Blue Ridge Parkway: America’s Most Visited National Park Route
You know that feeling when you discover something incredible and can’t wait to tell everyone about it? That’s exactly how North Carolina locals feel about the Blue Ridge Parkway. A staggering 16.7 million people traversed the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2023, making the 469-mile-long parkway likely the most visited national park in America. That’s more visitors than the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite national parks combined. The numbers don’t lie – when locals keep coming back year after year to this winding mountain highway, there’s definitely something special happening here.
The Cherohala Skyway: North Carolina’s Best Kept Secret
Connecting Tellico Plains, Tennessee, with Robbinsville, North Carolina, the Cherohala Skyway spans 43 miles through the Nantahala National Forest and the Cherokee National Forest, presenting panoramic views of untouched wilderness. It took 34 years to build this expensive highway, winding up and over 5,400-foot mountains for 15 miles. The Cherohala Skyway is a wide, paved two-lane road making for a pleasant drive, with elevations ranging from 900 to over 5,400 feet at the Tennessee-North Carolina border. What makes this route so beloved by locals is its complete lack of commercialization – you won’t find a single gas station or tourist trap along the way.
Outer Banks Scenic Byway: Where Ocean Meets Adventure
The Outer Banks Scenic Byway extends for 138 driving miles and 25 ferry-traveling miles, crossing several islands including Cedar Island, Ocracoke Island and Hatteras Island, plus 21 distinct coastal villages. The Outer Banks National Scenic Byway received the 2021 Community Byway Award from the National Scenic Byway Foundation. This isn’t just any coastal drive – it’s a journey through America’s first national seashore. The full trip is estimated to take 5.5 hours and includes two ferries: one from Hatteras to Ocracoke Island, and a longer ride from Ocracoke Island to Cedar Island. The fact that you’re literally driving on water for part of this journey makes it unforgettable.
Forest Heritage Scenic Byway: Waterfalls and Mountain Magic
The impressive Looking Glass Falls sits just off the road, allowing motorists to pull over without hiking, plus there’s Sliding Rock, a natural waterslide that provides a refreshing dip on hot summer days. The Cradle of Forestry is a 6,500-acre site considered the birthplace of forestry science, with preserved buildings from the first American forestry school and walking trails. Starting in Brevard, this route takes you through some of the most spectacular waterfall country in North America. What locals love most about this drive is that you can literally park your car and walk behind a waterfall – try doing that anywhere else in the country.
The Tail of the Dragon: 318 Curves in 11 Miles
The Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap features 318 curves within 11 miles and is prevalent among motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts. This drive is well-known for its challenging twists and turns, making it a mecca for motorcycle riders and sports car drivers. Various photographers snap pictures along the way because this is a bucket-list adventure for automotive enthusiasts. Think of it as North Carolina’s answer to a roller coaster, except you’re in control of the ride. Local car clubs make pilgrimages here regularly, and there’s even a whole culture around collecting photos from the professional photographers stationed along the route.
Sauratown Mountains Scenic Byway: The Mountains Away from the Mountains
The Sauratown Mountains Scenic Byway stretches over 72 miles through a unique geological area often referred to as “the mountains away from the mountains,” winding past Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock State Park. Visitors can explore the historical town of Danbury, discover local art at the Piedmont Craftsmen’s Gallery, and indulge in the region’s wineries, with opportunities for hiking, bird watching, and rock climbing. This route is beloved by locals because it offers mountain experiences without the crowds of the Blue Ridge. It’s like having a secret mountain range in your backyard that most tourists never discover.
Mount Mitchell Scenic Drive: Reaching New Heights
This 52-mile drive offers a breathtaking ascent to Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi at 6,684 feet, providing awe-inspiring views of the Appalachian landscape with lush forests, vibrant wildflowers, and diverse wildlife. Mount Mitchell State Park offers hiking trails, including a trek to the summit, picnic areas, and educational exhibits at the park’s museum. What makes this drive special for locals is the dramatic elevation change – you start in the foothills and end up literally above the clouds. The temperature can drop twenty degrees between the bottom and the top, making it a natural air conditioning system in summer.
