7 Best Road Trips in North Carolina

North Carolina is a great state to drive. You can start in the mountains in the morning and be on the coast by dinner. The roads change from winding two lanes to wide marshland highways to beach routes with nothing but water on both sides. These are the seven best road trips in the state, from the famous to the ones most people have never heard of.

1. Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is the most famous drive in NC and it earns the reputation. It runs 469 miles through the mountains with no traffic lights and no trucks allowed. The views are long and clear. You can see three states from some of the overlooks.

The best stops in NC are Waterrock Knob, Black Balsam Knob, and the Graveyard Fields pulloff. Start in Cherokee and drive north toward Boone, or flip it and start in the north. October is the right month. The fall color is real and it is worth timing your trip around it. Nearest cities are Asheville and Boone, both of which make good base camps.

2. The Outer Banks Highway 12

Highway 12 runs the length of the Outer Banks from Corolla in the north all the way down to Ocracoke in the south. It is one of the most unusual roads in America. You drive on a thin strip of land with the ocean on one side and the sound on the other.

Wild horses live in Corolla and roam the beach north of the paved road. You need a 4WD vehicle to find them. Cape Hatteras has the tallest brick lighthouse in the country. Ocracoke is at the end of a ferry ride and worth every minute of the wait. The old fishing villages along the way feel like they are from a different era. Go in May or September before the summer crowds arrive.

3. The Yadkin Valley Wine Trail

Most people do not think of North Carolina as wine country. They should. Surry and Yadkin counties have more than 40 wineries packed into a small area of rolling hills between Elkin and Dobson. The vineyards are family owned. The roads between them are quiet and scenic.

Elkin is the best base. It has a craft brewery on the creek, good restaurants, and a walkable Main Street. The drive from Elkin out through the wine country is best in fall during harvest. The leaves turn, the grapes come in, and most of the wineries do tastings all weekend. Most people have never heard of this trail. That makes it even better.

4. Waterfall Loop: Pisgah National Forest

Start in Brevard. In under 30 miles you can hit four of the best waterfalls in the state. Looking Glass Falls drops 60 feet straight off a rock face into a pool. Sliding Rock is exactly what it sounds like. It is a 60 foot natural waterslide into a swimming hole. Moore Cove Falls has a short trail that takes you behind the water. High Falls is further out but worth the extra miles.

This loop works best spring through fall. In spring, the water flow is high and the wildflowers are out. Summer is busier but the swimming holes make it worth it. This is a half day drive that most people treat as a full day once they stop at each fall.

5. The Haunted NC Route

This one is different. Start in Greensboro and head west toward the mountains with a few detours. Gold Hill is a real ghost town from the gold rush era. It has empty buildings, a working old well, and a genuine sense that time stopped there. Henry River Mill Village near Hildebran is where the Hunger Games was filmed. The old mill village is still standing and still eerie.

End at Chimney Rock, which is weird and beautiful and worth the admission price. The whole route is about four hours of driving with stops. It is one of those trips that does not fit into one category but you will remember it longer than any standard scenic drive.

6. The Crystal Coast Drive

The Crystal Coast is the quieter alternative to the Outer Banks. Start in Beaufort, which is NC's third oldest town and one of the best small towns in the state. Walk the waterfront boardwalk and look across the water to where wild horses live on Carrot Island. Then take the ferry to Cape Lookout, an undeveloped barrier island with a lighthouse and almost no people.

Drive south to Fort Macon State Park, then west to Emerald Isle. The Rachel Carson Reserve is along the way and worth a stop if you have time for a short paddle or walk. This coast is slower and quieter than OBX. Go in April, May, or June before the summer crowds find it.

7. Piedmont to Mountains Day Drive from Charlotte

This is a full day but you can do it in one shot. Leave Charlotte and head west through Shelby, which is a small mill town with good food and a surprisingly cool downtown. Then drive north to Lake Lure, a mountain lake surrounded by ridges where Dirty Dancing was filmed. Stop at Chimney Rock just above the lake.

From Chimney Rock, take US 74 west and then cut north into Asheville. You end up in one of the best cities in the South after passing through small towns, a mountain lake, and a famous rock formation. It is a great one day drive that shows you five different faces of North Carolina.

Quick Tips for NC Road Trips

• Gas up before driving the Blue Ridge Parkway. Stations on the parkway itself are rare.
• Book lodging in Boone and Asheville well ahead in October. Fall foliage is peak season.
• The Ocracoke ferry runs on a schedule. Check the NCDOT ferry page before you go.
• Many Yadkin Valley wineries are closed Monday and Tuesday. Plan for a weekend visit.
• Cell service on the Blue Ridge Parkway is spotty. Download your maps before you leave.
• The 4WD beaches in Corolla require letting air out of your tires. Know this before you drive onto sand.

Frequently Asked Questions

North Carolina rewards drivers who slow down. The best moments on any of these routes are the ones you did not plan. A pull off with a long view. A town you did not know existed. A road that curves into something beautiful. Pick a route. Go.