Our Favorite Family Weekend Getaways Near Charlotte, NC
We’ve chosen 7 destinations, all within a 4 hour drive from Charlotte, where you can experience a fantastic weekend getaway, whatever the season, whatever the reason.
Each of these destinations offers something different- whether you’re looking to escape to a fun mountain town, visit a national park, catch a show, or simply relax at the beach.
We’ve returned several times to each of the towns listed below and provide everything you need to know: where to stay, eat, and what to see and do! All organized into detailed day-by-day plans.
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1. A Weekend In Kiawah Island, SC
Distance from Charlotte to Kiawah Island- 3 hours and 51 min.
Kiawah Island is located about 45 minutes south of Charleston, SC. It is a developed island but has so much natural beauty and wildlife. No chain hotels or hi-rise buildings here! You will see alligators and even possibly a bobcat on the dunes.
Enjoy the wide, 10-mile long beach and 30 miles of paved bike trails. Kiawah also has a pool (open through November), playground, disc golf, and a nature center that offers many programs like kayak tours. You can be as lazy as you’d like or as active.
We’ve been visiting Kiawah Island for over 20 years. Get our insider tips and recommendations on best places to stay (there is a lot to choose from at a lot of different price points) and our favorite things to do.
2. Weekend In Asheville, NC
Distance from Charlotte to Asheville- 2 hours and 8 minutes
Asheville Is Our Top Pick For Food And Breweries
Asheville makes for a terrific family weekend. It’s an architecturally appealing, fun, artsy town with great restaurants and what seems like a craft brewery on every block. It’s also surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains with scenic hikes and has a river perfect for floating.
Make downtown your base camp so you can easily walk to interesting shops, breweries, and restaurants. Click below to read more about our favorite places to stay, best restaurants, kid-friendly breweries, and hikes we love in the area.
3. Weekend In Abingdon, VA
Distance from Charlotte to Abingdon, VA- 3 hours
Abingdon, Va is a beautiful, quaint town in southwest Virginia. It has terrific restaurants, quaint shops, a craft brewery, and the famous Barter Theater. Catch a show at the Barter and stroll around Abingdon’s historic downtown.
Seek more adventure biking the Virginia Creeper Trail, a 34 mile rails-to-trails pathway with almost half of it is just downhill coasting (a kid favorite when you catch a shuttle to the top.)
Or you can go hiking the trails at Grayson Highlands State Park, famous for its soaring views and wild ponies. You’ll find plenty to do around Abingdon!
4. Weekend In Brevard, NC
Distance from Charlotte to Brevard- 2 hours and 20 min.
Brevard, NC is a charming mountain town filled with shops (including a great toy store), restaurants, antiques, and art galleries.
Brevard is also home to Dupont State Forest, which offers plenty of hiking and mountain biking trails to explore. The Hunger Games movie was filmed in Dupont and you can visit Triple Falls, the most recognizable mountain scenery in the movie.
5. Weekend In Bryson City, NC
Distance from Charlotte to Bryson City- 3 hours
Bryson City, NC is a such a fun outdoor town and possibly the most underrated compared to its neighbors. Its downtown is filled with quaint shops and restaurants, and the Great Smoky Mountain Railway train depot is right in the heart of it.
Take the kids on a scenic train ride through the North Carolina mountains along the Nantahala and Tuckasegee Rivers, across valleys, and through tunnels.
Within a 20 minute driving radius of downtown Bryson City, you have lakes to canoe, rivers to raft, and hikes to waterfalls. The Nantahala River is an action-packed yet still family-friendly river to raft down, and the Deep Creek area has beautiful waterfalls just a few minutes from town.
Plus, a brewery, a fantastic pizza place and other good restaurants, a bookstore, and an excellent outdoors store- all found in an easily walkable downtown. You just can’t beat it.
6. Weekend In Greenville, SC
Distance from Charlotte to Greenville, SC- 1 hour and 40 minutes
Calling all foodies and outdoor lovers! Greenville, SC has been on the trendy radar for some time, appearing in multiple travel magazines and blogs for its vibrant food scene and beautiful use of the riverfront downtown.
Take a hike or bike the Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 20 mile paved bike trail running through downtown, leading to fun food stops along the way. Nearby state parks have great hiking trails for those who need their mountains.
7. Camping Weekend In Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Distance from Charlotte to Elkmont Campground in the Smokies– 4 hours
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (“The Smokies”) spans both Tennessee and North Carolina and is one of the most visited national parks in the country.
Last year, the Smokies saw approximately 11.3 million visitors. That being said, you can strategically visit this beautiful park and avoid many of these crowds. We use our local knowledge to give you the inside scoop on how to avoid the tourist bottlenecks.
In this itinerary, you’ll find a selection of the best easy family hikes and other fun activities found in the Townsend, TN side of the park. Lodging and dining recommendations, maps, and more–everything you need to know for a fantastic family vacation.
Also check out our simply awesome books on Amazon!
North Carolina Mountain Towns–Family Weekend Adventures: Asheville, Brevard, and Bryson City (Amazon)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Kids: A Local’s Guide (Amazon)
These 7 weekend destinations within 4 hours of Charlotte, NC will make everyone happy with fun adventures, good food, and beautiful memories. Get out of the everyday and into something different for a change of pace and scenery even if it is just for a weekend! Happy Trails – Amy
