North Carolina Road Trip Ideas: 11 Best Road Trips + Itinerary

North Carolina road trips are a great way to see the sights of the Tar Heel State. You can choose whatever route you would like, and there are endless stops for you to explore. Whether you are chasing waterfalls in DuPont State Recreational Forest or checking out some beautiful scenery on your drive down the Cherohala Skyway – these are the best road trips in North Carolina and they will have you seeing the state from a different point of view!

1-Day Road Trip In North Carolina

Greg Doyle/Google Maps

• Route: Santeetlah Gap > Hooper Cove > Shute Cove > Huckleberry Knob > Hooper Bald > Santeetlah Overlook > Big Junction Overlook > Stratton Ridge > Cherohala Skyway Welcome Plaza > Unicoi Crest > Falls Branch Falls Trail > Lake View Overlook > Turkey Creek Overlook > Forest Service Road 345/Indian Boundary Road > Forest Service Road 210/River Road > Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center and Charles Hall Museum
• Distance: 43 miles
• Trip Time: 3 hours driving time

A lesser-known road trip than the Blue Ridge Parkway but equally as spectacular is the 43-mile scenic byway, Cherohala Skyway. It takes three hours to complete starting in Robinsville and taking you through twists and turns with many epic pitstops ending in Tellico Plains, Tennessee. It takes you through the national forests of Cherokee and Nantahala (the two names Cherohala gets their namesake from), passing many overlooks, trailheads, vistas, and recreational and picnic areas. Some notable stops are the Huckleberry Knob, Hooper Bald, and Turkey Creek Overlook, to name a few.

3-Day Weekend Road Trip In North Carolina

TripAdvisor/Marc R

• Route: Hooker Falls > Sliding Rock > Skinny Dip Falls Trailhead
• Distance: 31 miles
• Trip Time: 51 minutes driving time

We absolutely love road trips! However, we do not like when gas prices are high, so we made this three-day weekend trip with only 31 miles of driving time which is perfect because you can take a whole day at each swimming hole and explore the waterfalls to the fullest. On day one, you'll park at the DuPont State Recreational Forest and hike under a mile to the lagoon of the 12-foot Hooker Falls on the Little River. The following day just a few miles up the road is Sliding Rock; you'll find a 60-foot waterfall slide dropping into an eight-foot-deep plunge pool where you can enjoy unlimited slides for a small fee. Lastly is the waterfall swimming hole of Skinny Dip Falls. You'll follow an easy but uphill half-mile hike to get there, be sure to enjoy a picnic and a plunge into the swimming hole.

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Western North Carolina Road Trip

Flickr/Louis

• Route: Crabtree Falls > Craggy Pinnacle Hike > Lake Lure's Flowering Bridge > Bullington Gardens > Juney Whank Falls Trail
• Distance: 166 miles
• Trip Time: 4 hours driving time

Western North Carolina is part of the state full of magical places hidden in the mountains. Whether you’re looking to stick to one area of North Carolina or want to explore some hidden gems, this four-hour road trip through the Western North Carolina Mountains will offer you just that. Start your fairytale road trip with the three-mile loop that leads you to Crabtree Falls, follow a short flower-filled hike along Craggy Gardens to a picturesque overlook, make your way to Lake Lure and the Flowering Bridge, then check out The Fairy Trail at Bullington Gardens in Hendersonville, and end your trip with a 20-minute hike through a canopied forest to Juney Whank Falls.

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Outer Banks Road Trip

D Currie/Tripadvisor

• Route: Bodie Island Lighthouse > Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
• Distance: 43.3 miles
• Trip Time: 53 minutes driving time

Are you crunched for time or want to spend your day in one area? This trip will check all the boxes. Take a mini road trip through the Outer Banks and stop at some lighthouses along your scenic drive. This picturesque excursion is under an hour and will take you from Bodie Island Lighthouse to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. It will give you a chance to take in all the natural beauty of the coast, learn a ton of history of the area, and grab a bite to eat at a couple of pitstops.

Best North Carolina Road Trip For Spring

Jim Liestman/Flickr

• Route: Stop 1 > Stop 2 > Stop 3 > Stop 4 > etc.
• Distance: 180 miles
• Trip Time: 12 hours driving time

It's spring, and you know what that means? Time to hit the road! If you're looking for North Carolina road trip ideas to start the springtime season off right, this is the one. It will take you on the Blue Ridge through Nantahala National Forest and Pisgah National Forest leading you to the magnificent waterfalls of Whitewater Falls, Looking Glass Falls, and Linville Falls, to name a few. What makes this road trip even better are the multiple wineries dotted along the route. You'll be able to visit wineries such as Dublin Winery, the oldest winery in the state.

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Best Summer Road Trip In North Carolina

Flickr / Alistair Nicol

• Route: Roanoke River Lighthouse > Currituck Beach Lighthouse > Bodie Island Lighthouse > Cape Hatteras Lighthouse > Ocracoke Lighthouse > Cape Lookout Lighthouse > Oak Island Lighthouse
• Distance: 463 miles
• Trip Time: 15 hours driving time

What better way to spend the summer than hitting the road and checking out all the lighthouses along the east coast waters of North Carolina? This five-day adventure is perfect for those long lazy summer days. It will take you through charming towns (like dreamy Wilmington), historic sites, and seven unique lighthouses. With some lighthouses, you'll even have the chance to trek up to the top for panoramic views, perfect for watching those summertime sunsets.

Best North Carolina Road Trip For Fall

Flickr/Tim Lumley

• Route: Hanging Rock State Park > Linn Cove Viaduct > Roan Mountain > Linville Gorge > Mount Mitchell > Chimney Rock > Great Smoky Mountains Railroad > Cherohala Skyway
• Distance: 431 miles
• Trip Time: 10 hours driving time

North Carolina has a great fall foliage season that typically runs from mid-October to early November, depending on elevation and location. This North Carolina road trip itinerary will take you across the state to view the best villas, rolling foothills, and gorges with the most amazing fall colors. This epic trip will take you to one of the most traveled and photographed Blue Ridge Mountain and Blue Ridge Parkway destinations; the Linn Cove Viaduct. Continue your journey to the 'Grand Canyon of the East' at Linville Gorge and end your trip at the highest peak east of the Mississippi at Mount Mitchell.

Best Winter Road Trip In North Carolina

Flickr/Brett Kiger

• Route: Dillsboro > Biltmore Estate > Forest City > McAdenville > Charlotte Motor Speedway > Tanglewood Festival of Lights > New Bern > Manteo
• Distance: 629 miles
• Trip Time: 10.5 hours driving time

Looking to get into the holiday spirit? This North Carolina road trip map is just the ticket for a winter wonderland full of lights and magic. The route will take you to cities such as Dillsboro to see the luminaries line the street and to Asheville to experience the must-see Christmas lights at the Biltmore Estate. A one-of-a-kind experience is the millions of lights at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a standout stop at the home of NASCAR on this fun winter road trip.

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Family Friendly North Carolina Road Trip

Google Maps/Ed Komasara

• Route: Old Gillam Mill Park Covered Bridge > Kimesville Covered Bridge > Pisgah Covered Bridge > Bunker Hill Covered Bridge > Gaddy Covered Bridge > High Falls Covered Bridge > Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge
• Distance: 498 miles
• Trip Time: 10 hours driving time

Take a family-friendly road trip and hit all the best cover bridges in North Carolina. You'll start the day at Old Gillam Mill Park Covered Bridge in Sanford across the street from an old mill and mill pond and end the day at the oldest covered bridge structure in the state, Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge in the Highlands. It's the perfect trip with plenty to do and see to keep the whole family happy.

Road Trip to North Carolina Landmarks & Natural Wonders

Matt Herring/flickr

• Route: Outer Banks > Jockey's Ridge > Lake Mattamuskeet > Pilot Mountain > New River State Park > Linville Gorge > Mt. Mitchell State Park > Chimney Rock > Looking Glass Rock > Whitewater Falls.
• Distance: 720 miles
• Trip Time: 15 hours driving time

This ambitious road trip to see North Carolina landmarks and natural wonders will take you from the seashore of the Outer Banks to the border of South Carolina at Whitewater Falls. Throughout the route, you'll visit mountain peaks, sand dunes, and the largest natural lake in North Carolina - it's the best North Carolina road trip to see all the natural wonders this beautiful state has to offer.

Road Trip to Best Small Towns in North Carolina

Flickr/Lucas Berini

• Route: Beaufort > New Bern > Bath > Hillsborough > Boone > Banner Elk > Hot Springs > Bryson City
• Distance: 583 miles
• Trip Time: 11 hours driving time

North Carolina has a wealth of small towns to visit, each with unique charm. If you're looking for a road trip through North Carolina that takes you through some of the most charming and historic small towns, look no further. You'll start your road trip at North Carolina's Southern Outer Banks (also called Crystal Coast) in Beaufort and then through New Bern and Bath. Once finished with the small towns off the coast, you'll head up towards Raleigh and the Triangle to the quaint village of Hillsborough. On the last leg of your trip, you will drive toward the Appalachian Mountains to Boone, Banner Elk, and Hot Springs, ending your trip at Bryson City, a mountain town bordering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Have you taken any of these road trips? Do you prefer weekend road trips in North Carolina or quick road trips in North Carolina? We’d love to hear your thoughts – let us know! Need more North Carolina road trip ideas with outdoor adventures? Spend the day exploring these hiking trails with three swinging bridges; one will even take you to Grandfather Mountain or this hidden beach road trip, where you’ll see wild horses.

For road trip planning and packing tips, check out OnlyInYourState’s Ultimate Road Trip Packing List. Whether you’re leaving for a single day or a week-long road trip, you can’t forget the snacks: here are 50 on-the-go snack ideas perfect for traveling.

Looking for even more travel inspiration? Check out this stunning footage of Clingman’s Dome along the North Carolina and Tennessee border: