North Carolina has a number of roads. Not simply four-lane highways full of screaming vehicles however two-lane roads by peaceable corners of the state. The roads cross mountains and seashores, move by small cities and massive cities, and join historical past, tradition, and meals. But what are one of the best roads to see the state?
From scenic byways to US Highways, these highway journeys are one of the best for exploring every little thing North Carolina provides. The solely factor troublesome about these highway journeys is selecting which one to drive. The simple half is having fun with the scenic views, charming cities, and points of interest.
Which of those highway journeys in North Carolina would you take pleasure in driving subsequent?
No. 01
Blue Ridge Parkway
251 miles | 2-3 days
The 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway is without doubt one of the nation’s hottest highway journey routes. In North Carolina, the Parkway begins at Cumberland Knob Recreation Area and ends in Cherokee on the fringe of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The 251 miles by North Carolina embrace a number of the most iconic locations on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Linn Cove Viaduct snakes across the aspect of Grandfather Mountain. Linville Falls crashes into the underside of a gorge far beneath a number of scenic overlooks. Mount Mitchell is the best level east of the Mississippi River. The Mount Pisgah space features a mountaineering path to the mountain’s summit, a lodge on the sting of the mountain ridge, and a campground.
READ MORE: Road Trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Along the way in which, take detours off the Parkway to discover the gateway cities. In Blowing Rock, keep at a lodge on the town and stroll to dinner and purchasing. Boone is busier, however you’ll discover a number of native eating and antiquing in case you go to mid-week. Asheville is a mountain haven recognized for his or her craft beer and world-class delicacies. In Brevard, seize a espresso and revel in a savory meal. Finally, Cherokee is residence to the eye-opening Museum of the Cherokee Indian and entertaining Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama.
No. 02
Cherohala Skyway
51 miles | 1 day
The Cherohala Skyway is without doubt one of the most scenic drives within the state – and one of the vital distant. The 51-mile route begins in Robbinsville, about two hours from Asheville. Like the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cherohala Skyway is a two-lane highway with scenic overlooks, mountaineering trails, and points of interest.
At 5,390-feet, the Santeetlah Overlook is the best level on the Cherohala Skyway, however the Big Junction Overlook provides probably the greatest views. The Mudd Gap parking space permits day hikers to entry the 300-mile Benton MacKaye Trail – a 3.3-mile hike results in Whigg Meadow. The Turkey Creek Overlook is one of the best overlook on the Skyway, with a jaw-dropping view throughout sundown.
READ MORE: Road Trip on the Cherohala Skyway From Tennessee to North Carolina
Indian Boundary Lake Recreation Area is a peaceable bastion for a weekend getaway within the mountains. A seaside is the right place to swim within the lake, however you too can discover with kayaks or canoes. An 87-site campground is unfold round three loops in a dense forest inside strolling distance of the lake.
Bald River Falls is a pleasing shock on the Cherohala Skyway. The 100-foot-tall waterfall is a number of miles from the Skyway on an unmarked two-lane highway. Visitors can view the gorgeous waterfall from a bridge close to the bottom of the falls, the place mist from the churning water covers every little thing – and everybody.
No. 03
Forest Heritage Scenic Byway
68 miles | 1-2 days
The 68-mile Forest Heritage Scenic Byway loops by Pisgah National Forest, starting and ending close to Brevard. The nationwide forest was established in 1916 after Edith Vanderbilt bought over 86,000 acres of the Biltmore Estate to the federal authorities.
The loop consists of the scenic route alongside US Highway 276 previous Looking Glass Falls, Sliding Rock, and the Cradle of Forestry in America, the place guests can discover the origins of the primary forestry faculty within the nation. On NC Highway 215, discover small waterfalls like Sunburst Falls. Go for brief detours on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Mount Pisgah and Devils Courthouse for breathtaking overlooks and mountaineering trails.
Spend a day in Waynesville, one of many gateway communities into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Then, spend a day in Brevard, a hub for out of doors adventures in western North Carolina.
