Inside: A huge guide full of ideas for day trips from Charlotte, NC.
Are you looking for ideas for day trips from Charlotte, NC? We have gathered some of the best day trip destinations, only a couple hour’s drive, to make planning your epic adventure easy. You’ll find a compilation of our ever-expanding list of day trip offerings, all on one page. You can easily find your desired trip, fuel your wanderlust, and still have the kiddos back by bedtime! Happy adventuring!
Where Will Your Next Day Trip Adventure Be?
North Carolina Destinations: Day Trips From Charlotte, NC
Venturing a little further? Then use our Western North Carolina Day Trip Guide! It will help you plan the perfect trip. The mountain views are SO stunning…especially if you plan a trip in the fall! Peep those leaves while you’re at it.
Western North Carolina
Western North Carolina offers stunning mountain views, waterfalls, hiking, and some excellent cities and towns to explore. If you have to do one thing when visiting WNC, You do not want to miss this Driving Tour: Stunning Waterfalls in NC That Involve No Hiking.
Even in fall and winter, WNC is a great place for a day trip any time of year. Don’t miss the “Secret Season” in Western North Carolina for Budget-Friendly Family Adventures
Our Guide to Things to Do in Western North Carolina!
Here are some destinations that make great day trips in the Western North Carolina area, organized by city:
Morganton, NC
Catawba Meadows Park is absolutely worth the trip from Charlotte. It’ll take you about an hour and a half, but this park and town are super!
South Mountain State Park offers hiking, swimming holes, and beautiful waterfalls.
Day Trips in Asheville, NC:
- Guide to Asheville, NC: Things to Do and Where to Eat
- Your Guide to The Biltmore: 10 Things You Must Do
- Braving The Biltmore With Kids
- Mountain Play Lodge
- North Carolina Arboretum
- Western North Carolina Nature Center
- Zen Tubing: Float Down The French Broad River
Day Trips in Brevard, NC:
- A Little Bit of Heaven in Pisgah Forest at Pilot Cove
- Beauty In Brevard, NC
- Hike With Llamas at Earthshine Lodge
- Tubing on Davidson River In Brevard
Day Trips in Cashiers, NC:
Flat Rock, NC Day Trips:
Things to Do in Hendersonville, NC:
Visit Linville, NC:
Rutherfordton, NC:
Waynesville, NC:
Charlotte, NC Area Day Trips
Looking for a day trip that is close to home? These Charlotte day trip destinations are within half an hour of Charlotte, so you would be able to have a great day and return home right after the fun is done.
East of Charlotte
A day trip to the NC Zoo in Asheboro is a great idea for families.
It’s about an hour and a half drive from Charlotte for a full day of fun and learning!
North of Charlotte
Hickory, NC
Explore the Catawba Science Center in Hickory, NC
South Carolina Destinations: Day Trips From Charlotte, NC
Looking for a day trip in South Carolina? Start with our South Carolina Day Trips list or view all our SC day trip content by city below!
Upstate, SC Day Trips: Best Towns and Cities to Visit
Looking for a day trip that is less than two hours from Charlotte? These Upstate, SC day trip destinations are all very close to Greenville, SC. Getting your day trip feet wet while getting out and about with the kids? Or even scarier…first time AWAY from the kids! Baby steps are where it’s at. Enjoy an adventure with these great SC options that are easy to get to, and you can be back by dinner time!
