Where to Go on an Epic North Carolina Road Trip

I had a few last-minute opportunities for North Carolina road trips before we moved away from the East Coast. Visiting three times in a span of five months made me realize what we’d been missing over the last 5 years (living in Virginia) as North Carolina neighbors. It’s not that we didn’t visit the state, but I wish we had spent more time there. There’s just so much to see and do!

Have you been wondering where to go on a North Carolina road trip? The “girls” trip that I took gave me a great taste of a wide variety of North Carolina’s gorgeous destinations. Have you ever thought about traveling in the Tar Heel State? You’ll be amazed at the diversity of landscapes and cultures. From the beaches of the Outer Banks to the Blue Ridge Mountains, you’ll find beauty in every corner.

Two of the four ladies in our group flew into Norfolk International Airport (near Virginia Beach) in the southeastern corner of Virginia. That’s the closest airport to the Outer Banks Barrier Islands in North Carolina, so that was our starting point. The drive from Norfolk to the Outer Banks is at least 2 hours and could be more on a holiday weekend or in the summer peak season.

Ultimate 8-Day North Carolina Road Trip Itinerary

The map below starts in the Outer Banks and continues around the state, ending in Charlotte, North Carolina. Each day is a different color and each suggested stop is numbered within each day. If you click on the number, a window will pop up with more details about that destination. You can zoom in and out on the map to see the route. Have fun exploring the itinerary!

• Fly into Norfolk International Airport (ORF), Virginia
• Outer Banks, NC – 1 1/2 days
• Raleigh, NC – 1/2 day
• Hickory, NC – 1/2 day
• Asheville, NC – 2 days
• Lake Lure area, NC – 1 day
• Charlotte – 2 days
• Charlotte Airport – Fly out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

Click on Each Map Number for Destination Links and Details

Of course, no matter how long you spend in one place, it’s never enough time, but I felt like we got a good sampling of the different regions on our North Carolina road trip. This is just a quick peek into what you can do in 8 days. Plan for longer if you can.

Coastal Islands of the Outer Banks

One of the highlights of our North Carolina road trip was our first stop in the northeast corner of the state in the Outer Banks. We booked a 4-wheel drive tour to see the Corolla wild Mustangs on the beaches of the Outer Banks. We chose a 2-hour Corolla Wild Horse Tour in the morning with our guide, Nathan from Back Country Safari Tours and we loved it! This harem of horses (pictured above) welcomed a new foal just a few weeks before. Isn’t she adorable?

The weather was perfect to climb to the top of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse too. When we got to the lighthouse there was a group of firefighters in full gear coming down from their climb to the top. It’s something they do each week for training. Wow!

The Outer Banks in North Carolina is a place you could spend much more time. These coastal towns like Corolla, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, and other nearby areas are filled with unique places to go and things to do. I’ve had good success with VRBO when booking summer vacation rental homes in the Outer Banks. Check out my post on “10 Best Places to See Outer Banks Wildlife” for more about this magical North Carolina beachfront community. You’ll be amazed at what you can see there.

Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh was just an overnight stopover on this North Carolina road trip but if you decide to spend more time there check out the Historic Downtown Walking Tours, and the Carousel at Pullen Park. If you love craft beer you can book a Craft Beer Tasting Tour or find a designated driver to follow the Raleigh Beer Trail.

Gold Hill, North Carolina

In the central part of the state, you’ll find the quaint village of Gold Hill, a 19th-century gold mining town with historic log cabins, antique shops, a U-pick flower farm, a winery, and live bluegrass music on Friday nights. Call ahead to reserve a guided walking tour or pick up a self-guided map at the Montgomery Store to learn about the North Carolina Gold Rush of the 1840s.

Hickory, North Carolina

Our gorgeous North Carolina road trip weather allowed us to stop for a casual alfresco lunch at Hatch Sandwich Bar in downtown Hickory. The town has a welcoming pedestrian walkway with shops, restaurants, and a farmers market twice a week. One of the two remaining covered bridges in North Carolina is also nearby. Visit Bunker Hill Covered Bridge in Claremont if you have a chance.

North Carolina is known as the furniture capital of the world and Hickory is near the epicenter. If you’re in the market for new furniture or home accessories plan to stop at the 4-story Hickory Furniture Mart. You’ll find everything imaginable to furnish the inside or outside of your home and they’ll ship it to your house too!

Things to do in Asheville

Our North Carolina road trip took us nearly 500 miles (805 km) from the Outer Banks to the Blue Ridge Mountain town of Asheville. There’s a world of difference between the two ends of the state. The terrain rises from sea level in the Outer Banks to over 2000 feet (610 meters) above sea level in Asheville. The highest peak in the state is nearby Mount Mitchell at 6684 ft (2037 m) in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Be sure to include the Biltmore Estate near Asheville in your North Carolina road trip itinerary for at least one glorious day. This Gilded Age mansion was completed by the wealthy Vanderbilt family in 1895. It’s preserved as a National Historic Landmark and is famous as “America’s Largest Home” at about 175,000 square feet [16,250 sq meters]. Crazy, right? If you have an interest in seeing other Gilded Age mansions you can read about the Newport Rhode Island mansions here.