No. 04
Indian Lakes Scenic Byway
60 miles | 1 day
Deep within the western North Carolina mountains, the Indian Lakes Scenic Byway meanders alongside the shorelines of Fontana Lake, Cheoah Lake, and Santeetlah Lake. Boat leases are far and few in between, so deliver your individual kayak or canoe to take pleasure in these peaceable lakes. But it’s additionally attainable to take pleasure in these lakes from the consolation of a collapsible chair at a lakeshore picnic space.
Walk throughout the Fontana Dam, the best dam in elevation east of the Rocky Mountains, alongside the Appalachian Trail and relive a second captured in Bill Bryson’s A Walk within the Woods. Take a detour alongside the Tail of the Dragon – an notorious bike route that options 318 curves in 11 miles.
No. 05
Coastal Lighthouse Tour
300 miles | 4-7 days
Seven lighthouses stay alongside North Carolina’s coast, beaming brightly as beacons to the previous. If you time the ferry crossings excellent, you may full this highway journey in a scant two days – however what’s the enjoyable in that?
Climb the steps inside Old Baldy Lighthouse, the oldest standing lighthouse in North Carolina, after taking a pedestrian-only ferry to Bald Head Island. At close by Oak Island Lighthouse, the one approach to climb to the highest is a sequence of seven vertical ship’s ladders, so that you would possibly need to simply benefit from the view from the seaside boardwalk as a substitute.
The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is the one lighthouse to discover alongside North Carolina’s Crystal Coast. Completed in 1859, the 163-foot-tall lighthouse options an iconic black and white diamond sample. The lighthouse stands on Shackleford Banks, a part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Visitors must guide passage on a ferry to the island to discover the lighthouse and take a self-guided tour to the highest.
Visit 4 lighthouses alongside the Outer Banks between Ocracoke and Corolla. The Ocracoke Lighthouse, accomplished in 1823, is essentially the most distant within the state. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is without doubt one of the most recognizable lighthouses alongside the East Coast. Completed in 1870, the 198-foot-tall lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse within the nation and the second tallest on the earth. The 156-foot-tall Bodie Island Light Station is the third to face on the identical property and was accomplished in 1872.
The Currituck Beach Lighthouse is lower than two miles from the tip of paved roads on the north finish of the Outer Banks in Corolla. Completed in 1875, the 162-foot-tall lighthouse remains to be open for guests to climb the 220 steps to the highest.
Did You Know? Carova is the northernmost seaside city in North Carolina. The solely approach to get there’s a four-wheel drive car alongside 12 miles of the seaside after the paved roads finish in Corolla.
No. 06
North Carolina Waterfall Scenic Byway
140 miles | 2-3 days
The North Carolina Waterfall Scenic Byway is a 98-mile route between Murphy and Rosman. But including an additional 42 miles by Brevard and Pisgah National Forest features a dozen extra waterfalls – and a number of the finest within the state.
The 140-mile route consists of 25 waterfalls, most viewable from the automotive or after a brief stroll. Travel by the Cullasaja Gorge to go to Cullasaja Falls, Bust Your Butt Falls, and stroll behind Dry Falls. Take a brief detour to see Whitewater Falls, the tallest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. In DuPont State Recreation Forest, take quick hikes to see High Falls, Triple Falls, and Hooker Falls. Finally, go to Looking Glass Falls, one of the vital iconic waterfalls in North Carolina.
Along the way in which, discover the charming small cities of Murphy, Franklin, Highlands, and Brevard. Learn about North Carolina’s mineral mining previous, take pleasure in boutique purchasing, and pattern the savory native delicacies.
READ MORE: Road Trip on the Scenic North Carolina Waterfall Byway
No. 07
Outer Banks Scenic Byway
144 miles | 3-5 days
The Outer Banks Scenic Byway is the right approach to mix a highway journey with a seaside trip. Stretching alongside 144 miles of two-lane roads, the scenic route consists of over three hours on automotive ferries and moments of seeing water on either side of the highway.
