Day 1 – New York to Fayetteville, North Carolina with scheduled stops for lunch & dinner. The Umstead Hotel and Spa, a 15-minute drive from downtown, is a sanctuary with plush beds, farm-to-table restaurant, serene spa and grounds that waft with the scent of hibiscus. For organization purposes, we’ll move from south to north, since the exit numbers start at 0 just over the South Carolina line. Chief the Weimaraner (or ‘wine-maraner’, as owners JW and Kristen Ray joke) only adds to the charm. Our weekly newsletter shares weekly updates and tips on upcoming events. Assume a few additional stops for bathroom breaks. We rank the 20 Best Places to Visit in the Carolinas. North Carolina has plenty of beautiful places to explore that can be found down long, winding country roads. The routes described in these web pages begin in north Florida and continue south starting with US-1 and State Road A1A on the east … The state offers a great diversity of beautiful sights and inspiring scenery to enjoy right from the seat of your car. There's so much to do in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, from exploring the sand dunes to relaxing at the beach. Coming from the north, your best bet is to take Exit 2 off I-85 while you are still in North Carolina and head south on 216 to … If you're looking for 'the' place to catch a sunset on the Blue Ridge, look no further than Cowee Mountains Overlook at milepost 430. Since it’s within 30 minutes of Oak City, it’s convenient as a day trip for folks who live in our capital city. Skip navigation Skip to main content. Flickr / Justin Askew Photography. I rounded off my visit with a nightcap at Tate’s Craft Cocktails, where the bartenders mix a mean Old Fashioned. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this busy road, I-95 runs for nearly 2,000 miles (1,908) along the US Atlantic Coast, and for 182 miles, it passes through Eastern North Carolina. A road trip to Florida allows you to visit beautiful scenic and historical areas, meet friendly locals and for me, power shopping at the outlet malls along the interstates. 6 talking about this. Find resources to plan your trip today. Elsewhere in this Johnston County town, you can learn about this area at the Benson Museum of Local History. Each season brings a new reason to visit, especially if you plan on driving the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway in your North Carolina RV rental. Don’t miss the sloping Miksch Gardens, planted with crops early Moravian settlers grew, and Winkler Bakery. Oceanfront hotels will be pricey in summer. View pet-friendly stops between Durham (North Carolina) and New Orleans. And to the southeast, we couldn’t leave out Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck (exit 171). It’s a great way to learn about the Roanoke River’s importance to this area. The state offers a great diversity of beautiful sights and inspiring scenery to enjoy right from the seat of your car. (near Myrtle Beach) Does anyone know where we JUST HAVE TO STOP and visit along the way? Head 20 minutes south down the US-52 for more wine and a chance to hang out with baby llamas at Divine Llama Vineyards. A free bus, the R-Line, does a 20-minute lap around the city’s districts. Reynolda House is a world-class American art museum with exquisite community gardens in the former home of tobacco baron RJ Reynolds. Start Exploring. Add more stops and we'll split the journey into more equal sections. North Carolina: North Carolina Maritime Museum. The next morning you can gas up nearby and head out. Here’s my pick of stops that take in natural beauty, tempting food and charming towns of this varied east coast state – with some quirky surprises thrown in. Further, driving also gives you the freedom of adventure. Events are held each week and the Sunday farmer’s market is one of our favorites throughout North Carolina! Home to high concentrations of primo sandstone, hundreds of miles of class 4 and 5 whitewater rivers and creeks, long sections of famous trails like the AT, the country's most … And if you’d like to go up, hitch a ride with Carolina High Hot Air Balloon Company. Download the App. Tunnels galore, including 25 on the North Carolina side. Traveling with a dog or cat? Georgia: Paris Market in Savannah . From America’s oldest native grape, Cynthiana or Norton, this velvety red has notes of jammy fruit, warm spices and chocolate. Many historic and activity-filled towns in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Texas and Nevada are within a day's drive from the Grand Canyon. 