Scenic Drives in North Carolina

Routes

Avg Distance

320 mi

Avg Drive

6h 28m

Destinations

North Carolina's scenic drives offer a diverse experience, with routes averaging 319 miles and nearly 6.5 hours of travel time. Across its 59 routes, you'll encounter gently rolling terrain and a maximum elevation reaching over 2,100 feet. Many routes boast excellent EV coverage, with some featuring up to 39 DC fast chargers, making exploration convenient. The state's scenic drives are characterized by their varied terrain and accessible natural beauty.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$4.04/gal

Diesel: $5.35/gal

Typical trip cost

$42–$74

One-way, ~320 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~112 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-06-01

Climate through the year: North Carolina

North Carolina peaks at around 90°F in Jul and cools to 52°F / 32°F in Jan. Wettest month is Aug at ~4.4 in of rain.

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	52	32	3.5	1.6
Feb	57	35	3.1	1.1
Mar	64	41	4	0.3
Apr	73	49	3.8	—
May	80	58	3.4	—
Jun	87	66	4	—
Jul	90	70	3.7	—
Aug	89	69	4.4	—
Sep	83	63	3.7	—
Oct	73	50	3.2	—
Nov	63	40	3.3	0.1
Dec	55	35	3.6	0.4

Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for NC — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.

Planning Tips

Scenic routes often have fewer gas stations and services. Top off your tank before heading into mountainous or rural stretches.
Budget extra time for scenic drives — pulling over for views, photos, and short hikes is half the point.
Check weather conditions for mountain passes and high-elevation stretches, especially in shoulder seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

We rate routes on a 1-10 drive score based on elevation changes, road variety, and terrain diversity. The 59 routes listed here all score 7 or higher.

Current regular gas averages $4.04/gallon in North Carolina (week of 2026-06-01). Diesel: $5.35/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $42 and $74. Source: US Energy Information Administration.

Drive times and distances come from OSRM routing over real OpenStreetMap road networks. Fuel costs use weekly US Energy Information Administration state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. EV charging data is sourced from NREL. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI (1991–2020 reference period). Hazard data comes from FEMA and USGS public feeds.

Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

Top Scenic Routes

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North Carolina Trips

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	52	32	3.5	1.6
Feb	57	35	3.1	1.1
Mar	64	41	4	0.3
Apr	73	49	3.8	—
May	80	58	3.4	—
Jun	87	66	4	—
Jul	90	70	3.7	—
Aug	89	69	4.4	—
Sep	83	63	3.7	—
Oct	73	50	3.2	—
Nov	63	40	3.3	0.1
Dec	55	35	3.6	0.4

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	52	32	3.5	1.6
Feb	57	35	3.1	1.1
Mar	64	41	4	0.3
Apr	73	49	3.8	—
May	80	58	3.4	—
Jun	87	66	4	—
Jul	90	70	3.7	—
Aug	89	69	4.4	—
Sep	83	63	3.7	—
Oct	73	50	3.2	—
Nov	63	40	3.3	0.1
Dec	55	35	3.6	0.4

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	52	32	3.5	1.6
Feb	57	35	3.1	1.1
Mar	64	41	4	0.3
Apr	73	49	3.8	—
May	80	58	3.4	—
Jun	87	66	4	—
Jul	90	70	3.7	—
Aug	89	69	4.4	—
Sep	83	63	3.7	—
Oct	73	50	3.2	—
Nov	63	40	3.3	0.1
Dec	55	35	3.6	0.4