Road Tripping Across NC on I-40

Photo Credit: VisitNC.com

From the Atlantic coast to the Great Smoky Mountains, Interstate 40 links scenic landscapes, vibrant cityscapes and as-you-like-it recreation options across North Carolina(link is external). If time is tight, zero in on the most appealing section along the epic journey’s 400 miles.

Wilmington and its beaches. The Port City extends its charms from its well-loved downtown to a pair of moss-draped open spaces. Airlie Gardens(link is external) enchants with its ancient live oaks, seasonal blooms and Mystery Grave, and Greenfield Lake Park(link is external) maps trails through cypress trees and natural wonders. Wrightsville Beach, a noted surf and SUP destination, offers paddles and eco tours to pristine Masonboro Island(link is external), while the Flytrap Trail at Carolina Beach State Park(link is external) showcases an indigenous carnivorous plant. At Kure Beach, natural and human history intersect on the trails and beach at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area(link is external).

Raleigh. Two hours from the coast, this fast-growing Southern city has more open space than a traveler might expect, including a 300-acre downtown park(link is external), a state park(link is external) within city limits and the nation’s largest art park(link is external), which connects the N.C. Museum of Art(link is external) to the city greenway system. The museum’s outdoor spaces include a courtyard garden with Rodin sculptures and reflecting pool with waterlilies. Falls Lake State Recreation(link is external) area adds options for swimming, boating and hiking.

Greensboro. An hour west of Raleigh, history has marked Greensboro as the site of a significant Revolutionary War battle and the birthplace of the civil rights era’s sit-in movement. At Guilford Courthouse National Military Park(link is external), visitors can soak up history on leg-stretching trails to the monuments. Families can enjoy outdoor experiences at Greensboro Science Center(link is external), home of a lively zoo and the Skywild treetop adventure park.

Winston-Salem. Half an hour west, visitors can reach the heart of the city’s history with a stroll along the cobblestone streets of Old Salem Museum & Gardens(link is external).  Nearby, Tanglewood Park(link is external) is home to nature trails and Softgolf(link is external), which gets participants onto the green to hit oversize foam balls. Families will want to swing by Divine Llama Vineyards in East Bend to pick up a bottle or two of In a Heartbeat(link is external) (a semi-dry red blend) and look across the field for some of the llamas(link is external) that will be leading treks come October.

Morganton. Foothills meet mountains on the 90-minute drive to Morganton, a gateway to the great outdoors. Catawba Meadows Park(link is external), a 230-acre city park on the Catawba River, offers greenway trails plus disc golf, a zipline experience(link is external) and a Native American living history center. Hikers eager to challenge themselves can take to the trails at South Mountains State Park(link is external) or the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area(link is external). Crystal clear waters at Lake James State Park(link is external) invite travelers to immerse themselves in beauty with a hike, a swim, or a kayak or stand-up paddle board glide. For late-night adventure, pursue the mystery of the Brown Mountain Lights(link is external).

Asheville. The Blue Ridge Mountains rise to meet you on an hourlong ride to Asheville, a city that pulses with creativity. You can lose yourself in the shops, restaurants and breweries downtown or find your way to immersive hikes(link is external) to see wildlife, wildflowers and waterfalls. For surefire sightings of black bears, barn owls, red wolves and river otter, head for the Western North Carolina Nature Center(link is external). Outfitters stand ready to take you out on the French Broad River for your choice of tubing or whitewater rafting, and children as young as 4 can join a zipline tour.

Haywood County. Thirty miles south of Asheville, get off the interstate at Clyde and check into your own caboose at Buffalo Creek Vacations(link is external) (and you thought the tiny house was cool!). Book a ride on an American Paint Horse with Panther Creek Outfitters(link is external), drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway(link is external) to hike or drink in the scenery, or visit the Qualla Boundary(link is external), home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. As a final treat, splurge on an excursion with Cataloochee Valley Tours or Leapfrog Tours(link is external) to see the wild elk that have been brought back to Great Smoky Mountains National Park(link is external).
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