Discover the best barn rentals in North Carolina with campfires

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North Carolina

95% (231 reviews)

Popular camping styles for North Carolina

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Star Hosts in North Carolina

99%

(145)

Winding Stair Campground

17 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents15 acres · Franklin, NC

Winding Stair Campground sits at an elevation of 3,380 feet, next to the headwaters of the Nantahala River and is surrounded by national forest and undeveloped private land trusts. The stunning mountain views in a remote tucked-away setting make our farm a perfect getaway! Just a 15-minute scenic drive from Franklin in North Carolina, easily accessible off Hwy 64, our campground offers a chance to enjoy nature without being far away from the public amenities of a small but well-equipped town. A few features about our property: - Working farm: Campers are welcome to meet our Icelandic sheep and take a self-guided tour of our farm, along designated pathways. - Security: The campground and farm are fenced in on three sides with the river being the fourth boundary. Personal code to the entrance gate will be given at check in. - Bath House: The restored bathhouse is split into boys’ and girls’ sides. Each side has 2 private showers, 4 flushing toilets, sinks, hot water, and gas heat. - Community Pavilion: The Pavilion is a large 40x30 ft. open sided structure overlooking the Nantahala River. It has an ample fireplace, running water sink, counter space, couches, and table with benches. - Pack Room: Where the adventure begins! A cozy hub where all guests check-in, get local information, view maps, and grab some local seasonal groceries. Also available to all campers are washing sinks with hot water, toaster oven and microwave. - Communication: Or rather, lack thereof! There's no cell service on the property so it's a great time to get away from it all. There is limited Wi-Fi available near the Pack Room and an emergency landline available. - Charging: Traveling in an electric vehicle? Recharge for free at our dedicated EV 50amp outlet when you stay at any of our sites. First come, first served. Want to know more about the history of the property? Visit the 'Our Story' section on our website. Learn more about this land:

Inner Wolf Retreat Space

8 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents6 acres · Mars Hill, NC

A Sound Healing Retreat Center for you to find renewal and unplug on 6 peaceful acres with a large creek running through the whole property, several ponds, and a large field of flowers. Our property is a healing space , complementing the sounds of nature and meditative sound healing instruments like gongs and crystal singing bowls to help you find your inner compass. Please ask us if you'd like to add a sound healing session to your camping experience. As you enter the property, flow downstream, leaving worries behind, pass the Sound Healing Pyramid Barn, set up for events and sound healing sessions, in addition to retreats. Under the eaves of the back of the barn you'll find a picnic table to enjoy in the shade while listening to the babbling large creek running along side you and leading you to your peaceful campsite in the field, under the trees, and under the stars. Van and small RV camping spots are located by the workshop and small cabin and the portajon.

Creag Creek Farm

4 sites · Lodging, Tents20 acres · Bakersville, NC

A high elevation working farm with a cabin (sleeps up to 8), barn with hayloft and tent sites for rent by individuals and small groups. Located at 3,500 feet in elevation on north flank of Roan Mountain.Three miles from the Appalachian Trail, five miles to Buladean, North Carolina and a 40-minute drive to Carvers Gap, our 18-acre, high elevation, wooded and meadowed Christmas tree farm is a wonderful jumping-off point for some of the best hiking, apple picking, and bird watching the Southeast has to offer. Unplug during your stay while you soak in the mountain views, peaceful sunsets, and local wildlife. Our guests love staying here: "Loved it. A thoroughly beautiful building in an equally beautiful location. It had everything we needed and more. We'd planned to use the cabin as a base to go hiking from but it was so beautiful there that we ended up not leaving for the entire time - we just stayed and watched the hummingbirds on the balcony. Will look forward to returning."

12 top barns sites in North Carolina with campfires

98%

(62)

Creag Creek Farm

4 sites · Lodging, Tents20 acres · Bakersville, NC

A high elevation working farm with a cabin (sleeps up to 8), barn with hayloft and tent sites for rent by individuals and small groups. Located at 3,500 feet in elevation on north flank of Roan Mountain.Three miles from the Appalachian Trail, five miles to Buladean, North Carolina and a 40-minute drive to Carvers Gap, our 18-acre, high elevation, wooded and meadowed Christmas tree farm is a wonderful jumping-off point for some of the best hiking, apple picking, and bird watching the Southeast has to offer. Unplug during your stay while you soak in the mountain views, peaceful sunsets, and local wildlife. Our guests love staying here: "Loved it. A thoroughly beautiful building in an equally beautiful location. It had everything we needed and more. We'd planned to use the cabin as a base to go hiking from but it was so beautiful there that we ended up not leaving for the entire time - we just stayed and watched the hummingbirds on the balcony. Will look forward to returning."

