Hop in the car, drive anywhere in North Carolina, and you’re sure to be impressed with the passing scenery. Some roads are just better than others, though, and some roads are tailor-made for a beyond-scenic drive. Luckily, our gorgeous state has more than 60 scenic byways for making the most of your view – but these are our picks for the 10 best scenic drives in North Carolina that you should take ASAP.
- Outer Banks Scenic Byway
David Leavitt/Flickr With the Pamlico Sound on one side and the Atlantic on the other - it’s no wonder this gorgeous byway has been featured in multiple movies. It’s one of the most breathtaking byways in North Carolina. Read more about Outer Banks Scenic Byway here! Outer Banks, North Carolina, USA
- Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway
Stan/Flickr Rivaling the Blue Ridge Parkway (and running parallel to it in parts) the Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway gives you access to some of the most beautiful, untouched areas of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Get more information about this incredible byway here. Pisgah Highway, Pisgah Hwy, North Carolina 28768, USA
- Pamlico Scenic Byway
-ted/Flickr The byway starts you in historic Washington and you’ll travel along the Pamlico River and through gorgeous, flat coastal plains until reaching Manteo. A perfect way to go from the inner to outer banks. Learn more about Pamlico Scenic Byway here. Pamlico County, NC, USA
- Waterfalls Scenic Byway
Jim Liestman/Flickr Properly named, this beautiful byway runs West along the French Broad River eventually ending at the Toxaway River and Toxaway Falls. You’ll be in close proximity to Panthertown Valley, which is a great place to stop for the waterfall lover. Click here to learn more about this epic scenic drive in North Carolina. Waterfall Byway, NC
- Whitewater Way
Stan/Flickr Not far from Waterfalls Scenic Byway, Whitewater Way is named after Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall east of the Rockies at 411 ft. This byway gives you access to some of the most beautiful waterfalls you’ll find on the East Coast. Read more about the delightful Whitewater Way here. Whitewater Way Northwest, Whitewater Way NW, Concord, NC 28027, USA
- Hanging Rock Scenic Byway
NCDOTcommunications/Flickr Located amidst gorgeous rolling hills of the northern Piedmont Region, this byway provides motorists with great views of Hanging Rock and the ancient Sauratown Mountain chain. Read more about Hanging Rock Scenic byway here. Hanging Rock, North Carolina 28604, USA
- Meteor Lakes Scenic Byway
Matthew Molt/Only In North Carolina Starting in Elizabethtown, this byway takes you through some of North Carolina’s most gorgeous fertile farmland. Perfect for sweeping, wide open views and a different kind of scenery. Click here to learn more about this breathtaking scenic route. Meteor Lakes Scenic Byway, North Carolina
- Black Mountain Rag
Kim Jenkins/Flickr Stop by the quaint mountain town of Black Mountain then hop on the Black Mountain Rag for some great views. With close access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, the byway puts you in close proximity to Mt. Mitchell. Read more about the Black Mountain Rag here! Black Mountain, NC 28711, USA
- Upper Yadkin Way
Susan Smith/Flickr Drive through North Carolina’s own version of Tuscany (or Napa) along this beautiful byway. Stop at wineries and vineyards, and maybe bring a DD with you. Between rolling hills, wide open spaces, and foothills in the distance it’s a gorgeous drive. Learn more about Upper Yadkin Way by clicking here. Yadkin Road, Yadkin Rd, Fayetteville, NC, USA
- North Carolina Pottery Highway
PunkToad/Flickr Seagrove is known worldwide for its pottery legacy, and this byway takes you straight through. Perfect for the pottery lover, you begin in the Sandhills and end near the Piedmont. The drive is gorgeous with pottery shops hiding behind dense forest brush and some smack dab in the middle of rural fields. It’s an interesting and beautiful place. Read more about this delightful byway here! Pottery Road, Pottery Rd, North Carolina 27341, USA
For more information (and more byways), click here.
David Leavitt/Flickr
With the Pamlico Sound on one side and the Atlantic on the other - it’s no wonder this gorgeous byway has been featured in multiple movies. It’s one of the most breathtaking byways in North Carolina. Read more about Outer Banks Scenic Byway here!
