Education and Events: Regularly scheduled education and interpretive programs about Fort Macon State Park are held from April 15 to October 30. Please use the 'Events' link on the menu to the left to search our database of park events.

To arrange a special exploration of Fort Macon State Park for your group or class, contact the park office.

Educational materials about Fort Macon State Park have been developed for grades 6-8 and are correlated to North Carolina's competency-based curriculum in science, social studies, mathematics and English/language arts. The Fort Macon program introduces students to the geologic process of barrier island movement and to the plants and animals that thrive in this shifting environment. Accompanying the program is a teacher's booklet and workshop, free of charge to educators. To learn more about environmental education or to search our database of upcoming workshops, please click the Education Tab, above.

Exhibits and Fort Tour: Explore the history of Fort Macon State Park in the for museum room located in the fort casemates. Exhibits and displays acquaint you with the fort's history, and restored quarters offer a look into the lives of officers and soldiers.

Admire the fort's powder magazines, counterfire rooms with cannon emplacements and wide moat that could be flooded to protect the fort during a siege. The fort features several original and replica cannons, a restored Hot Shot Furnace and Restored Bake Oven.

Join a guided tour of the fort or conduct your own following the guide available at the bookstore. The fort is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and closed Christmas Day. Historic reenactments are often held on the fort's inner court or parade ground.

Fishing: Fishing may be enjoyed at the park throughout the year. There is a variety of fish inhabiting the surf and inlet waters depending on the season.

Spring: Fishing starts slow but will improve as the water warms with catches of flounder, bluefish, red drum and various other species that return this time of year.
Summer: Fishing this time of year is usually a mixed bag of black drum, spot, flounder, bluefish, pompano, red drum and sea mullet.
Fall: Fall is the time when surf anglers enjoy runs of sea mullet (whiting), pompano, spot, gray trout, red drum, bluefish, black drum and various other species.
Winter: Fishing becomes tougher as the water cools. Determined anglers can target speckled trout and redfish in the surf. This time of year also has good numbers of dogfish.

Hiking: Fort Macon has over 1.5 miles of ocean beach for hiking. As you walk along the beach you may see one of the 302 different species of birds found in the park or experience the thrill of watching Dolphins playing in the ocean.

Picnicking: Picnic facilities in the park include outdoor grills, drinking water, picnic tables, shelters and restrooms. Trash containers are centrally located. The restrooms, located close to the picnic tables, are closed from November 15 until March 15.

Swimming: Fort Macon's beach is a popular source of recreation. From June through Labor Day, a seaside bathhouse and refreshment stand are open, and lifeguards are on duty from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Because of strong water currents, visitors are encouraged to swim only in the protected area. Surfing is not allowed in the protected swimming area. Wading, swimming and surfing are not allowed on the inlet beaches.

Education and Events	Picnicking
Exhibits and Fort Tour	Swimming
Fishing
Hiking