From gorgeous beach towns to pretty mountain towns, there are a lot of small towns near Charlotte that are worth a visit.
With its many museums, restaurants, and landmarks, there is always something to do in Charlotte. Even though you’ll never get bored in the city, it’s also a lot of fun to spend some time in a beautiful small town nearby. There, you can have food at a local restaurant, walk around quaint streets, shop at boutique shops, and do much more.
If you’re looking for a great small town to visit, I got you covered. Here are the best small towns close to Charlotte!
Best Small Towns Near Charlotte
Black Mountain, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 2 hours
From Charlotte, you can get to Black Mountain in less than 2 hours.
The town of Black Mountain is home to lots of art galleries, restaurants, and sights.
When you are in Black Mountain, you can check out White Horse Black Mountain, which is a nonprofit performance venue where great live performances take place.
You can also go to Black Mountain Escape to play an escape game, which is a type of immersive game during which you have to escape from a room within a certain time by finding clues and solving puzzles.
Black Mountain Brewing is also a great place to visit. This is a brewery that creates all sorts of unique brews.
The town also hosts many types of festivals and other types of events throughout the year.
Hilton Head Island, SC
Distance from Charlotte: 4 hours
Hilton Head Island is a small town in South Carolina that you can reach from Charlotte, by car, in less than 4 hours.
The town has great golf courses, and there are a lot of art galleries that are great to check out.
When you are in the town, you can go to the Coastal Discovery Museum to learn about the history of Hilton Head Island. There are interesting exhibits at this museum, and a variety of events take place here.
Another fun activity is to do a tour of the Hilton Head Distillery. This is the island’s only distillery and there’s a tasting bar.
Boone, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 2 hours
Boone is a small town near Charlotte that you can reach in less than 2 hours. You can find Boone to the northwest of Charlotte.
Whether you want to see art, enjoy entertainment, or learn about history, you can do so in the town, as there are many different things to do in Boone.
One of the best places to visit is the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts. This is an arts center that is part of the Appalachian State University. At the center, you can see contemporary art for free, or you can attend an event.
Going to Sunrise Mountain Mini Golf is one of the best things to do in Boone too. You can find a challenging 18-hole miniature golf here that is surrounded by nature.
You can also go to the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country to attend a concert, see a film, or see a dance performance.
Other fun activities in Boone include playing an escape game at Mysterium Escape Adventure, playing a football game at Kidd Brewer Stadium, or learning about history and the Hickory Ridge History Museum.
Blowing Rock, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 2 hours
Blowing Rock is a small town that you can get to from Charlotte in about 2 hours. There are a lot of things to do in Blowing Rock.
The town is known for the Blowing Rock, which is a unique rock formation with constant streams of wind that blow against it.
When exploring the town, you should check out Blowing Rock’s main street, where you can find lots of boutique shops and restaurants.
The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum is a great museum that you can find in the town. At this museum, you can see various exhibitions about art and history related to the Southern Appalachian region. There are permanent and temporary exhibitions, and lots of events take place at the museum, such as workshops.
Mystery Hill is a unique place in Blowing Rock with indoor and outdoor attractions. You can see optical illusions, play with bubbles, and learn new things at this place.
Pawleys Island, SC
Distance from Charlotte: 3 hours and 45 minutes
You can get to Pawleys Island from Charlotte in about 3 hours and 45 minutes.
Pawleys Island is a great place with golf courses, and many places where you can get a view of the ocean.
There are also many great restaurants in the town, some of which have an incredible ocean view.
While visiting Pawleys Island, it can be great to to The Hammock Shops Village, which is a shopping center that was established in 1938.
Hendersonville, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 1 hour and 45 minutes
You can get to Hendersonville from Charlotte in about 1 hour and 45 minutes. The town is located close to the city of Asheville in Western North Carolina.
There are many things to do in Hendersonville, such as doing a guided tour, playing pinball machines, and doing a workshop.
One of the best activities in the town is visiting the Mineral and Lapidary Museum of Henderson County. At this museum, you can learn about geology, paleontology, and much more.
Another great place to check out is the Appalachian Pinball Museum. At this place, there are about 80 pinball machines, including very old ones, that you can play.
