Tarboro, North Carolina travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Tarboro is a city in North Carolina going all the way back to British settlement in 1760. A thriving river port just below the fall line of the Piedmont in the years leading up to the Civil War, now its level of activity could probably be better compared to the languid-like flow of the Tar River floating by.

Tarboro has many preserved antebellum homes of the Victorian, Second Empire, Neo-classical revival, and Arts and Crafts-style, and the only original remaining town common outside of Boston, this in spite of decimation to the area by Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

1 sights · 3 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Tarboro

Blount-Bridgers House

An 1808 Federalist-style home owned by a Revolutionary War veteran named Thomas Blount retaining works by local artist Hobson Pittman and others.

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 33°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Sep and Aug. (climate data from nearby North Carolina Coastal Plain)

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
PGV Pitt-Greenville Airport, Greenville — 20 mi away. Directions
EWN Coastal Carolina Regional Airport, New Bern — 63 mi away. Directions
RDU Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Raleigh/Durham — 70 mi away (major hub). Directions

Tarboro is about 17 miles east of Rocky Mount on US 64.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.

Food for you

What to ask about, for your diet

Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder