Reviews: Oriental Town Dock #1 - Free Dock

Review Now

These are observations from the boating community. Waterway Guide information is verified regularly and all efforts will be made to validate any new updates submitted here. Thank you for taking the time to share comments about your experience.

Waterway Guide reserves the option of editing reviews and comments for grammar, clarity and the removal of defamatory or potentially slanderous language. When appropriate, reviews are forwarded to businesses for response prior to being made public. We will make every effort to be objective and impartial when posting reviews, but do not publicize details of disputes between parties.

Thanks for your valuable feedback!

Oriental Town Dock #1 - Free Dock

Oriental, NC
Neuse River, Raccoon Creek,

Lat / Lon: N 35° 01.490' / W 076° 41.740'
Hours: 48 Hour limit in any 30 - period.
Website: www.townoforiental.com

4.50

(12)

4.50 out of 5 stars

Review for Oriental Town Dock #1 - Free Dock

Reviewed by: Julie Moeller, Sweet and Salty, on Oct 10, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

We had a great stay here. Since there are only 2 spots on dock #1 and 2 spots on dock #2, we couldn't find space on our first attempt so we anchored out. The city has a Harbor Cam that updates a picture every 5 minutes that faces dock #1 so you can keep checking to see if there is an available spot. We got a spot the next day and stayed Monday and Tuesday nights. Unfortunately, a lot of the stores and restaurants aren't open until Thursday. West Marine is closed Sunday & Monday. The Oriental Marina & Inn offers showers for $5 and they provide towels, soap, shampoo, and hairdryers. Very nice! We got freshly caught flounder to cook from Endurance Seafood, had a nice dinner at M&M's, and Inland Waterway Provision had GREAT wine prices and were super friendly. Nautical Wheelers is a super cute two-story store/house that had a little bit of everything, like clothes, knick-knacks, and wine. There is a Piggly Wiggly a mile down the road that is open every day. The Bean coffee shop seems to be the town hangout place and you can hear people talking on the porch early in the morning if you have your windows open. Only negative we had was that the flies were CRAZY. I counted about 30 flies we swatted inside our boat when we had the sliding door open.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Oriental Town Dock #1 - Free Dock

Reviewed by: Lance Williamson on Mar 31, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.8'

Rating: 5

Free Dock #1 is open!! Repairs have been completed!!

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Oriental Town Dock #1 - Free Dock

Reviewed by: Jonathan Philipps on Mar 27, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 5

The dock will repopen for use on or before April 1. The contractor is working on repairs this week.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Oriental Town Dock #1 - Free Dock

Reviewed by: Lance Williamson on Mar 21, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.8'

Rating: 1

Oriental Free Dock #1 is currently closed for maintenance. No scheduled date for the dock to open.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Oriental Town Dock #1 - Free Dock

Reviewed by: Sean Barnes, Horizon's Call, on Nov 10, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 43'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Great spot, first come first serve. I draw 5', no problem bow in with port side tie up. Great location across the street from The Bean, and the Provision Company is a must see. There was a large fishing trawler nearby with lights on and generator noise, but still giving the spot 5 stars for the price and locale!

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Oriental Town Dock #1 - Free Dock

Reviewed by: Captain Gene Of Galene on Oct 29, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

10 26 2022 Free dock for up to 48 hours. Great access to town . We like FD #2 better as there is public washroom at end of the dock but it is not a long walk from here. No water or electric and can not run your generator so that is why it is only four stars. Nice town with a marine store just a few hundred feet away.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Oriental Town Dock #1 - Free Dock

Reviewed by: Bill Kight, Cookie, on Jun 16, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 27'
Draft: 2.2'

Rating: 5

All information from previous reviews applies except:
1) Docking limited to 48 hours
2) An earlier review states that extra room is available on the bulkhead. That is not the case. Large signs plainly say docking on the bulkhead is not allowed. In fact, docking on the bulkhead on the Oriental Marina side would potentially block a couple Oriental Marina slips. I am presently in one of them now.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Oriental Town Dock #1 - Free Dock

Reviewed by: Brian Chapin, Tug Life, on May 27, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 25'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

Space for 1 boat on either side of fixed dock. Shallow, varies with tide, but bow in on starboard side of dock for deeper water. Do self pumpout at water end of the other free dock as you enter harbor on Rt side before marina. Free shuttle between 10 - 5 pm to & from Piggly Wiggly - just call manager to arrange. Free bikes and map from Inland Waterway Provision Company minutes down the street. Right across the street is a coffee shop and minutes north is a little shack selling fresh and frozen seafood Thurs - Sun (cash or check only).

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Oriental Town Dock #1 - Free Dock

Reviewed by: Donna Arnott on Dec 29, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 44'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Heading South late in the season and was happy to find the dock available; our 44' tucked in nicely, tying up to starboard, with our 38' buddy boat tying up to port. "Tucked in" being the operative words. At 5' and 6' drafts, both of us settled gently into the mud. Lovely locals to chat with, great art gallery across the way and quaint shops to browse and purchase unique items.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Oriental Town Dock #1 - Free Dock

Reviewed by: Susan Rooke on Sep 7, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.3'

Rating: 5

Tucked our bow right up to the street, couldn't be closer to "The Bean" for coffee first thing in the morning; steps away from the Tiki Bar at the Oriental Marina & Inn, where Bif makes the best "Rum Dumps" ever. Quaint, sleepy, small town. Super friendly locals & travelers. Since not much room here at this fee dock, happy to arrive on a Tues in Sep!

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Oriental Town Dock #1 - Free Dock

Reviewed by: Paul on Apr 26, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Great free dock, a bit tight getting in and out but close to shops and places to see. Local marina staff are super friendly and helpful.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for Oriental Town Dock #1 - Free Dock

Reviewed by: Capt Patrick, Hail Mary, on Sep 8, 2019
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Excellent dock. Note there is space at the bulkhead as well as to starboard next to Oriental Marina (free pumpout is there too).

Great access to several eateries to walk to and a wonderful provisioning store.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer