We've got some truly amazing larger cities in North Carolina. I love a visit to The Triangle, and Durham is one of my favorite cities I've ever visited. Still, our state is largely made up of small towns, and agriculture is still a huge part of the economy. These little rural towns are what make the Tar Heel State so great. Sure, they may not have the amenities and attractions you'll find in Charlotte or Winston-Salem, but what they have in spades is charm and a sense of community that can be tough to come across nowadays. If you're looking to check out some of the best small towns in North Carolina, I think you'll love this wonderful road trip.

This trip requires quite a bit of time on the road, and you'll want at least a few hours to explore each of the small towns featured. I recommend taking at least three days to enjoy this road trip to the fullest, but if you don't have the time or budget for such a long trip, you can always shorten it! Check out the customizable itinerary on Google Maps to remove or rearrange stops to your liking.

Our first stop is the charming Elizabethtown, population 3,200. This is the county seat of Bladen County, but it's perhaps best known as the home of Melvin's Burgers, nationally recognized as one of the best burger and hot dog joints in the South. This town was established in 1773, so there's quite a bit of history on display, including a historical marker indicating where the 1781 Battle of Elizabethtown was fought during the Revolutionary War. Want to spend some time outdoors? Jones Lake State Park is a perfect escape for any season, with trails, a campground, a huge lake, and so much more.

Next up, we'll head to the coast and pay a visit to Beaufort, another of the state's most historic towns. It's the third-oldest town in North Carolina and home to so much quaint Southern charm. If you're a fan of the spooky and scary, you'll be glad to know that Beaufort is allegedly haunted: check out the Beaufort Ghost Walk to learn more about the town's legendary hauntings.

We hope you like history, because our next stop is just as historic as the first two. Bath is a small town of under 250 residents nestled up against the Pamlico River. It was established way back in 1705, making it the oldest town in North Carolina. There are plenty of things to do in this lovely port city, but we love a simple stroll around the downtown area.

If you're looking for a shorter adventure, this is a great place to end your road trip, though we definitely think the final two towns are worthy of a visit, too! If you decide to continue on and complete the entire trip, this wonderful cabin is right on the water and has its own dock. It's just outside of Bath and is a great place to rest for the night before heading on to the last leg of your journey.

Our next stop is Hillsborough, population around 9,900. It's a rapidly growing town, but it retains its small-town charm and you could easily spend a whole day here. You'll find wonderful local restaurants - don't miss a visit to Panciuto if you're craving some delicious Italian. The downtown area is also full of adorable boutique shops, and there are even some great nearby hiking trails.

Last but not least, we'll end our trip in Davidson. This suburb of Charlotte has a population of around 15,000, so it's quite a bit larger than most of the places on this list, but it's definitely worthy of a visit and feels like a much smaller town than it is. If you love escaping into a good book, you don't want to miss a trip to Main Street Books. This independent bookstore boasts hundreds of titles and hosts tons of great events. There are some delightful eateries here, too, like The Pickled Peach, one of our favorite farm-to-table restaurants in this part of the state.

Which of these small towns in eastern North Carolina is your favorite? Are there any stops you think should be added? Share your thoughts in the comments!

No road trip is complete without food - after all, you don't want to end up hangry behind the wheel! Check out some of our favorite road trip snacks that are perfect for avoiding constant stops at the drive-thru.