The North Carolina Oyster Trail offers unique and tasty adventures:

Tour a working shellfish farm.
Do you know where your seafood comes from? Hop on a boat and learn how we grow oysters in North Carolina. Smell that salt breeze while you slurp down some of the most sustainable seafood on the planet.
Savor the coast’s distinct flavors.
Are you a fan of local foods? Taste our homegrown oyster rainbow — salty, sweet, and buttery shellfish. You can purchase our state’s oysters at a variety of markets and restaurants on the coast and inland, all featured on the NC Oyster Trail.
Discover the truth about local oysters.
Did you know N.C. oysters are available year-round? Wild oyster season starts October 15 but farmed oysters make it possible for you to enjoy oysters anytime. Get educated on how you can support a healthy coast and bountiful seafood for years to come.

What are you waiting for?

Recent News…

A Look Into the Outer Banks Oyster Trail

Have you ever taken the time to consider where your seafood comes from? Learn about the efforts along our coasts to participate in the ethical, sustainable farming of N.C. oysters.

News

Oyster grower employs new tool to better meet demand

The oyster industry in North Carolina has been steadily growing in recent years to make the industry worth $100 million by 2030. To help reach that goal, local oyster growers are trying new ways to expand their farms.

News

One Oyster At A Time

From the salty breeze of the Outer Banks to the winding undulations of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a new food trail is introducing people to a rather misunderstood creature: the eastern oyster.

ABOUT

The NC Oyster Trail is a grassroots effort from people who love our state’s oysters.

Our mission is to provide experiences that help sustain and grow N.C. oysters, resulting in economic, environmental and social benefits to the state’s seafood industry and coastal communities.

If you’d like to offer an oyster experience through our Trail Map, become a member today.

Become a member.

If you’d like to support the NC Oyster Trail with a tax-deductible donation, become a friend today.

Become a friend.

The North Carolina Coastal Federation and North Carolina Sea Grant, in partnership with the North Carolina Shellfish Growers Association, administer the NC Oyster Trail.

Thank You Friends of the Trail!

Discover Carolina Charm & Coastal Culture in Wilmington

NC Oyster Trail

CONTACT US

For more information, contact the North Carolina Coastal Federation at oysters@nccoast.org. Visit ncoysters.org to learn about statewide efforts to restore oyster populations and protect our coast.

Want to receive periodic NC Oyster Trail news? Sign up here.

Want to support the NC Oyster Trail? Become a friend.