Overview of North Carolina National Parks
North Carolina stretches 500 miles east to west, from the Atlantic Coast to the Appalachian Mountains. The state is home to a variety of national parks that showcase both natural beauty and historical significance. These parks include the most popular National Park in the country, the Wright Brothers National Memorial, and the most visited parkway.
From the Great Smoky Mountains to the wonder of flight, visitors can experience the beauty and innovation within North Carolina’s national parks. Planning a vacation to these parks offers a chance to explore diverse landscapes, learn about history, and enjoy outdoor activities.
America the Beautiful/National Park Pass
The America the Beautiful/National Park Pass is an essential tool for any visitor planning to explore multiple national parks. This pass covers entrance fees for an entire year to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites. It allows everyone in the car to enter per vehicle sites and up to four adults for per-person sites.
Purchasing the pass through REI.com provides an added benefit: REI will donate 10% of the proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
Free Entrance Days
The National Park Service offers five free entrance days annually. Mark your calendars with these dates to enjoy the parks without paying entrance fees. These days provide an excellent opportunity to explore the natural and cultural treasures of North Carolina’s national parks.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail (NST) is one of the most famous trails in the United States. In North Carolina, 95.7 miles of the trail run through the state, with elevations ranging from 1,725 feet to 5,498 feet. The trail runs along the Tennessee and North Carolina border for 224.7 miles.
Top things to do on the trail include thru-hiking, camping, enjoying scenic views, cross-country skiing, wildflower viewing, bird watching, and wildlife viewing. Specific hikes such as Wesser Bald Fire Tower, New Found, Gap to Charlies Bunion, Mt. Cammerer, Lemon Gap to Max Patch, and Lover’s Leap Loop are popular among hikers.
Lodging options along the trail include shelters, campsites, hostels, hotels, bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals, and resort lodgings. Camping options consist of backcountry campsites, national park campgrounds, commercial campgrounds in nearby towns, state park campgrounds, and forest service campgrounds. Visitors should ensure compliance with park regulations and practice Leave No Trace principles when camping.
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic drive that spans 469 miles between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National Park along the Blue Ridge Mountains. Located in Western North Carolina and western Virginia, it is one of the most visited national parks in the country.
Top things to do include sleeping under the stars (camping), enjoying traditional music from the Southern Appalachians, hiking, picnicking, capturing amazing photos, auto touring, bicycling, fishing, winter recreation, bird watching, and wildlife viewing.
Lodging options along the parkway include two lodges that provide overnight accommodations from spring through the fall. Eight campgrounds are open from May through October. The parkway has a speed limit of 45mph, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenic mountain views.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Cape Hatteras National Seashore is located in Eastern North Carolina, approximately 85 miles south of Norfolk. It is the first national seashore in the United States, established in 1953. The park stretches for 70 miles along the Outer Banks and protects parts of three barrier islands – Bodie, Hatteras, and Ocracoke Islands.
Top things to do include beach activities, fishing, hiking, climbing the 214-step Bodie Island Lighthouse, visiting the Ocracoke Island Lighthouse, seeing wild horses, nature viewing, photography, swimming, crabbing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, surfing, kayaking, and canoeing.
There are no traditional lodging options within the seashore, but there are four NPS-operated campgrounds along the seashore. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, built in 1870, is the tallest brick lighthouse in the country at 208 feet. Visitors can climb the 248 stairs to the top and visit the nearby visitor center.
Cape Lookout National Seashore
Cape Lookout National Seashore is located in Eastern North Carolina, approximately 160 miles southeast of Raleigh. It offers opportunities to explore the beach, primitive camping, and tour a historic lighthouse.
Lodging options include rustic, wooden cabins at Long Point and Great Island, which offer beachfront views. These cabin camps can only be reached by boat, adding an element of privacy and adventure.
Camping is permitted on the majority of Cape Lookout National Seashore’s barrier islands. The Cape Lookout Lighthouse, built in 1859, is a notable attraction. During the summer, Park Rangers provide seasonal interpretive programs about the lighthouse and its outer banks.
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site is located in Southwestern North Carolina, approximately 25 miles southeast of Asheville in the town of Flat Rock. The park is open year-round and offers the opportunity to tour Sandburg’s home.