Begin the drive in Beaufort and discover the Down East space of North Carolina. The Cedar Island Ferry to Ocracoke Village takes 2.5 hours, and on the midpoint, the land is nowhere in sight. Take one other half-hour ferry to Hatteras Island to start a journey of island hopping by Rodanthe, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, and Kill Devil Hills.
Explore the charming seaside cities and broad seashores. Delve into the historical past of Blackbeard and the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Discover native purchasing, eating, and points of interest. But most of all, really feel the salty air blowing by your hair with open home windows and nothing however solar overhead.
No. 08
Pamlico Scenic Byway
127 miles | 1-2 days
Pamlico Sound is the biggest lagoon on the East Coast, stretching 80 miles from Washington to the Outer Banks. The Pamlico Scenic Byway follows the route of US Highway 264 from Manns Harbor alongside the lagoon’s coast to Washington.
Explore early colonial historical past, benefit from the recreation in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge, and take within the surroundings alongside the peaceable freeway by small communities, farms, and riverways.
No. 09
US Highway 17
228 miles | 3-5 days
Once referred to as the King’s Highway, the route of US Highway 17 was developed in the course of the colonial period to attach the necessary port cities of Charleston and Boston. Today, the route connects inland cities and cities lower than an hour from a seaside at any given time.
Explore the burgeoning craft beer scene in Wilmington, or spend a night within the thriving downtown space. Take a guided tour of Tryon Palace, colonial North Carolina’s first capital. Enjoy the attractive surroundings between Washington and South Mills on the Virginia border. End the journey with an journey at Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
No. 10
US Highway 21
110 miles | 3-5 days
Much of US Highway 21 parallels Interstate 77 by North Carolina, however you’ll miss a variety of adventures in case you follow the interstate freeway. During the peak of the Great American Road Trip, the route was a part of the favored Great Lakes to Florida Highway.
In Sparta, the route crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway and into the Yadkin Valley wine area. In Statesville, discover the “Ballooning Capital of the East” with a sizzling air balloon journey, get a drink at Southern Distilling Company, and end the day with one thing to eat at an area restaurant. Explore NASCAR heritage at museums and storage retailers in Mooresville, and you may go for a race on the GoProfessional Motorplex. Follow the remainder of the route into Charlotte for a Panther’s soccer sport or discover one of many metropolis’s thrilling neighborhoods.
No. 11
US Highway 64
578 miles | 5-10 days
One of two routes that cross your complete state from the mountains to the seaside, US Highway 64 begins in Murphy alongside the North Carolina Waterfall Scenic Byway. Explore native purchasing, eating, and points of interest in Franklin, Highlands, Brevard, and Hendersonville. Visit Lake Lure, the well-known filming location of Dirty Dancing, and the long-lasting Chimney Rock.
Leave the mountains behind with a visit by Statesville, the “Ballooning Capital of the East.” Visit the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro and take a detour to go to 100 potteries alongside the Pottery Highway in Seagrove. Visit the state capital in Raleigh earlier than leaving the piedmont behind, touring into the coastal space. End the journey with a pleasing drive to Nags Head, the place you’ll be able to discover the historical past of the Wright Brothers and watch the dawn throughout the ocean.
No. 12
US Highway 74
430 miles | 5-10 days
Beginning in Murphy, US Highway 74 crosses your complete state in a wholly totally different route. Travel by the attractive Nantahala Gorge into Bryson City, then proceed by the small mountain cities of Sylva and Waynesville. Spend a weekend in Asheville, a metropolis recognized for the variety of craft breweries, world-class delicacies, and beautiful mountain views. Travel by Lake Lure, Forest City, and Shelby to find nice native meals and points of interest on the way in which into Charlotte.
Partially upgraded to interstate grade, the route alongside US Highway 74 between Charlotte and Wilmington can go by within the blink of a watch. Stop in Rockingham to get one thing to eat and take a brief detour to Moores Creek National Battlefield. Arrive in Wilmington to pattern the seafood, craft beer, and native purchasing within the vibrant downtown – or skip it completely in favor of some days in Carolina Beach.