Winding Stair Campground

17 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents15 acres · Franklin, NC

Winding Stair Campground sits at an elevation of 3,380 feet, next to the headwaters of the Nantahala River and is surrounded by national forest and undeveloped private land trusts. The stunning mountain views in a remote tucked-away setting make our farm a perfect getaway! Just a 15-minute scenic drive from Franklin in North Carolina, easily accessible off Hwy 64, our campground offers a chance to enjoy nature without being far away from the public amenities of a small but well-equipped town. A few features about our property: - Working farm: Campers are welcome to meet our Icelandic sheep and take a self-guided tour of our farm, along designated pathways. - Security: The campground and farm are fenced in on three sides with the river being the fourth boundary. Personal code to the entrance gate will be given at check in. - Bath House: The restored bathhouse is split into boys’ and girls’ sides. Each side has 2 private showers, 4 flushing toilets, sinks, hot water, and gas heat. - Community Pavilion: The Pavilion is a large 40x30 ft. open sided structure overlooking the Nantahala River. It has an ample fireplace, running water sink, counter space, couches, and table with benches. - Pack Room: Where the adventure begins! A cozy hub where all guests check-in, get local information, view maps, and grab some local seasonal groceries. Also available to all campers are washing sinks with hot water, toaster oven and microwave. - Communication: Or rather, lack thereof! There's no cell service on the property so it's a great time to get away from it all. There is limited Wi-Fi available near the Pack Room and an emergency landline available. - Charging: Traveling in an electric vehicle? Recharge for free at our dedicated EV 50amp outlet when you stay at any of our sites. First come, first served. Want to know more about the history of the property? Visit the 'Our Story' section on our website. Learn more about this land:

The Barn Loft

2 sites · Lodging55 acres · Oakboro, NC

Escape from the City and indulge in the farm life and stay in the Barn Loft Surrounded by all of the animals! Enjoy the outdoor Shower after playing in the creek. Wake up to views of the pasture of rescue horses. In the loft we have provided all of the must haves to make your evening as comfortable as possible, WiFi, TV, comfy bed, couch and table. Visit the coffee Bar and enjoy a nice cup of coffee on the balcony, while watching the farm life at its best. Bring your horses and trail ride on the 55 acres or ask about a guided tour horseback or on the side by side.

Secluded Mountain Tiny Home & Barn

4 sites · Lodging30 acres · Hot Springs, NC

When you go to sleep, there's no light except the moon and stars, no refrigerator or central heating or air conditioning noise -- only the sounds of nature -- the stream, crickets or frogs in the nearby pond, dogs or coyotes in the distance. Without the glow of a nearby city, the hot tub on a clear night, the skies are dazzling. Speaking of which, the wood-fired hot tub is made by a company called Snorkel. It's perfect for 2 and can fit 3, although tight. It's Japanese style hot tub bathing, meaning no chemicals. Also, since we're not grid tied, it relies on a firebox heating fresh spring water, which you fill it with. It takes approx. 35 minutes to fill the tub and between 3 and 3.5 hours to heat (longer when it's really cold!). There's a thermometer in it, so as it gets closer to your liking (don't let it get over 102 degrees), let the existing logs burn down, choke off the air vent sleeve and hop in. With no pump sounds and the stars above, it's incomparable. The $50 fee (per 2 night rentals) covers thorough cleaning between guests and split firewood. You will be very comfortable in Little Good Egg, even in extreme weather, simply by paying attention and taking more time for simple tasks. It sounds corny, but there is a meditative quality to thinking and doing things like heating water, keeping warm, staying hydrated, eating well and choosing to do what you really want. I'm always amazed how busy I am -- and how different this kind of busy feels -- without electronics and my technological "time savers." Odd as it sounds to say this, it's stunning and wonderful to go "offline," even for just a day, and not get hit by little chirps and incoming messages that seem to arrive now 24/7. Note: Since we opened in October, 2014, guest reviews consistently tell us us best thing about staying at Good Egg is being off the grid and the treadmill of modern life, unplugging from the dominant culture and experiencing oneself as humans did 100 years ago and more. Whether it’s the absence of electricity (in the cabin), the quiet of the country, no city glow in the night sky, or the once common experience of the natural world dominating over human-made or human-crafted things, it’s astonishing for many of us to see and feel and experience without constant communications via text and email and the distractions of modern life. Many people write that they’ve learned an enormous amount about themselves, about homesteading or permaculture, and about alternate ways of being. This Spring (2016), we’ve increased the price a bit reflect more accurately our costs to maintain and improve the buildings & the property as well as carefully and lovingly transitioning it between guests. WARNING: Under North Carolina law, there is no liability for an injury to or death of a participant in an agritourism activity conducted at this agritourism location if such injury or death results from the inherent risks of the agritourism activity. Inherent risks of agritourism activities include, among others, risks of injury inherent to land, equipment, and animals, as well as the potential for you to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury or death. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.” N.C.G.S. § 99E-32(b).

