Charlotte is a large city with many things to do and to see, but if you want to visit a new place, there are a lot of great weekend trips from Charlotte, NC.
From large cities with a lot of things to do to pretty small towns, there are incredible places close to the city. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing getaway or a fun trip during which you can explore famous landmarks, there are plenty of options to choose from.
If you’re looking for the best weekend getaways from Charlotte, look no further. In this guide, you can find the best places to visit during the weekend.
Weekend Trips from Charlotte, NC
Charleston, SC
Distance from Charlotte: 3.5 hours
From Charlotte, you can get to the city of Charleston, SC, in about 3.5 hours. The historic city of Charleston was founded in the year 1670 as Charles Town and is a city with many things to do and see.
Charleston has a beautiful historic downtown area with cobblestone streets and antebellum homes. A fun way to discover the city historic part of the city is by doing a horse-drawn carriage tour.
A great place in Charleston to see antebellum homes is The Battery. This is also a promenade from where you can enjoy incredible views. Another amazing place on Charleston’s waterfront is the Joe Riley Waterfront Park.
Other interesting sights to check out during a weekend trip to Charleston include Fort Sumter, the South Carolina Aquarium, and the Charleston Museum.
St. Augustine, FL
Distance from Charlotte: 6 hours
St. Augustine, FL, one of the oldest cities in the United States, if not the oldest, also makes for a fun weekend trip from Charlotte.
The city was founded in 1565 by the Spanish and has a beautiful historic, walkable downtown area where you can find many buildings that date back to the 18th century. The Historic Downtown of St. Augustine is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In addition to exploring the Historic Downtown, there’s much more that you can do in the city.
For example, you can see the Castillo de San Marcos or the St. Augustine Lighthouse.
There are also interesting museums in St. Augustine, such as the Lightner Museum, and the city has great venues for live entertainment, such as the Limelight Theatre.
Atlanta, GA
Distance from Charlotte: 4.5 hours
You can get to the city of Atlanta from Charlotte in about 4.5 hours by car.
From seeing marine animals at the Georgia Aquarium to learning about The Coca-Cola Company at World of Coca-Cola to admiring art at the High Museum of Art, there’s a lot to do in Atlanta during a weekend trip.
There are also many places where you can see a show during your weekend trip. For example, you can go to the historic Fox Theatre, which is a former movie palace that dates back to the year 1929.
Atlanta also has many good places to enjoy delicious food. One of the best places for this is the Krog Street Market. This is a food hall that is located on the Atlanta Beltline. You can find various market stalls selling a large variety of delicious prepared foods.
Columbia, SC
Distance from Charlotte: 1.5 hours
Columbia is the capital city of the state of South Carolina. The city is home to many great things to do and see for a weekend getaway.
For example, you can go to the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden and see more than 2000 animals surrounded by beautiful nature.
The city of Columbia is also home to great museums where you can learn new things, such as the South Carolina State Museum, the Columbia Museum of Art, and the South Carolina Military Museum.
In addition to that, you might find it interesting to check out the South Carolina State House or do a tour of the state house, during your weekend trip to the city.
Furthermore, the city is home to the University of South Carolina, and you can find the Williams-Brice Stadium in the city. When there happens to be a football game when you are visiting Columbia, you could attend it!
Augusta, GA
Distance from Charlotte: 2.5 hours
Another one of Georgia’s largest cities, Augusta, is a wonderful city for a weekend getaway from Charlotte. You can get to Augusta by car in about 2.5 hours by car.
From interesting museums to historic landmarks to great places for entertainment, Augusta has a lot to offer that you can discover during your trip.
For example, you can check out the Augusta Museum of History or the Morris Museum of Art during a weekend getaway.
Visiting the Boyhood Home of Woodrow Wilson, a house museum where you can learn about President Woodrow Wilson, is another one of the city’s highlights.
In addition to that, the city is home to great golf courses, trampoline parks, and many other places. You could also go to the large Augusta Mall to shop.
Myrtle Beach, SC
Distance from Charlotte: 3 hours and 45 minutes
The resort city of Myrtle Beach, located on the Atlantic coast of South Carolina, is a wonderful city that you can reach by car from Charlotte in about 3 hours and 45 minutes.
