Roadtrip with RVshare Raleigh to Brevard

If you want to see some of the best sights that North Carolina has to offer, then you might want to embark on a Raleigh to Brevard road trip. While this is not a long trek, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to hit the open road and visit some stellar national and state parks full of mountains, rivers, ancient trees, lengthy cave systems, and other natural wonders. You’ll also go through some interesting North Carolina cities that feature water parks, waterfalls, museums, and more that will make great additions to your road trip itinerary from Raleigh to Brevard. Hitting the road in an RV gives you the freedom to take the trip at your leisure and stop at the points that matter to you most while being able to kick back as you make your way to your destination.

Nearby National Parks

Shenandoah National Park  

You can reach Shenandoah National Park by driving about two hours and 50 minutes from Greensboro, North Carolina. This Virginia national park is home to about 300 square miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains. People flock to this park because it’s easy to explore thanks to the presence of Skyline Drive and the Appalachian Trail. Other common mountain activities like fishing, mountain biking, and rock climbing are also possible here. 

New River Gorge National Park  

New River Gorge National Park is about two hours and 40 minutes north of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. If you want to go whitewater rafting on your road trip from Raleigh to Brevard, then you’ll definitely want to visit New River Gorge, one of America’s newest national parks. This park is also known for its excellent mountain climbing opportunities and its iconic steel bridge. Hiking is also popular as there are multiple trails that take visitors through part of this 70,000-acre national park in West Virginia.

Congaree National Park  

Those in search of ancient trees and pristine swampland will want to explore Congaree National Park, which is roughly two and a half hours south of Statesville, North Carolina. Some of the Eastern Seaboard’s oldest and tallest trees reside in this park that’s not too far from South Carolina’s capital. One favored way to experience this park is to boat down the Congaree River, but visitors also enjoy walking on the relatively flat and easy trails here. 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park  

The entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is just an hour from Asheville, North Carolina, so you can’t miss the chance to pay a visit to America’s most-visited national park on your Raleigh to Brevard RV road trip. Rivers, ridges, mountaintop panoramas, and more await you at this 500,000-acre park in North Carolina and Tennessee. Hiking, biking, driving, fishing, boating, and more are all popular at this lovely national park that’s close to the tourist meccas of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. 

Mammoth Cave National Park  

Mammoth Cave National Park is five hours and 20 minutes from Asheville, but it’s just three hours and 50 minutes from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This Kentucky national park is home to the longest cave system in the world, so you’ll get to explore some fascinating parts of this underground wonder. Don’t forget to spend time on the surface as well since there are some nice hiking, biking, and riding trails that go through the Kentucky countryside.

Nearby State Parks

Jordan Lake State Park  

Jordan Lake State Park is just 20 minutes from Triangle Township, North Carolina, so it’s an early item on your road trip itinerary from Raleigh to Brevard. Jordan Lake covers 14,000 acres and it has plenty of room for boating, swimming, fishing, and water sports. If you prefer to stay dry, you can hike on 14 miles of trails, do some wildlife viewing, and walk around the visitor center.

Hanging Rock State Park  

You can find Hanging Rock State Park by driving 40 minutes north of Kernersville, North Carolina. There are plenty of rocks here, of course; whether you want to hike on them, hang off them, or simply look at them, you’ll have plenty of chances for great mountain views and activities. The 12-acre lake is a great place to go fishing and swimming. You can also get a bite to eat at the snack bar and relax in the lounge area. 

Pilot Mountain State Park  

Roughly 20 minutes from Winston Township, North Carolina, is stunning Pilot Mountain State Park. You can hike and bike on multiple trails that take you around both Big and Little Pinnacle. The Yadkin River is a great place to go fishing, but visitors also like to bring their canoes here in order to paddle on part of the Yadkin River Canoe Trail that goes through the park. 

