Explore Forest, North Carolina, with this interactive street and satellite map.
This page also offers TOPO MAPS — the official USGS topographic sheets — plus USGS aerial imagery, a labelled USNG grid overlay, a distance and bearing tool, and a GPS grid-reference readout. See How to Use This Map below.
This interactive map shows the street layout and satellite imagery for Forest, North Carolina. Use the Map and Satellite buttons above to switch between street map and aerial imagery views. Use the + and − buttons to zoom in or out, or scroll your mouse wheel while holding the Control key to zoom. On a touchscreen, use a two-finger pinch gesture. Drag the map to pan to any area of North Carolina or beyond.
Click ⛶ Fullscreen to expand the map to fill your screen. To return to the normal page view, press the Escape key, click the ✕ Exit Fullscreen button that appears above the map, or on a mobile device tap the back button (Android) or the close icon (iOS).
TOPO MAPS — NEW. Click the green 🔍 Search Maps button below the map to open a second map with a Base map row offering three choices. OSM is the standard OpenStreetMap street map. Topo shows the official USGS topographic maps from The National Map — contours, hydrography, land cover and shaded relief, the same mapping used for hiking, hunting and back-country navigation in the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Finger Lakes. Imagery shows USGS aerial photography, mostly 1-metre NAIP. The search box finds any US town, county or landmark by name, so you are not limited to Forest.
Reading the map like a paper quad. Click Grid to overlay the U.S. National Grid (USNG), labelled along the edges exactly as a printed topographic sheet is — at normal zoom the squares are one kilometre across, so you can read a six-figure grid reference by eye and judge distance directly off the map. Click Measure, then tap two points, to get the distance between them together with the grid bearing in degrees and mils, the true bearing, and the magnetic bearing to set on a compass.
Click 📍 My position to take a single GPS reading from your device. It marks where you are and reports your position as a USNG grid reference as well as plain latitude and longitude — USNG being the format FEMA and US search and rescue teams work from — with a Copy position button so you can paste it straight into a text message. It takes one reading and stops, rather than tracking continuously, to conserve your battery. Note that map tiles need cell coverage, but a GPS reading does not — your coordinates stay correct even where the map itself cannot load.
| City | Forest |
| State | North Carolina (NC) |
| County | Craven County |
| Country | United States of America |
| Timezone | Eastern Time (America/New_York) |
| Latitude | 35.161549 |
| Longitude | -77.04717 |
| Population | 7,377 |
| Density | N/A /km² |
| Incorporated | N/A |
| ZIP Codes | 28560, 28519 |
| Area Code | 910 |
| County Seat | New Bern |
Forest defines its rugged character through the winding path of the Mills Branch that cuts through the landscape with a quiet, persistent energy. It lies 3.7 miles north of New Bern, NC (from New Bern, NC: bearing 357°T), and is situated 5.1 miles north of James City. The surrounding terrain is shaped by a distinct coastal proximity, where the salt-heavy air drifts inland from the nearby open coastline to temper the heat of the afternoon. Only two miles away, the dark, still waters of Shad Cove mirror the shifting clouds, while the verdant expanse of the Neuse River Game Land provides a sanctuary for wildlife just a short walk from the center. To the west, the land rises slightly toward the distant, rolling edges of Deep Gully, offering a subtle contrast to the flat, marshy reaches that define the eastern horizon. Travelers often pause along the Duffy Trail to observe how the light catches the reeds near Marsh Island, turning the water into a sheet of hammered silver at dusk.
History in Forest remains anchored to the traditional industries of the region, where the steady output of tobacco and textile production once built the foundations of the local economy. Hard-working generations translated the bounty of the soil into a resilient commercial spirit, adapting their trade to meet the changing demands of a modern marketplace. The labor of the past still resonates in the quiet brick facades that line the main thoroughfare, reminding residents of the grit required to sustain a livelihood in this corner of the state. Those seeking a respite from the workaday world often retreat to the banks of Cypress Lake, where the stillness of the water suggests a pace of life that values reflection over haste. Even as new industry takes root, the town maintains a steady, deliberate rhythm that honors the craft and perseverance of those who came before.
Cultural life in Forest expresses itself through a deep appreciation for the Southern ballad tradition and the communal bonds forged over shared meals. Neighbors frequently gather to celebrate the distinctive regional approach to barbecue, a culinary heritage that defines the flavors of the local table with authentic precision. While the pace of daily existence remains modest, the pride of the people is reflected in the maintenance of local landmarks that serve as quiet gathering points for the community. Visitors might encounter the legacy of figures like the legendary NASCAR driver Junior Johnson, whose influence on the competitive spirit of the region remains a point of intense pride for many. Whether through the seasonal festivals that mark the passage of time or the simple act of greeting a passerby on the street, the character of Forest is found in its enduring hospitality.
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This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Forest, North Carolina. Coordinates: 35.161549, -77.04717. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service. Real-time local and world news feeds keep the page current.
Detailed location data for Forest includes the ZIP code (28560, 28519), telephone area code (910), county seat of Craven County (New Bern), and school district assignment.
Search Maps opens a second, independent map. It searches OpenStreetMap for any US town, county or landmark by name; offers USGS topographic maps and USGS aerial imagery as base layers; overlays a labelled U.S. National Grid (USNG) so the map can be read like a printed topographic quad; measures distance and grid, true and magnetic bearings between any two points; and takes a single GPS fix reporting your position as a USNG grid reference and as latitude and longitude. Map tiles require cell coverage, but a GPS position does not, so the coordinates remain correct even where the map cannot load.
Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.
| Page generated | September 2026 |
| Location data | SimpleMaps US Cities Database; coordinates matched to USGS GNIS definitive data |
| Map layers | Google Maps; © OpenStreetMap contributors; USGS The National Map topographic and aerial imagery (public domain); magnetic declination from NOAA NCEI (World Magnetic Model) |
| Wikipedia validation | Article content matched to USGS GNIS coordinates via Wikipedia geosearch API. |