Reviews: Lamb's Marina

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Lamb's Marina

152 US Highway 158 W
Camden, NC 27921
AIWW, Dismal Swamp Canal, Pasquotank River MM 47.2

Lat / Lon: N 36° 19.350' / W 076° 10.667'
Hours: Daily
Contact: Larry and Georgia Lamb
Phone: (252) 202-4150; Dockage Information
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.lambsmarina.com

4.21

(19)

4.21 out of 5 stars

Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: Capt Maria Langer , Do It Now, on Mar 26, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 5

What a pleasant surprise! No, the place isn't fancy at all and the docks are a little tired, but there's great service from Randy and Larry, a sheltered basin with long term, liveaboard, and transient boaters, and a nice bathroom facility with the best shower on the Great Loop. Walking distance to a handful of restaurants, including a local catering place that sells prepared and fresh-made food. Reasonably priced fuel and propane on the premises. Dog friendly. I stayed here to wait out some weather and was not disappointed. You might prefer the free no-frills docks in Elizabeth City, but $35/night at Lamb's with electricity and clean bathrooms is a real deal. I recommend this place and would definitely stay again.

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: Angie Forte , Swamp Buggy, on Oct 1, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
Draft: 0.0'

Rating: 5

We stayed one night here on our way north. Larry was very helpful & friendly. The building that houses the laundry & bathrooms was nice. There is a nice sized lounge area with games, movies, fridge & microwave. The showers were clean with great water pressure. The restaurant here has closed down. We wouldn't hesitate to stay here again.

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: John Medlin on Jun 18, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

Agree it's a hidden gem & at $35 the best deal we have come across. We stayed 3 days.
A great place, small and personal. The owner, Larry, and the 'unoffical' dockhand, Randy, were very helpful. Larry twice loaned the marina truck for trips into town; Randy was willing to drop what he was doing to assist. The on-site restaurant, Lamb's Seafood had different specials daily. There is a Dollar General just down the street (1/4 mile). We dropped our dinghy and went crappie fishing in nearby creeks. Facilities -- laundries, showers, lounge -- were good. Restaurant staff, especially Ms. Carol, were very personable and starting next week will be open for breakfast @6:30.

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: Chris Ensing , Pau Hana, on May 1, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 31'
Draft: 3.4'

Rating: 4

The Owner and staff here are great and very accommodating. The docks aren't great but this is still a great stop and very affordable at $35 you can't beat it. They have a loaner truck and we used that to go into Elizabeth City. There is a Dollar General store across the street with a lot of items and Deli next to it.

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: Xiaolun Sun , Anodyne , on Nov 6, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 32'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 4

We only stopped by to top up the fuel tank, so cannot comment on the facilities. The staff was friendly. The price was reasonable. It seemed there wasn't much going on nearby.

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: Bill Kight , Cookie, on Jun 30, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 27'
Draft: 2.2'

Rating: 5

It has been said, but I'll repeat it: This place is a hidden gem. Transients are most times put on a wall, but vacant slips are sometimes used. The entry channel is narrow, but well marked and deep enough for most cruising boats. There are three shower/toilet suites and they are very nice. Nearby them are a small lounge and coin operated laundry. During my visit in late June 2022, the restaurant was being readied for opening. All of the liveaboards were friendly and accommodating. Power and water functioned normally. There are not a lot of nearby services and it's a few miles to Elizabeth City. A Dollar General is in walking distance, about 1/4 mile.

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: Teresa Scott , Vayu, on Jun 3, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Moved here from the college docks so we could plug in and have ac in the 90+ degree heat. Very nice people and extremely helpful getting us tied up for the night. We took their recommendation and had dinner at Track 1 across the road. Was great to get some good NC BBQ. The store was convenient to pick up a few things we needed before continuing on.
Bathrooms and showers available but we did not use them.

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: Jackie Spruill on May 31, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

What a great find. The guys on the docks were very friendly and helpful, the rates are considerably below what you'd expect to pay.

The facilities were more than adequate for our needs.

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: Craig & Rhonda Davis , Clarabelle, on Oct 23, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Lamb's Marina is a friendly marina! We spent 2 nights on our way south to wait for winds to calm in the Albermarle. Larry and Ed were very helpful as they met us at the dock to assist with lines. We visited both restaurants that were across the street: Track 1 (eat in or takeout) and Tidewater Catering (takeout only) and both were good "home style" cooking. There is a washer dryer on site ($1.50 wash, $1 dry). There are 3 very clean individual room restrooms that have a shower in each; including one disabled bathroom. There is some daytime road noise, but other than that, a nice quiet place to stay.

Business Response:
Thank you for taking the time to post your review. Also, thank you for supporting our local businesses. Please stop by again anytime you are traveling this part of the ICW! P.S. The restaurant you referred to as "Tidewater Catering" is actually named "Topside Catering and Deli".

