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16 Perfect Weekend Trips from Greensboro, NC (+ Map!)

View of Myrtle Beach, one of the best weekend getaways from Greensboro
Myrtle Beach, one of the best weekend getaways from Greensboro

Looking for the best weekend getaways from Greensboro, NC? There are some amazing places near the city you can go to!

In this guide, you can find the best places you can go to for a weekend. Whether you’re looking for large cities with famous sights or smaller cities where you can relax, I got you covered.

This guide consists of amazing places in North Carolina such as Raleigh and Wilmington. But I also included incredible places beyond the state that are amazing if you’re looking for Greensboro weekend getaways. There are plenty of amazing cities to discover for a weekend trip!

Weekend Trips from Greensboro

Charleston, SC

Road, buildings, and palm trees in Charleston
Street in Charleston

Distance from Greensboro: 4.5 hours

One of the best weekend getaways from Greensboro is one to the city of Charleston.

This is a lovely city that you can find in South Carolina.

The city is known for its beautiful historic antebellum architecture, and you can find this architectural style in many parts of the city.

Also, there are beautiful palms that grow in the city and that you can see all throughout the historic area of the city.

Furthermore, one of the best sights in the city to check out is the South Carolina Aquarium. And you can also go for a stroll at the Joe Riley Waterfront Park.

You can reach the city by car in about 4.5 hours, which is great for a weekend trip.

Myrtle Beach, SC

Ferris wheel and buildings in Myrtle Beach
View of a Ferris wheel and buildings in Myrtle Beach – Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock.com

Distance from Greensboro: 4 hours

You can reach Myrtle Beach from Greensboro in a bit less than 4 hours.

Myrtle Beach is a city in South Carolina that you can find on the Atlantic coast.

The city has a lot of fun attractions where you can have a great time.

For example, you can ride the SkyWheel Myrtle Beach. This is a very tall Ferris wheel from where you can enjoy a great view.

Also, you can go to Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach to see all sorts of marine life.

Another fun attraction in Myrtle Beach is the Hollywood Wax Museum. Here, you can find many different wax sculptures by famous people.

Furthermore, you can go to Mt. Atlanticus Minotaur Goff, which is a very nice miniature golf course in the city.

Roanoke, VA

View of Roanoke from above
Roanoke from above

Distance from Greensboro: 2 hours

Roanoke is very close to Greensboro and it’s one of the best weekend trips from Greensboro. You can reach this city in Virginia in about 2 hours, which is a very easy drive.

Roanoke is a city in the Blue Ridge Mountains where you can find a lot of great things to do and to see.

For example, you can find the Taubman Museum of Art in the city. This is a wonderful art museum with a great collection.

Also, the Virginia Museum of Transportation is a great museum to check out. Here, you can learn about all sorts of transportation, which is very interesting and a lot of fun.

What’s great about Roanoke as well is that it is a great place to start an outdoor activity from.

Knoxville, TN

Buildings, trees, and Sunsphere in Knoxville
Sunsphere in Knoxville

Distance from Greensboro: 4.5 hours

Knoxville is another great city that you can reach from Greensboro in about 4.5 hours.

You can find Knoxville in the state of Tennessee and it is located on the Tennessee River.

When you are in Knoxville, you can go to Zoo Knoxville. This is a very large zoo where you can see many different species of animals.

Also, you can go to World’s Fair Park. This is an area in the city that was created for the World Fair of 1982. Here, you can also find the iconic Sunsphere, which is a tower that you can climb to enjoy a great view of the city.

Furthermore, you could go to the Knoxville Museum of Art and check out a great collection of art.

Also, the Tennessee Theatre is wonderful when you want to see a show during your trip.

Winston-Salem, NC

View of Winston-Salem
Buildings in Winston-Salem from above

Distance from Greensboro: 30 minutes

Even though Winston-Salem is very close to Greensboro, it is a great place to check out for a weekend trip from Greensboro. You can get to the city in about 30 minutes.

In Winston-Salem, you can find a variety of sights that are wonderful.

For example, you can find the Reynolda House Museum of American Art here.

This is a museum with a very good collection of many different types of art from a large period in time.