8. Remember, when looking at map programs such as Google Maps, they typically take you to MB on US-501 but show travel time based on zero traffic. Your total trip with all stops is around 1,200 miles or 1930 km, taking roughly 20 hours for the whole trip. Raven Rock State Park is about 40 minutes east of Benson and one of our favorite spots to hike, especially to the overlook that stands above the Cape Fear River. Lumberton is known as the midway point between New York and Florida, which is a good hint to stop if you haven’t yet! Sync your trip to your phone, and then let Roadtrippers lead the way with turn-by-turn navigation. Inside the museum, there’s plenty of information about the people who helped make the river a prominent trade route. One of the coolest cross-country trips a traveler can take is along I-40. 2. Total mileage – approximately 544. Add town/places to go via somewhere specific OR to plan a specific route. Situated conveniently at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Highway 64 there are a ton of fun things to do in Rocky Mount! North Carolina is a great place to take a road trip, no matter the time of year. The Best Way to Drive From Phoenix to Las Vegas. Saved from engineering.curiouscatblog.net. Cute Chapel Hill is a 15-minute drive away. Hit the road with the app when you're ready. Tucked into the Pisgah National Forest’s Bent Creek Experimental Forest, the North Carolina Arboretum is home to dozens of acres of cultivated gardens, as well as several miles of hiking and biking trails worth exploring. Traffic on I-95 typically picks up around Fayetteville, which many folks might first know for Fort Bragg. Pedal the short distance to enter Umstead State Park, gloriously green all year round and popping with florets of pale gold and russet in autumn. You could check the Greenbrier/ Chesapeake area if you want to be closer to NC. Asheville has been called a lot of things: the happiest city in America, the best southern town, the ultimate mountain destination, and one of the most beautiful places in the U.S. Explore some of North Carolina most beautiful beach destinations with a tour of the Outer Banks. That place is a hard-to-top tribute to soldiers who’ve answered the call of duty time and time again. This will allow you to get through the Washington, D.C. area ahead of the afternoon rush. ), or west to Raleigh (okay, they have wonderful restaurants, too!). Trekaroo recommends a stop at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine just 5-10 minutes off of I-95 after exiting the tunnel (exit 55.) 1. Though popular, many of the island and beaches remain unspoiled, and in places … There’s also the adorable lilac cottage, known as the ‘Newlywed Chateau’. Imagine that. And the first or last (depending on which way you’re traveling) places we’ll mention near I-95 exits in North Carolina sit near Roanoke Rapids. A big thank you to Hertz Car Hire for supporting this amazing road trip. If you’re driving through on the first Saturday in November, you might just stumble upon the NC Cotton Festival. Exit 81 is particularly important because that’s where I-95 meets I-40, which runs east to Wilmington and west through the heart of North Carolina. Explore. Our plan is to head for the South Carolina Coast for the first week before heading to the Blue Ridge Mountains for the second week. Christopher Michael, Leaf Group Updated April 16, 2018. Top Places to Stop Off of I-40. There are countless places large and small to stop on your trek through the Palmetto State, but here a few stops, just a few miles off Interstate 85, that we think you won't want to miss. Using google maps I have the most direct route, but what I am really looking for is some places to stop after a day of driving. In the shadow of misty Pilot Mountain, the wineries of Yadkin Valley certainly have an aesthetic advantage. For any questions about the State’s bike laws, or about your rights to the road, contact attorney Ann Groninger directly. It’s because someone somewhere along the way figured it out. Her mark is felt elsewhere, too, especially at the Rat Pack-decorated Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q (exit 93). The small town may sound costly, but given households bring in a … 4. Ella Buchan is a freelance travel writer with 12 years of experience. With silky-soft bed linens, a terrace overlooking the forest and a weathervane shaped like a wine bottle, it also proved luxurious lodgings for this solo traveller. Tip: You can add and amend all these options later. Travel Tips. If you take the I-81 to I-77 route into NC, there are plenty of hotels along these highways. But if you’re like me, you could use a break or two during that long journey. Of course, you can skip the walk and access this historic spot via exit 65. Finally, North Carolina (NC) is your destination after driving about 310 miles (500 km) or 5.5 hours. It's common knowledge that South Carolina has much to offer in the way of quaint southern towns, beautiful vistas and exciting attractions for visitors to "get away" to. And if you ever find yourself on that interstate going north or south, I hope this guide helps you better enjoy this road, too. ), south to Goldsboro (also amazing food! At North Carolina Botanical Garden, butterflies flutter around grounds dotted with whimsical