Inner Wolf Retreat Space

8 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents6 acres · Mars Hill, NC

A Sound Healing Retreat Center for you to find renewal and unplug on 6 peaceful acres with a large creek running through the whole property, several ponds, and a large field of flowers. Our property is a healing space , complementing the sounds of nature and meditative sound healing instruments like gongs and crystal singing bowls to help you find your inner compass. Please ask us if you'd like to add a sound healing session to your camping experience. As you enter the property, flow downstream, leaving worries behind, pass the Sound Healing Pyramid Barn, set up for events and sound healing sessions, in addition to retreats. Under the eaves of the back of the barn you'll find a picnic table to enjoy in the shade while listening to the babbling large creek running along side you and leading you to your peaceful campsite in the field, under the trees, and under the stars. Van and small RV camping spots are located by the workshop and small cabin and the portajon.

Blue Ridge Little Red Barn

1 site · Lodging3 acres · Elk Park, NC

Come enjoy our cute yet spacious "little red barn" on the back of our property. It sits at the top of a hill with a beautiful view just 5 miles to Beech Mountain and less than 30 minutes to Boone or Banner Elk. Let the sound of the creek below sooth you as you admire the changing leaves. It's a "glamping light" setup with electricity, potable water at the camp sink just outside, a propane grill/stove top, air conditioning and ceiling fan, a camp commode. Sleeps 3 easily with double futon/twin bed bunk.

75%

(4)

Eco Vacations & Events

5 sites · Lodging5 acres · Asheville, NC

We are proud to offer a unique vacation rental, events and lavender growing here at Hidden Flower. Ideal for sustainable and budget-friendly getaways. There are great views, and plenty of outdoor space to relax in comfort and privacy. We have a tiny home is very tiny and good for an individual traveler or a couple that is good with close quarters. Our an old horse barn that has been remodeled into a home for six to sleep comfortably. Enjoy our many gardens and beautiful views of the stars over the Blue Ridge Mountains. We are located at the end of a neighborhood. Only 10 minutes to downtown and the blue ridge parkway.

93%

(27)

Back Yard Campground

5 sites · Lodging, Tents4 acres · Penrose, NC

Hello, we are Scott and Lynn. We hope you Enjoy your stay with us in our Back Yard Campground! We started the campground in 2016 after friends of the family pitched their tents down along the creek. They shared their enjoyment with us, and we realized how much we enjoyed knowing they were down there camping. We both have a great appreciation for God's creation and decided to open our gates to you. Lynn is a true Blue Ridge native and we both hope you enjoy the proximity to our towns, the mountains, rivers, streams, and waterfalls. The local apple orchards are also amazing! Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and rafting are only a few of the activities available within a short drive. So, soak it all in, come back home to Back Yard Campground, watch the sunset and enjoy sweet dreams.

100%

(2)

Quiver Full Farm

2 sites · Lodging60 acres · Mars Hill, NC

Come visit Quiver Full Farm! Our 60 acre homestead farm is located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina. The mixture of rolling pastures, gorgeous mountains views, streams and hiking trails make a perfect get away. Two historic 1930's tobacco barns bring the history of our farm to life. Fresh water springs and mountain streams give refreshment to our animals and a soothing background to our ears. Our cows, babydoll sheep, free range chickens, great pyrenees, barn cats, honey bees and gardens provide you with an authentic farm experience. The clinking sound of hammering metal can be heard in the distance as we hold hands on blacksmithing workshops in our very own Forge. We are conveniently located just 25 minutes from downtown Asheville. A short 3 mile drive will take you to the small town of Mars Hill, NC. We are approximately 7 miles from the Appalachian Trail. Our guests also enjoy easy access to horseback riding, Navitat Ziplines, Wolf Ridge Ski Resort, and rafting. These fun outdoor activities are all within a 15-20 minute drive from our farm.

