# Road trips in North Carolina > 9 road trips and 30 hand-picked places in North Carolina, with routes, stops and practical tips for driving and camping. Source: https://camping-spirit.com/roadtrips/north-carolina/ 9 road trips and 30 hand-picked places in North Carolina, with routes, stops and practical tips for driving and camping. ## Road trips through North Carolina - [North Carolina’s Crystal Coast](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b10-crystal-coast/): Colonial New Bern, the wild horses and lighthouse of Cape Lookout, and the beaches of Bogue Banks. - [The Waterfall Byway: Brevard to Highlands and Franklin](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b20-waterfall-byway/): US-64 through the Blue Ridge escarpment: Whitewater Falls, the cliffs of Whiteside Mountain, Highlands and the waterfalls of the Cullasaja Gorge. - [Pisgah National Forest: the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b20-pisgah-forest-heritage/): From Asheville over the Blue Ridge Parkway to Mount Pisgah and Graveyard Fields, then down US-276 past Sliding Rock and Looking Glass Falls to Brevard. - [Blue Ridge Parkway high peaks: Mount Mitchell to Blowing Rock](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b20-brp-mount-mitchell/): The highest stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway: rhododendron balds at Craggy Gardens, Mount Mitchell, Linville Falls, Grandfather Mountain and Blowing Rock. - [Cape Fear coast: Wilmington, Fort Fisher and Southport](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b20-cape-fear-coast/): Wilmington’s riverfront and battleship, wild Venus flytraps, the Fort Fisher ferry to Southport and the Oak Island Lighthouse on North Carolina’s southern coast. - [Outer Banks](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/outer-banks/): The dunes of the first flight, Cape Hatteras lighthouse and the ferry to Ocracoke. - [Great Smoky Mountains and the Tail of the Dragon](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/smokies-dragon/): Newfound Gap, the highest point in the Smokies and 318 curves at Deals Gap. - [The Blue Ridge Parkway, end to end](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/blue-ridge/): All 469 miles from Shenandoah to the Smokies, at 45 mph, with plenty of overlooks. - [Waterfalls of the South Carolina Upstate](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b10-sc-upstate-waterfalls/): Along the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway to granite domes, a clear mountain lake and a dozen falls. ## Places worth the detour in North Carolina - [Clingmans Dome](https://camping-spirit.com/places/clingmans/): The highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains, reached by a steep paved path to a spiral observation ramp. - [Linn Cove Viaduct](https://camping-spirit.com/places/linn-cove/): A segmented concrete bridge that curves around Grandfather Mountain. It was the last piece of the Blue Ridge Parkway, finished in 1987. - [Cape Hatteras Lighthouse](https://camping-spirit.com/places/cape-hatteras/): America’s tallest brick lighthouse, moved inland in 1999 to escape the sea. - [Cape Lookout Lighthouse](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b10-cape-lookout-lighthouse/): A black-and-white diamond-patterned lighthouse on a roadless barrier island, reached only by passenger ferry from Harkers Island or Beaufort. - [Dry Falls](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-dry-falls/): A 65-foot waterfall on the Cullasaja River with a paved path and steps that lead behind the curtain of water. National Forest day-use fee; the small lot fills on summer weekends and October color days. - [Mount Mitchell State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-mount-mitchell/): At 6,684 feet the highest summit east of the Mississippi, with a road from Parkway milepost 355 to a lot near the top and a short paved path to the observation deck. Free; often cold, windy and in cloud. - [Grandfather Mountain](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-grandfather-mountain/): A nature park run by a nonprofit foundation, with the Mile High Swinging Bridge between two peaks, native animal habitats and rugged ridge trails. Admission is charged; the entrance road is narrow and steep, with tight bends. - [Biltmore Estate](https://camping-spirit.com/places/biltmore/): America's largest private home, with 250 rooms, formal gardens and a winery on 8,000 acres. - [Chimney Rock State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/chimney-rock/): A 315-foot rock spire with long views over Lake Lure. Trails lead to a 404-foot waterfall. - [Julian Price Park Campground](https://camping-spirit.com/places/cg-price-lake/): Lakeside sites at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 297, with canoe rentals and trails through rhododendron. - [Wright Brothers National Memorial](https://camping-spirit.com/places/wright-brothers/): The dunes where the first powered flight took off in 1903, marked with stones for each attempt. - [Tail of the Dragon](https://camping-spirit.com/places/deals-gap/): US-129 at Deals Gap: 318 curves in 11 miles. Popular with motorcyclists; not for long RVs. - [Whitewater Falls](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b10-whitewater-falls/): One of the highest waterfalls in the East, seen from a paved overlook a short walk from the parking area just north of the South Carolina line. - [Tryon Palace](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b10-tryon-palace/): A rebuilt