Fly Drive USA

Depart the UK on your chosen scheduled flight to Charlotte. Upon arrival, independently make your way to your hotel, where you spend the first two nights of your adventure.

After a good night’s sleep, you have a further day in Charlotte to explore. Charlotte is a city with several personalities, it’s famous as the epicentre of thrilling NASCAR auto racing, but it is also a refined, cosmopolitan metropolis with numerous stately neighbourhoods to explore, notable museums to visit, and memorable restaurants should you get a little peckish.

Top tip: For something very different check out the Levine Museum of the New South tracing the history of the region through the Civil War and the civil rights movement across the south

Once you have had your hearty breakfast and checked out of your Charlotte hotel, it’s time to collect your RV and hit the road. When you are ready to explore this great region, head west to Lake Lure, famous for that iconic piece of movie history, the lake lift in Dirty Dancing. This area of outstanding natural beauty is a great place to end your first day on the road.

Top tip: Work up an appetite by hiking to the top of The Rock in Chimney Rock State Park with its amazing vistas of the valley below.

As you head deeper into the North Carolina mountains, your route will likely skirt the edge of Asheville, but we recommend saving this little gem of a place until later on in your trip. Your stop for the night is the mountain town of Bryson City, deep inside Nantahala National Forest. Once here we would definitely recommend taking a train ride on some of the largest steam trains ever built on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad which departs for its trips up into the mountains directly from downtown Bryson City.

Top tip: Enjoy almost limitless outdoor pursuits in this region including the Nantahala Outdoor Center with its whitewater rafting, ziplining, and mountain biking for all ages on its 500-acre campus

Continue your drive west through the mountainous landscape of western North Carolina before crossing into Tennessee. The beautiful and dramatic scenery remains on this side of the border as the road winds its way past small rural communities on one side and raging fast-flowing rivers on the other. Your destination for today is Chattanooga, one of the South’s best cities for those lovers of the outdoors. This beautiful city offers miles of waterfront trails along with its gorgeous historic downtown featuring gourmet kitchens and craft breweries. It is also very eco-friendly with its fleet of free electric buses that allow you to explore with ease.

Top tip: Explore Ruby falls, one of the largest and deepest underground waterfalls in the country.

After a few days of exploring the great outdoors, now it’s time for all things Country music and to its spiritual home, Nashville. Made famous as the city that saw the likes of Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson become international stars, the music scene today is as vibrant as it ever with 7 days a week of live music on virtually every street corner. Just north of the city is the Nashville Country RV Park where we suggest you stay for the next two nights. You can leave your RV parked up here as the campground will organise tours and tickets to the major attractions such as the Grand Old Opry, Ryman Auditorium, and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Top tip: En route to Nashville, stop at one of the most famous distilleries of them all, the Jack Daniels distillery near Lynchburg.

After saying goodbye to Nashville, you are now heading back toward the mountains that define the Tennessee & North Carolina border. On the way, stop at Lebanon and its immaculately preserved town square, one of the best examples in the region. Whilst we have suggested a two-night stop in this region, there are plenty of activities and attractions that would warrant a longer stay here including helicopter tours of the region, Dollywood theme park, the Titanic Museum, Splash Country, and much more. Your recommended campground is right in the heart of the action in the mountain town of Pigeon Forge.

Top tip: Enjoy the nature trails and serenity of the Cumberland Plateau as you head east.

Welcome to the Great Smoky Mountains national park, the most visited and most biodiverse national park in the country! As it is a very short drive today, this gives you plenty of time to enjoy everything this beautiful region has to offer. As you are entering from the Tennessee side, your first stop should be the Sugarland’s Visitor Centre to gain valuable information on activities such as hiking horse-riding, fishing, and visiting some of the historic log buildings that that park is famously known for. Also, do plan to visit the many stunning waterfalls including Meigs Falls and the very popular Laurel Falls. Your suggested campground for the night is at Cades Cove, placed in the heart of the park.

Top tip: As with many national parks, do take advantage of the many ranger-led programs on offer, most of which are free.

You have another short drive today across the roof of the Smoky Mountains National Park back into North Carolina. Whilst the quickest and shortest route is along Interstate 40, we would certainly suggest taking the slightly longer and more scenic drive along Rte. 441 with its many pull-outs. Your campground for the night is just 10 mins north of Asheville, so do take the time to visit the Biltmore Estate, the summer home of the Vanderbilts and the largest privately-owned home in the United States.

Top tip: Stop at the Wheels Through Time Museum, home to the world’s premier collection of rare American motorcycles.

As with yesterday, the quickest route to your destination in Winston-Salem is along Interstate 40, but again we suggest taking a more indirect northerly route remaining still largely in the mountains. After leaving Asheville, join the iconic Blue Ridge Parkway, known as ‘America’s Favourite Drive’ as it winds its way up into North Carolina’s High Country and passes Mt Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. Explore the Linville Gorge and take in the wonderful short hike to the spectacular Linville Falls.

Top tip: Visit Old Salem and admire the beautifully preserved core of the Moravian settlement across several blocks south of downtown.

Continue your drive east and through the heartland of North Carolina. The area you will be driving through is the most populated region of the state with plenty of cultural and historic attractions worthy of a stop. Not long after leaving your campground, you will be in the town of Greensboro, home to the International Civil Rights Centre & Museum and the Greensboro Science Center. Continue past the pretty university towns of Chapel Hill and Durham and the state capital of Raleigh before arriving for your night near Rocky Mount.

Top tip: Stop by The North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh with its permanent collection of works by Botticelli and Rembrandt

Spend the next two days exploring the famous Outer Banks region of North Carolina. Any map will show you that you really are on the edge of the continent here along with this ribbon of sandy islands over 100 miles long separated from the mainland by sounds and waterways. We suggest spending your two nights here at the beautiful Oregon Inlet Campground allowing you easy access to the area’s many attractions. You also have the added benefit of your campground being situated directly on mile after mile of unspoiled beach.

Top tip: Spend time at Jockeys Ridge State Park and enjoy the sunset over Roanoke Sound from the tallest sand dunes on the East Coast.

Today is a long but very rewarding and unique drive along Rte. 12 with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Pamlico Sound on the other as you follow this chain of islands south. As you continue along this route, you can’t miss Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. This nearly 200ft black and white striped edifice is one of North Carolina’s most iconic images. Once back on the mainland, stop in the beautiful and historic town of Beaufort with its lovely marina and boutique shops.

Please note that this suggested drive involves 2 compulsory ferry crossings and whilst we think this only adds to the uniqueness of this area, there is a slightly shorter and quicker drive back via the mainland. Please always check ferry timetables for the most up to date information: https://www.ncdot.gov/travel-maps/ferry-tickets-services/routes/Pages/default.asp

Top tip: Climb to the top of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse for superb views of the ocean and islands.

Enjoy the morning exploring Wilmington’s vibrant riverfront and scenic Riverwalk that winds around the storied Cape Fear River. In the afternoon, start your journey inland along Rte. 74 through the historic towns of Lumberton and Fayetteville before spending your last night in the Uwharrie National Forest where the campground we have suggested sits alongside the beautiful Badin Lake.

Top tip: Enjoy plenty of outdoor activities in Uwharrie National Forest including hiking, mountain biking, and canoeing on Badin Lake.

It’s only a 30-mile drive back to the Cruise America depot this morning, so depending on your flight time, you may have an extra few hours to do some last-minute exploring. You will then make your way back to Charlotte International Airport and check-in for your flight to the UK.