A New Life Ranch LLC

4 sites · Lodging60 acres · Fair Bluff, NC

A New Life Ranch LLC is a quiet peaceful ranch! Our working horse ranch of around 60 acres is on a beautiful centrally located piece of property. We are your horse riding, quiet country living AND beach destination since we are only 35 minutes from North Myrtle Beach. Relax and unwind from city life. Rent one of our trailers that are like a single wide or Barn Retreat to relax in! Learn more about this land: A New Life Ranch LLC has several trailers and a Barn Retreat that you can rent. Quiet and peaceful setting. We are not a campground but a quiet peaceful ranch with several rentals. Short drive to Myrtle Beach. Join us for an optional horse ride experience!

Saved 1 time

Peaceful Pastures Retreat

2 sites · Lodging16 acres · Rocky Point, NC

Welcome to The Barn Loft at Peaceful Pastures Retreat! The Barn Loft is surrounded by horse pastures, nature trails, a quiet stream and wetland wildlife. Experience the coastal NC lifestyle with semi-private access to the Cape Fear River just 5 minutes away, and access to the Intracoastal Waterway 20 minutes away! The Barn Loft is conveniently located just 30 minutes from Topsail Island, Wrightsville beach and Historical Downtown Wilmington. The Barn Loft features 2 balconies with incredible views of the sunrise and sunset, as well as a view of the horses and miniature donkeys during meal time. Peaceful Pastures Retreat is the perfect retreat to unplug and unwind.

Ever New Farm

1 site · Lodging14 acres · Weaverville, NC

Lovingly called the ‘Run in Shelter’: We turned an unused horse shelter commonly known as a run-in into a charming, rustic place to stay on our quintessential historic horse farm. Friends and family alike arrive and feel like they’ve come home. We hope you arrive as a guest and leave as a friend. The ‘Run in Shelter’ has a queen bed, TV, WiFi, a dry kitchen, and a path through an apple orchard to the shared bathhouse—a shared pool and gathering barn with a ping pong table and Foosball. We are an easy drive from the interstate- just five-plus minutes from the exit off HWY 26 for easy access to the country and just 25 minutes to Asheville, 12 minutes to Weaverville, 15 minutes to Mars Hill, and 20 minutes to Marshall. Ever New Farm is 14-acre horse farm with three guest cabins, a community pool, a gathering barn, and a main farmhouse, which the hosts live in.

Under $50

100%

(1)

The Barn Loft

2 sites · Lodging55 acres · Oakboro, NC

Escape from the City and indulge in the farm life and stay in the Barn Loft Surrounded by all of the animals! Enjoy the outdoor Shower after playing in the creek. Wake up to views of the pasture of rescue horses. In the loft we have provided all of the must haves to make your evening as comfortable as possible, WiFi, TV, comfy bed, couch and table. Visit the coffee Bar and enjoy a nice cup of coffee on the balcony, while watching the farm life at its best. Bring your horses and trail ride on the 55 acres or ask about a guided tour horseback or on the side by side.

Back Yard Campground

5 sites · Lodging, Tents4 acres · Penrose, NC

Hello, we are Scott and Lynn. We hope you Enjoy your stay with us in our Back Yard Campground! We started the campground in 2016 after friends of the family pitched their tents down along the creek. They shared their enjoyment with us, and we realized how much we enjoyed knowing they were down there camping. We both have a great appreciation for God's creation and decided to open our gates to you. Lynn is a true Blue Ridge native and we both hope you enjoy the proximity to our towns, the mountains, rivers, streams, and waterfalls. The local apple orchards are also amazing! Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and rafting are only a few of the activities available within a short drive. So, soak it all in, come back home to Back Yard Campground, watch the sunset and enjoy sweet dreams.

