Looking for ideas about cool day trips from Raleigh? One of the things we love about living in Raleigh is its central location to so many other great places to visit in North Carolina.
Looking for ideas about cool day trips from Raleigh? One of the things we love about living in Raleigh is its central location to so many other great places to visit in North Carolina. There are some great getaway ideas from Raleigh for everyone down below, whether you desire a beach break, you're a foodie, .
15 Fun Day Trips from Raleigh NC (within a 2-hour drive) Read More »
There are some great getaway ideas from Raleigh for everyone down below, whether you desire a beach break, you're a foodie, or you're into history, the arts, or sports.
Or maybe you're looking for a romantic day out, or you just want to take a road trip to a new town, down below we've got a place for you!
Whilst this site is mostly about things to do in Raleigh, and we love living here and find it hard to leave, we also love a short getaway as much as anyone and this city is a great jumping off point to explore other interesting places in North Carolina.
This guide will help you explore places within a 2-hour drive, places you can literally visit and be home again on the same day!
I'll have another guide coming soon about weekend getaways from Raleigh, but this post is all about interesting and cool day trips from Raleigh NC.
So let's get you exploring. The following places are a short car ride away from the capital city.
Drive time from Raleigh: 2 hours
A two hour drive straight down I-40 brings you to the charming port city of Wilmington, NC. Ever since we first moved to Raleigh in 2004, Wilmington has been one of our favorite getaways from Raleigh and is one of our favorite places to visit in North Carolina.
Located on the Cape Fear River, Historic Downtown Wilmington is one of the oldest cities on the east coast with plenty of historical attractions, funky breweries, speakeasies and wine bars, farm-to-table restaurants, galleries, museums, Victorian-era homes and gardens.
You could say that Wilmington is like a mini version of Savannah and Charleston.
This city is very walk-able and just wandering around town is a great way to take in the pulse of the city.
When you arrive, I suggest grabbing a coffee from the cool local cafe, Bespoke Cafe, they will fuel you up for the day ahead.
Read more - Guide on best things to do in Wilmington NC
Drive time from Raleigh: 2 hours
As Aussies, we're beach people and we know a good beach town when we see one, and Wrightsville Beach is our favorite of the beach towns in North Carolina.
So if you're looking for a beach getaway, you can't go wrong here. And the town has a lot more going for it than just sand and ocean!
Again, it's an easy 2 hour drive straight down I-40 and Wrightsville is right right next door to Wilmington (12-miles from downtown). You could combine it with ½ a day in Wilmington and ½ a day in Wrightsville, but I believe there's plenty to do in each location to warrant a full day in each.
Wrightsville Beach is a sandy barrier island only 4-miles long and 1,000 - 5,000 feet wide, it presents the Atlantic Ocean on one side, and the calmer waters of the intracoastal waterway on the other.
It has everything we love about a beach and island life - beautiful shoreline, laid back vibe, surf culture, cafes, jaw dropping sunrises and sunsets, and fresh, delicious seafood.
I know this will be one of our most taken Raleigh day trips through the summer.
Related Posts:
Note: If you love water parks, check out Wet 'n Wild in Greensboro
Drive time from Raleigh: 30-40 minutes
Southern Living magazine calls it "the South's tastiest town". And Forbes.com ranks it one of "America's Smartest Cities". If you haven't given Durham much thought, pay attention because it has plenty of cool and interesting things to do, and the food scene is next level.
This is a vibrant city, offering sports, history, the arts and a community of over 300 restaurants and 40+ annual festivals.
Durham continues to evolve. It's where tobacco factories have given way to a hip entertainment district. It's where Duke University lives, where the Durham Bulls play baseball, and where top shelf musicals like Hamilton perform at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC).
Being so close, this is one of our most frequent day trips from Raleigh and we always find something new to do. Check out our latest reel for a Staycation in Durham
Drive time from Raleigh: 40 minutes
This famous university town is known as one of the top 10 best college towns in the USA, and the "Southern Part of Heaven".