Lake Norman State Park  

If you want to swim in North Carolina’s largest lake on your road trip from Raleigh to Brevard, then you should stop and stay awhile at Lake Norman State Park, which is 15 minutes from Statesville, North Carolina. Lake Norman itself is, of course, the main attraction here; there are numerous awesome places to go swimming, boating, fishing, and more. There are plenty of hiking trails as well, and you can explore nearly 40 miles of them on foot or by bike. 

South Mountains State Park  

South Mountains State Park is about half an hour from Icard, North Carolina. If you’re looking to do some horseback riding on your Raleigh to Brevard RV road trip, then you’ll want to take advantage of this park’s 33 miles of bridle trails. There are plenty of great hiking and biking trails as well, so you’ll have numerous ways of exploring this rugged mountain park. Don’t forget to check out the 80-foot waterfall. 

Along the Way

American Tobacco Campus  

If you want to visit a bustling dining, shopping, and entertainment area in Durham, then you should add the American Tobacco Campus to your road trip itinerary from Raleigh to Brevard. You can hang out at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, catch a show at the Durham Performing Arts Center, and walk or ride on the American Tobacco Trail. You can find some great food at places like Boricua Soul, Parker and Otis, and Tobacco Road. 

Wet’n Wild Emerald Pointe  

Wet’n Wild Emerald Pointe is just five minutes from your route as it goes through Greensboro, North Carolina. This water park is home to fantastic rides like Daredevil Drop, Twin Twisters, Raging Rapids, and Dr. Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror. You can pick up some souvenirs at Thunder Bay Outfitters and get something to eat at Uncle Luigi’s Pizza or Captain Eli’s.

Catawba Falls  

Another attraction that’s only five minutes from Interstate 40 is Catawba Falls, which is close to Old Fort, North Carolina. This 100-foot cascading waterfall is a lovely sight that you can see by hiking on the Catawba Falls Trail. If you keep your eyes peeled, you might see some of the historic buildings sprinkled around the trail; you can even see a hydropower dam built in the 1920s. 

WNC Nature Center  

At the WNC Nature Center, you can get a close look at some of the interesting animals that call this region home. Animals like the American Black Bear, the Bobcat, the Gray Wolf, and the Great Horned Owl live at this facility that’s five minutes from Swannanoa Township. In addition to seeing 60 species of animals, you can buy a memento at the gift shop, mine for gems and fossils, and learn more about the zoo’s inhabitants during one of the daily animal presentations. 

The North Carolina Arboretum  

The North Carolina Arboretum is five minutes from your route as it goes through Asheville, North Carolina. You can stroll through 65 acres of cultivated gardens; you may also want to check out the 10 miles of hiking trails and several miles of biking trails. Bent Creek Bistro is a great place to get a bite to eat, and the Connections Gallery gift shop is a wonderful place to pick up some local and regional crafts.

Main Cities You Will Pass Through

Durham, North Carolina  

Duke University and the Nasher Museum of Art are just a couple of interesting places you can visit in Durham. There are plenty of dump stations and campgrounds around this college town.

Greensboro, North Carolina

In Greensboro, you can tour the International Civil Rights Center & Museum and the Greensboro Science Center. Some useful RV dump stations can be found in this area, and there are some quaint and quiet campgrounds if you would like to stay overnight.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina  

When exploring Winston-Salem, you should visit places like the Old Salem Museum & Gardens and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art. You’ll be able to easily find some beautiful campgrounds at which to park your camper, most of which have dump stations.

Asheville, North Carolina  

In Asheville, you can tour the luxurious Biltmore estate and then knock back a cold one or two at the New Belgium Brewing Company. Plenty of excellent dump stations and campgrounds are close to this popular tourist location.

Find Adventure from Raleigh to Brevard

Find your One-Way Rental

When you follow this road trip itinerary from Raleigh to Brevard, you will enjoy historic locations and beautiful scenery along the way. If you want to travel in comfort and style, consider an RV rental from RVshare. From large motorhomes to compact campervans, there is a rig that will meet your travel and budget needs. Once you hit the road, you are protected by our renter guarantee and 24/7 roadside assistance. Find the perfect vehicle for your travel needs in Raleigh or Brevard.