Road trip: 23 places to visit in the Carolinas during summer 2023

Chyna Blackmon
·5 min read
6

It’s officially the start of the summer and the season for traveling. The Carolinas are home to several cities and towns that are perfect to visit during this time of year. Luckily, many aren’t too far of a distance from Charlotte.

Whether you want a relaxing beach trip or a cool mountain getaway to break the heat, there are plenty of stops you can add to your travel bucket list.

The beach front between the Cape Hatteras Motel and the Outer Bank Motel on photographed on June 30, 2021 in Frisco, N.C.
The beach front between the Cape Hatteras Motel and the Outer Bank Motel on photographed on June 30, 2021 in Frisco, N.C.

Here’s a list of 23 places to visit in the Carolinas during summer 2023, listed from nearest to furthest away:

Rock Hill, South Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 26.8 miles

What to do: Go zip lining through forests, plan a picnic at Glencairn Garden or treat yourself to dinner at Kounter, offering creative dishes like chile-lime crab cakes and bacon-wrapped meatloaf.

Kings Mountain, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 32.1 miles

What to do: Plan a hike at Crowders Mountain, sip and stroll through Veronét Vineyards & Winery or jam out to live music at Patriot’s Park.

Crowders Mountain State Park in Kings Mountain, N.C.
Crowders Mountain State Park in Kings Mountain, N.C.

Lake Norman, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 37.4 miles

What to do: Have a boat day on the water, enjoy dinner at a waterfront restaurant or rope swing into the Quarry at Carrigan Farms.

Hello, Sailor offers waterfront dining along Lake Norman in Cornelius.
Hello, Sailor offers waterfront dining along Lake Norman in Cornelius.

Lexington, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 59.2 miles

Go on a hunt for the best barbecue, grab a wine flight from Childress Vineyards or go paddleboarding at High Rock Lake.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 79.2 miles

Kayak along Salem Lake, hit the trails at Pilot Mountain State Park or explore one of the town’s popular gardens.

Lake Lure, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 91 miles

Spend a day on the water at Lake Lure Beach, check out the blooms at Lake Lure Flowering Bridge or go rock climbing 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 go river tubing at Saluda Shoals 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: Go glamping under the stars, check out the trails and waterfalls along the Blue Ridge Parkway or visit one of North Carolina’s oldest amusement parks, Tweetsie Railroad.

The Blue Ridge Parkway near Blowing Rock.
The Blue Ridge Parkway near Blowing Rock.

[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

Catch the sunset at Falls Park, take a self-guided art tour around town or plan a trip to the South Carolina Botanical Garden.

Brevard, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 126 miles

Check out one of the 250 waterfalls in the area, play your favorite games at White Squirrel Arcade or go tubing on the French Broad and Davidson Rivers.

Asheville, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 128 miles

Take a brewery tour around “Beer City USA,” relax at one of the region’s most popular spas or tour the famous Biltmore Estate.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 137 miles

Check out the North Carolina Botanical Garden, go on a hunt for every mural in the city or enjoy live music at The Carolina Inn’s Fridays on the Front Porch series.

Raleigh, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 164 miles

What to do: Play with your pup at Dorothea Dix Park, shop at the State Farmers Market or hike along North Carolina’s longest hiking trail.

Visitors observe blooming sunflowers at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, N.C., on July 20, 2021.
Visitors observe blooming sunflowers at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, N.C., on July 20, 2021.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 172 miles

Check out Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, shop at Broadway at the Beach or go to as many mini-golf courses as you can around the “mini golf capital of the world.”

Red Dragon Cove Adventure Golf, a min-golf course, is being constructed at 20th Avenue South and Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach, S.C. June 21, 2023.
Red Dragon Cove Adventure Golf, a min-golf course, is being constructed at 20th Avenue South and Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach, S.C. June 21, 2023.

[READ MORE: These are the best beaches in the Carolinas, according to you]

Wilmington, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 201 miles

Stroll along the Wilmington Riverwalk, visit the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher or go on a hunt for the spots that served as the backdrop for several popular shows and movies.

Stroll the Riverwalk and enjoy the crisp fall area while visiting the Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington.
Stroll the Riverwalk and enjoy the crisp fall area while visiting the Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington.

Charleston, South Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 207 miles

Have a photo shoot along the iconic Rainbow Row, sign up for a ghost tour or take a carriage ride through the city.

Rainbow Row in Charleston, South Carolina on Saturday, October 23, 2021. These Georgian homes date back to the 1740s.
Rainbow Row in Charleston, South Carolina on Saturday, October 23, 2021. These Georgian homes date back to the 1740s.

Bald Head Island, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 217 miles

Book a sunset boat cruise, bike through the Bald Head Woods Reserve or kayak through the creeks of the area.

Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 232 miles

Spend a day in the sun at Beachwalker Park, book a tee time to play golf at one of the public golf courses or shop at Freshfields Village.

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 245 miles

Bike through Shelter Cove Community Park, climb through the trees at Adventure Hilton Head or explore the marsh for dolphins on a boat tour.

Nags Head, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 343 miles

Go swimming at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, fish at Jennette’s Pier or spend the day go-karting at Full Throttle Speedway.

NC 12 runs through the densely developed beach front area of Nags Head, N.C. on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. Many of the large ocean front vacation homes feature their own swimming pools.
NC 12 runs through the densely developed beach front area of Nags Head, N.C. on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. Many of the large ocean front vacation homes feature their own swimming pools.

Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 352 miles

Play with your pup on the beach, check out the place where the first flight took off at Wright Brothers National Memorial or walk through Kitty Hawks Woods Reserve.

Duck, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 360 miles

Treat yourself to a donut from the original Duck Donuts shop on Duck Road, have lunch and kayak at the Town Park and Duck Boardwalk.

Duck Donuts serves cake doughnuts that are made-to-order.
Duck Donuts serves cake doughnuts that are made-to-order.

Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 389 miles

Visit the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, go fishing or plan a camping trip near the ocean.

The sun sets behind the Cape Hatteras Light Station in Buxton Thursday, May 19, 2022.
The sun sets behind the Cape Hatteras Light Station in Buxton Thursday, May 19, 2022.