It's also known for its famed music scene and as "America's Foodiest Small Town" by Bon Appetit because of the high quality of farmer's markets, restaurants, and farms.
Home to the campus of the University of North Carolina - the nation's first public university and its basketball team - Chapel Hill has a little bit of something for everyone.
The heart of Chapel Hill is Historic Franklin Street, home to more than 200 restaurants, bars, and retail stores. You can spend 1/2 a day just here, but this town offers so much more and is one of our favorite day trips in NC.
Drive time from Raleigh: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Head west on I-40 for just under 2 hours and you'll arrive in Winston-Salem, a charming city that's home to historic attractions.
From cobblestone streets, to museums, breweries, restaurants, art galleries, eclectic shops, outdoor adventures and more than 40 wineries in the neighboring Yadkin Valley, Winston-Salem is worth a day trip from Raleigh.
There's interesting history here. The Moravians (Protestants who spoke German) settled this region in the 1750s. Salem is the original, if quieter, half of the twin city.
Winston-Salem is also a town built on tobacco, often referred to as "Camel City" after the world-famous cigarette brand created by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.
This city is also the home of Wake Forest University, and is one of the most interesting day trips from Raleigh NC.
Drive time - Clayton: 25 mins, Smithfield: 40 mins, Benson: 35 mins
Don't overlook Johnston County (JoCo) when looking for things to do near Raleigh NC.
JoCo is one of the biggest counties in North Carolina, and the next county south of Raleigh. The I-95, running along the north-south corridor of the country runs close by and I-40 running the east-west corridor of the country crosses through JoCo.
So it's location is important, but you don't want to make it just a place to grab some fuel and pass on through. JoCo is worth stopping in for a while.
The below three towns you could easily incorporate into one day trip, going in a triangle like direction from Raleigh > Clayton > Smithfiled > Benson > Raleigh.
Clayton
Clayton is a small town community that has been booming with transplants and where you'll find boutique stores, historic buildings, charming southern homes, and hipster cafes and bars.
Smithfield
Smithfield has small-town charm. Situated along the Neuse River, it's the seat of the county and the hub of business activity.
70 million visitors enjoy the savings at Carolina Premium Outlets every year. So while you are popping in to shop while you drop, be sure to visit these other places.
Benson
Benson is well known for hosting Mule Day on the 4th Saturday of September, a festival that attracts over 60,000 people each year.
Drive time from Raleigh: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Founded in 1710, historic New Bern (named after Bern, Switzerland) is a charming riverfront town set along the picturesque Trent and Neuse Rivers, and was the first state capital of NC.
Home to Tryon Palace and the birthplace of Pepsi Cola, New Bern is also filled with quaint restaurants and cafes, art galleries, antique stores, riverfront attractions and outdoor activities and offers something for everyone.
Romantic movie lovers will be interested to know that in 1996 The Notebook was set in New Bern and written by New Bern resident, Nicholas Sparks!
Bern is the old Germanic word for Bear, and the bear became the symbol of the city.
Drive time from Raleigh: 1 hour
Fayetteville's tourism slogan is, "Welcome to America's Hometown: History, Heroes, A Hometown Feeling!"
You might know of Fayetteville as home to the U.S. Army's most populous base, Fort Bragg. And the community wears this distinction proudly and shows its appreciation by actively pursuing the freedoms those soldiers protect.
Here you will find museums and monuments dedicated to telling the story of the service of many of the men and women in the area who sacrificed, and they are one of the most moving things to see in North Carolina.
But Fayetteville's ongoing revitalization also offers a vibrant and modern city with interesting cultural activities, historic sites and natural beauty.
Drive time from Raleigh: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Greenville is known as a thriving cultural, educational, economic, and medical hub of Eastern North Carolina, and of course, the home of East Carolina University (ECU). It's a place where you can experience vibrant art, live music, and the culinary scene in the Uptown Greenville and Dickinson Avenue Districts.
There's outdoor adventures like kayaking, biking the Greenville Greenway, agricultural experiences at local farms, plus antique and boutique shopping, live music concerts and festivals.
