramps by city
- Eden9
- Murphy8
- Boone7
- Asheville6
- Manteo6
- Mars Hill6
- Walnut Cove6
- Burlington5
- Glen Alpine5
- New Bern5
- Raleigh5
- Whispering Pines5
- Brevard4
- Madison4
- Mocksville4
- Mount Holly4
- Andrews3
- Badin3
- Buxton3
- Cullowhee3
- Etowah3
- Greensboro3
- Maysville3
- Morganton3
- Mount Airy3
- Saxapahaw3
- Sylva3
- Tarboro3
- Bryson City2
- Cary2
- Denver2
- Durham2
- Edenton2
- Elkin2
- Franklin2
- Gibsonville2
- Glen Raven2
- Goldsboro2
- Graham2
- Harkers Island2
- Kill Devil Hills2
- Knightdale2
- La Grange2
- Lake Lure2
- Lewisville2
- Lumberton2
- Mayodan2
- Millers Creek2
- Mills River2
- Nags Head2
- North Wilkesboro2
- Pittsboro2
- Southern Pines2
- Southern Shores2
- Southport2
- Spencer2
- Swansboro2
- Swepsonville2
- Wake Forest2
- Washington2
- Weaverville2
- Wilkesboro2
- Wilmington2
- Advance1
- Ahoskie1
- Apex1
- Atlantic Beach1
- Avery Creek1
- Beaufort1
- Belmont1
- Bent Creek1
- Bermuda Run1
- Broad Creek1
- Carolina Beach1
- Columbia1
- Cornelius1
- Edneyville1
- Ellerbe1
- Elroy1
- Emerald Isle1
- Fayetteville1
- Fearrington Village1
- Gamewell1
- Greenville1
- Havelock1
- Haw River1
- Hays1
- Hickory1
- High Point1
- Holly Springs1
- Horse Shoe1
- Jacksonville1
- Jefferson1
- Jonesville1
- Kure Beach1
- Lake Norman of Catawba1
- Lenoir1
- Lexington1
- Lillington1
- Mount Gilead1
- Oak Island1
- Pilot Mountain1
- Pinehurst1
- Plymouth1
- Rockingham1
- Rocky Mount1
- Roseboro1
- Rutherford College1
- Shallotte1
- Sherrills Ford1
- Smithfield1
- Sneads Ferry1
- Stokesdale1
- Summerfield1
- Swanquarter1
- Toast1
- Tobaccoville1
- Troy1
- Tyro1
- Wanchese1
- Welcome1
- Weldon1
- West Marion1
- Williamston1
- Windsor1
- Yadkinville1
Boat ramps in North Carolina: questions and answers
How many public boat ramps and launches are in North Carolina?
We list 258 launches in 126 cities across North Carolina.
Which lakes and rivers in North Carolina have the most boat ramps?
On our map: French Broad River (2), Madison River (2), Lawson Creek (2), Swepsonville River (2), Little River (2) and Lewellyn Branch Lake (1). Many smaller lakes have a single public access.
Are boat ramps in North Carolina free?
29 of the 258 launches in North Carolina are marked free in the map data. Expect day-use fees at North Carolina state parks and federal lakes.
Where can you launch a kayak in North Carolina?
We list 105 kayak and canoe launches in North Carolina, for example Idols Dam Portage in Advance, Lewellyn Branch Lake Access in Andrews, Panel Branch Lake Access in Andrews and Rymers Ferry Lake Access in Andrews.
Where are the fishing piers in North Carolina?
24 fishing piers and fishing access sites, including Apex Community Lake in Apex, N2Y Fishing Department in Atlantic Beach, Danny's Fish n Camp in Edneyville and Texas Pond Recreational Fishing Area in Fayetteville. On North Carolina piers with a blanket license you do not need your own coastal license.