Raleigh in North Carolina has a lot of unique things to doffer, from galleries to museums and tons of events throughout the year; there sure are a lot of things to do in Raleigh.
However, it also makes for a great base when you want to explore North Carolina. (I did base myself here for two months for that exact purpose.)
So depending on how much you want to drive, here are my favourite day trips from Raleigh for same or next day returns. I did many of them and some are still on my travel list. Read on to find out which ones.
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1-Day Trips
Durham
One of the closest cities you can plan your day trip from Raleigh from is Durham NC. It’s basically next door and has an absolutely gorgeous campus of Duke University.
It’s a private university and has its very own art museum, namely the Nasher Museum of Modern Art, which has both indoor and outdoor exhibitions. Check for current exhibits and events online.
Just walking around campus is already a cool experience but for some more immersion in nature, visit Duke Forest and the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. Both belong to the university as well.
On top of this, Durham is a great place to visit for the NC ComicCon.
- Driving time: 40min
- Bus/train connection: train, overland bus
Greensboro
Greensboro NC is a must for anyone interested in the Civil Rights and Equality movement. It is here that it really started and gained momentum. Greensboro was ahead in many aspects and has brought forth many a notable historical figure.
The museum isn’t free of charge (but well worth it). However, if you are looking for free things to do in Greensboro NC, try the History Museum. I really enjoyed exploring its many rooms as well as the historic cemetery and historic buildings behind the museum.
Besides the many interesting museums and galleries of the town near Raleigh, you can also soak up nature, which is particularly great when you want to see the colours of autumn in North Carolina. You can drive or take the bus up to the botanical garden area, which includes Tanger Bicentennial Garden and the Bog Garden.
- Driving time: 90min
- Bus/train connection: train, overland bus
Cary
For a super short trip from Raleigh for the day or even an afternoon, check out Cary. If you don’t have a car, that’s non problem because the train stops here. Cary isn’t very big or has a lot of attractions, a good reason to visit is for one of its many varied events.
Bigger celebrations include Diwali, a Dragon Boat Festival, a latin festival and Dreamfest, which celebrates the life and visions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Are you into art? You can also visit the local art centres, such as the Cary Arts Center and Page-Walker Arts and History Center. Local theatres include The Cary Theater, Koka Booth Amphitheatre and Sertoma Amphitheatre in Bond Park.
- Driving time: 20min
- Bus/train connection: train, overland bus
Hikes around Raleigh
You don’t actually need to leave Raleigh to get into nature and feel far away from the streets of Downtown. There’s a network of greenways and trails all around and through Raileigh. In general, you really need a car when checking out the many attractions of Raleigh.
I personally love to literally go places and was super happy when I discovered the trails. From the Museum of Modern Art of North Carolina, you can take House Creek Trail, which merges with Mine Creek Trail and goes all the way pas Shelley Lake in North Raleigh. The walk is easy and takes about three hours.
- Driving time: 30 min
- Bus/train connection: no
Winston-Salem & Old Salem
Not far away lies Winston-Salem. The town itself has a few museums but is mostly known for Old Salem, the historic district founded by members of the Moravian Church in 1722. Back then it was called Herrnhut and you might still see German signs in the windows.
The old town has been mostly preserved with only a few houses only remaining in outlines. That’s why Old Salem is a great example of living history.
It’s free to walk around the area but to enter the houses, you need to pay the entrance fee at the visitor centre across the main road.
- Driving time: 2h
- Bus/train connection: train to High Point, then local bus for 2.50 USD
Old Salem
High Point and Thomasville
The Furniture Capital of the USA is perfect if you want to get some new furniture. If not, take a look at the largest chest of drawers or chair in the world.
Besides these world records in attractions on High Point NC, you should visit the campus of High Point University. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
- Driving time: 1h 40min
- Bus/train connection: train,overlandbus
Battleship North Carolina
For those interested in military history, you might love to hear that you can visit the battleship USS North Carolina (BB-55). It was the first vessel of its type to be built for the navy and was completed in 1941.
It operated during World War II, first off the East coast, then to Iceland and the Pacific. After it had served for nearly two decades, it was bound to end up on the breaker’s yard but was then preserved as a museum ship.
It’s open daily throughout the year and entrance costs 14 USD for adults. You can join guided tours or come during special events to really make the most out of your visit.
- Driving time: 2h
- Bus/train connection: no
Salisbury
Another cute town perfect for a one of your Raleigh day trips is Salisbury. It’s rather small but comes with a lovely Old Town centre and well preserved historic homes to gaze upon. The most impressive is Hall House.
It’s like a trip back in time as it has been mostly kept in its original state from 1830, when it was bought by the local surgeon. It even survived the Civil War and is now a gorgeous little house that can be visited for 5 USD. Absolutely worth it!
- Driving time: 2h
- Bus/train connection: no
Hall House Museum World’s Largest Chest of Drawers Church Creek
2-Day Trips from Raleigh
If you have an entire weekend away from Raleigh, consider undertaking a longer ride but with super scenic rewards. After all, there are a lot of stunning North Carolina weekend getaways worth exploring and Raleigh can’t be close to everything. The state is too big for that!