Creag Creek Farm

4 sites · Lodging, Tents20 acres · Bakersville, NC

A high elevation working farm with a cabin (sleeps up to 8), barn with hayloft and tent sites for rent by individuals and small groups. Located at 3,500 feet in elevation on north flank of Roan Mountain.Three miles from the Appalachian Trail, five miles to Buladean, North Carolina and a 40-minute drive to Carvers Gap, our 18-acre, high elevation, wooded and meadowed Christmas tree farm is a wonderful jumping-off point for some of the best hiking, apple picking, and bird watching the Southeast has to offer. Unplug during your stay while you soak in the mountain views, peaceful sunsets, and local wildlife. Our guests love staying here: "Loved it. A thoroughly beautiful building in an equally beautiful location. It had everything we needed and more. We'd planned to use the cabin as a base to go hiking from but it was so beautiful there that we ended up not leaving for the entire time - we just stayed and watched the hummingbirds on the balcony. Will look forward to returning."

Dog-friendly getaways

Saved 18 times

Blue Ridge Little Red Barn

1 site · Lodging3 acres · Elk Park, NC

Come enjoy our cute yet spacious "little red barn" on the back of our property. It sits at the top of a hill with a beautiful view just 5 miles to Beech Mountain and less than 30 minutes to Boone or Banner Elk. Let the sound of the creek below sooth you as you admire the changing leaves. It's a "glamping light" setup with electricity, potable water at the camp sink just outside, a propane grill/stove top, air conditioning and ceiling fan, a camp commode. Sleeps 3 easily with double futon/twin bed bunk.

Inner Wolf Retreat Space

8 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents6 acres · Mars Hill, NC

A Sound Healing Retreat Center for you to find renewal and unplug on 6 peaceful acres with a large creek running through the whole property, several ponds, and a large field of flowers. Our property is a healing space , complementing the sounds of nature and meditative sound healing instruments like gongs and crystal singing bowls to help you find your inner compass. Please ask us if you'd like to add a sound healing session to your camping experience. As you enter the property, flow downstream, leaving worries behind, pass the Sound Healing Pyramid Barn, set up for events and sound healing sessions, in addition to retreats. Under the eaves of the back of the barn you'll find a picnic table to enjoy in the shade while listening to the babbling large creek running along side you and leading you to your peaceful campsite in the field, under the trees, and under the stars. Van and small RV camping spots are located by the workshop and small cabin and the portajon.

Creag Creek Farm

4 sites · Lodging, Tents20 acres · Bakersville, NC

A high elevation working farm with a cabin (sleeps up to 8), barn with hayloft and tent sites for rent by individuals and small groups. Located at 3,500 feet in elevation on north flank of Roan Mountain.Three miles from the Appalachian Trail, five miles to Buladean, North Carolina and a 40-minute drive to Carvers Gap, our 18-acre, high elevation, wooded and meadowed Christmas tree farm is a wonderful jumping-off point for some of the best hiking, apple picking, and bird watching the Southeast has to offer. Unplug during your stay while you soak in the mountain views, peaceful sunsets, and local wildlife. Our guests love staying here: "Loved it. A thoroughly beautiful building in an equally beautiful location. It had everything we needed and more. We'd planned to use the cabin as a base to go hiking from but it was so beautiful there that we ended up not leaving for the entire time - we just stayed and watched the hummingbirds on the balcony. Will look forward to returning."

