Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center

Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center Howell Woods, operated by JCC, is a large conservation area focusing on education and recreation. Open to hikers daily, sun-up to sun-down.

Make the 10 mile trip from exit 90 off of I-95 to find the beautiful oasis that is Howell Woods. We are 5 miles from Bentonville Battlegrounds; just a short 15 minutes from Johnston Community College, and 20 minutes from downtown Smithfield. Upon arrival, venture up to our learning center to observe the songbirds and frogs found just outside the porch. As you step inside the building, you'll find

our classroom, where we hold a variety of programs, and the reptile room, where we house native species of snakes (venomous and non-venomous), turtles, frogs and lizards. Exit through the back door to find our birds of prey exhibits featuring vultures, hawks and owls. Lastly, check out our wildflower garden before getting back in touch with nature on our Diversity Trail System. Take advantage of our diverse scene: jog down one of our nature trails, kayak the Neuse River, cast a line into one of our ponds or take part in our hunting activities. There's so much to do here, be sure to rent a cabin for the weekend so you can squeeze it all in! The learning center is open Monday - Thursday 8am-4pm. Friday and Saturday hours vary throughout the year, based on programming and staff. Please contact us with any questions on our hours, programs, reservations, or activities.

Calling all glampers!  Whether you're hoping to camp with amenities, or just want a rustic getaway with friends and fami...
05/11/2026

Calling all glampers! Whether you're hoping to camp with amenities, or just want a rustic getaway with friends and family, Howell Woods is your place! All of our cabins are duplex, bunk style with a shared living/dining space. Our two smaller cabins sleep 8 people total, and our larger (ADA accessible) cabin sleeps 16. Take a peek inside!

Interested in booking or getting more information?
Call (919-938-0115) or email us ([email protected])! We also have an online reservation form (https://johnstoncc-14288.page451.sites.451.io/).

Did you know we had merch? Here are some of the items we have for sale in our store. Next time you come to visit, stop b...
05/05/2026

Did you know we had merch? Here are some of the items we have for sale in our store. Next time you come to visit, stop by and pick up a hat or shirt to represent Howell Woods!

05/02/2026

🌧️🌧️🌧️

It’s cold and rainy, but don’t let that put a damper on the fun! Come see us, and all the other awesome vendors, at Ham ...
05/02/2026

It’s cold and rainy, but don’t let that put a damper on the fun! Come see us, and all the other awesome vendors, at Ham and Yam today until 6pm! 🐷🍠

Howell Woods will be out at the Smithfield Ham and Yam Festival again this year. So don't let the rain put a damper on y...
04/30/2026

Howell Woods will be out at the Smithfield Ham and Yam Festival again this year. So don't let the rain put a damper on your plans. Come out and see us this Saturday from 8am to 6pm.

Many of us already know Howell Woods ELC is a special place, but there are lots of  people that still don't know who we ...
04/22/2026

Many of us already know Howell Woods ELC is a special place, but there are lots of people that still don't know who we are. We had the opportunity last week to be recognized during the exhibitor hour of the North Carolina Community Colleges Awards Celebration. We, along with our friends at , got to showcase our unique NC businesses with legislators and college board members. Howell Woods has a chance to be featured again in a couple weeks at the NC Community College Day. We want to share our hidden gem with everyone who loves nature and the outdoors. So, if you haven't come to see us yet, this is your sign. We look forward to meeting you!

We had a great weekend celebrating Earth Month with ! We got to host everyone at our site for some gardening tips, trick...
04/20/2026

We had a great weekend celebrating Earth Month with ! We got to host everyone at our site for some gardening tips, tricks, and fun. Then we got to hang out with our friends for their event. But the fun isn’t over. There are many other events happening this month. Check out the ncscifest.org website!

There is still time to come find us at Sylvan Heights Bird Park! We are having a great time celebrating Earth Day. We wi...
04/18/2026

There is still time to come find us at Sylvan Heights Bird Park! We are having a great time celebrating Earth Day. We will be here until 2pm!

Come check us out at Sylvan Heights Bird Park today for their Earth Day event!
04/18/2026

Come check us out at Sylvan Heights Bird Park today for their Earth Day event!

Address

6601 Devils Racetrack Road
Four Oaks, NC
27524

Telephone

+19199380115

Website

https://events.johnstoncc.edu/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share