11 Most Scenic Drives in North Carolina
If you love a road trip where the journey is as good as the destination, North Carolina will not disappoint. This state has a way of turning even a quick drive into something memorable. You will find twisting mountain roads that seem to climb into the clouds, stretches of pavement that appear to float between ocean and sound, and quiet country lanes rolling past farms and forests. Along the way, you might pass Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi, or drive beside Cape Hatteras, home to the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States. Each route is under four hours, filled with small-town charm, and packed with reasons to pull over. Some will draw you in for the view, others for a meal, and all of them leave you with the sense that you discovered something special. Let's hit the road.
Waterfall Byway
Starting in Murphy, this 98-mile drive winds through the mountains toward Rosman and feels like a tour of North Carolina's greatest waterfalls. Within minutes of leaving town, water spills from the hillsides as though the land itself cannot hold it in. Dry Falls lets you walk behind its curtain of mist, while nearby Bridal Veil Falls has a roadside pull-off where you can park and catch the spray. The route then passes through Franklin, a good place to refuel and enjoy a break at Caffe Rel, a local favorite that feels more like a European café than a small-town diner. Continuing toward Highlands, you will find antique shops, cozy inns, and pie worth lingering over. Scenic overlooks appear often along the road, offering places to pause for photos or a picnic. By the time you reach Rosman, you will likely have more pictures than miles left on the odometer, and you may start planning another trip before this one even ends.
Cherohala Skyway
Beginning in Robbinsville, the 43-mile Cherohala Skyway climbs quickly, trading town streets for mountain ridgelines. Just a few miles up, the pull-off at Santeetlah Overlook opens to a view that makes you pause mid-conversation. As you continue, ridge after ridge folds into the horizon, and a short detour to Huckleberry Knob rewards you with an easy summit hike and wide-open skies. Farther along, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest offers a quiet picnic stop beneath old-growth giants that have stood for centuries. Because services thin out on the high road, it pays to refuel and grab snacks in Robbinsville before setting out. Scenic overlooks, picnic pull-offs, and trailheads appear often, tempting you to stop again and again. By the time the road drops into Tellico Plains, Tennessee, the stillness of the mountains lingers, leaving you with the sense that the journey was meant to be savored slowly, one curve at a time.
Appalachian Medley Scenic Byway
Starting at Lake Junaluska, NC-209 twists north for 45 miles toward Hot Springs, offering a drive made for unhurried travel. Early on, rolling farmland stretches out beside crooked fences and weathered barns, a reminder that this route favors scenery over speed. Small crossroads towns with big names like Luck and Trust invite you to linger. At the Trust General Store and Café, you can refuel with a sandwich and pie while chatting with locals who know every turn in the road. Just ahead, St. Jude's Chapel of Hope offers a quiet spot to pause, lit by the soft glow of stained glass. Following Spring Creek, the highway dips and curves into Hot Springs, where the Appalachian Trail crosses right through town. Most travelers cap the journey at Hot Springs Resort & Spa, letting the mineral water soak away road miles while the river rushes past, a fitting finish to this medley of mountain calm.
Nantahala Byway
Beginning in Whittier, the 43-mile Nantahala Byway follows the Nantahala River, where kayakers and rafters splash through rapids only a stone's throw from the road. Within the first few miles, travelers often stop at the Nantahala Outdoor Center for a hearty meal, a strong coffee, or to simply watch paddlers test their lines in the current. Farther along, shaded picnic pull-offs invite you to stretch, skip rocks, or listen to the river's rhythm. A short detour takes you to Fontana Dam, where both engineering and mountain vistas compete for your attention. In the small community of Topton, Lakes End Café & Grill makes a convenient refueling stop before the road presses on. Since gas stations become scarce, it is smart to top off in Whittier before entering the gorge. By the time the byway winds into Marble, you will have traced a journey where river, road, and mountain seem to flow together.
Blue Ridge Parkway Segment
From Asheville to Blowing Rock, this 85-mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway feels like a highlight reel of mountain beauty. Just north of Asheville, Craggy Gardens bursts into bloom each summer, painting the ridges with color. A little farther on, you can pull into the Folk Art Center to see regional crafts or simply grab a coffee before climbing higher. Mount Mitchell, the tallest peak east of the Mississippi, comes with a side road to a summit observation deck. The short hike to Linville Falls rewards you with one of the Parkway's most dramatic cascades, perfect for a picnic break. In Little Switzerland, travelers pause at the Switzerland Café for homemade soup or pie before continuing north. The road then sweeps onto the graceful Linn Cove Viaduct, curving around Grandfather Mountain in one of the state's most iconic scenes before dropping toward Blowing Rock.
