While it’s hard to beat New England in the fall, another incredible destination will serve up classic Americana and maybe even some warmer temperatures for hiking and enjoying fall colors—consider visiting North Carolina in the fall. We cruised the Blue Ridge Parkway from Virginia to Asheville, North Carolina, and then on to Charlotte, and it was a perfect fall road trip.
Fall in North Carolina
The leaves will start changing colors in the upper elevations of the mountains at the end of September, and the rest of the state will slowly follow. The season for enjoying autumn colors and sights goes through early November, so it’s a perfect place to enjoy warmer temperatures and larger windows for fall colors than some popular northern destinations, like New England.
If you want an epic fall road trip, start in New England in late September and work your way down the East Coast following each region’s peak fall color windows. That’s definitely on our retirement bucket list. Use this interactive map to find out the perfect dates for travel.
What is Blue Ridge Parkway?
The Blue Ridge Parkway follows the Appalachian Mountains from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, totaling 469 miles. We have explored the Shenandoah area in the early summer. On this trip, we focused on the section through North Carolina from the VA/NC border to Asheville.
The Parkway is divided into four sections: the Ridge, the Plateau, the Highlands, and the Pisgah. This post covers the Highlands section of the parkway, but there is no bad section of this iconic road. It’s one of the most visited places within the National Park Service.
The project started under President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a parkway to connect the two national parks. It was to be called the Appalachian Scenic Highway. The project took over 52 years to complete and opened in 1966. There have been a few suggestions to extend it to Georgia, but none have reached the finish line.
A North Carolina Road Trip Itinerary
We used this itinerary to enjoy fall in North Carolina, but after visiting in multiple seasons, this would easily work any time of year for views and visiting some of the best parts of the Tarheel State.
Drive Along the Blue Ridge Parkway
Get on the Parkway in the Cumberland Knob area. You can hike there and explore or just get right on the road. This parkway section was the original and one of the oldest sections. You’ll see old mountain cabins and beautiful views.
There is no shortage of spots to pull over and get out to take in the views. During the fall, you’ll enjoy colorful scenes and the potential of low clouds in the valleys below you. Here are a few popular spots to get out and hike or just stretch your legs:
- Saddle Mountain (use this AllTrails link for the hike)
- Little Glade Mill Pond
- Stone Mountain Overlook
- Mahogany Rock Overlook
- Brinegar Cabin
- Wildcat Rock Overlook
- Jumpinoff Rock
- Mount Jefferson Overlook
- Cascade Falls
- Yadkin Valley Overlook
- The Cone Manor
- Price Lake Trail
- Pilot Ridge Overlook
- Linn Cove Viaduct
- Lost Cove Cliffs Overlook
- Linville Falls Picnic Area
- Chestoa Viewpoint
- Switzerland Cafe
- Crabtree Falls
- Laurel Knob Overlook
- Glassmine Falls Observation Deck
These are just the spots we marked on our trip, but countless other pull-offs exist. There were many times that we just pulled off and snapped a few photos and read a sign. Other stops were hikes or snack stops, where we spent more time soaking everything in. If you can hit the road and catch a sunrise, there are so many incredible spots. I still think about the sunrise we saw in Shenandoah National Park, which has similar viewpoints.
Asheville
This mountain town should be part of any North Carolina road trip itinerary. It’s filled with artists, breweries, and beautiful historic buildings and sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I’ve been there on road trips and for a memorable bachelorette party, and it offers everything you need for a fun weekend getaway.
As a beer lover, Asheville does not disappoint. We did a full tour of the New Belgium Brewery in town. I also found some funky beers at Wicked Weed and Burial that were unlike anything I had ever tried. If you have the chance to try the Milk and Cookies Stout from Wicked Weed, don’t pass it up.
For a nice dinner and drink out on the town, head to The Blackbird and have a post-dinner cocktail at Sovereign Remedies. The downtown area is packed with restaurants and cool stores, so spending at least one or two nights there is worth it. Vortex is my favorite spot for coffee and donuts in the morning. For a unique tour perfect for the fall season, try this nighttime ghost tour around downtown.