- Greenville, SC: The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Greenville, SC
- Greenville, SC: Roper Mountain Science Center: Summer Adventure
- Greenville, SC: A Weekend Itinerary for Visting Greenville, SC
- Greer, SC: The Ultimate Visitors and Locals Guide To Greer, SC
- Landrum, SC: Discover Fabulous Food and Things to Do When You Spend the Day in Landrum, SC
- Pickens, SC: Spend A Fabulous Day In Pickens, SC
- Simpsonville, SC: Spend The Day In Simpsonville, SC
- Travelers Rest, SC: Day Trip to Travelers Rest, SC: Things to Do, Where to Eat, and More
- Newberry, SC: Historic Newberry, SC: “Most Charming Small Town”
- Rock Hill, SC: Sunflower Fields At Daper Wildlife Area Just South Of Rock Hill
- York County: Visit York County
- York County: SouthTown Wake Park in York
- York County: Spending The Day At Anne Springs Close Greenway in York County
Columbia, SC Day Trips
Less than an hour and a half drive from Charlotte is Columbia, SC! The SC State capital has a lot of fun things to offer, and is home to the Riverbanks Zoo, State Capitol Building, Edventure childrens museum, and even a fabulous Saturday Soda City market downtown!
Charleston, SC Day Trips
Make a visit to Charleston for a long day trip or a weekend near home. The lovely low country of SC, home to beautiful historic downtown Charleston for the grown-ups, and so many awesome options for the kids! The South Carolina Aquarium, aqua park, and the beaches make this dreamy destination a hit any time of year. Here’s our Travel Guide to Charleston: Where To Stay, Eat, And Play! so you don’t miss any of the fun. Or, check out some of these favorite places in Charleston, SC to spend the day.
- The South Carolina Aquarium In Charleston, SC
- Fun At Folly Beach!
- Boneyard Beach
- Floating Obstacle Course At Charleston Aqua Park
- Learn About Ghosts At The Haunted Harbor Tour
- Charleston Sites To Visit In Honor Of Black History Month
- Money Saving In Mount Pleasant
- The Old Exchange
Kidding Around’s Travel Guide to Charleston, SC.
Georgia Day Trips: Day Trips From Charlotte, NC
World of Coca-Cola, The Atlanta Zoo, The Georgia Aquarium, Stone Mountain, Fernbank, the World Series Champs, the list goes on! Is there anything Atlanta doesn’t have? We have even included surrounding suburban and North Georgia areas that are jam-packed with options to make your day trip just peachy! You can take a straight shot down Interstate 85 to get to Atlanta in about 3.5 hours, giving you plenty of time to explore before heading home. Extend your day trip to an overnighter, it will be worth it!
- 10+ Fun Things To Do With Kids In Alpharetta
- Atlanta’s Lego Land Is a Must See!
- Atlanta: Educational Sites For Learning The Black History Of Atlanta
- Blairsville, GA Day Trip
- Decatur, GA Day Trip
- The Dillard House
- Dunwoody, GA: A Hidden Gem
- The Georgia Aquarium
- Helen, GA Day Trip
- Lions & Tigers & Bears, Oh My! Welcome to Zoo Atlanta
- Six Flags Over Georgia
- Unicoi State Park
- World Of Coca-Cola
- Julep Farms in Dillard, GA
- Babyland General® Hospital
Tennessee Day Trips: Day Trips From Charlotte, NC
Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, the Queen of Country’s Dollywood, and The Great Smokies…let’s just say that Tennessee is a must-see! It is a little farther drive, at 3.5 hours, to get to Pigeon Forge from Charlotte, but we still recommend it as a day trip because of how enjoyable the drive itself is. If you happen to travel the Blue Ridge Parkway, you’re in for a real treat of natural beauty.
Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge & Sevierville, TN
- Dreamy Dollywood
- Gatlinburg Safari Tent Trip
- The Guinness World Records Museum
- Mirror Maze In Gatlinburg
- Bucket List: Walk The Longest Pedestrian Bridge In North America
- Ultimate Guide To Gatlinburg And Pigeon Forge
- Walk Under Sharks At Ripley’s Aquarium Of The Smokies
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- White Water Rafting In The Smokies
- Wild Bear Falls Water Park
- Wilderness At The Smokies in Sevierville
Educational Day Trips From Charlotte, NC
Learn On The Road Any Day, Any Time!