Furthermore, you can go to the Old Salem Museums & Gardens to learn about the history of the city.

Also, when you go to Winston-Salem with kids, you can go to Kaleideum North. This is a museum where children can learn a lot of new things while playing.

Durham, NC

View of buildings in Durham, NC
Buildings in Durham, NC

Distance from Greensboro: 30 minutes

Durham is another lovely city that is very close to Greensboro, you can get there in about 30 minutes, which is great for a weekend trip.

When you are in Durham, you can check out the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. This is a lovely botanical garden where you can see beautiful plants and flowers, and the garden is a great place for a relaxing walk.

Also, you can go to the Durham Performing Arts Center to see great shows at night.

Another great place to check out in the city is the Nasher Museum of Art. This is a museum that is part of Duke University and you can find an amazing collection here.

Also, the Duke Lemur Center can be great to go to.

Raleigh, NC

View of Raleigh
Road and buildings in Raleigh from above

Distance from Greensboro: 1.5 hours

Another lovely place, if you’re looking for nearby weekend trips from Greensboro, is Raleigh.

When you are in Raleigh, you can go to the North Carolina Museum of Art to see a beautiful collection of art.

Also, when you are doing this trip to Raleigh with kids, you can go to the Marbles Kids Museum. This museum has all sorts of interactive exhibits that are a lot of fun and interesting to check out.

Want to learn about the state’s history while you are in NC’s capital? Then, you can check out the North Carolina Museum of History and learn a lot of new things!

Charlotte, NC

Buildings in Charlotte
View of Charlotte – Grindstone Media Group / Shutterstock.com

Distance from Greensboro: 1.5 hours

Charlotte, the largest city in the state, can be reached in about 1.5 hours from Greensboro.

The city of Charlotte has a lot of fun and interesting sights to check out.

For example, you can go to the NASCAR Hall of Fame to learn about the famous race.

Furthermore, if you want to have fun, you can go to Carowinds, which is a great amusement park that you can find in the city.

The Mint Museum Uptown is a great place to check out if you like art, as you can find a great collection here.

And want to see a performance when you are doing this trip to Charlotte? Then, you can go to the Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

Richmond, VA

View of Downtown Richmond and the river
View of Downtown Richmond

Distance from Greensboro: 3 hours

From Greensboro, you can reach the city of Richmond in about 3 hours. The capital of Virginia has a lot of interesting things to do and see to offer.

For example, when you are here you can check out the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Also, you can go to Maymont, which is a historic estate.

The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is also an interesting place to go to if you want to learn new things.

Want to relax during your trip to Richmond? Then, you can go to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. This is a beautiful garden with plants and flowers that is perfect for a relaxing walk.

Furthermore, if you want to learn new things about science, you can go to the Science Museum of Virginia.

Norfolk, VA

View of Waterside District in Norfolk from the water
Waterside District in Norfolk – Kyle J Little / Shutterstock.com

Distance from Greensboro: 4 hours

Norfolk is a city in the state of Virginia that you can reach from Greensboro in about 4 hours by car, so this is perfect if you’re looking for weekend trips from Greensboro.

There are a lot of things to do in Norfolk, VA that you can choose from when you are here.

For example, you can go to the Chrysler Museum of Art where you can find a great collection of art.

Also, you can check out the Norfolk Botanical Garden when you are visiting the city. Here, you can see great nature and there are often lovely events as well.

Furthermore, the Virginia Zoo is located in Norfolk. You can go here to see lots of different animals and learn a lot about them, which is very nice.

Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach from above
View of Virginia Beach

Distance from Greensboro: 4 hours

Very close to Norfolk, you can find the city of Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach is also a perfect destination if you’re looking for weekend getaways from Greensboro. From Greensboro, you can reach the city of Virginia Beach in about 4 hours.

Virginia Beach has a lot of great things to offer.

For example, you can go to the Military Aviation Museum when you are here. This is a museum where you can see lots of historic military aircraft and other objects.

Furthermore, you can check out the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center if you want to learn about marine life.

Also, the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art can be great to check out if you like contemporary art.