When you are going here with kids, you can check out the Hands On! Children’s Museum. This is a museum with all sorts of interactive exhibits through which can learn about real-life situations by playing.
Pinehurst, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 2 hours
Pinehurst is a small town close to Charlotte that is located to the east of the city. You can get there by car in about 2 hours.
Pinehurst is known for its golf courses, and when you visit this place, you should golf at one of the golf courses. One of the most famous ones is the No. 2 golf course.
Besides playing golf, there are many other things to do in Pinehurst.
Another activity that is great is taking a guided horse-drawn carriage ride during which you can learn about the history of Pinehurst.
There are also many unique restaurants in Pinehurst where you can have delicious food. One of these is The Ironwood, where you can have delicious seasonal Southern dishes made with both local and international ingredients.
Brevard, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Brevard is a town in Western North Carolina that you can get to from Charlotte, by car, in about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Although it is a small place, there are many things to do in Brevard that make going here on a trip a great idea.
One of the best things to do in this small town is to go to the Crystal Mountain Gem Mine. This is a fun attraction where children can experience gem mining and where you can shop for all kinds of items, such as fossils, jewelry, and gifts.
Another place that is worth checking out is the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas. At this museum, you can learn about military history.
The town is home to many great shops, including unique boutique shops, and O.P. Taylor’s Toy Store, which is a toy store that was established in 1987 where you can shop for many unique toys.
You can also go to the Co-Ed Cinema, which is a single-screen theater that dates back to the 1930s, to see a movie when you are in Brevard.
Maggie Valley, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Maggie Valley is a small town with a population of less than 2,000. It is a popular town and there are many fun things to do.
To get to the town from Charlotte, you have to drive for about 2 hours and 45 minutes.
One of the best things to do in Maggie Valley is to visit the Wheels Through Time Museum. This is a museum that has a collection of more than 350 rare vehicles. You can also see unique cars and memorabilia at the museum.
Another great place to go when you are in the town is Maggie Valley Carpet Golf. At this place, you can find two 18-hole miniature golf courses.
Tube World is another attraction that you can find in Maggie Valley. This is a tube hill that you can tube down.
Pigeon Forge, TN
Distance from Charlotte: 3 hours and 45 minutes
Pigeon Forge is a mountain town that is situated in the state of Tennessee. You can get to the town from Charlotte in about 3 hours and 45 minutes.
The town has a small population, but it is a very popular place and lots of tourists visit the town.
It’s one of the best small towns near Charlotte if you want to visit a place with many fun attractions. Pigeon Forge is home to a lot of attractions, of which the most famous one is Dollywood. This is a theme park by Dolly Parton where you can find all kinds of thrill rides. Many concerts take place at Dollywood throughout the year as well.
Another attraction that you can find here is the Titanic Museum. This is a large museum in the shape of the Titanic. At the museum, you can learn about and experience being a passenger on the Titanic.
WonderWorks Pigeon Forge is another fun attraction. At this place, you can see all kinds of interactive science exhibits and illusions.
Morganton, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Morganton is a small town that you can reach in about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Charlotte. It is located to the northwest of the city, towards the city of Asheville.
Morganton was the first chartered town in Western North Carolina, and the town was founded in 1777.
When you are in Morganton, you can check out The History Museum of Burke County. At this museum, which was established in 2003, you can find all sorts of artifacts related to Morganton and the region.
You can find many types of stores in the town, including several great art galleries, that you can see during a trip to the town.
The Morganton Farmers Market, which is an open-air farmers market where you can buy local produce, handmade crafts, and other local items, is a great place to explore too.
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Best things to do in Charlotte
Things to do with kids in Charlotte
Small Towns Close To Charlotte Tips
The places that I mentioned in this article are great to visit, and because there’s much to do in the towns you can have a fun day. Instead of going to one of the small towns close to Charlotte, you can also choose two towns that are near each other and visit them both in one day. That way, you can enjoy even more activities on the same day.
For example, you can find Black Mountain and Hendersonville near each other.
Small Towns Near Charlotte Map
This was my list of the best small towns near Charlotte. I hope I helped you find a place you want to visit!