There are great places for enjoying a view of the ocean in the city. You can go for a relaxing stroll along the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and enjoy a view of the ocean. You can also ride SkyWheel Myrtle Beach and get a view of the ocean and the city from above.
Furthermore, the city of Myrtle Beach is home to many fun attractions, such as the Hollywood Wax Museum and Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach.
Myrtle Beach has many great activities for kids too. For example, you can go to the Mt. Atlanticus Minotaur Goff to play miniature golf.
Beaufort, SC
Distance from Charlotte: 4 hours
Beaufort, SC, is a wonderful small town that you can reach in less than 4 hours by car from the city of Charlotte.
The town is located on Port Royal Island and dates back to the year 1711.
Beaufort has quaint streets with beautiful houses and incredible boutique shops that are great to check out during a weekend trip. You can also go to Chocolate Tree, a chocolate shop that sells delicious handmade chocolates.
Visiting the Beaufort History Museum is also a great idea for your trip, and there are many good lodging options in Beaufort.
Virginia Beach, VA
Distance from Charlotte: 5.5 hours
From going to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center and learning about marine animals to seeing art at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art to walking the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, there is a lot to do in the city of Virginia Beach, VA.
You can get to the city by car from Charlotte in about 5.5 hours.
When you are doing a weekend trip to the city, you can also go to one of the city’s theaters, such as the Beach Cinema Alehouse, a movie theater where you can get delicious food while watching a movie.
It can also be fun to dine at one of Virginia Beach’s waterfront restaurants while enjoying an amazing view of the ocean.
In addition to that, Virginia Beach has many incredible lodging options, including luxury hotels, such as The Cavalier Virginia Beach.
Savannah, GA
Distance from Charlotte: 3 hours and 45 minutes
Savannah is a great city that you can get to from Charlotte by car in about 3 hours and 45 minutes.
The city of Savannah, which is located in Georgia, has a beautiful historic district with cobblestone streets, quaint squares, and beautiful houses, making it one of the best weekend trips from Charlotte.
There are many ways to explore the historic district, including by doing a guided tour.
You can also find many boutique shops in Savannah and the city has incredible restaurants, such as The Olde Pink House, which serves Southern cuisine and is housed in a mansion from the year 1771.
Walking along River Street is a must when doing this weekend trip. This street is located along the Savannah River, and you can enjoy great views when going for a stroll here.
The SCAD Museum of Art, a contemporary art museum, can be great to check out as well. Seeing contemporary works in such a historic city as Savannah is very interesting.
Asheville, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 2 hours
Asheville, reachable by car in about 2 hours from Charlotte, is a great city in Western North Carolina. There are many fun things to do in Asheville to discover during a weekend trip.
One of the city’s highlights is Biltmore. This is a mansion that was built at the end of the 19th century and that is the largest house in the country. It was the residence of George Washington Vanderbilt II. You can do tours of the house and the estate when you are in Asheville.
The Asheville Pinball Museum, a museum with 70 playable vintage pinball machines, is a great place to visit as well.
Furthermore, the city of Asheville is known for its art galleries. For example, Lexington Glassworks is a great place to see local art.
Other interesting places to visit are the Asheville Museum of Science, the Asheville Art Museum, and the Grove Arcade.
Jacksonville, FL
Distance from Charlotte: 5 hours and 45 minutes
You can get to the city of Jacksonville, FL, from Charlotte in 5 hours and 45 minutes. You can find the city of Jacksonville on the Atlantic Coast.
One of the best things to do during a weekend trip to Jacksonville is to visit the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. This is the largest fine arts museum in Northeast Florida.
Another interesting museum that you could check out, especially when you are going to the city with kids, is the Museum of Science and History. This is a museum with fun hands-on exhibits through which you can learn about science.
You can also find the EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, which is a stadium where you can see a game of the NFL team the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Another great place to go is the Florida Theatre, a historic theater from the year 1927 where you can attend a show.
Roanoke, VA
Distance from Charlotte: 3 hours
Roanoke, located in Virginia, is a lovely small city that can be great if you’re looking for Charlotte weekend trips. You can reach it in about 3 hours by car and it is situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
During your weekend trip, you should definitely check out the Mill Mountain Star. This is the largest freestanding illuminated man-made star in the world.
