Brices Creek feels remote but is just a short drive from New Bern
Brices Creek is a quiet, rural suburb of New Bern, which serves as the county seat. The community is separated from New Bern and Trent Woods by the Trent River, giving the area a secluded, out-of-the-way feel. Local history stretches all the way back to the colonial period when the area was almost entirely owned by settler William Brice, who used the land for agriculture. While farming is still a major industry in Brices Creek, the appearance of large subdivisions in the northeastern part of the community has given the area more of a suburban feel. “It’s a great place if you want to be close to town but feel like you’re out in the woods,” says Realtor Denis Vary of Team Vary Real Estate Group, who has worked in the area for nearly 20 years. “You’ve got the woods and the river, but if you want to get to New Bern it’s less than 10 minutes away.”
Modern subdivisions in the woods and along the river
The majority of Brices Creek’s homes exist in subdivisions built in the last 40 years—many of them in the last 15. Contemporary 2-story properties are common and mostly offer between 1,500 and 3,000 square feet. “It’s got a lot of nice, modern houses,” says Vary. “And you generally get a little more space compared to homes in the city proper.” A significant part of the community is heavily wooded, and many homes back up onto small local forests. There are also a limited number of luxury homes along the Trent River, most of which feature private docks. Most homes in the area sell for between $350,000 and $650,000, though waterfront homes are more likely to go for $800,000 to $1.2 million.
Trent River boating and Croatan National Forest hiking
Recreation in Brices Creek centers around the local waterways. Both the Trent River and the community’s namesake creek are popular fishing and boating spots. There aren’t really any public green spaces in Brices Creek, but there are a number of them nearby. Creekside Park is just a few miles away in James City and has a modern playground and soccer fields. The private Taberna Country Club and New Bern Civil War Park can be found just south of Creekside. Croatan National Forest covers much of the land south of Brices Creek and is home to hiking trails and fishing lakes. The forest’s Island Creek trail is less than 5 miles from the community and is popular with birders.
Easy access to retail in James City and New Bern
Nearly all of Brices Creek’s land is either residential or agricultural. Most residents both work and do their shopping in New Bern, which is just 6 miles away by car. The nearest shops and restaurants are even closer than that and can be found along U.S. Route 70 in neighboring James City. It’s less than 5 miles from Brices Creek to the James City Food Lion supermarket. A selection of highly rated bars and restaurants can be found near the Food Lion, including Beartown Bistro & Pizza Company and BrÜtopia Brewing Company.
Craven County public schools
The public schools serving the neighborhood are part of Craven County Schools, which has a B-plus grade on Niche. Brinson Memorial Elementary and Fields Middle School also have B-plus ratings. New Bern High School has a B and is known for its strong football team, which has won three 4A state championships, most recently in 2023.
New Bern's annual Mumfest draws crowds
Most major events in the area take place in New Bern, including the local July 4th celebration, the Christmas Parade, summer movies in the park and other seasonal events. Mumfest is the largest annual festival in the area and sees much of downtown New Bern decked out in the chrysanthemums that give the festival its name.
Close to Coastal Carolina Regional Airport
Brices Creek Road is the major local thoroughfare, connecting the community to James City and U.S. Route 70 to the north, and County Line Road to the south. There currently aren’t any regular public transportation services in Brices Creek, so most residents depend on cars to get around. The community is located just to the west of the Coastal Carolina Regional Airport—flight noise is noticeable in some areas—which offers direct routes to Charlotte, Orlando and Hartford.
