Aurora Fossil Museum
The Aurora Fossil Museum is a natural science museum in Aurora, North Carolina. Add Tryon Palace, 20 mi away, to a visit. For mild weather, aim for March, April, May, September, October and November (65–83°F highs).
A museum inside Aurora
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is Oriental, 20 miles south. Where to stay ↓
Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct and Nov
March, April, May, September, October and November are the mild months, with highs of 65–83°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures and Wikipedia.
A month-by-month look
The months below show the weather around Aurora Fossil Museum.
Aurora Fossil Museum
The Aurora Fossil Museum is a natural science museum in Aurora, North Carolina. The museum's collection is built around fossils recovered from the nearby phosphate mine, but also includes fossil specimens donated from around the world as well as geology and meteorite displays. Fossils from the local mine are approximately 22 to 2.5 million years old, coming from layers in the mine traced to the early Miocene and Pliocene eras in the Pungo River and Yorktown formations. The museum also maintains 2 fossil pits in its Fossil Park, located across the street. The pits are filled with mine tailings, where small shells, coral, shark teeth, and other fossils are relatively easy to find. The pits are open during daylight hours daily.
- Type
- Museum
- Wikipedia readers
- 1.1K a year
Towns to stay in near Aurora Fossil Museum
The closest lodging is in New Bern (20) and Washington (16).
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Aurora Fossil Museum | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora | in town | — | — | 454 | $87K | — |
| New Bern | 22 mi southwest | 35 min | 20 13 hotels · 1 motel · 6 inns & B&Bs | 34,724 | $240K | C |
| Washington | 23 mi northwest | 35 min | 16 10 hotels · 1 motel · 5 inns & B&Bs | 9,910 | $207K | D |
| Vandemere | 11 mi southeast | 15 min | 3 2 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 197 | $108K | — |
| Oriental 22% vacation homes | 20 mi south | 30 min | 8 2 hotels · 4 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 RV park | 909 | $423K | — |
| Bridgeton | 18 mi southwest | 25 min | 4 3 hotels · 1 RV park | 345 | $166K | — |
| Havelock | 28 mi south | 40 min | 12 8 hotels · 2 motels · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 RV park | 17,430 | $208K | C+ |
| Belhaven | 19 mi northeast | 30 min | 3 1 hotel · 2 inns & B&Bs | 1,414 | $103K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
More to see nearby
These lie within 51 miles as the crow flies.
Big draw43 mi Ancient siteQueen Anne's Revenge
120 mi MuseumTryon Palace
43 mi State parkFort Macon State Park
45 mi MuseumCSS Neuse
49 mi LighthouseCape Lookout Lighthouse
50 mi National SeashoreCape Lookout National Seashore513K visitors a year
220 mi TheatreMasonic Temple and Theater
41 mi MuseumNorth Carolina Maritime MuseumPhoto credits
Queen Anne's Revenge: Joseph Nicholls, Public domain · Tryon Palace: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · Fort Macon State Park: Kevinbercaw, CC BY-SA 3.0 · CSS Neuse: Katyrw, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cape Lookout Lighthouse: United States Coast Guard, Public domain · Cape Lookout National Seashore: Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY 3.0 · Masonic Temple and Theater: Archie A. Biggs, Photographer, Public domain · North Carolina Maritime Museum: Kd5463, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Know before you visit Aurora Fossil Museum
Is Aurora Fossil Museum in Aurora?
Yes. It’s inside Aurora, NC.
When is the best time to visit Aurora Fossil Museum?
March, April, May, September, October and November, with highs of 65–83°.
What is the closest airport to Aurora Fossil Museum?
Coastal Carolina Regional (EWN), about 22 miles away. The nearest big hub is Norfolk (ORF), about 115 miles.
Where should I stay near Aurora Fossil Museum?
New Bern (22 mi, 20 places to stay), Washington (23 mi, 16 places to stay) and Vandemere (11 mi, 3 places to stay).
Word from Aurora
Tips will appear here once someone posts in Aurora’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.