The Biltmore Estate is the most popular tourist attraction in town, so give yourself time to visit. You can purchase tickets and wander the estate or the gardens. There is also a fabulous kayak tour that goes by the property and gets you on the water with a knowledgeable guide. Book that here. If this is your main reason for visiting, you can even splurge and stay onsite at this magnificent hotel. Other great spots to stay in Asheville include this hotel brand that is incredibly pet-friendly and always a delight or this cool modern spot that is right across from the New Belgium Brewery.
Lake Lure and Chimney Rock
Not far from Asheville is the beautiful Lake Lure. It’s famous for being the setting of the famous movie Dirty Dancing. I would recommend spending one night here so you can enjoy dinner on the lake and a few of the nearby hikes.
Chimney Rock State Park has some incredible views over the lake and so many stairs that you will work up your dinner. There are waterfalls and stunning overlooks throughout the park. I would recommend climbing up to the views, but also taking the trail to Hickory Nut Falls.
When you reach the lake, stop at the flowering bridge and enjoy the community garden, often decorated for the season. It’s a beautiful little walk and a great way to get your first lakeside views. Then, stop at the hotel that was the film set for Dirty Dancing (or even book a stay there).
We stayed at a cabin on the lake, perfect for quiet reading and slow dog walks through the beautiful leaves. The only other spot I recommend in this area is the Lake House Restaurant. It’s a nice casual dining spot with beautiful views.
Charlotte
This large city has become a hot spot for friends who either want to escape the madness of New York City or the cold of Minneapolis. Our visits to Charlotte have been filled with friend time, so I don’t have as many tourist suggestions. The food options are fantastic, the beer is next level, and the airport is one of my favorites, thanks to the rocking chairs and biscuits.
I would recommend walking around the historic Fourth Ward near downtown and picking out your favorite pastel dollhouse. Sample multiple food items at The Market at 7th Street. And if you’re a beer drinker, check out at least two or three breweries.
Plan Your Trip to Experience Fall in North Carolina
Our Full North Carolina Road Trip Route
Here is a link to the Google Map.
Helpful Tools for a North Carolina Road Trip
Download the AllTrails App to sort through the hiking options. You can easily find ones for the length, difficulty, and accessibility that you’re looking for. You can also download the maps so you won’t get lost even if you lose the cell signal.
Another great road trip app is Autio. This features all kinds of historical information about places you’re driving through and uses GPS to narrate your drive like you’re on a tour. We didn’t have this for our North Carolina trip, but I would love to try it on a future trip to get even more information than I got from my Wikipedia search.
And don’t forget to check out our full Road Trip Essentials post to see what supplies and snacks we never hit the road without. This list has gotten us all over the United States, through the Outback of Australia, and even through the deserts of Namibia.
Other Fun Places to Add to Your North Carolina Itinerary
North Carolina is home to quite a few cities that I would like to explore. A friend of ours managed this hotel in Winston-Salem for a while and enjoyed living there. Raleigh is the hometown of another one of our favorite people, and I know there are tons of great spots there.
I would also love to visit Dollywood and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you had more time or altered your route to include Knoxville, it would be an easy add-on.
South Carolina is a state that we have yet to step foot in (one of only five), so we definitely want to come back and visit Charleston and other spots in South Carolina. It would have been a great add to this trip if we had more time.
Reasons We Love Fall in North Carolina
Being able to experience some of the small towns in the Blue Ridge mountains made this a perfect road trip. You could just smell fall in the air with a hint of bonfires, fog, and wet leaves. Everywhere we went, we were greeted with that southern hospitality. There were great filling food options that gave us the energy to hike a little more and enjoy an extra beer sample.
We threw on one of our favorite road trip playlists, which included a mix of bluegrass and folk music, and slowly wound our way through the Blue Ridge Mountains. There was never a back-up of cars, and we had many overlooks to ourselves. Traveling this route on a weekday allowed us to take it all in.
And honestly, I love Cheerwine. If you’ve never tried this soda, add it to your North Carolina list because it’s hard to find anywhere else. This state has a little bit of everything, and we cannot wait to return in the summer and visit the Outer Banks.
Pin this for your North Carolina fall road trip:
