LOCATION

Cherry Point is located midway between New Bern and Morehead City, N.C. The main gate is off North Carolina Highway 101, which connects with U.S. Highway 70 adjacent to the city of Havelock. On a large scale map, Cherry Point can be pinpointed about 90 miles west-southwest of Cape Hatteras on the Neuse River in Craven County.

The area enjoys a temperate climate with relatively mild winters, hot and humid summers, and precipitation throughout the year. The average annual rainfall is over 50 inches, and snow, although rare, does visit the area occasionally. Topography is relatively flat, approximately 27 feet above sea level.

GETTING HERE

Means of commercial transportation into the area are:

By Air: The closest commercial airport to Cherry Point is Craven County Regional Airport (EWN), in New Bern. Approximately 20 miles from the air station, it is serviced by U.S. Airways Express and Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines, with up to 10 daily non-stop flights to Atlanta, Charlotte and Philadelphia (starting June 2, 2008) with one-stop connections to more than 300 destinations worldwide. Taxicab service and car rentals are available.

By Bus: Cherry Point is served by Carolina Trailways. The nearest bus stop is located at 504 Guion Street in New Bern, N.C., approximately 20 miles from the air station. Tickets are not sold at this location. You may get tickets by mail for trips departing from New Bern if you buy at least 10 mailing days in advance. Tickets by mail may be purchased through Ticket Center on Greyhound.com or by calling our Telephone Information Center at 1-800-231-2222.

CHECKING IN

The majority of service members come here for permanent duty. However, a sizable number also report for temporary duty to the many schools offered at Cherry Point, as well as visiting teams and organizations.

If you’re reporting aboard, you’ll first go to the Welcome Center, Bldg. 251, at the main gate, where you will get your orders endorsed. The Welcome Center is always open. From there, if you are a Marine, you will go to the Joint Reception Center – during regular working hours – at building 298 (on the wing facing the chapel) for further processing. After regular working hours, unless you already have other billeting arrangements, you may report to the Temporary Enlisted Quarters and Temporary Officers Quarters. Both the TEQ and TOQ are open 24 hours a day.

Sailors new to the base will also go to the Welcome Center first, but from there will report directly to their assigned units.

For those who choose to stay on the base while they check in, the TEQ offers very reasonable rates. Normally, officers will be furnished quarters at the BOQ, while staff NCOs and enlisted Marines and sailors will be billeted at the TEQ. New-joins may share a room for $5 a day until assigned to a barracks. The TEQ has family rooms available at a charge of $20 per day if the member is on TAD orders and $25 for non-TAD. Room reservations are suggested, and a minimal room charge is assessed. Reservations may be made by calling (252) 466-3060. Officers desiring temporary lodging should call the TOQ at (252) 466-5169.

VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION

If you live, work or frequently use the facilities aboard the air station, your privately owned vehicle must be registered properly at the Pass and Identification Office, building 251, located at the main gate. At the time of registration, you will receive the appropriate decal.

Registration will require:
• A valid active duty, retired, dependent or civilian
ID card.
• Evidence of vehicle ownership and registration
certificate.
• A valid state driver’s license.
• A valid safety inspection sticker.
• Proof of insurance meeting North Carolina minimum
insurance levels for personal liability, per accident
coverage, and for property damage liability.
• (Military drivers 26 years old and under) Certificate of
completion of a military safe driving course.
• (Motorcycle and moped drivers) Certificate of
completion of a motorcycle operators course.

The Pass and ID Office hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., except for holidays. Temporary and one-day visitor passes are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Air station speed limits: The station speed limit is 20 to 45 mph where posted. All government housing areas have a 15-20 mph speed limit, and parking lots have a 10 mph speed limit. When approaching or passing columns of troops in formation or other pedestrians on the road, the speed limit is 10 mph.

Seat belts: Wear them! It’s a DOD regulation and North Carolina law that seat belts will be worn in government and civilian vehicles on or off the air station by all vehicle occupants.

Bicycles: When you ride a bicycle on base, you must wear a certified bicycle helmet at all times. Although bikes are permitted on most areas of the base, they are restricted from Roosevelt Blvd., which runs from the main gate through the base and into officer housing. Sidewalks and the Roosevelt bicycle path must be used along this road.

Firearms registration: All firearms introduced aboard the installation must be registered. If you live on base, you must register any firearm you own at the Pass and ID Office. Firearms cannot be kept in the BEQ; however, they may be stored in your unit’s armory. Residents in other government housing may keep their registered firearms within their homes. SNCOs and officers living in the SNCO or Officer Transient Quarters/BEQ/BOQ may store properly registered weapons in their rooms.

Learn More at these Helpful Websites:

Airport: www.newbernairport.com
Vehicle Registration & Information: www.cherrypoint.usmc.mil/PMO/default.asp