sculptures. Oh, and we’re not just talking about the awesome food coming out of Napkins, the on-site restaurant. And with blends (named after the llamas) like In a Heartbeat, half merlot and half cabernet franc, her suspicions proved correct. Finally, North Carolina (NC) is your destination after driving about 150 miles (240 km) … Camping along the way? Around 90 minutes southeast, Fearrington is a charming English-style village with a Relais & Châteaux inn, restaurant and shops located on a historic farm. North Carolina’s include golf vacations, wine trails and visits to … Bonus: From exit 119, you can head east toward Greenville (great spot for food and a beer for passengers! And if you’ve ever enjoyed a red Bright Leaf Hot Dog, then you might want to stop by Carolina Packers (exit 93). Flickr / Kevin Schraer. A series of historic buildings await elsewhere in Roanoke Rapids, including the original Roanoke Rapids High School. Monitor-Merrimac … Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by … In fact, it predated the Continental Congress’s version by three months. Here, you can pick up a bottle of North Carolina’s first farm-to-distillery spirits to enjoy later on when you reach your end destination. North Carolina (NC) is laced with some of the greatest scenic byways in America. FREE Real Estate Seminars- My mission is to help Buyers & Sellers with your Real Estate needs by … But in this post, we’re only going to include those that lead to attractions that we specify. Travel Advisory and Face-Covering Requirements. If budget is a concern, there are plenty of options away from the oceanfront. This North Carolina town has gained tremendous popularity in recent years because of its live music, craft brewery, outdoor recreation, and local arts scenes. Smithfield sits above the I-40/I-95 split and but also draws quite a bit of traffic. Kings Mountain National Military Park and State Park, Blacksburg. NC Tripping uses Mediavine to manage all third-party advertising on this Website. Virginia.. What you really need right about then is that perfect overnite stop… an exit where you feel safe and comfortable… an exit with a good mix of accommodations and a variety of eating places… not just fast food. (3 answers) Click the button below to explore more questions and answers related to Asheville. Blockade Runner’s Surf to Sound Academy offers sailing lessons, kayak adventures and stand-up paddle tours through the marshes. It’s named for the Lumber River, which today is a popular state park (exit 13) for fishing and paddling. North America Travel. This place offers an experience beyond delicious brews. Rocky Mount, NC is the perfect stop for any road trip through North Carolina! Airy, NC. From amazing restaurants, one of a kind waterfalls, places to explore and even quaint towns – these ten might be a little off the beaten path but are totally worth the trip. That’s a nice spot for swimming, fishing, and for hanging out by the water. View RV campgrounds between Charlotte and New York City. Take a 0.5-mile … Some people actually prefer “the boonies” over city life. For an interesting name and stunning views, Devil's Courthouse can be accessed by a (strenuous) 0.5-mile hike that takes you to the 'courthouse.' Consider this… you’ve traveled all day, you’re tired, hungry, the kids are wired… you get the picture. The town that marks the exact halfway point is actually Mahan, West Virginia.. Camping along the way? View RV campgrounds between Detroit and Myrtle Beach. And if you want even more outdoor fun, check out Roanoke Rapids Lake (exit 176). It isn't enough that it helps you find amazing places—you can also plan a trip to all of them. Discover more North Carolina at www.visitnc.com and www.visittheusa.com/state/north-carolina. Between Florida and North Carolina, you can explore Old South history, hike or … ... this haunted hot spot is an ideal place to look for luminous legends. Traveling with a dog or cat? Traveling with a dog or cat? We also love strolling around Fayetteville’s fun downtown (exits 49 and 56) and exploring outdoor spots that include Cape Fear Botanical Garden (exit 56). BUT if you want to have less than a 5 hour drive the next morning, I suggest at least going to Mt. Lynchburg, Virginia is stopping point #2 after driving about 220 miles (350 km) or 4 hours. That’s a big reason why this road attracts so many folks traveling between Maine and Florida. Roadtrippers will help you find all the best stops along the way. 20+ Things To Do In Florida On The Ultimate Sunshine State Road Trip. I-95 is OK through NJ and DE. A variety of exhibits details his story and the evolution of the US Army Airborne, especially during World War II. I have a 1959 road map that shows the way it used to be. Travel Advisory and Face-Covering Requirements. You could check the Town Center area if you want to be close enough to drive to the boardwalk that night. Let the ocean guide your way in North Carolina.