RoadRangeROADRANGE
Open road in North Carolina
ROAD TRIPS & DRIVING IN

North Carolina

National parks, the official driver handbook, and how far you can realistically reach by car — everything you need to start planning a trip around North Carolina.

12
national parks
450–550 mi
in a full day's drive
8–10 h
a sustainable day
THE PARKS

National parks in North Carolina

THE SCENIC ROUTE

Scenic byways in North Carolina

46 byways
AL

Alligator River Route

National Scenic Byway — 74 mi

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AP

Appalachian Medley

National Scenic Byway — 42 mi

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BI

Birkhead Wilderness Route

National Scenic Byway — 13 mi

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BL

Black Mountain Rag

National Scenic Byway — 29 mi

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BL

Blue Ridge Parkway

National Scenic Byway — 467 mi

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BL

Blue-Gray Scenic Byway

National Scenic Byway — 83 mi

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BR

Brunswick Town Road

National Scenic Byway — 4 mi

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CH

Cherohala Skyway

National Scenic Byway — 42 mi

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CO

Colonial Heritage Byway

National Scenic Byway — 80 mi

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CR

Crowders Mountain Drive

National Scenic Byway — 8 mi

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DE

Devil's Stompin' Ground Road

National Scenic Byway — 33 mi

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DR

Drovers Road

National Scenic Byway — 11 mi

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ED

Edenton-Windsor Loop

National Scenic Byway — 77 mi

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FL

Flint Hill Ramble

National Scenic Byway — 7 mi

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FO

Football Road

National Scenic Byway — 44 mi

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FO

Forest Heritage Scenic Byway

National Scenic Byway — 63 mi

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FR

French Broad Overview

National Scenic Byway — 17 mi

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GR

Grassy Island Crossing

National Scenic Byway — 26 mi

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HA

Hanging Rock Scenic Byway

National Scenic Byway — 39 mi

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IN

Indian Heritage Trail

National Scenic Byway — 19 mi

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IN

Indian Lakes Scenic Byway

National Scenic Byway — 51 mi

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LA

Lafayette's Tour

National Scenic Byway — 163 mi

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LI

Little Parkway

National Scenic Byway — 18 mi

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ME

Meteor Lakes Byway

National Scenic Byway — 40 mi

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MI

Millbridge Scenic Byway

National Scenic Byway — 14 mi

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MI

Mission Crossing

National Scenic Byway — 18 mi

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MO

Mountain Waters Scenic Byway

National Scenic Byway — 72 mi

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NA

Nantahala Byway

National Scenic Byway — 52 mi

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NE

New River Valley Byway

National Scenic Byway — 34 mi

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NO

North Durham Country Byway

National Scenic Byway — 31 mi

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OS

Oscar Wigington Scenic Byway

National Scenic Byway — 18 mi

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OU

Outer Banks Scenic Byway

National Scenic Byway — 146 mi

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PA

Pacolet River Byway

National Scenic Byway — 11 mi

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PA

Pamlico Scenic Byway

National Scenic Byway — 117 mi

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PE

Pee Dee Valley Drive

National Scenic Byway — 15 mi

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PE

Perquiman's Crossing

National Scenic Byway — 4 mi

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PO

Pottery Road

National Scenic Byway — 25 mi

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RO

Roanoke Voyages Corridor

National Scenic Byway — 10 mi

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RO

Rolling Kansas Byway

National Scenic Byway — 11 mi

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SA

Sandhills Scenic Drive

National Scenic Byway — 49 mi

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SO

South Mountain Scenery

National Scenic Byway — 37 mi

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TA

Tar Heel Trace

National Scenic Byway — 55 mi

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UP

Upper Yadkin Way

National Scenic Byway — 19 mi

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UW

Uwharrie Scenic Road

National Scenic Byway — 47 mi

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WA

Waterfall Byway

National Scenic Byway — 96 mi

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WH

Whitewater Way

National Scenic Byway — 9 mi

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ON THE ROAD

Traffic rules

NC at a glance
70 mph
top posted speed limit
Primary
seat-belt enforcement
Texting ban
hand-held phone
0.08%
DUI limit (BAC)

Right turn on red: permitted after a full stop unless a sign prohibits it.

Speed, seat-belt and phone classifications follow the IIHS and GHSA state-law tables; laws change, so confirm the details in North Carolina's official source: NCDMV (Division of Motor Vehicles, NCDOT). For the full rundown, see our US driving-rules guide.

BEFORE YOU DRIVE

Driver handbook

NCDMV (Division of Motor Vehicles, NCDOT)Read the official handbook →
AT THE PUMP

Refueling in North Carolina

Regular gas
$3.88/gal
regional (PADD) avg
Diesel
$5.19/gal
regional (PADD) avg
Self-service

Self-service is standard: pull up to the pump, pay at the pump by card or prepay inside, then fill up yourself. Many stations — especially overnight — won't switch the pump on until you've paid. Fuel is priced per US gallon, and a regular fill is right for almost every rental.

Latest EIA weekly figure in USD per US gallon; some states show their PADD regional average. Compare every state on the fuel-price map, or read the full guide to refueling in the USA.