Where to Go on a North Carolina Road Trip
I had a few last-minute opportunities to visit North Carolina 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 as North Carolina neighbors. It’s not that we didn’t visit the state, but I wish we had spent more time there.
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.
Two of the four ladies in our group flew into Norfolk International Airport (near Virginia Beach) in Southeastern 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.
Ultimate 8-Day North Carolina Road Trip Itinerary
The map below starts in the Outer Banks and continues around the state, ending in Charlotte, NC. 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!
- 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 taste of the different regions on our North Carolina road trip. This is just a quick peek into what you can do in 8 days.
The Barrier Islands of the Outer Banks
One of the highlights of our trip was a 4-wheel drive tour to see the wild mustangs on the shores of the Outer Banks. We chose a 2-hour Corolla Wild Horse Tour in the morning with Nathan from Back Country Safari Tours as our guide and we loved it! This harem of horses 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. I have many more photos and tips for the Outer Banks, so sign up for my newsletter to be the first to see the new posts.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh was just an overnight stopover on this 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, 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
Downtown Hickory has a welcoming pedestrian walkway with shops, restaurants, and a farmers market twice a week. One of the two remaining covered bridges 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 for inside or outside the home and they’ll ship it to your house too!
Asheville, NC and the Blue Ridge Mountains
It’s nearly 500 miles (805 km) from the Outer Banks to the Blue Ridge Mountain town of Asheville and a world of difference between the two. The terrain rises from sea level in the Outer Banks to over 2000 feet (610 meters) above sea level in Asheville. But the highest peak in the Blue Ridge Mountains is nearby Mount Mitchell at 6684 ft (2037 m).
We took a scenic drive through a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway a National Park that straddles the states of North Carolina and Virginia. Our gang also made a stop at Mount Mitchell State Park to take in the views. We were shocked to see a heavy layer of frost on the treetops in May.
Our road trip took us to the Biltmore Estate for one glorious day wandering the opulent mansion, gorgeous gardens, and a bonus wine tasting. We stopped at the local farmers’ market and tasted delicious southwestern cuisine in downtown Asheville. Spent time checking out the small town of Black Mountain, and catching up on life in our comfortable Airbnb.
Lake Lure and Chimney Rock, NC
On the way to Charlotte make a stop 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 is where you’ll want to take a dip in the lake, do some kayaking or 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.
There are gorgeous hotels all around town, but our adorable craftsman bungalow was the perfect place for the four of us to relax in the rocking chairs on the front porch at the end of each day.
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.
Find 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!
Category: North Carolina, Southeast States, Travel Tips, United States
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Stumbled across this site searching for things to do with my family in North Carolina. We moved here a few years back from NYC and LOVE IT!
Thanks for the info!
You’re quite welcome! We’re across the border in Virginia and wish we had more time to explore NC.