Outer Banks Scenic Byway
Running around 100 miles from Nags Head to Ocracoke Island, NC-12 threads between the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Pamlico Sound on the other. Just south of town, birdwatchers linger at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, where flocks of herons and egrets patrol the marshes. From there, the road carries you past sand dunes to the towering Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the most famous landmark on the Banks. In Buxton, travelers often pause for fresh seafood at local spots like Buxton Munch Company before continuing south. The scenery shifts as windsurfers skim Pamlico Sound, and then the highway rolls onto the Hatteras to Ocracoke Ferry. The crossing itself feels like part of the journey, with dolphins sometimes pacing alongside the boat. Once on Ocracoke, sandy lanes, relaxed cafés, and the island's pirate lore make the byway's finish every bit as memorable as its beginning.
Pamlico Scenic Byway
From Washington to Pamlico Sound, this 120-mile route shows off the quiet side of coastal North Carolina. Begin in Washington with a stroll along the riverwalk, lined with cafés, galleries, and views that sparkle at sunset. Heading east, you soon reach Bath, the state's oldest town and once home to the pirate Blackbeard. A slice at Blackbeard’s Tavern feels like the right nod to its swashbuckling past. Further along, in Belhaven, the marina and waterside restaurants invite you to linger, giving the town its reputation as "beautiful harbor." The road then slips through farmland and marshes, narrowing near Scranton into a leafy tunnel that feels forgotten by time. A short detour south takes you to Lake Mattamuskeet, where flocks of migrating birds rise against the evening sky. The final stretch delivers you to Manns Harbor, a quiet fishing village that hints at the Outer Banks beyond and marks the byway's gentle finish.
Edenton to Windsor Historic Drive
This 70+ mile drive begins in Edenton, a town with deep colonial roots and a waterfront lined with 18th-century homes. Stroll the streets where brick sidewalks meet white-columned porches, then step inside the Penelope Barker House, best known as the site where local women organized one of America's earliest political actions during the Revolution. Before leaving town, a stop at 309 Bistro & Spirits adds a modern twist to the historic setting. A short way along the route, Hope Plantation preserves the architecture and furnishings of the late 1700s, offering a close look at planter life in the early republic. From there, the road winds toward Windsor, where the town's floating riverwalk drifts above the Cashie River, creating a boardwalk-like experience you will not find anywhere else in the state. Cap the day with a plate of Carolina pulled pork and hush puppies at Bunn's Barbecue, a local landmark where the flavors are as enduring as the history along this drive.
Yadkin Valley Scenic Byway
Covering about 75 miles, this route from Elkin to Pilot Mountain winds straight through the heart of North Carolina's first federally recognized wine region, the Yadkin Valley AVA. Rolling hills unfold with vineyard after vineyard, giving the drive a sense of Tuscany mixed with Southern charm. Begin your journey with a tasting at Shelton Vineyards in Dobson, one of the largest family-owned wineries on the East Coast. Continue on to Raffaldini Vineyards, where Italian-style wines are paired with sweeping Blue Ridge views. Along the way, the historic village of Rockford invites you to slow down and wander among preserved 19th-century storefronts that feel frozen in time. Before the road reaches its end, Pilot Knob Park Country Club makes an inviting stop for a casual meal with a mountain backdrop. Finally, Pilot Mountain rises dramatically on the horizon, its distinct knob serving as both a natural landmark and the perfect finale to a drive steeped in history, wine, and scenery.
Devil's Tramping Ground Byway
This 34-mile route runs from Pittsboro to Bennett and blends small-town charm with eerie folklore. Begin in Pittsboro with a stop at S & T Soda Shoppe for a classic milkshake or sandwich. Near Harper's Crossroads, the legendary Devil's Tramping Ground waits in a clearing that is an unsettling, barren circle where no vegetation grows, and stories of midnight apparitions keep the legend alive. Travelers often pause here, half curious and half cautious, before continuing on. Services grow sparse the closer you get to Bennett, so it is wise to refuel in Pittsboro before setting out. The route may be short, but it leaves an impression that lingers long after the drive ends.
Sandhills Scenic Drive
From Albemarle to Carthage, this 46-mile drive sets an easy pace through the heart of the Sandhills. Begin at Morrow Mountain State Park, where a short hike to the summit rewards you with sweeping views of rolling hills and the Pee Dee River below. As you head east, the road winds through stretches of longleaf pine forest, a landscape that once covered much of the Southeast. Stop in Biscoe for a hearty plate of pasta at Omar’s Italian Restaurant, a fine institution. Back on the road, small horse farms dot the countryside, hinting that you are nearing equestrian country. One can also take a quick detour to Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, where rare old-growth pines tower overhead. The route ends in Carthage, where cafés, bookstores, and boutiques make you want to linger.
North Carolina: Built for the Road
Take a day to chase waterfalls, wander through vineyard country, or follow a two-lane road that hugs the sea. In North Carolina, the drive itself becomes the highlight. One curve opens to a view that makes you stop without thinking. Another leads to a small town where the coffee is strong, the stories run deep, and the locals greet you like an old friend. These are the drives that stay with you long after the trip is over.