Secluded Mountain Tiny Home & Barn

4 sites · Lodging30 acres · Hot Springs, NC

When you go to sleep, there's no light except the moon and stars, no refrigerator or central heating or air conditioning noise -- only the sounds of nature -- the stream, crickets or frogs in the nearby pond, dogs or coyotes in the distance. Without the glow of a nearby city, the hot tub on a clear night, the skies are dazzling. Speaking of which, the wood-fired hot tub is made by a company called Snorkel. It's perfect for 2 and can fit 3, although tight. It's Japanese style hot tub bathing, meaning no chemicals. Also, since we're not grid tied, it relies on a firebox heating fresh spring water, which you fill it with. It takes approx. 35 minutes to fill the tub and between 3 and 3.5 hours to heat (longer when it's really cold!). There's a thermometer in it, so as it gets closer to your liking (don't let it get over 102 degrees), let the existing logs burn down, choke off the air vent sleeve and hop in. With no pump sounds and the stars above, it's incomparable. The $50 fee (per 2 night rentals) covers thorough cleaning between guests and split firewood. You will be very comfortable in Little Good Egg, even in extreme weather, simply by paying attention and taking more time for simple tasks. It sounds corny, but there is a meditative quality to thinking and doing things like heating water, keeping warm, staying hydrated, eating well and choosing to do what you really want. I'm always amazed how busy I am -- and how different this kind of busy feels -- without electronics and my technological "time savers." Odd as it sounds to say this, it's stunning and wonderful to go "offline," even for just a day, and not get hit by little chirps and incoming messages that seem to arrive now 24/7. Note: Since we opened in October, 2014, guest reviews consistently tell us us best thing about staying at Good Egg is being off the grid and the treadmill of modern life, unplugging from the dominant culture and experiencing oneself as humans did 100 years ago and more. Whether it’s the absence of electricity (in the cabin), the quiet of the country, no city glow in the night sky, or the once common experience of the natural world dominating over human-made or human-crafted things, it’s astonishing for many of us to see and feel and experience without constant communications via text and email and the distractions of modern life. Many people write that they’ve learned an enormous amount about themselves, about homesteading or permaculture, and about alternate ways of being. This Spring (2016), we’ve increased the price a bit reflect more accurately our costs to maintain and improve the buildings & the property as well as carefully and lovingly transitioning it between guests. WARNING: Under North Carolina law, there is no liability for an injury to or death of a participant in an agritourism activity conducted at this agritourism location if such injury or death results from the inherent risks of the agritourism activity. Inherent risks of agritourism activities include, among others, risks of injury inherent to land, equipment, and animals, as well as the potential for you to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury or death. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.” N.C.G.S. § 99E-32(b).

Ever New Farm

1 site · Lodging14 acres · Weaverville, NC

Lovingly called the ‘Run in Shelter’: We turned an unused horse shelter commonly known as a run-in into a charming, rustic place to stay on our quintessential historic horse farm. Friends and family alike arrive and feel like they’ve come home. We hope you arrive as a guest and leave as a friend. The ‘Run in Shelter’ has a queen bed, TV, WiFi, a dry kitchen, and a path through an apple orchard to the shared bathhouse—a shared pool and gathering barn with a ping pong table and Foosball. We are an easy drive from the interstate- just five-plus minutes from the exit off HWY 26 for easy access to the country and just 25 minutes to Asheville, 12 minutes to Weaverville, 15 minutes to Mars Hill, and 20 minutes to Marshall. Ever New Farm is 14-acre horse farm with three guest cabins, a community pool, a gathering barn, and a main farmhouse, which the hosts live in.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Barns in North Carolina with campfires guide

Overview

Crank up the fiddle-and-banjo tunes while driving through the High Country, where campsites and high-altitude views along the Blue Ridge Parkway are marked by mists and mountains. The parkway rolls up to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, not far from the gorgeous homelands of the Cherokee tribe. Just east in Asheville, the Ale Trail rivals the Biltmore as the top draw, though live music and a fantastic culinary scene are close behind. Drive east to the windswept barrier islands of the Outer Banks for coastal camping, wildlife watching, and outdoor adventures that tear across sea and sky. Charlotte, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh anchor the booming Central Piedmont.

Where to go

High Country & the Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway passes overlooks, waterfalls, and campgrounds in the rugged High Country of western North Carolina as it swoops south from Virginia. Mount Mitchell State Park, Linville Gorge, and Grandfather Mountain are Instagram-pretty while hiking and mountain biking trails beg to be explored.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park & Cherokee

Stories about Cherokee leaders and 19th-century mountain families add historic context to the mountain-and-forest views in the deep-green Smokies. Feeling social? Hit the welcoming Nantahala Outdoor Center for all-sorts of wild adventures, from rafting to ziplining. The Appalachian Trail runs along the North Carolina and Tennessee border in the national park then veers south through Nantahala National Forest.

Asheville & the Foothills

An easy detour from the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville is a mountain town that’s going places. The craft beer situation is out of control—more than 30 breweries!—while innovative chefs keep the foodie scene abuzz. Chimney Rock State Park, Lake Lure, and gorgeous waterfalls are outdoor highlights in the foothills. Mountain bikers, get your fix in Pisgah National Forest.

North Carolina Coast

Wind, water, and sunny skies set a mood for fun along the North Carolina Coast. For the best all-around beach scene head to the Outer Banks, a 100-mile stretch of rugged barrier islands marked by dunes, fishing piers, and wild horses. Try hang-gliding at Jockey’s Ridge, windsurfing off Hatteras Island, and parasailing and paddling in Corolla and Duck. For close-to-the-beach tent camping, drive south to Cape Hatteras National Seashore or ferry over to Ocracoke Island.