colonial governor’s palace with formal gardens on the Trent River, plus a history center on the town’s waterfront. - [Fort Macon State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b10-fort-macon/): A pentagon-shaped brick fort from the 1820s guarding Beaufort Inlet, with free entry and a beach next door. - [Hammocks Beach State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b10-hammocks-beach/): A mainland visitor center with seasonal passenger ferries to Bear Island, an undeveloped barrier island with high dunes and primitive camping. - [Battleship North Carolina](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-battleship-nc/): A World War II battleship moored across the Cape Fear River from downtown Wilmington, with self-guided routes through decks, engine rooms and gun turrets. Admission is charged; allow about two hours. - [Carolina Beach State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-carolina-beach-sp/): One of the few places where carnivorous Venus flytraps grow in the wild, seen along the short Flytrap Trail in the pine savanna. The park also has a marina and campground on the Cape Fear River; entry is free. - [Fort Fisher State Historic Site](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-fort-fisher/): Earthwork mounds of the Confederate fort that guarded Wilmington until it fell in January 1865, with a visitor center and an ocean-side path. The state aquarium and the ferry to Southport are close by. - [Oak Island Lighthouse](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-oak-island-lighthouse/): A 1958 concrete lighthouse with bands of gray, white and black mixed into the concrete itself. Volunteers open it for tours on set days in summer; the public beach access next door is free. - [Whiteside Mountain](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-whiteside-mountain/): Sheer granite cliffs up to 750 feet high, walked on a 2-mile loop trail from a Forest Service lot on a side road off US-64 between Cashiers and Highlands. Small day-use fee; peregrine falcons nest on the cliffs. - [Bridal Veil Falls](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-bridal-veil-falls-nc/): A waterfall beside US-64 west of Highlands, where an old loop of road once let cars drive behind the falling water. Park at the pull-off; the loop is now closed to cars but you can still walk behind the falls. - [Mount Pisgah](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-mount-pisgah/): A 5,721-foot summit beside the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 407, climbed by a steep trail of about 1.5 miles to a platform with views over Pisgah National Forest. The Parkway here closes in snow and ice. - [Graveyard Fields](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-graveyard-fields/): A high valley at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 418 with loop trails to two waterfalls and wild blueberries in August. The overlook lot is small and fills early on summer and autumn weekends; do not park on the shoulders. - [Cradle of Forestry in America](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-cradle-of-forestry/): The site of the first forestry school in the US, founded in 1898 on Biltmore land, with paved trails past old cabins and a logging locomotive. Open from spring to early November; admission is charged. - [Sliding Rock](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-sliding-rock/): A 60-foot natural waterslide of smooth rock on Looking Glass Creek, ending in a cold pool, with lifeguards and a fee in summer. The parking lot is small and closes when full; wear old shorts. - [Looking Glass Falls](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-looking-glass-falls/): A 60-foot waterfall right beside US-276, seen from the roadside with steps down to the plunge pool. Parking is along the road, so arrive early in summer and on autumn weekends. - [Craggy Gardens](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-craggy-gardens/): Grassy balds covered in pink rhododendron in mid-June, reached by short trails from the visitor center at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 364. The nearby Craggy Pinnacle trail gives wide views; winter closures are common. - [Linville Falls](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-linville-falls/): A double waterfall where the Linville River drops into Linville Gorge, with trails of about 1–2 miles round trip to overlooks from the lot at the end of the spur road at Parkway milepost 316. Free; Hurricane Helene destroyed the visitor center, so bring water. - [Moses H. Cone Memorial Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b20-moses-cone/): Flat Top Manor, a 1901 mansion on the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 294, now a craft center with rocking chairs on the porch. Carriage roads circle Bass Lake and climb Flat Top Mountain; free. ## FAQs **What are the best road trips in North Carolina?** Popular routes include North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, The Waterfall Byway: Brevard to Highlands and Franklin, Pisgah National Forest: the Forest Heritage Scenic Byway and Blue Ridge Parkway high peaks: Mount Mitchell to Blowing Rock. CampingSpirit has 9 trip guides that pass through North Carolina, each with a stop-by-stop itinerary and a route map. **Which places in North Carolina are worth a detour?** Our editors recommend Clingmans Dome, Linn Cove Viaduct, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Cape Lookout Lighthouse, Dry Falls and Mount Mitchell State Park.