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: Alex Tarlecky on Oct 22, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

What a find! Probably the best deal on the east coast for a marina slip. Was able to get our 42' cat onto a dock way inside. Excellent help tying up the boat. Really nice people! No pump-out that we know of but excellent 50 Amp service and quality water at the dock.

Business Response:
Thank you for your review. We appreciate the business and hope to see you again on your travels along the ICW.

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: Robert Hedrick , Morning Starr, on Oct 1, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Stayed August 31, 2021. Mr. Lamb met us at the dock, got us tied up and fueled, said if we needed anything he just lives up the road and to call him. $35 flat rate. Not fancy but nice. Was told it is in the process on being sold. Good stop for the Dismal Swamp, about 15 miles to South Mill Lock.

Business Response:
Thank you for the review and for visiting Lamb's Marina. We hope to see you again on your next trip though the ICW. P.S. Lamb's Marina is not in the process of being sold. Thank you for your interest in Lamb's Marina

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: David Merchberger , Slo Pace, on Jul 17, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.8'

Rating: 4

We came through in late April 2021 and had planned to stop at a dock in Elizabeth City, but the mayor declared a state of emergency due to protests following a recent police shooting had us change our plans at the last minute.

Fortunately, we found Lamb's Marina at the last minute and they were able to provide room along their wall.

As others have said, its not the fanciest marina you've even been to, but you'd be hard pressed to find a friendlier group of liveaboards.

The entrance looks a little tight, but follow the marks and stay mid channel, no problems in or out. Once in the basin, very protected and quiet.

Business Response:
Thank you for the review and for your interest in Lamb's Marina. We are glad you enjoyed your stay here and we hope you will stop again on your way through the ICW.

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: CJ , Destined Nomad, on May 25, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 27'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 4

Not the fanciest marina you will find...but some of the nicest, most friendly folks you will meet. The orginal plan was to just stop for fuel and then back to Elizabeth City for one of the free docks. I happended to mention that I needed to get to Walmart...4 miles out of Elizabeth City...to pick up a prescription. I was told that the marina had someone who could drive me and they arranged for one of the locals to haul me the 8 miles each way, I ended up staying the night for a very reasonable rate and had a great time. Not fancy, but everything you need. A Dollar General and a restaurant across the street.

Business Response:
Thank you for your review and for supporting our local businesses. Glad we could accommodate you during your stay. We hope to see you again on your travels through the ICW.

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: T Apol , Gingersnap, on Nov 13, 2020
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.5'

Rating: 3

Very nice on the phone when I called to inquire about services. We needed diesel, water, and pump out. The man who answered was very polite and helpful but Lamb's marina does not have pump out so we had to keep going, hoping to find that service else where. There was no pump out available in Elizabeth City in November 2020.

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: Mom With A Map , Light & Salty, on Jul 15, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Lambs Marina has several things going for it that make it a good stop.

First, it's the closest marina to The Dismal Swamp. If you are hoping to make the first lock opening, there really isn't a better place to stay. It also has a great rate for a marina (you can obviously stay for free at many of the Elizabeth City docks; however you wouldn't have access to water and electricity.)

Lambs Marina was quiet and safe. There is a great Mexican restaurant there with a little convenience store too. The local Enterprise will come pick you up at Lambs Marina if you choose to rent a car.

While Lambs Marina certainly isn't the nicest or newest, it's a quality place to spend a few nights.

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: Erik Strasel , Sea Cottage, on Jun 9, 2020
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 50'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Stayed the night before transiting Dismal Swamp. Quiet place, we definitely filled the transient slip. PVC pipes mark the entrance channel, longish fairway with turning basin all the way at the end next to the fuel docks. While narrow entrance and fairway looked daunting for our size, we had no trouble. The owner, Larry, volunteered to be at the pier to handle lines before dawn so that we could get an early start. Nice place.

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: J Fred on Jul 25, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Protected spot to stay after enduring the Alligator River & Albermale Sound; real laid back marina with fixed docks & fuel. Rested up before heading into the dismal swamp. Bill is the dockmaster and will take you anywhere you want to go. Dollar General & two restaurants with-in a 1/4 mile.

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: John Rockwell on Apr 25, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Well protected spot to start or end the Dismal Swamp route. Charming staff and low key marina. Diesel and non-ethanol gas.

Fixed pier, but no real tide, current or wind here, so it's an easy tie up. Good Wifi

Restaurant is closed, but one is across the street (more of less).

Price was right.

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Review for Lamb's Marina

Reviewed by: Dr. J , Kairos, on Mar 25, 2017
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 34'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 3

Stayed twice, fall 2014 and spring 2015. A few hundred yards up a narrow but well marked creek. Very friendly, inexpensive, very local marina with some liveaboards. Nice laundry facilities and showers in an air conditioned lounge trailer. Both gas and diesel. There's a convenience store and cafe-type restaurant on site, but nothing else for some distance. No other services but if you needed a mechanic I'm sure Mr. Lamb would be able to find you one.

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