You can taste test your way through local restaurants and breweries in the walkable Uptown and Dickinson Avenue Districts. And throughout the year there's craft beer festivals, indoor and outdoor farmers markets, and food truck rodeos.
Drive time from Raleigh: 40 minutes
Established in 1784 and located along the Eno River, Hillsborough has served as a focal point for major historic events, including the Revolutionary War and Civil War. Located in Orange County, it's easily accessible via I-40 near Chapel Hill, and I-85 near Durham.
Hillsborough's downtown historic district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features more than 100 homes, churches, schools, and other structures from the late 18th and 19th centuries.
Today, Hillsborough is a haven for artists and writers, for barbecue lovers attending the annual Hog Day, and owntown comes alive Friday evenings with arts and entertainment during Last Fridays celebrations.
Its scenic appeal, graceful architecture, and convenient location provide a charming getaway from Raleigh. Go and explore history, live music, unique shops, and award winning restaurants.
Drive time from Raleigh: 2 hours
Located 20 miles northwest of Winston-Salem, Pilot Mountain State Park centers around the iconic geologic knob that serves as a beacon to the surrounding Piedmont.
Once a navigational landmark for the Saura tribe, the Big Pinnacle can be viewed from the park's summit area which also provides panoramic views of the Piedmont and the Sauratown and Blue Ridge Mountains.
Pilot Mountain has miles of trails to explore, and you can journey through the park on foot, on horseback, or in a canoe.
Drive time from Raleigh: 15 - 20 minutes
The closest of our day trips from Raleigh is Cary. When we first moved to Raleigh in 2004, we never visited Cary, in fact, we didn't even know there was a downtown Cary.
Fast forward to today and you can easily spend a full day in Cary, not just downtown but the surrounding area.
The downtown area has been through major changes in recent years and we've grown to love how charming and vibrant and fun downtown has become with new restaurants, breweries, bars and cafes.
Cary is now home to some of the best places to eat and drink in the Triangle, and there's some great nature trails and parks in Cary too. If you have overlooked Cary downtown in the past, it's time to take a look.
Drive time from Raleigh: 1 hour, 10 minutes
The small southern town of Southern Pines is a town in Moore County among the sandhills. Originally founded in 1884 as a winter health resort for northerners, the town has a rich history and has seen lots of growth in recent years.
Internationally known as the home of American golf (the famous Pimehurst is 10 minutes away), but it's not just for golfers! Southern Pines is also nationally known and referred to as "Horse Country" for its abundance of horse farms in the area, plus there's nice parks and a growing number of craft breweries.
As for downtown Southern Pines, it is embodied in its unique array of shops including historic buildings.
Drive time from Raleigh: 45 minutes
Located just 15-minutes northwest of Durham, Eno River State Park is composed of more than 4,200 acres and offers nearly 30 miles of trails along a swift, shallow stream.
If you're looking for day trips from Raleigh that involve a day in nature, there's plenty to do here from hiking, paddling, fording the river, bouldering, picnicking, swimming/wading, hammocking, and general exploration.
The river winds through hills and bluffs with shrubs and pines that are ready to be hiked and enjoyed through one of five access points.
Drive time from Raleigh: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Set along the banks of the Neuse River in the coastal plains region of eastern North Carolina, Kinston is one of the oldest towns in the state and has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791.
If you've heard of Vivian Haward's Chef and the Farmer, and Mother Earth Brewing, that's Kinston.
Here you will discover 300 years of history, an impressive food scene, arts scene, and Kinston's musical roots run deep.
There's no shortage of war history, including the Tuscarora War, the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War, and is part of the African American Musical Heritage Trail with a fascinating music history - during its tobacco days, Kinston was a hotbed of music, and musicians traveled from all over to play in the tobacco warehouses, including James Brown.
I hope this list of day trips from Raleigh helped you find some interesting and fun getaway ideas? We'll be adding to this list over time, so be sure to subscribe to our email so you don't miss updates!