Outdoors
Five New Bern Area Parks for Walking Trails, Playgrounds and Picnics
A waterfront walk at Lawson Creek feels like a different outing from the wooded, hilly paths at Glenburnie. At Creekside, you can keep the walk to a quarter-mile paved loop and spend the rest of the visit at the playground. Choosing a New Bern park starts with deciding what you want to do once you get there.
These five parks offer different combinations of trails, play areas, picnic spots and water views across New Bern and nearby Craven County. They are separate destinations, not stops on one walking route. Use the comparison below to choose a park, then check its official notices before heading out. For a day centered on downtown, see our waterfront afternoon guide.
Compare five New Bern area parks
| Your main plan | A useful starting point | Detail to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Playground plus a walk | Martin Marietta Park | The city lists a playground and StoryWalk beside its Lake Shelter |
| A short waterfront trail | Lawson Creek Park | The published 0.8-mile route includes planks, gravel and grass |
| A picnic and wooded surroundings | Glenburnie Park | Expect hilly ground; the park also has a playground and disc golf |
| A paved loop with room to add play | Creekside Park | A quarter-mile paved loop and an inclusive playground are among the options |
| Nature observation and a boardwalk | Latham-Whitehurst Nature Park | Short color-coded trails can be combined; plan the route before starting |
The choices above are editorial suggestions based on the official facilities described below. They are not ratings of trail difficulty or guarantees about conditions on a particular day.
1. Martin Marietta Park: a playground, StoryWalk and lakeside outing
Where: 700 South Glenburnie Road, New Bern.
The Lake Shelter gives families a useful place to start at Martin Marietta Park. The city's shelter listing places the Kids Adventure Playground and StoryWalk nearby, with restrooms attached to the building. That puts play and a little walking together without needing to plan a long trail outing.
Start with the playground if that is what brought you here, then add a walk if time and energy allow. If walking is the main event, leave time afterward to sit and look around.
The city's posted park rules describe trails, fishing in the main and island lakes, and small-boat use at designated launch areas. Plans for future improvements are not a guide to what is open today; follow the current rules and entrance signs.
Plan your visit around daylight. The city's posted park rules specify dawn to dusk unless otherwise posted, require leashed pets, and prohibit swimming. Check the entrance sign when you arrive.
2. Lawson Creek Park: a short trail beside the water
Where: 1309 Country Club Road, New Bern, as listed by city Parks & Recreation.
Lawson Creek is a useful choice when you want water views and a modest distance. The county's trail page lists a 0.8-mile route with sections of wooden planks, gravel and grass. It also identifies restrooms and a playground. The changing surfaces are part of the route, so judge it by the ground as well as the mileage.
That surface mix is the practical detail to remember. Choose footwear for uneven ground and check current conditions if you need a firm, continuous route. A short published distance does not tell you whether every section will work for a stroller, walker or wheelchair.
Visit New Bern's park description also identifies picnic facilities at Jack's Island. Make the walk the first decision, then add a picnic if the weather and available space suit your group. Check ahead if exclusive use of a shelter matters.
3. Glenburnie Park: wooded hills and a picnic by the Neuse
Where: 340 Glenburnie Drive, New Bern.
Glenburnie's woods and hills give a walk here a different shape from a flat downtown stroll. The county's trail description lists a 0.8-mile route around the park, passing wooded ground with views of the Neuse River.
Allow for the hills when choosing your walk. If slopes or uneven ground would make the visit difficult, assess the route before setting off and keep the picnic or playground as another way to spend time here.
The city's facility listing includes picnic shelters, restrooms and a playground. Its disc golf information describes an 18-hole course with open and wooded fairways.
Bring lunch if you want the picnic to be the main event, with a walk before or afterward. Leave room for people playing disc golf and be aware of play when moving through shared areas.
If you are planning to use the separate Down East Dog Park, read the city's membership requirements before leaving home. The city requires a permit, paperwork and a fee for that facility, so arrange access in advance.
4. Creekside Park: a paved loop and an inclusive playground
Where: 1821 Old Airport Road, New Bern.
Creekside offers a clear option for a short walk: its quarter-mile paved loop. The county park guide also describes outdoor exercise equipment and a separate two-mile loop completed in 2022. Choose the route first, especially when a playground visit is the main reason for coming.
The inclusive playground near the Rotary shelter has rubber surfacing and a wheelchair swing, according to the same guide. A short walk followed by play makes one possible outing; the longer loop gives walkers another choice. If a specific piece of equipment or access feature is essential to your plans, confirm its current availability with the county.
The park also has sports facilities, picnic areas and access to Brice's Creek. Decide which area you want before parking so you spend the visit doing the activity you came for.
Pay attention to the closing guidance: the county facility page says gates generally close at dusk, with variations for scheduled games and events. Plan an ordinary walking visit to finish before dusk and follow the entrance signs.
5. Latham-Whitehurst Nature Park: trails and a boardwalk by Broad Creek
Where: 1095 Broad Creek Road, near Fairfield Harbour in Craven County.
Near Fairfield Harbour, Latham-Whitehurst puts the natural surroundings at the center of the outing. Make it a separate trip from downtown. The county facility listing describes gravel and natural trails, a boardwalk, picnic tables and restrooms.
The more detailed county park guide lists color-coded trails ranging from 0.16 to 0.8 mile. Routes can be combined, so look at the map before leaving the entrance and choose how much walking you want to do.
The guide also describes a 2,000-foot waterfront dock and boardwalk structure at Broad Creek, plus tree and shrub identification signs along the main trail. Pause beside the water or stop to match a plant to its sign: this is a walk that rewards taking your time.
For children who enjoy noticing small things, set an observation challenge rather than a distance goal. Look for three different leaf shapes or listen for sounds you cannot hear in the parking area. Leave plants and wildlife undisturbed as you go.
Before you head to a New Bern park
Choose one main activity and one optional addition. A playground visit with a possible short walk is easier to adjust than an afternoon that depends on completing every part of a long route.
Before leaving, check the park's official page for notices, look at the weather, and allow enough daylight to finish comfortably. Bring water and shoes suited to the surfaces described. If mobility access is a deciding factor, ask about the specific route, parking area and restroom you intend to use.
Afterward, you can head home or use Insider's dining comparison to choose a meal. If outdoor plans need to change altogether, the articles and guides index includes rainy-day and other indoor options.
Official facility information rechecked November 9, 2026. Published amenities do not establish same-day opening, trail conditions or equipment availability.