From its gorgeous, island-laden coastline in the east to its awe-inspiring Great Smoky Mountains in the west, North Carolina has perhaps the best opportunities for outdoor recreation in the Eastern ...

This park is situated between Atlantic beaches, lively beach towns, and an expansive river, making it a good getaway for nature lovers and boaters.

Families looking to enjoy fun on a budget can take advantage of several free programs at parks throughout the state. North Carolina State Parks have a fun program for children who want to learn more ...

All North Carolina state parks are at least partially open following damage from Tropical Storm Helene. Mount Mitchell State Park reopened on September 15, though some facilities like the restaurant ...

Four NC state parks ranked among top U.S. parks for value stays in 2025. Pilot Mountain and Grandfather Mountain parks earned top-20 national spots. HomeToGo used price, size, trails, wildlife and ...

KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. — North Carolina state parks are seeing a surge in visitors as more people feel comfortable heading outdoors. Even during the pandemic, state parks recorded a record number of ...

Editor's note: Sean Higgins of NC State Parks shares some outdoor activities with us while we're cooped up at home. As education chief with North Carolina State Parks, I support more than 50,000 ...

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom. Read our AI Policy. Four North Carolina state parks have been ranked among America’s Best State Parks for Great-Value Stays, with two landing in the top ...