Newfound Gap Road: Elk Spotting in the Smokies
Motorists should keep their eyes peeled for elk when driving along Newfound Gap Road Scenic Byway, which encompasses 30 miles through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The synchronous fireflies are unique to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offering visitors a stunning natural light show where thousands of fireflies flash their lights in unison, with park rangers limiting visitors during peak season. This route is pure magic during firefly season, when locals enter a lottery system just for the chance to witness one of nature’s most spectacular light shows. The elk population has grown significantly in recent years, making wildlife sightings almost guaranteed.
Virginia Creeper Trail Byway: Following Historic Train Routes
Travelers can head out of Warrensville on NC Highway 194 toward Lansing, where there’s an off-leash dog park at Lansing Creeper Trail Park, plus Molley Chomper Hard Cider using heritage apple varieties from local orchards. The byway parallels the path once taken by the Virginia Creeper Train, nicknamed by locals for the Virginia-Carolina Railroad because of steep grades, sharp curves, and numerous bridges that required slow movement. “Some of the valleys that you drive through there are just spectacular,” says Andy Guion, tourism committee chair for the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce. This route tells the story of Appalachian transportation history while offering some of the most pristine valley views in the state.
French Broad River Scenic Byway: Music and Mountain Culture
The 45-mile North Carolina Scenic Byway is named for the rich history of local music, following NC 209 from Lake Junaluska to Hot Springs through farmland and Pisgah National Forest, with stops at the Trust General Store and tiny St. Jude’s Chapel of Hope. This route is especially dear to locals because it showcases authentic mountain culture that hasn’t been commercialized. You’ll find old-time music sessions at country stores, family farms that have been in operation for generations, and natural hot springs that have been soothing weary travelers for centuries. The French Broad River itself is one of the oldest rivers in the world, flowing north instead of south like most Appalachian waterways.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Drive: Lighthouse Hopping
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, with its black and white candy-cane stripes, is one of the most famous lighthouses in the world, standing 208 feet tall as the world’s tallest brick lighthouse, with over 175,000 visitors climbing the 257 steps annually. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore stretches across 70 miles of shoreline, encompassing seven villages on Hatteras Island and providing miles of undisturbed, scenic beaches. Hatteras Island’s beaches rank among the nation’s “Top 10 Favorite Beaches,” and the drive here is hailed as one of the “Top 10 Most Scenic”. What locals love most is that you can actually walk behind some of the waterfalls along this route, and during certain times of year, you can witness the rare phenomenon of an oceanfront sunset on the East Coast.
Pottery Road: Artisan Heritage Trail
From the NC Pottery Center, the route continues onto NC 705 toward Whynot community, then through Westmoore and Robbins, both with interesting history and the area’s first potters, ending with the tree-lined Cedar Road and Eagle Springs before Pinehurst. This lesser-known gem takes you through the heart of North Carolina’s pottery tradition, where families have been throwing clay for over 200 years. What makes this route special for locals is the opportunity to visit working pottery studios where techniques haven’t changed in generations. You can watch master potters create everything from face jugs to utilitarian ware using traditional methods passed down through families.
The Ultimate Local Experience: Planning Your Perfect Trip
After traversing all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, this guide features more than 25 scenic byways from the mountains to the sea. Blue Ridge Parkway visitation saw an increase of 1 million or 6% over 2022, with the Parkway’s location, design, and proximity to gateway communities providing rich natural, cultural, recreational, and historical experiences. The secret that locals know is that each route offers something completely different – you can experience four seasons in a single day by starting at the coast and ending in the mountains. The best part? There is no entrance fee to drive most of these parkways, making them accessible to everyone regardless of budget.
These aren’t just roads – they’re time machines, art galleries, and adventure playgrounds all rolled into one. The next time someone asks you about the perfect North Carolina road trip, you’ll know exactly what locals have been keeping to themselves all these years. Which route will you tackle first?
