These 6 scenic drives will take you to North Carolina's most incredible places
There's no shortage of scenic drives to take in the United States. According to the National Scenic Byway Foundation, there are 184 designated byway routes with beautiful vistas, as well as historic and cultural sites across the country. That means, no matter where you are in the U.S., a stunning drive isn't too far away.
Some drives have reached celebrity status, one of the most well known being Historic Route 66, which stretches from downtown Chicago to Santa Monica Pier in California. For nearly 100 years, travelers have been hitting the 2,448-mile road that has more than 250 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Other famous drives include the Pacific Coast Highway in California, which hugs 650 miles of the state's coast; the Natchez Trace Parkway, a historic 444-mile route from Tennessee to Alabama and Mississippi; and the highest fully paved road in North America, Colorado's Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, which sits at a cool 14,264 feet at its peak.Of course, there are plenty more drives that may not be as famous but are just as alluring.
The Highland Scenic Highway in West Virginia gives riders a picturesque view through the Monongahela National Forest. Make a pit stop in the Cranberry Glades for an unusual site: bogs full of carnivorous plants. Further north, the Kancamagus Scenic Byway in New Hampshire is a particularly beautiful drive as the leaves turn in the fall and won't take you too long to drive—it's on the shorter side at only 34.5 miles long.
In North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most searched scenic byways. The Cherohala Skyway is known as the 'mile high legend,' and Grandfather Mountain offers sweeping views from nearly 6,000 feet.
For those looking to take to the open road, Stacker compiled a list of the best scenic drives in North Carolina using data from Tripadvisor as of March 2024.
Once you locate the closest scenic drive near you, gather your favorite passengers, turn on an epic playlist, and take in the beauty that North Carolina has to offer.Note: The photos in this article are stock images and are not of the specific drives listed.
1. Walker Falls - Ten cascades along one roadway
Want to see amazing waterfalls, but don't want to go for a long hike? Walker Falls is a 45-foot-tall waterfall near Asheville that can be seen from the comfort of your car.
Located in the Pisgah National Forest along Forest Service Road 74. There are ten waterfalls in less than 10 miles of driving -- a beautiful view in an enchanting national forest.
2. U.S. Route 64 - From Murphy to Manteo, drive past mountains, waterfalls, lakes and small towns
The longest numbered route in the state of NC, U.S. Route 64 runs all the way from the mountains to coast. A road trip on this route will take you past mountains and waterfalls, over gorges and lakes, and through some of the state's most charming small towns.
3. Grandfather Mountain Overlook - Vista point from nearly 6,000 feet
Grandfather Mountain offers sweeping views from nearly 6,000 feet. Not only has this famous mountainside been featured in movies like Forest Gump, it also offers a close-up look at some of nature's coolest and cutest wildlife, from otters to black bears.
If you're brave enough, take a walk across the mile-high swinging bridge.
4. Road to Nowhere - Ghost towns and abandoned tunnels
If you like ghost towns, winding mountain roads and gazing over a vista point at an enormous lake far below, then the Road to Nowhere is for you.
As drivers leave Bryson City, there's one strange stretch of road, marked with a warning sign reading "Welcome to The Road to Nowhere: A broken promise! 1943 - ?"
The road winds about 6 to 7 miles through the beautiful Smoky Mountains, ending suddenly at a dark tunnel, surrounded by tall weeds and decaying fences. If you walk through, bring a flashlight. The tunnel is longer than it appears. The tunnel reaches a dead end, beyond which miles of hiking trails can take you to ghost towns destroyed when the lake was created.
5. Cherohala Skyway - 'The Mile High Legend'
It took more than 30 years to plan and construct the Cherohala Skyway, which was completed in 1996 as North Carolina's most expensive scenic highway.
Reaching heights of over 5,400 feet, the winding roadway spans mountains and two national forests: Charokee and Nantahala.
Unlike the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cherohala Skyway "offers little evidence of civilization," according to their website. This means the views are more wide open, the nights are darker, the winters colder -- and less opportunities to fill up your car with gas along the way.
6. Blue Ridge Parkway
Take a look at North Carolina from far, far above -- on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
A winding, curving roadway that takes drivers in between and over top mountains, through dark tunnels and past North Carolina's beautiful natural wonders, waterfalls, rivers and gorges.
Some of the sights include Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain peak in the eastern United States, the Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, the Linville Gorge, the deepest gorge east of the Grand Canyon, and the New River, the oldest river in North America.
What's your favorite North Carolina scenic drive?
Take us on a virtual roadtrip! We're looking for photos from along U.S. Route 64 (from Murphy to Manteo), so show us your best roadtrip photos from along this unique scenic drive in NC and we may include it in an upcoming article! You can email hleah@wral.com.