Washington DC

Washington Monument and cherry blossoms in Washington DC
Washington Monument in spring

Distance from Greensboro: 5 hours

Want to have a great weekend break during which you can see historic places and learn a lot of new things? Then, you should consider going to Washington DC. From Greensboro, you can get to Washington DC in a bit less than 5 hours.

You can find a lot of great museums in Washington DC.

Some of the best museums are the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Museum of American Art.

Also, the United States Botanic Garden can be great to visit if you want to relax and learn about nature at the same time.

Furthermore, you can check out the United States Capitol and the White House when you are in DC.

Another great sight to check out is the Washington Monument. You can also go to the top of this iconic landmark in DC to get a view of the city.

Baltimore, MD

View of the Inner Harbor in Baltimore
Inner Harbor in Baltimore

Distance from Greensboro: 5.5 hours

It takes about 5.5 hours to get from Greensboro to Baltimore in Maryland, which is a long drive, but the city is worth it!

The city of Baltimore is a large city and there are many things to do in Baltimore.

For example, you can check out the National Aquarium when you are in Baltimore to learn about marine life.

Furthermore, you can go to the Baltimore Museum of Art, which is a place where you can find very beautiful art. Also, the Walters Art Museum is a great place to go to if you like to see art.

Furthermore, you can check out the Maryland Zoo when you are in the city to see interesting animals.

Do you like baseball? Then, you can see a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards when you are visiting the city.

Wilmington, NC

View of a bridge from the Wilmington Riverwalk
Wilmington Riverwalk

Distance from Greensboro: 3 hours

You can get to the coastal city of Wilmington, NC in about 3 hours from Greensboro.

There are many great things to do in Wilmington, NC that can be great to check out.

For example, you can go to Battleship North Carolina to learn about military history and see a military ship. This is a very interesting sight which is also why this is one of the best weekend trips from Greensbroro.

Also, you can go for a walk in the beautiful Airlie Gardens.

If you want to see a performance when you are in Wilmington, you can also check out the Thalian Hall. This is a historic performing arts theater where you can see a show, which is also one of the best things to do at night in Wilmington.

Fayetteville, NC

Road in front of the Market House in Fayetteville
The Market House in the center of Fayetteville – refrina / Shutterstock.com

Distance from Greensboro: 2 hours

You can get to the city of Fayetteville from Greensboro in about 2 hours.

Fayetteville has a lot of great sights to check out.

For example, you can find the Cape Fear Botanical Garden here, which houses a lot of beautiful nature that can be great to see during a relaxing walk.

Also, the Airborne & Special Operations Museum can be great if you want to learn about military history.

Furthermore, the Museum of the Cape Fear can be great to go to if you want to learn about local history.

Besides that, when you are visiting Fayetteville with children, you can go to the Fascinate-U Children’s Museum. This is a museum with very fun immersive and interactive exhibits where your child can learn new things in a fun way. That’s why Fayetteville is also great if you want to find Greensboro weekend getaways with kids.

Charlottesville, VA

Street in Charlottesville
Street in Downtown Charlottesville – ImagineerInc / Shutterstock.com

Distance from Greensboro: 3 hours

From Greensboro, you can drive to the city of Charlottesville in about 3 hours.

Charlottesville is a small city that you can find in the state of Virginia.

You can find the University of Virginia in the city and the city has a lot of great historical buildings that you can check out.

Also, you can find The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. This is a museum with a great collection of art.

Want to visit Charlottesville with kids? Then, you can go to the Virginia Discovery Museum. This is a small museum with fun and interactive exhibits for children under the age of 8.

More Greensboro Articles

Things to do in Greensboro with kids

Free things to do in Greensboro

Things to do in Greensboro at night

Greensboro Weekend Trips Tips

For several of these Greensboro weekend getaways, especially the ones that are further away from Greensboro, you will drive through or very near other cities on the list.

To have an even more fun weekend, you could consider stopping at one of these other destinations on your way there. That way, you can explore two places in one trip, which can be a lot of fun!

Also, you could decide to spend one night in one city and another night in another city to have a great weekend.

Weekend Getaways from Greensboro Map


This was my list of the best weekend trips from Greensboro. As there are so many great options, I’m sure you can have a wonderful weekend getaway!

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