Outer Banks, North Carolina, USA
Stan/Flickr
Rivaling the Blue Ridge Parkway (and running parallel to it in parts) the Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway gives you access to some of the most beautiful, untouched areas of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Get more information about this incredible byway here.
Pisgah Highway, Pisgah Hwy, North Carolina 28768, USA
-ted/Flickr
The byway starts you in historic Washington and you’ll travel along the Pamlico River and through gorgeous, flat coastal plains until reaching Manteo. A perfect way to go from the inner to outer banks. Learn more about Pamlico Scenic Byway here.
Pamlico County, NC, USA
Jim Liestman/Flickr
Properly named, this beautiful byway runs West along the French Broad River eventually ending at the Toxaway River and Toxaway Falls. You’ll be in close proximity to Panthertown Valley, which is a great place to stop for the waterfall lover. Click here to learn more about this epic scenic drive in North Carolina.
Waterfall Byway, NC
Not far from Waterfalls Scenic Byway, Whitewater Way is named after Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall east of the Rockies at 411 ft. This byway gives you access to some of the most beautiful waterfalls you’ll find on the East Coast. Read more about the delightful Whitewater Way here.
Whitewater Way Northwest, Whitewater Way NW, Concord, NC 28027, USA
NCDOTcommunications/Flickr
Located amidst gorgeous rolling hills of the northern Piedmont Region, this byway provides motorists with great views of Hanging Rock and the ancient Sauratown Mountain chain. Read more about Hanging Rock Scenic byway here.
Hanging Rock, North Carolina 28604, USA
Matthew Molt/Only In North Carolina
Starting in Elizabethtown, this byway takes you through some of North Carolina’s most gorgeous fertile farmland. Perfect for sweeping, wide open views and a different kind of scenery. Click here to learn more about this breathtaking scenic route.
Meteor Lakes Scenic Byway, North Carolina
Kim Jenkins/Flickr
Stop by the quaint mountain town of Black Mountain then hop on the Black Mountain Rag for some great views. With close access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, the byway puts you in close proximity to Mt. Mitchell. Read more about the Black Mountain Rag here!
Black Mountain, NC 28711, USA
Susan Smith/Flickr
Drive through North Carolina’s own version of Tuscany (or Napa) along this beautiful byway. Stop at wineries and vineyards, and maybe bring a DD with you. Between rolling hills, wide open spaces, and foothills in the distance it’s a gorgeous drive. Learn more about Upper Yadkin Way by clicking here.
Yadkin Road, Yadkin Rd, Fayetteville, NC, USA
PunkToad/Flickr
Seagrove is known worldwide for its pottery legacy, and this byway takes you straight through. Perfect for the pottery lover, you begin in the Sandhills and end near the Piedmont. The drive is gorgeous with pottery shops hiding behind dense forest brush and some smack dab in the middle of rural fields. It’s an interesting and beautiful place. Read more about this delightful byway here!
Pottery Road, Pottery Rd, North Carolina 27341, USA
Looking for other scenic drives in North Carolina? We’ve got you covered. We are officially ready to hop in the car and go for a drive! How about you?