Check out these awesome educational day trip ideas that are great for kiddos who are not yet in school, and perfect for our homeschooling families! We’ve compiled great options throughout Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee!
- 10 Ways To Have Fun With The Family Without Breaking the Bank
- Zoos, Nature Centers, And Aquariums
- Educational Adventures All Over The Carolinas
- South Carolina Central: This Statewide Guide Has A Little Bit Of Everything!
- Homeschool Days At Dollywood
- Easy Day Trips Near SC, NC, And GA
- Elk At The Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee, NC
- Fishy Fun At Walhalla Fish Hatchery
- Top 10 Terrific Day Trips For Teens
- Holmes Educational State Forest: Check Out This Living Outdoor Classroom in Hendersonville, NC!
- Educational Trip To Charleston, SC
- SC State Parks
- North Carolina Arboretum
- Schiele Museum of Natural History In Gastonia, NC
- History Lesson: Explore The Revolutionary War In Camden, SC
- Greensboro Science Center
- North Carolina Zoo
- South Carolina Botanical Garden
- Lazy 5 Ranch near Charlotte, NC
Day Trips By The Seasons
Winter Day Trips
Brrr! Baby, it’s cold outside! Enjoy the great outdoors and discover the magic in the mountains!
- Places to Ski and Snowboard
- Snow Tubing Near Charlotte, NC
- Black Bear Snow Tubing
- Appalachian Ski Mountain In Blowing Rock
- Beech Mountain, NC
Spring Day Trips
Spring has sprung, and what better time to get outside?! Check out these 26+ Fun Spring Day Trips full of all the best picnic, hiking, and gardens throughout the Carolinas!
- Spend a Day at Anne Springs Close Greenway In York
- 13 Spring Break Trip Ideas!
- Hiking Trails at Paris Mountain State Park
Summer Day Trips
Summer, Summer, Summertime! Summer is a state of mind, so when all else fails…take a little vacay! Check out some of these favorites:
- 13 Sandy Beaches In The Mountains That Are Perfect For Summer
- Swim and Splash near Charlotte, NC
- The Quarry at Carrigan Farms
- Lake Lure
- Lake Jocassee
- Turn Your Date Night Into A Date Day Trip! Greenville, Columbia, Charlotte, Asheville, And More!
- Canoe at Congaree National Park
- Cool River Tubing In Helen, GA
- Sapphire Valley Waterfalls In Cashiers, NC
- Tube All Day For Less Than $30! Deep Creek In Bryson City, NC
- 13 Places to go River Tubing near Charlotte, NC
- Midnight Hole Lagoon In NC
- Best Beaches Near Charlotte, NC
Fall Day Trips
Happy Fall, Y’all! For so many of us, this begins our favorite time of the year! Between apple picking, pumpkin patches, farm trips and the cooler temps, we’re big fans of fall because it is a truly happy time of year to venture out and about! Our Fall Day Trip Guide is full of great ideas. Or, just pick one of these fall favorites.
Holiday Day Trips
‘Tis the Season for holiday day trip guides! From the start of Spooky Season all the way to Christmas, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year!
Boo! Our spooky day trips will put a spell on you! Click below to see why we’re so glad we live in a world where October exisits, because this post includes all of the happy hauntings that the Carolinas have to offer!
Christmas in the Carolinas and Beyond! Click below for all of the merriment you can muster while you make memories in Western North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and the Upstate of South Carolina.
- Annual Christmas Parade In Cashiers, NC
- Dreamy Light Display In Asheville
- Christmas At The Biltmore
- Celebration of Lights in Kannapolis, NC
- Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland Light Display At Tryon International Equestrian Center
- Christmas Celebration At Stone Mountain, GA
- Head to The North Pole On The Polar Express in Spencer, NC
- Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Polar Express
- Charlotte Motor Speedway Christmas Lights
- Winterfest In Pigeon Forge
Check out our Ultimate Guide To Day Trips Near Charlotte, NC! We have so many fun things to do with your family!
