Whether you are looking for a beach, mountain, or city getaway, there are some really great options within driving distance of Charlotte! These trips range from an hour and 45 minutes drive to four hours for a further escape:
Sierra Nevada Brewing
Asheville, NC
Asheville is a brewery mecca nestled in the mountains well worth visiting.
Start your day at Taco Billy for fantastic breakfast tacos!
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway for stunning views.
Don’t miss Burial Beer Co. and Dssolvr, two of the best breweries in North Carolina! Hang out in the outdoor space at Sierra Nevada Brewing and be sure to order the pimento beer cheese.
Check out my full Asheville guide here!
Time from central Charlotte: 2 hours
Rainbow Row Charleston
Charleston, SC
Charleston is a beautiful beach town with a plethora of history, restaurants, bars, and breweries.
Hit the beach! There are several options depending on what vibe you are looking for—Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island, and Isle of Palms.
Be sure to grab beers at Westbrook Brewing and Edmund’s Oast Brewing! Get a cheese plate at Wine and Company and tacos and a frozen screwdriver at Taco Boy.
Check out my full Charleston guide here!
Time from central Charlotte: 3 hours
Forsyth Park Savannah
Savannah, GA
Savannah is beautiful historic city oozing historic charm.
Two Tides Brewing is an absolute must visit, they make incredible beers in an adorable converted house.
Grab lunch at Bull Street Taco in between wandering the historic squares!
Check out my full Savannah guide here!
Time from central Charlotte: 3 hours 45 minutes
Monday Night Brewing
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta is a huge city with a ton of places to explore and things to do.
Monday Night Brewing is the best brewery in the city in my opinion and they have two locations to check out! The Porter Beer Bar is another great option to grab beers at in the Little 5 Points neighborhood.
The Center for Civil and Human Rights is an amazing museum that is a must visit.
Check out my full Atlanta guide here!
Time from central Charlotte: 4 hours
Pretentious Beer Co
Knoxville, TN
Knoxville has a booming downtown district and plenty of charm to keep you entertained.
Start your day at OliBea, a great little brunch spot with delicious food.
Get outside at Ijams Nature Center for hiking and family friendly options.
Check out Abridged Beer Company and Pretentious Beer Co. for fantastic beers!
Check out my full Knoxville guide here!
Time from central Charlotte: 4 hours
Second Street Mural in Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Wilmington is a relaxed beach town with several distinct areas to explore.
Start your day at Bespoke Coffee, a cute coffee shop right downtown.
Hit the beach! Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach are both great options.
Explore the breweries and don’t miss New Anthem Beer Project and Wilmington Brewing Company.
Check out my full Wilmington guide here!
Time from central Charlotte: 4 hours
The Eighth State Brewing
Greenville, SC
Greenville is a charming little town in upstate South Carolina. Their downtown is perfect to wander around and there is hiking nearby as well!
Start your day at Swamp Rabbit Cafe for amazing sandwiches on stecca bread.
Grab beers at The Eighth State Brewing Company and Birds Fly South Ale Project! The Whale is a fantastic beer bar to check out as well.
Check out my full Greenville guide here!
Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 45 minutes
Views from the Blue Ridge Parkway
blue ridge mountains, nc
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway along the mountains and explore the small towns of Marion, Banner Elk, Boone, and more. There are cute little towns along along the Parkway in the mountains!
Check out my full guide here!
Time from central Charlotte: dependent on exact destination—Boone is 2 hours for example
Barrel Culture Brewing
The Triangle, NC
Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Durham make up the triangle area of North Carolina.
Start your day at The Morning Times, a fun cafe with a newspaper theme in downtown Raleigh.
Brewery hop the area and don’t miss Trophy Brewing and Pizza in Raleigh and Barrel Culture Brewing in Durham. State of Beer is a great beer bar as well.
Check out my recommendations for Raleigh and Chapel Hill here!
Time from central Charlotte: 2.5 hours
Another popular weekend getaway option is Gatlinburg, Tennessee! Check out my guide to Gatlinburg here, it was not my favorite destination so I didn’t want to include it as a recommendation on this list, but there is plenty to do and it is nestled right in the mountains!
