National parks in North Carolina range from the Great Smoky Mountains to the windswept beaches of the Outer Banks © Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images

The best national parks in North Carolina span mountains, beaches and battlegrounds

North Carolina is blessed with National Park Service lands in nearly every corner of the state. Each park focuses on a different aspect of state history, and almost all offer the chance to get outdoors into nature.

Some are ideal for a day trip, while others warrant multiple days of exploration. Best of all, the vast majority of the state's national parks and seashores are free to visit.

Here’s our guide to the best national parks in North Carolina from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks.

While most visitors access Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Tennessee, North Carolina is home to nearly half of the park's 522,419 acres. It’s also America’s most visited national park, with some 14 million visitors annually.

The Oconaluftee Visitor Center is the best place to start your journey, a few miles from the town of Cherokee. The North Carolina side of the park is home to the Mountain Farm Museum – a collection of buildings and historic structures that provide a glimpse into early life in the region. The Mingus Mill, which has been grinding wheat and corn since 1886.

There are over 150 official hiking trails in the Smokies. Popular trails run to the rocky lookout known as Charlies Bunion, the forest-covered Alum Cave Bluffs, the gushing Ramsey Cascades and the grassy hilltop of Andrews Bald. 

There’s no fee to visit, but due to rising visitor numbers over the past few years, this may change in 2023. The park also offers year-round camping at Smokemont Campground, where tent and RV sites are available from $25 per night.

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Not only is the Blue Ridge Parkway one of North Carolina’s best road trips, this NPS-affiliated scenic byway also offers visitors plenty of chances to connect with the great outdoors. Known as “America’s Favorite Drive,” the 469-mile road winds into Virginia through protected land.

The road was first constructed in 1936, and popular stops along the way include the scenic Linville Falls, the lavish Moses Cone Manor, the Linn Cove Viaduct and 5721ft Mount Pisgah.

There’s no fee to visit the North Carolina portion of the Parkway, and there are several visitor centers where you can pick up information about nearby attractions and accommodations.

Five campgrounds – at Doughton Park, Crabtree Falls, Julian Price Memorial Park, Linville Falls and Mount Pisgah – can be found along the route. Check for road closures and changing conditions before you go, and watch out for black bears.

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Cape Hatteras is one of two stretches of protected coastline in the Outer Banks, the sandy barrier islands that flank the North Carolina coast. This 70-mile stretch of seashore runs from Whalebone to Ocracoke Island, including several sections connected by ferry.

Along the way, visitors can drop in on such historic landmarks as the site of Blackbeard’s final battle and the Bodie Island and Ocracoke lighthouses. Ocracoke is the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina and the second-oldest in the country.

Cape Hatteras’ four beaches – Coquina, Ocracoke, Friso and Old Lighthouse – provide ample space for walks, kite flying or building sand castles. Lifeguards are on hand during the summer, but be mindful of rip currents. Fishing is possible with a permit. You can also spot wildlife, including turtles, piping plovers and seals.

There’s no fee to enter the national seashore, but activities such as lighthouse visits, campground reservations and marina access require admission fees. You can also get a permit to drive off-road vehicles on the beach. Cape Hatteras has four campgrounds, two of which are seasonal, and all can accommodate tents and RVs.

9 best places to visit in North Carolina from the Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks

Almost adjoining Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Cape Lookout runs from Portsmouth to Shackleford Banks. The site is home to an International Dark Sky Park, the first such park in the National Park System on the Atlantic coast.

The barrier islands here are only accessible by ferry and require visitors to pack in and out any trash that they bring. Because of the remoteness of the seashore, visitors can experience wildlife completely uninterrupted. Look out for the iconic Shackleford Banks wild horses and 250 species of birds, including ducks and herons.

Cape Lookout is one of the best North Carolina national parks for primitive beach camping. There are also wooden cabins on the beachside for rent. There’s no fee to visit Cape Lookout, but expect to pay for fishing licenses and beach driving permits.

The site of a famous battle during the Revolutionary War, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park is spread across over 250 acres. It was here, in 1781, that British soldiers drove out General Nathanael Greene and his American troops.

The battlefield, located about six miles from Greensboro, includes 29 monuments and gravesites, including a statue of Nathanael Greene in military regalia on horseback.

Another offering at Guilford is the scenic Battlefield Tour Road, a popular destination for cyclists, walkers and their four-legged companions. There are 26 interpretive panels for a perfect self-guided tour.

You can step back in time with a visit to the 18th-century Hoskins Farm. Covering 150 acres, this well-preserved farmstead tells the story of Joseph and Hannah Hoskins, who purchased it in 1778. The couple eventually fled when the Revolutionary War found its way to their land.

Lonely Planet’s USA’s National Parks is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip and what hidden discoveries await you. Marvel at the Grand Canyon, paddle the Everglades and rock climb in Joshua Tree; all with your trusted travel companion.

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