Cedar Island is commonly used to refer to a group of mainland communities near Beaufort and Morehead City, though the proper island is a four-mile refuge located across West Thorofare Bay from mainland North Carolina. Much of the island is preserved as Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge, which was established in 1964 and offers a wide variety of entertainment for nature lovers and beach buffs alike. The island is accessible via the Cedar Island Ferry route or NC Highway 12 and offers opportunities for boating, fishing, hunting, kayaking, shelling, bird watching, and horseback riding. As the closest region to popular Ocracoke Island, the island makes a perfect day trip or secluded getaway, offering both campground and motel accommodations.

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