Best Time to Visit the Biltmore Estate

I’ve had the chance to visit the Estate in November (image above), but this time it was in May when the gardens were in bloom. Biltmore Estate in North Carolina is a perfect stop in every season.

Did you know that you can stay overnight on the Biltmore Estate property? The highly-rated luxury “Inn on Biltmore Estate” is the perfect place to pamper yourself after your time wandering the opulent mansion, and spectacular gardens.

One of the treats on this North Carolina road trip was dinner at Salsa’s restaurant in Asheville. We read so many glowing reviews of this tiny Mexican/Caribbean restaurant in sources like “Southern Living” and the “New York Times” that we were willing to wait in line to get into the tiny dining room before they opened for dinner. They also have a small patio area for when the weather is nice. As expected, the food did not disappoint. Every meal had generous portions and unique and complex Latin flavors. We were happy with our choice. Salsa’s is open for lunch and dinner but closed a few hours in between. They’re also closed on Tuesdays, so plan accordingly.

Blue Ridge Parkway National Park

While in Asheville we went on a scenic drive through a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a National Park that straddles the states of North Carolina and Virginia. Be sure to stop at the Folk Art Center on the Parkway where you can shop for one-of-a-kind souvenirs and gifts. They’re crafted by over 400 artists and craftspeople of Southern Appalachia who are members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild.

Our gang also made a stop at Mount Mitchell State Park to take in the mountain-top views. We were shocked to see a heavy layer of frost on the treetops in May. We also stopped at the local farmers’ market to stock up on fresh fruit, snacks, and other supplies while we hung out in Asheville.

Places to Stay near Asheville, NC

Asheville lodging can sometimes be a bit pricey. If you’re trying to stick with a budget on your North Carolina road trip consider staying about 20 minutes from Asheville in the nearby small town of Black Mountain. We did and we loved catching up on life in our comfortable vacation rental home. Another great place to stay near Asheville is about 30 minutes away in Hendersonville, NC. This little gem has a nice walkable Main Street and hosts fun events throughout the year.

Lake Lure and Chimney Rock, NC

Consider making a stop on the way from Asheville to Charlotte at Chimney Rock State Park to take in the stunning views from its namesake 315-foot-high rock formation. Every season highlights up to 75 miles of beauty in every direction. And if you’re not up to hiking to the top you can take an elevator most of the way.

Nearby Lake Lure was established in 1927 as a vacation spot and is still hosting summer fun. You’ll want to take a dip in the lake, do some kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding or book a guided tour to see all the sites where the classic movie “Dirty Dancing” was filmed. Even if you haven’t seen the movie you may remember the iconic scene where Patrick Swayze lifts Jennifer Gray over his head while they’re standing in the lake. It was filmed right here.

The Largest City in the State, Charlotte, NC

The only time I spent in Charlotte, the Queen City, before this trip was on layovers in the airport, so needless to say I didn’t really know what to expect. Let me start by saying that if you love music, art, or great food and beverage you’ll want to add Charlotte to your must-see list.

We had so much fun exploring the whimsical literature-themed Uptown pocket park called “The Green“. The Charlotte Liberty Walk, a self-guided walking tour, shed light on the city’s involvement in America’s Revolutionary War. We also explored the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. Literally everywhere we turned we saw street art murals, sculptures, and art museums.

One day we grabbed lunch at Optimist Hall and followed a self-guided Art Walk to see a dozen or so street art murals. You may want to visit the Nascar Hall of Fame or the U.S. National Whitewater Center if you’re looking for an adrenalin rush.

More fun Things to Do in Charlotte

Great Places to Stay in Charlotte NC

There are gorgeous hotels all around town, but our adorable craftsman bungalow was the perfect place for the four of us to have privacy with separate bedrooms and a way to save money on food with the full kitchen. We loved relaxing in the rocking chairs on the front porch at the end of each day. You can find beautiful vacation rentals with lakeside views or more like this one close to Uptown Charlotte at VRBO.

Search for hotels and other lodging options on your travel dates at Booking.com below.

On the last day of our trip, the other three women flew out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport and I hit the road for the five-and-a-half-hour drive home.

Come Back for More on my North Carolina Road Trip

The crazy thing is that as soon as I got home from the girls’ trip, I headed back to the Outer Banks for a long weekend with my husband. We celebrated Terry’s birthday and I had a chance to dig even deeper into this beautiful place that’s been hiding in plain sight just down the road from us.

The Best Places to See Wildlife in the Outer Banks, NC here.

There’s so much more to share about North Carolina…but I’ll just say that we saw an alligator on our kayak tour and I got to do a nature photography tour to see more wild horses in Corolla! See? So much more to come, so sign up for my weekly newsletter to be the first to know when the next posts are published.

Have you been to North Carolina? I’d love to hear your ideas on must-see stops in the comments. Thanks!