Top things to do include touring the Sandburg Home, visiting Connemara Farms, enjoying the solitude of Connemara (hiking), and participating in seasonal programs and special events. There are no campgrounds within the park, but there are several lodging options in the nearby areas, including Hendersonville.
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
Fort Raleigh NHS is located in Eastern North Carolina, approximately 90 miles south of Norfolk. The park is open year-round and offers the opportunity to tour an early English colony.
Top things to do include seeing the 1896 Monument, exploring the Freedom Trail, following the Thomas Hariot Trail, becoming a Junior Ranger, and fishing. There are no lodging options or campgrounds within the site.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park and is located in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. The park is open year-round and offers amazing wildlife viewing, hiking, camping, scenic driving, and much more.
Top things to do include wildflower viewing, hiking, fishing, having a picnic in one of the picnic areas, biking the Cades Cove road on Wednesdays from May through September, wildlife viewing, bicycling, touring Cades Cove, camping in the Smokies, burial landscapes, horseback riding, and seeing historic buildings.
There are no motels or rental cabins located within the national park other than LeConte Lodge. Visitors can choose from 10 front country campgrounds or head into the backcountry.
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
Guilford Courthouse NMP is located in North-central North Carolina in the city of Greensboro. The park is open Spring through Fall and offers the opportunity to explore a Revolutionary War battlefield.
Top things to do include taking a cellphone tour, visiting the cannons at Tour Stop 6, driving on the Tour Road, touring the battlefield on foot, seeing actual artifacts recovered from the battleground, checking out Don Troiani Gallery, and becoming a Junior Ranger or Not So Junior Ranger.
There are no lodging options or public campgrounds in the park. Visitors can take a battlefield road tour with eight interpretive stops, including an equestrian statue of Nathanael Greene. There are also 2.5 miles of battlefield walking trails.
Moores Creek National Battlefield
Moores Creek NB is located in southeastern North Carolina, approximately 20 miles from Wilmington. The park is open year-round and offers the opportunity to visit a historic battlefield.
Top things to do include candlelight tours, joining anniversary events, experiencing history, bird watching, participating in Get Fit at Moores Creek, fishing, and picnicking. While there are no lodging options within the park itself, visitors can find several lodging choices in the nearby towns, such as Wilmington.
There are no National Park Campgrounds within the park. Visitors can check out the visitor center, which has interpretive exhibits and a park film, and explore the .7-mile history trail, which follows part of the road used by Loyalist and Patriot troops.
Wright Brothers National Memorial
Wright Brothers National Memorial is located in Northeastern North Carolina, approximately 90 miles south of Norfolk. The park is open year-round and offers the opportunity to visit a museum and learn about the paths of the first flights.
Top things to do include starting your visit at the visitor center, exploring reconstructed 1903 Camp Buildings, viewing the First Flight Boulder & Flight Line, and admiring the December 17, 1903 Sculpture.
There are no National Park Lodges or camping opportunities within the park. The park visitor center has interpretive exhibits, including a functional reproduction of the 1903 Flyer. Reconstructions of the hangar and living quarters the Wright Brothers lived in during their time in North Carolina are also on display.
Additional Information
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List of North Carolina National Parks
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail (Georgia to Maine)
- Blue Ridge Parkway (also Virginia)
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore
- Cape Lookout National Seashore
- Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
- Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NC, TN)
- Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
- Moores Creek National Battlefield
- Wright Brothers National Memorial
Affiliated Areas
- Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
- Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (FL, GA, NC, SC)
- Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (NC, SC, TN, VA)
- Trail of Tears National Historic Trail (AL, AR, GA, IL, KY, MO, NC, OK, TN)
North Carolina’s national parks attract over 18 million visitors a year, generating over $1.2 billion in economic benefits through tourism. The state’s national parks include 2 National Heritage Areas, 2 Wild and Scenic Rivers managed by the National Park Service, 3 National Trails, and 2,944 National Register of Historic Place listings.
National Parks in North Carolina also include 1 World Heritage Site, 569 places recorded by the Heritage Documentation Program, and over 2.6 million pieces in the North Carolina National Park Museum Collection along with 600 archaeological sites.
National Parks in Neighboring States
- National Parks in South Carolina
- National Parks in Tennessee
- National Parks in Virginia
For a comprehensive list of US National Parks in alphabetical order, visit the official website to check out how many you have visited.
