Moving Guides|North Carolina|Chapel Hill|Neighborhoods|Lake Forest
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Rachael Riner
North Carolina Local Expert

Last Modified: January 13, 2026

Lake Forest map

Lake Forest Neighborhood Overview

Eastwood Lake, Kayaks, Mid-Century Zen

13of 24 Chapel Hill Neighborhoods

🧭Generally defined as the area: north by Pinehurst Drive and Lake Forest Drive, west by East Franklin Street and Eastgate, south by Elliott Road and Fordham Blvd, east by Eastwood Lake and the Booker Creek floodplain

📌Best known for: canoes on car roofs and spontaneous sunset flotillas

👕You can spot a Lake Forest local by: all-wheel-drive rides and eternally damp deck shoes

👍Move here for: shade trees, Eastgate errands, whisper-quiet nights

👎Be prepared for: geese-ruled sidewalks, obnoxious mosquitoes, tomato-stealing deer

✨The overall feel is: woodsy lakeside calm with convenience

lunchtime kayakers and sunset photographers

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Moving to Lake Forest - Make Sense Of Your Next Move

Whether you're new to Chapel Hill or deciding which part of the city fits you best, Snappy Scout cuts through the noise and shows you what living here is really like. If you're still finding your way, start with our Moving to Chapel Hill guide for the big-picture view — or compare Lake Forest against other parts of the city in our Chapel Hill neighborhood guide.