North Carolina consists of 48,843 square miles of land and 3,826 square miles of inland water.  The Old North State lies on the Eastern Seaboard with half of the population of the United States living within a 500-mile radius of the state. The state's temperate climate has four distinct seasons and is highly acclaimed for its year-round living comforts. Rainfall is adequate and dispersed over the entire year.

This beautiful state has the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, the Outer Banks (a chain of islands) in the east, and everything in between. Murphy is the westernmost town of significance and Manteo is the easternmost town of significance; "From Murphy to Manteo" is a popular saying. Together with South Carolina it forms Carolina, sometimes called The Carolinas. More than 64.5 million visitors traveled to North Carolina in 2005, and eighty-nine percent of all travelers traveled to North Carolina by auto, truck or camper/RV.

Due to its wide range of elevation, from sea level on the coast to over 6,000 feet in the mountains, North Carolina has the most variation in climate of all the southeastern states. The climate in the coastal and Piedmont regions of eastern and central North Carolina is similar to other southern states such as Georgia and South Carolina, while the climate in the western mountains is closer to that found in New England or the upper Midwest. While the coastal plains, especially the tidewater areas, are strongly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, the western, mountainous part of the state is more than 300 miles from the coast, resulting in considerably less maritime influence there. As such, the climate of the state ranges from a warm, humid subtropical climate near the coast to a humid continental climate in the mountains. Most of the state falls in the humid subtropical zone.

North Carolina is a very old and traditional state. According to some, North Carolina can claim to be the first state. In 1775, the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was drafted and signed, even though North Carolina wasn't the first to ratify the Constitution.

Travelers familiar with the American South will find that North Carolina is typical of the area in terms of culture. To some degree, it is a "transition state" between the Deep South and the Mid-Atlantic area. As a result, it has a moderate mixture of cultural influences; this effect is heightened by a very high rate of immigration from northern states and from Latin America.

Get In

By car
North Carolina borders Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. North Carolina has the largest state-maintained highway system in the nation, incorporating over 78,600 miles of highways. It provides same-day access to major eastern US markets. Five major interstate highways intersect North Carolina: I-26, I-40, I-77, I-85 and I-95.

By plane
North Carolina has four international airports:
 • Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in Charlotte
 • Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) in Greensboro
 • Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) between Raleigh and Durham
 • Wilmington International Airport (ILM) in Wilmington

By boat
North Carolina’s ferry system on the Outer Banks/Coast is second largest in the nation and largest on the East Coast, operates 24 ferries. The ferry system annually transports nearly 2.5 million passengers and 1.3 million vehicles.

By train
Twelve daily Amtrak passenger trains serve 17 North Carolina cities on six routes, including the northbound and southbound Carolinian, Piedmont, Silver Star, Silver Meteor, Crescent and Palmetto. The Carolinian and Piedmont are operated jointly by the State of North Carolina and Amtrak to provide daily, round-trip passenger rail service between Charlotte and Raleigh. The Carolinian continues service to the Northeast.

Attractions

 Due to geography, rich history, and growing industry, North Carolina provides a large range of recreational activities from swimming at the beach to skiing in the mountains. North Carolina offers fall colors, freshwater and saltwater fishing, hunting, birdwatching, agritourism, ATV trails, ballooning, rock climbing, biking, hiking, skiing, boating and sailing, camping, canoeing, caving (spelunking), gardens, and arboretums. North Carolina has theme parks, aquariums, zoos, museums, historic sites, lighthouses, elegant theaters, concert halls, and fine dining.

• The Biltmore Estate- George Vanderbilt's 250-room Biltmore House, extensive gardens, and winery located in Asheville.
 • Andy Griffith located in Mt.Airy - entertainment, lodging, dining, shopping, and more in the town that inspired Andy Griffith's Mayberry in the classic television series.
 • Feel free to also visit Harrah's Cherokee Casino located on the Cherokee Indian Reservation.
 • The Lost Colony, a 400 year-old mystery haunts Roanoke Island on North Carolina's Outer Banks. There, in 1587, about 120 men, women and children established the first English colony in the New World -- then vanished without a trace, leaving historians and archaeologists with one of America's most perplexing mysteries.
 • The Blue Ridge Parkway, a beautiful 469 mile route.
 • Charlotte, home to several sports teams and historic sites. Charlotte is a good base for the Carolina traveler as it is in the heart of the Carolinas; 2 main interstates (I-77 and I-85) run though Charlotte. Charlotte is a very green city (in terms of grass and trees), it claims to be America's greenest city, and it may very well be. The state's first metro area, Metrolina, encompasses Gastonia, Concord, Monroe, and Rock Hill, South Carolina.
 • Asheville and the NC Appalachian Mountains, the most picturesque area of the state, Asheville is the main city. Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the range, is also located in the extreme west of the state. Also visit the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Grandfather Mountain, a popular tourist spot with a fantastic view.
 • North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher and adjacent Fort Fisher museum and recreation area, located 20 minutes south of Wilmington in Kure Beach.
 • Great Smoky Mountains National Park
 • Cape Hatteras National Seashore
 • Cape Lookout National Seashore
 • Outer Banks
 • White Lake was named as the Nation's safest beach with its crystal clear water and white sand. Located near Elizabethtown, this beach has no real dangers to swimmers and is ideal for children.

Get Out

 • Bordering North Carolina on the north, Virginia offers many things to see and do. Shenandoah National Park offers great scenery along the top of the Appalachian Mountains. Nearby is Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, our third president.
 • Tennessee is to the west and shares the Great Smoky Mountains with North Carolina. Shopping and attractions abound in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Chattanooga is the home of Lookout Mountain.
 • South Carolina, to the south, is a haven for beach lovers. Myrtle Beach has a large number of hotels and restaurants. Charleston is rich in history, with historic homes and Fort Sumter.
 • Georgia, which borders the southwestern corner of North Carolina, is famous for its peaches; there's also the popular Alpine village of Helen and the historic riverside city of Savannah, with its deep-South ambience. Atlanta, the capitol, has Stone Mountain Park and Georgia Aquarium, the world's largest.

Quick Facts

 • The oldest State University in the U.S. is the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
 • North Carolina is the largest producer of sweet potatoes in the country.
 • Winston-Salem is home to the first Krispy-Kreme Donuts.
 • Pepsi was invented in New Bern.