So for 2-day trip out of Raleigh, consider the following options. If you have more suggestions, feel free to comment below so we can include it for other travellers to see.
New Bern
Seeking to combine a trip from Raleigh to the coast and still see a cute little town with historical buildings? Consider New Bern for one of your weekend getaways from Raleigh NC. It would be too long a distance for one day trip alone, so definitely stay at least over night.
The town is a pretty little place with historic buildings, the most prominent being Tyron Palace, which George Washington himself visited. After your visit, stroll through the gorgeous gardens before checking out the New Bern Firemen’s Museum or The Birthplace of Pepsi Store.
While you’re here, tour the nearby Croatan National Forest. It was here that the first colony was founded but its residents mysteriously disappeared. That’s why it is referred to as the Lost Colony from 1587.
Legend goes that the spirit of Virginia Dare, the first person born in the new world, still haunts the area in the shape of a deer. It’s not entirely clear what the name Croatan means but it’s said that it was the name that was found carved in a tree near the colony after it vanished.
- Driving time: 2h
- Bus/train connection: overlandbus (once a day)
Virginia State Capitol Belle Isle, Richmond
Richmond VA
One of the most charming cities in the USA, if you ask me, is Richmond VA. It’s very walkable and compact and makes for a great day trip from Raleigh. Explore the neoclassical buildings in the centre, then do the river walk, starting at Great Shiplock Park and following the James River Park Pipeline Walkway.
Stroll across the bridge over to Belle and Mayo Islands. It originally used to house a nail factory. During the American Civil War it became a prison for Union soldiers. It’s said that 1000 soldiers died here, so it might even be haunted?
- Driving time: 2h 30min
- Bus/train connection: overland bus
Asheville
No matter the season, Asheville NC is a fantastic place to visit for outdoor lovers. The town itself is very walkable but the reason why most people visit is for the surrounding nature. In winter, you can ski and snowboard in Asheville.
In autumn, the tree colours are outstanding and especially the drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway is incredibly scenic. There are plenty of spots to stop and just stare at the beauty unfolding in front of you.
If you are a vegan traveller, there’s plenty of vegan restaurants to enjoy in Asheville, too.
- Driving time: 4h
- Bus/train connection: overland bus (super long transfer time)
Biltmore Estate
One of the most iconic buildings and grounds in the state is Biltmore Estate. After all, it’s the largest privately owned houses in the country and is still in the possession of the Vanderbilt family.
It was built in a French chateau style for George Washington Vanderbilt II and completed in 1895. You can visit and even stay on the estate.
If you want to do that, you will reside in one of the cottages at Biltmore Village, which was inspired by working estates of Europe.
- Driving time: 4h
- Bus/train connection: no
Chimney Rock State Park
North Carolina has many stunning parks to offer and Chimney Rock State Park is high on the list of the best ones. It’s close to Asheville (so you don’t need to camp in nature should that not be your thing) and has a size of 6,956-acre (28.15 km).
Even if you’re not an experienced hiker, you can take advantage of its trails as they have different difficulty levels. The most scenic viewpoints are the Devil’s Head balancing rock and the Hickory Nut Falls.
If you enter through the Chimney Rock Access, admission is free and you can start on one of the six local trails.
- Driving time: 4h
- Bus/train connection: no
Cape Hatteras Lighthouses
One of the best day trips in Eastern NC is to Cape Hatteras. The coastal area offers stunning sights over the ocean and shores of North Carolina and features three lighthouses in total. If you time your visit right, you are able to enter two of them.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the Bodie Island Lighthouse are open for climbing on the third Friday in April through Columbus Day. Ocracoke Island Lighthouse (on the neighbouring island), isn’t publicly accessible.
Cape Hatteras lighthouse was the first to open, which was in 1803. Back then, it was too short to be of any use, so it was made taller in 1853.
Even if you visit during off season, the photogenic stretch of coast is well worth a visit. (Especially if you can avoid the crowds.) There is a campground at Cape Hatteras National Seashore should you want to stay the night on the island.
- Driving time: 4h
- Bus/train connection: no
Charlotte
The second largest city of North Carolina should be on your list of day trips from Raleigh NC. You can easily spend an entire day just visiting its museums, like the NASCAR museum, or getting some shopping done.
I particularly loved exploring the local street art because there are many beautiful murals found all over the city, especially in the hip district NoDa.
The Green NoDa Charlotte
Are you a book nerd? You gotta see the small park The Green. It is dedicated to famous authors from around the world and at the entrance, giant stacks of books greet visitors. Inside the park are plenty of places for sitting and town signs are combined to read names of authors like Herman Melville or Charllotte Bronte.
- Driving time: 2h 40 min
- Bus/train connection: train, overland bus
More USA travel tips
- Planning a trip to Sleepy Hollow from New York City
- Exploring the beaches of NYC
- How to see Washington DC on a budget
- Seeing Houston with the CITYpass
- The most haunted attractions in Colorado
- Why North Dakota is well worth a trip
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