The city is also home to a variety of great museums. For example, you can find the Taubman Museum of Art here, which is a museum with a significant collection of American art from the 19th and 20th centuries.
You can also go to the Virginia Museum of Transportation to learn about the state’s railways.
The Roanoke Pinball Museum, a museum where you can learn about pinball machines and play vintage machines, is another must-see place in the city.
There are also many great theaters in the city, including The Grandin Theatre, which is a historic movie theater.
Charlottesville, VA
Distance from Charlotte: 4.5 hours
You can get to Charlottesville, VA, by car in about 4.5 hours. This small city is home to the University of Virginia, which is a university with a beautiful campus.
Charlotte has a beautiful downtown area with historic houses called the Downtown Mall. This is a lovely pedestrian area with great places for shopping, entertainment, and dining. In total, there are more than 120 shops.
Furthermore, one of the city’s best sights is Monticello, which is a building that was designed by Thomas Jefferson.
Another interesting sight in Charlottesville is The Paramount Theater. This is a historic theater that dates back to the year 1931 and that used to be a movie theater.
Athens, GA
Distance from Charlotte: 3 hours
Athens is a college town that you can find in Northeast Georgia. The town is known as “The Classic City” because of it having the same name as the city of Athens in Greece.
One of the best things to do during a weekend trip to the city is to see art at the Georgia Museum of Art, a museum with more than 100 works of art.
You can also go to the Georgia Theatre. You can go here to enjoy live music or hang out at the rooftop to have a drink while taking in views of the city.
You can also see a game at the Sanford Stadium, which is a stadium for football of the University of Georgia.
Knoxville, TN
Distance from Charlotte: 4 hours
By car, you can reach the city of Knoxville in 4 hours from Charlotte. Knoxville is a city that you can find on the Tennessee River in Tennessee.
From seeing incredible art at the Knoxville Museum of Art to going to a show at the beautiful Tennessee Theatre to attending a football game at the Neyland Stadium, there are many fun things to do in the city making it one of the best weekend getaways from Charlotte.
The city is known for hosting the 1982 World’s Fair, and you can go to the World’s Fair Park to see structures from the fair. The most iconic structure that you can find here is the Sunsphere.
You can also go to Zoo Knoxville, a zoo with more than 1,200 animals, when you are in the city.
Wilmington, NC
Distance from Charlotte: 3.5 hours
Reachable in 3.5 hours by car, the city of Wilmington is a wonderful city. There are many things to do and see in Wilmington, NC.
The city has a beautiful historic district where you can see beautiful antebellum architecture. One of the best examples of this type of architecture is the Bellamy Mansion, a mansion that dates back to the end of the 19th century.
You can also go for a walk at the Wilmington Riverwalk and enjoy a view of the Cape Fear River when you are doing this weekend trip. From the Wilmington Riverwalk, you can also get a view of Battleship North Carolina.
Battleship North Carolina is a former fast battleship that you can explore through a self-guided tour.
Exploring one of the many great museums is another great activity. Some of the best museums are the Wilmington Railroad Museum, the Cameron Art Museum, and the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science.
Furthermore, you can go to the Thalian Hall to see a show.
Richmond, VA
Distance from Charlotte: 4.5 hours
From seeing historic landmarks, such as Maymont and the White House of the Confederacy to seeing art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, there is a lot to do in the city of Richmond.
The city is also home to historic theaters, such as the Altria Theater, where you can enjoy great performing arts.
It can also be great to go to an event at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden during your weekend trip. For example, you can see art exhibits here.
In addition to that, you can see beautiful historic architecture in the city.
You can get to Richmond, VA, from Charlotte in less than 4.5 hours by car.
More Charlotte Articles
Fun things to do in Charlotte with kids
Things to do at night in Charlotte
Rainy day activities in Charlotte
Charlotte Weekend Trips Tips
When you are choosing one of these weekend getaways from Charlotte, I also recommend choosing the places where you can stop when driving there. It can take a few hours by car to go to the places on this list, and by deciding where you want to stop along the way, such as at a certain restaurant, you can have a much more comfortable time.
Weekend Getaways from Charlotte Map
Thanks for reading my guide to the best weekend trips from Charlotte, NC. As you see, there are a lot of great places you can visit!