Petrified Wood near Wilmington, NC
13 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Wilmington report petrified wood. The closest is Cumberland County, about 76 miles out (1 hr 35 min drive).
Petrified wood is ancient wood replaced cell by cell with silica. It concentrates where volcanic ash buried forests, and weathered pieces collect as float on desert slopes and in washes.
Map of 13 petrified wood collecting spots within 150 miles of Wilmington, North Carolina
Closest petrified wood spots to Wilmington
- Cumberland CountyCumberland County, North Carolina76 mi · 1 hr 35 min driveAgate, Chalcedony, Chert
- Cape Fear River and tributariesCumberland County, North Carolina80 mi · 1 hr 40 min driveAgate, Chalcedony, Chert
- DarlingtonFlorence County, South Carolina98 mi · 2 hr 3 min drivePetrified Wood
- BlenheimMarlboro County, South Carolina99 mi · 2 hr 4 min drivePetrified Wood
- Florence CountyFlorence County, South Carolina102 mi · 2 hr 8 min drivePetrified Wood
- Bellyache CreekDarlington County, South Carolina117 mi · 2 hr 26 min drivePetrified Wood
Types of petrified wood reported near Wilmington
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
Every petrified wood spot within 150 miles of Wilmington
Sorted by distance from Wilmington. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland CountyFreedom Lane | Cumberland County | 34.9592, -78.9394 | Public | |
| Cape Fear River and tributariesHijacked | Cumberland County | 35.1012, -78.8569 | Public | |
| Darlington | Florence County | 34.3054, -79.6589 | Public | |
| Blenheim | Marlboro County | 34.4421, -79.6618 | Public | |
| Florence CountyJeffords Road | Florence County | 34.0178, -79.7131 | Public | |
| Bellyache CreekWest Billy Farrow Highway | Darlington County | 34.3375, -79.9841 | Public | |
| EllberleNC 73 | Richmond County | 35.0963, -79.7697 | Public | |
| BethesdaJones Circle | Durham County | 35.9587, -78.8474 | Public | |
| Chapel HillBolin Creek Trail | Orange County | 35.9248, -79.0453 | Public | |
| Troy | Montgomery County | 35.3681, -79.8395 | Public | |
| Pee Dee River | Anson County | 35.1071, -80.0563 | Public | |
| Eno RiverFalls Lake Trail | Durham County | 36.0719, -78.8576 | Public | |
| Halifax CountyNC 481 | Halifax County | 36.2199, -77.5764 | Public |
Petrified Wood near Wilmington FAQ
Where can I find petrified wood near Wilmington?+
13 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Wilmington report petrified wood. The closest is Cumberland County in Cumberland County, roughly 76 miles away (1 hr 35 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect petrified wood on public land near Wilmington?+
13 of the 13 spots here sit on land mapped as publicly accessible. Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed on most BLM and Forest Service land with limits set by the local field office; national parks and most state parks are closed to collecting. Confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
How can I tell petrified wood from plain rock?+
Look for wood structure: parallel grain lines, growth rings on cut ends, and bark texture on the outside. Petrified palm shows a distinctive rod-and-dot pattern instead of rings. Plain jasper and chert show none of these, even when the color looks woody.
How far from Wilmington do I need to drive?+
The nearest petrified wood spot is about 76 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 139 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Wilmington
Petrified Wood near other cities
Hunt petrified wood around Wilmington with the map in your pocket
RockHoundR shows these spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, weather, and a log for your finds.
