Here are 7 end-of-summer trips within a two-hour drive of Charlotte to take before fall

Chyna Blackmon
·2 min read

Summer is slowly winding down, and time is running out to soak up the sun before the crisp Carolina fall weather slowly creeps in.

If you’re still looking to make one last summer vacation, there are plenty of places to check out that aren’t too far from Charlotte — even just for a day.

Whether you want to cool off in the water on a lake or break the heat on a hike in the mountains, here’s a list of day trip destinations within a short drive:

Kings Mountain, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 32.1 miles

What to do: Grab a wine flight at Veronét Vineyards & Winery, plan a picnic at Patriot’s Park, or go paddling, fishing, or hiking at Crowders Mountain State Park.

Visitors enjoing the views from Crowders Mountain, about 31 miles outside of Charlotte.
Visitors enjoing the views from Crowders Mountain, about 31 miles outside of Charlotte.

Lake Norman, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 37.4 miles

What to do: Go jet skiing on Lake Norman, have a beach day at Ramsey Creek Beach, or cool off with a swim at the Quarry at Carrigan Farms.

Carrigan Farms offers open swim, fishing and farm-to-table dining.
Carrigan Farms offers open swim, fishing and farm-to-table dining.

Lake Lure, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 91 miles

Splash in the water park at Lake Lure Beach, go ziplining at Canopy Ridge Farm, or go rock climbing at Chimney Rock State Park.

Visitors atop Chimney Rock get a view of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure at Chimney Rock State Park.
Visitors atop Chimney Rock get a view of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure at Chimney Rock State Park.

Columbia, South Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 92.2 miles

What to do: Shop small at the weekly Soda City pop-up market, visit the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, or take a stroll through West Columbia Riverwalk Park.

Crowds walk through Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia.
Crowds walk through Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia.

Boone, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 99.3 miles

What to do: Check out the trails and waterfalls along the Blue Ridge Parkway, ride horses through the mountains at Dutch Creek Trails, or take a tour of the blooms at Arborcrest Gardens.

Dutch Creek Trails offers guided horseback riding tours in Sugar Grove, NC.
Dutch Creek Trails offers guided horseback riding tours in Sugar Grove, NC.

[RELATED: Looking for a mountain getaway? Here’s our guide to planning an affordable weekend trip to Boone]

Greenville, South Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 101 miles

Plan a picnic at Falls Park, take a self-guided art tour around town, or bike through Swamp Rabbit Tail.

Falls Park on the Reedy River in Greenville.
Falls Park on the Reedy River in Greenville.

Asheville, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 128 miles

What to do: Take a brewery tour around town, check out the famous Biltmore Estate, or go on a gallery crawl through the River Arts District.