North Carolina Highway 306

North Carolina Highway 306
Route of NC 306 in solid red; NC 306 ferries in dashed red
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length:	45.3 mi (72.9 km)
Existed:	1930 – present
Major junctions
South end:	NC 101 near Havelock
	NC 55 near Grantsboro
North end:	NC 92 / NC 99 in Gaylord
Location
Counties:	Craven, Pamlico, Beaufort
Highway system
North Carolina Highway System Interstate U.S. State Scenic ← NC 305 NC 307 →

North Carolina Highway 306 (NC 306) is a 45-mile-long (72 km) primary state highway in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The highway provides a link between Havelock, Minnesott Beach, and Grantsboro. The route is primarily rural, and uses two free ferry's to cross the Neuse and Pamlico River's before reaching NC 92/NC 99 near Gaylord.

NC 306 was established in 1932 as a new primary route running from Minnesott Beach to NC 302 in Grantsboro. The highway was extended north to NC 33 near Aurora in 1936. The highway remained unchanged until 1976, when the northern and southern termini of the highway were extended to their current location.

The highway's southern terminus is in Craven County, near Havelock. It follows Ferry Road north from its intersection with NC 101 for about five miles (8.0 km) before it encounters the Neuse River. On the banks of the river is the dock for a free ferry, which the highway utilizes to cross the river. Many locals use this ferry to commute to and from the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, which makes this particular crossing among the busiest in the state.

Once across the river, which serves as the county line for Pamlico County, the highway goes through the village of Minnesott Beach. The route goes due north through Pamlico County on the east bank of the river. In Grantsboro, it crosses NC 55 about halfway through the county before crossing into Beaufort County. Many from southern Craven and Carteret counties use this route to get to the popular destination of Oriental.