Fayetteville is a great city to explore with many sights and lots of things to do, but you also shouldn’t miss out on the weekend trips from Fayetteville, NC.
From large cities with many sights to relaxing getaways, those who need a short break from Fayetteville can choose from many great trips. There’s so much to explore near the city!
As there are so many great options, it may be hard to decide where to go. To help you out, I made this guide to the best Fayetteville weekend trips. In this guide, I cover a large variety of amazing destinations so there’s something for everyone’s liking.
Weekend Trips From Fayetteville, NC
Washington DC
Distance from Fayetteville: 5 hours
Washington DC, the capital city of the USA, is a wonderful place for a weekend trip. From Fayetteville, you can get to DC in less than 5 hours by car.
In Washington DC, there are a lot of interesting things that you can do.
First of all, you can check out some of the most iconic buildings in the city, such as the United States Capitol, the Library of Congress, and The White House.
Second, you can check out one or multiple of the many good museums in the city. For example, you can go to the National Gallery of Art or visit the National Museum of Natural History.
There are also many good theaters in the city that can be great to visit during a weekend trip. For example, you can check out a show at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Savannah, GA
Distance from Fayetteville: 4 hours
Looking for a charming Southern place that you can go to for a weekend trip from Fayetteville? Then, you should definitely consider going to Savannah. You can get to this city from Fayetteville in less than 4 hours.
This is a beautiful city in Georgia with a historic district with beautiful antebellum architecture. In this district, you can find many beautiful buildings, such as the Mercer-Williams House Museum.
Also, you can go for a walk at Forsyth Park.
Or explore the waterfront of Savannah! Here, you can also find historic sights, take in great views of the Savannah River, and enjoy delicious food at one of the restaurants.
You should also check out Leopold’s Ice Cream when you are doing this weekend trip. This is an iconic ice cream shop where you can get amazing ice cream!
Wilmington, NC
Distance from Fayetteville: 1.5 hours
You don’t have to travel very far if you want to enjoy a great weekend trip, and a great place that is only a 1.5-hour drive from Fayetteville is the city of Wilmington, NC.
This city has a lot of interesting and fun sights to check out.
For example, you can go to Battleship North Carolina, which is a military vessel that participated in many battles. You can do a self-guided tour of the many decks of the ship, which is very interesting.
Another great place to check out in Wilmington is the Wilmington Riverwalk. This is a lovely walk along the Cape Fear River where you can enjoy views and find many restaurants.
Like nature? Then, the Airlie Gardens is a great place for you with beautiful trees, plants, and flowers.
Also, you can find many good museums in the city of Wilmington. For example, you can check out the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science or the Wilmington Railroad Museum.
Columbia, SC
Distance from Fayetteville: 2.5 hours
Located about 2.5 hours from Fayetteville lies the city of Columbia, SC. This is the capital city of the state of South Carolina and it is a wonderful place to explore.
The city is very old as it was founded in the year 1786.
Because of that, you can find many historic sights in the city.
Furthermore, the city is home to many very good museums. Great ones to check out include the South Carolina State Museum, the Columbia Museum of Art, and the McKissick Museum.
If you like seeing animals, you can go to the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden when you are in Columbia.
Asheville, NC
Distance from Fayetteville: 4 hours
Asheville in Western North Carolina is a wonderful city that is perfect for a weekend getaway from Fayetteville. By car, you can get to Asheville in about 4 hours.
Asheville is a wonderful city that is surrounded by the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains.
The city is great if you like art because there are many art galleries and art museums in Asheville, especially in the River Arts District.
Furthermore, you can check out the Biltmore estate when you spend a weekend in Asheville. This is a very large mansion with an impressive architectural style.
Other interesting sights in the city include the North Carolina Arboretum, the Asheville Pinball Museum, and the Biltmore Industries Homespun Museum.
Greensboro, NC
Distance from Fayetteville: 1.5 hours
You can find this next weekend getaway about 1.5 hours from Fayetteville. You can have a great time in the city of Greensboro.
Greensboro is home to many good museums, such as the Greensboro History Museum, the Weatherspoon Art Museum, and the Blandwood Museum.
Furthermore, the city is filled with beautiful parks and gardens, such as the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden.
When you do this weekend trip, you can also plan on going to an event in the city. There are a lot of venues. For example, the Greensboro Coliseum is a place where you can often attend sports events and concerts. Another great venue is the Carolina Theatre of Greensboro. Here you can see great performing arts shows that I’m sure you’ll love.
Charleston, SC
Distance from Fayetteville: 3 hours
The charming Southern city of Charleston is great for a great weekend. From Fayetteville, you can get to Charleston by car in about 3 hours.
Charleston is a very old city that was founded at the end of the 17th century. The historic districts of the city, with its cobblestone streets and beautiful antebellum houses, can be great to explore.
You can also go for a stroll along The Battery and enjoy a view of the water.
Other interesting sights that you shouldn’t miss out on in the city include the South Carolina Aquarium and the Charleston City Market.
Furthermore, the city is packed with good restaurants. One great one is the Slightly North of Broad Restaurant.
Roanoke, VA
Distance from Fayetteville: 3.5 hours
Roanoke, Virginia, is a city that can be reached in about 3.5 hours from Fayetteville by car.
This is a lovely city in the Blue Ridge Mountains where you can find many viewpoints.
Besides that, there are a lot of fun and interesting attractions in the city.
You can go to the Roanoke Pinball Museum and have fun playing pinball machines.
You can also go to the Virginia Museum of Transportation or the Taubman Museum of Art.
And don’t forget to check out the iconic Mill Mountain Star, a neon star.
The Mill Mountain Zoo can also be great to go to.
Richmond, VA
Distance from Fayetteville: 3 hours
Richmond, VA, the capital city of Virginia can be reached in 3 hours from Fayetteville by car.
The city is one of the oldest cities in the United States and the city is packed with historic sights making it one of the most interesting weekend trips from Fayetteville.
For example, you can find the Virginia State Capitol here, a building that dates back to the year 1788.
If you like art, you can go to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts when you are in the city.
Also, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden can be great to check out if you like nature.
Other notable sights include the Science Museum of Virginia and the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.
There are also a lot of great things to do with kids in Richmond, such as going to the Children’s Museum of Richmond.
Charlotte, NC
Distance from Fayetteville: 2.5 hours
Spending a weekend in the largest city of North Carolina, Charlotte, can be a lot of fun because there’s so much to do in the city.
When you are in the city, you can check out the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art or the Mint Museum, two very good museums.
Furthermore, the NASCAR Hall of Fame can be great to see if you like racing.
Want to have fun during your weekend? Then, going to Carowinds can be a lot of fun! This is an amusement park with roller coasters, water rides, and much more.
Besides that, there are many good theaters in Charlotte, and you can find a few good ones at the Blumenthal Performings Arts Center.
You can get to Charlotte from Fayetteville by car in a bit more than 2.5 hours.
Augusta, GA
Distance from Fayetteville: 3.5 hours
You can get to the city of Augusta, GA, by car from Fayetteville in about 3.5 hours.
When you are in the city, there are a lot of interesting places to go to.
For example, you can go to the Augusta Museum of History or the Morris Museum of Art.
Another must-visit place in Augusta is The Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson. Here, you can learn about the early life of President Woodrow Wilson.
There are also many venues where you can enjoy great performances when you are in Augusta. For example, you can go to the Imperial Theatre or the Sacred Heart Cultural Center.
Virginia Beach, VA
Distance from Fayetteville: 3.5 hours
Virginia Beach is also one of the best weekend trips from Fayetteville. You can get to this city in Virginia in about 3.5 hours.
The coastal city is home to many great things to do.
For example, you can check out the Virginia Beach Boardwalk and enjoy great views of the Atlantic Ocean.
You can also go to the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, a museum with a great and extensive collection of art when you are in the city.
Want to learn about marine life? Then, you can go to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. At this place, you can find thousands of animals and beautiful exhibits.
Other sights in the city that can be great to see are the Military Aviation Museum and the Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum.
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Fayetteville Weekend Trips Tips
Whichever city you choose from the Fayetteville weekend trips, I’m sure you’ll have a great time. But there are ways to make your time even better.
For example, you can bring a battery pack with you. That way, your devices will never run out of energy.
Also, when you do a trip to a city that is a long drive away, such as Washington DC, I recommend choosing places where you can rest during this drive in advance!
Weekend Getaways from Fayetteville Map
This was my list of the best weekend trips from Fayetteville, NC. Thanks for reading my guide and I hope I helped you decide where to go!