There are so many things to learn to be a master of the new city and state that you live in. There are basics that you learn right when you move, like where the nearest grocery store and Target are. Then, after you’ve been there a while, you learn where things worth driving to are, like farmers’ markets and niche shops.

Eventually, though, when you’re ready to get out of your new city, you’re going to need to learn about the day trips. If you want to get out and explore a little more in North Carolina, within just a few hours’ drive from the Triangle, so you don’t need to get an Airbnb, then I’ve got a list to get you started on your next adventure!

Wrightsville Beach

Starting off with the one you’re most interested in learning about, the beach. North Carolina has over 300 miles of coastline, so there are plenty of beaches to choose from. The quickest one to get to from Raleigh is Wrightsville Beach. If you’re in an exploration mood and don’t just want to see the beach while you’re down there, head into the city of Wilmington to check out its boardwalks, old buildings with beautiful architecture, historic sites, and more. If you live at Camden Asbury Village, you live right off the interstate, so you’re an easy 2-hour drive away from your day at the beach. Make sure you stop for some eastern Carolina-style BBQ on your way back to the Triangle!

Photo by Clem Onojeghuo via Pexels

North Carolina Zoo

If you need a family favorite place to go, check out the North Carolina Zoo! It’s the perfect spot to bring your kids. Located in Asheboro, it’s about an hour and 15-minute drive from Camden Lake Pine in Apex, and mostly a straight shot with a beautiful drive over Jordan Lake. There isn’t a lot to do in Asheboro as it’s a small town aside from the zoo; however, they have a quaint downtown with a few nice spots to go to, such as The Table for coffee, Magnolia 23 for some classic southern food in picture-perfect patio seating, and Four Saints Brewing for a tasty pint. Not far south of Asheboro is Seagrove, the pottery capital of North Carolina, our state art form.

The Piedmont Triad

Comprising three cities and their surrounding areas like the Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill), the Triad’s three main cities are Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. These aren’t particularly touristy cities, but every place has something worth visiting!

In Winston-Salem, which is usually just known as Winston, you can walk through Old Salem, a preserved historic site.

In Greensboro, you can go to a Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball game and walk around their friendly downtown afterward, or you can go to Wet ‘n Wild if you’re in the mood for a water park!

High Point is known as the furniture capital of the world. So, you can go furniture shopping there at their furniture markets, which happen a couple of times a year.

On your way back to the Triangle from the Triad, stop at one of North Carolina’s most popular breweries, Red Oak, located in Whitsett, just outside of Burlington. They have a beautiful beer garden to rest from a long day and enjoy the weather!

If you’re making the trip to downtown Greensboro from Camden Durham, it will take you just under an hour, so you have plenty of time to enjoy the day without a lot of driving!

Photo by John Hill via Pexels

Charlotte

Depending on where you want to go in Charlotte, driving only takes about two and a half hours, but if you want my suggestion, and since you’re reading this, I’m assuming you just may, take the train! NC By Train operates the Piedmont, which is a train that runs four round-trip daily from Raleigh to Charlotte with 9 stops in between, and they’re looking to add more. It takes about as long to get there by train as it does by car, but you get to enjoy the time instead of focusing on the road. When you get to Charlotte, their train doesn’t connect to their light rail system yet, but it will when they finish their new station in Charlotte.

When you get there, you can enjoy their three major league sports teams, the Carolina Panthers for football, the Charlotte Hornets for basketball, and the Charlotte FC for soccer. You can also explore Charlotte’s popular districts, such as NoDa, South End, or downtown (called Uptown by locals).

Hope You Liked Our Fun Day Trip Ideas!

There are so many things to do around North Carolina! These are just a few suggestions, but the possibilities are endless. If you want to learn about overnight trips in the Carolinas, keep an eye out for a future blog post.

But for now, if you want to learn more about things to do in town so you don’t have to drive far at all, check out my previous blog posts on tourist attractions in Raleigh and Durham, and some summer activities to enjoy! If you’re new to the area and still trying to figure out where the hotspots are, here are the essentials to know about living in Raleigh!