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Scenic Drives in North Carolina September 04, 2021 Tori Jane What are some beautiful North Carolina byways to drive? Considering that there are more than 60 scenic byways in North Carolina to explore, the options are plentiful! Some of our favorite scenic drives here include breathtaking gems like the Blue Ridge Parkway, which extends through both North Carolina and Virginia, and the Cherohala Skyway extends through North Carolina and Tennessee. The Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway is another wonderful scenic drive, and we cannot recommend experiencing these enough. Each scenic drive in this state is splendid, and you’ve got to truly experience them all at least once. For more of our favorite North Carolina byways, visit this article. Where are the most beautiful places in North Carolina? Luckily for those who love beautiful places (and honestly, who doesn’t?), North Carolina is full of them! Some of our favorite places include gems like Lake Lure, which is easily the most beautiful small town – and lake – in the state. The water is sparkling blue and reflects the perfect North Carolina sky, and we couldn’t dream of a more perfect place to take in the beauty of this region. Our state parks – of which there are 41 – are each perfectly beautiful in their own ways and well worth a visit. There are also 10 National Parks, so be sure to make time to see those, too! If you’re ever in Charlotte, we really love Freedom Park, so be sure to visit! It’s perfect for those who prefer their beautiful places to be within city limits! Where can I find some nice scenic overlooks in North Carolina? If you’ve never been to Chimney Rock State Park, you should bump it to the top of your to-do list. The views offered by this incredible place are second to none; you’ll take in incredible sights of Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge, and it’s amazing year-round, too! The views at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are also absolutely incredible and well-worth a visit (or ten). Finally, you can’t miss the views over the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are breathtaking, especially upon one’s first visit.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Scenic Drives in North Carolina
September 04, 2021
Tori Jane
What are some beautiful North Carolina byways to drive? Considering that there are more than 60 scenic byways in North Carolina to explore, the options are plentiful! Some of our favorite scenic drives here include breathtaking gems like the Blue Ridge Parkway, which extends through both North Carolina and Virginia, and the Cherohala Skyway extends through North Carolina and Tennessee. The Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway is another wonderful scenic drive, and we cannot recommend experiencing these enough. Each scenic drive in this state is splendid, and you’ve got to truly experience them all at least once. For more of our favorite North Carolina byways, visit this article. Where are the most beautiful places in North Carolina? Luckily for those who love beautiful places (and honestly, who doesn’t?), North Carolina is full of them! Some of our favorite places include gems like Lake Lure, which is easily the most beautiful small town – and lake – in the state. The water is sparkling blue and reflects the perfect North Carolina sky, and we couldn’t dream of a more perfect place to take in the beauty of this region. Our state parks – of which there are 41 – are each perfectly beautiful in their own ways and well worth a visit. There are also 10 National Parks, so be sure to make time to see those, too! If you’re ever in Charlotte, we really love Freedom Park, so be sure to visit! It’s perfect for those who prefer their beautiful places to be within city limits! Where can I find some nice scenic overlooks in North Carolina? If you’ve never been to Chimney Rock State Park, you should bump it to the top of your to-do list. The views offered by this incredible place are second to none; you’ll take in incredible sights of Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge, and it’s amazing year-round, too! The views at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are also absolutely incredible and well-worth a visit (or ten). Finally, you can’t miss the views over the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are breathtaking, especially upon one’s first visit.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Considering that there are more than 60 scenic byways in North Carolina to explore, the options are plentiful! Some of our favorite scenic drives here include breathtaking gems like the Blue Ridge Parkway, which extends through both North Carolina and Virginia, and the Cherohala Skyway extends through North Carolina and Tennessee. The Forest Heritage National Scenic Byway is another wonderful scenic drive, and we cannot recommend experiencing these enough. Each scenic drive in this state is splendid, and you’ve got to truly experience them all at least once. For more of our favorite North Carolina byways, visit this article.
Where are the most beautiful places in North Carolina?
Luckily for those who love beautiful places (and honestly, who doesn’t?), North Carolina is full of them! Some of our favorite places include gems like Lake Lure, which is easily the most beautiful small town – and lake – in the state. The water is sparkling blue and reflects the perfect North Carolina sky, and we couldn’t dream of a more perfect place to take in the beauty of this region. Our state parks – of which there are 41 – are each perfectly beautiful in their own ways and well worth a visit. There are also 10 National Parks, so be sure to make time to see those, too! If you’re ever in Charlotte, we really love Freedom Park, so be sure to visit! It’s perfect for those who prefer their beautiful places to be within city limits!
Where can I find some nice scenic overlooks in North Carolina?
If you’ve never been to Chimney Rock State Park, you should bump it to the top of your to-do list. The views offered by this incredible place are second to none; you’ll take in incredible sights of Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge, and it’s amazing year-round, too! The views at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are also absolutely incredible and well-worth a visit (or ten). Finally, you can’t miss the views over the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are breathtaking, especially upon one’s first visit.
