Reviews | Waterway Guide

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!

Turnagain Bay

Location: Neuse River
Mile Marker: 173
Lat / Lon: N 34° 59.386' / W 076° 29.953'
Depth: 10
Tide: 1
Description:
Wide open bay near Marine Corps bombing range. Entry depths 12-16 feet, most of bay over 10' deep with muddy sand mix bottom. Not a lot of wind protection as there surrounding land is low in all directions. Very quiet spot, just a few recreational fisherman fishing the grass beds that surround the bay. Lots of wildlife. BUT, there are lots of green flies and mosquitos. Have the screens ready before you arrive at the first mark! Otherwise, nice spot to spend some very quiet time just over 11 miles from Oriental. Decent 4g cell service as well.
DISCLAIMER: Before committing to an anchorage, you should confirm that the location is not governed by a regulation that may conflict with your plans. An increasing number of states and municipalities are enacting laws that define where and how long you may anchor.

Holding:

5.00

Good holding in muddy sand.

Wind Protection:

2.00

Current Flow:

5.00

Wake Protection:

2.00

Scenic Beauty:

3.00

Ease of Shopping:

1.00

Shore Access:

3.00

No shore access.

Pet Friendly:

3.00

Cell Service:

1.00

Review for Turnagain Bay

Reviewed by: Capt. Mac, Janthina, on Jun 2, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Overall Rating:

2

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

2

Current Flow:

5

Wake Protection:

2

Scenic Beauty:

3

Ease of Shopping:

1

Shore Access:

3

Pet Friendly:

3

Cell Service:

1

Enter Turnagain Bay by minding Green "1A" and Red "2" and staying mid channel for depths of no less than 10 feet adjusted by the NOAA Neuse River at Oriental Water Level Gauge. As you approach the anchorage icon depths shoal to 8 feet. We anchored short of the icon in 9 feet of water, with the anchor setting immediately and holding through the night in sandy mud with light even when the winds came up to 20 mph from the north at 0300 hrs bringing one foot waves through the anchorage. There was no discernable current and little traffic.

Turnagain Bay offers little protection for heavy weather and, if there is any concern, South River, 4.5 miles up the Neuse River would be a much better choice. We were here in June and the Green Head Biting Flies were out in force so we were grateful for our screens. Cell service was barely adequate. Shore access can be had on a sandy beach about one mile up the river but there are no facilities of any sort in the area. One notable point of interest about this anchorage is that it is on the edge of an enforced military exclusion zone containing a practice bombing range for the various military bases in the area. We did not experience it, but it might be disconcerting to wake up to F-18's engaging in some early morning practice. There are better alternatives in the area.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer