From the shimmering oceanside to rugged hills and mountains, there are numerous North Carolina landmarks to discover. Whether you’re talking natural, cultural, historical, or all three, you’re sure to find something that suits your fancy. The most famous landmark in North Carolina is the Biltmore Estate, and the best way to visit these North Carolina landmarks is in the comfort of an RV!
Other famous landmarks in North Carolina include:
1. The Biltmore Estate
2. Clingmans Dome
3. Mount Mitchell
4. Looking Glass Falls
5. Sliding Rock
6. Reed Gold Mine
7. St. Peter Catholic Church
8. Wright Brothers National Memorial
9. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
10. Battleship North Carolina
The Biltmore Estate
Make no mistake about it, Asheville is chock-full of incredible attractions and destinations—easily worthy of a list all its own. But for those who make a point of knocking must-see landmarks off their list, we’d be remiss not to mention the Biltmore Estate, a sprawling 8,000-acre property known as America’s largest home and built by none other than (you guessed it) George Vanderbilt.
Today, the estate offers a historic house museum as well as a wide variety of other fun features, like on-site shopping and dining options, lodging, and more. But even if you limit your visit to the house itself—which is still quite a day, given it measures 178,926 square feet—you’re in for a sumptuous treat for the senses. It’s also been officially considered a National Historic Landmark since 1963.
RVing to The Biltmore Estate
Getting to the Biltmore Estate does require driving through the mountains. Fortunately, most major highways are just fine for RVs. Just choose the right gear and take things slow and you’ll be just fine.
Once you get to the estate, you’ll be happy to discover there is RV parking available. You’ll need to go to Park and Ride Lot C and take the shuttle from there.
Rent an RV near the Biltmore Estate!
Camping Near The Biltmore Estate
There are a number of great campgrounds around Asheville. Below are a couple we think will serve you well when checking out the Biltmore Estate:
Clingmans Dome
Tucked ever so slightly this side of the Tennessee border at the place where Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the state line, Clingmans Dome is a unique mountain observatory path. It gives you a little extra boost to better see the incredible sights that characterize this part of the country.
Standing 6,643 feet tall with a prominence of 4,505 feet, this peak is the highest in all of the national park—and on a clear day, your view can extend for more than 100 miles. It makes for an absolutely epic sunrise or sunset!
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RVing to Clingmans Dome
While it isn’t done often, it is possible to drive an RV to Clingmans Dome. The road is narrow in spots so you’ll need to be aware of that, and parking once you reach the top can be difficult, especially in a bigger rig, so plan on circling a few times and know you may have to drive back down without stopping if no parking is to be found.
Rent an RV near Clingmans Dome!
Camping Near Clingmans Dome
Camping in and around the Great Smoky Mountains is easy enough to find. Some of our favorite spots near this particular North Carolina landmark include the following:
Mount Mitchell
Clingmans Dome might bear the title for highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but when it comes to the highest point in the state of North Carolina, it’s Mount Mitchell. In fact, Mount Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi River, standing 6,684 feet tall and protected by the surrounding state park of the same name.
Although you can drive, hiking to the top of Mount Mitchell is also a possibility, although at more than 11 miles round-trip and almost 4,000 feet of elevation gain, it certainly is an undertaking.
No matter how you get there, at the top you can enjoy views from the observation deck and learn more about the mountain’s cultural and natural history at the museum you’ll find there.
RVing to Mount Mitchell
It might be possible to drive an RV to the top of Mount Mitchell, but we don’t necessarily recommend it. The road to the top is very steep and you’re likely to come across tunnels on the way in. Instead, consider parking the RV at a campground and driving a smaller vehicle to the summit.
Rent an RV near Mount Mitchell!
Camping Near Mount Mitchell
Mount Mitchell State Park does play host to a campground, but only tents are able to stay there. Therefore, you will need to look elsewhere for nearby RV camping. Below are our favorite options:
Looking Glass Falls
Another well-known Asheville-area attraction, Looking Glass Falls is less than an hour from the center of the city, but it would be worth the drive even if it were double that distance.
One of its best features? Unlike many of the other waterfalls in this area (and there are plenty), Looking Glass Falls is a roadside cascade that’s easily accessible to a wide variety of viewers; there’s no need to take a long hike into the woods to enjoy the view. That said, plenty of visitors get out of their cars to go and sit at the foot of the falls and bask in its spray or simply enjoy a scenic picnic.
RVing to Looking Glass Falls
The drive to Looking Glass Falls seems to be easy enough for an RV. That said, parking is a bit limited. All parking is on the shoulder of the highway, meaning you can park an RV there as long as you can find an empty spot that is long enough, something we imagine will be possible as long as you’re willing to walk!
Rent an RV near Looking Glass Falls!
Camping Near Looking Glass Falls
Sliding Rock
Okay, we promise not every item on this list is going to be in the Asheville area, but what can we say? Western North Carolina has a lot to offer. We had to add this beloved, family-friendly woodland destination to our list—it’s essentially a giant, natural waterslide!
Just be sure to brace yourself, because even during North Carolina’s balmy summers, those mountain swimming holes can be COLD. You’ll quickly forget about it as you’re zipping down the 60-foot rock slide, though!
RVing to Sliding Rock
There is an official parking lot for Sliding Rock, which costs $4 per person. That said, parking there is limited and there is not likely to be room for an RV. Instead, those who choose to drive an RV to Sliding Rock will need to park on the side of the road. In this case you will not pay to park, but you will want to be very careful of traffic as you walk to the North Carolina landmark.
Camping Near Sliding Rock
Either of the campgrounds listed above for Looking Glass Falls would work well for those looking to check out Sliding rock as well. That said, if those won’t work for you, one of the options below might be a good pick:
Reed Gold Mine
When you think of the history of gold mining in America, your mind might first wander toward California or Alaska, not North Carolina. But the Reed Gold Mine, located in the south-central part of the state just a short ways east of Charlotte, was actually the first place gold was ever discovered in the U.S.—or at least, the first place the discovery was documented.
That was back in the 1800s. Today, the gold mine is a preserved historical site offering guided tours and interpretive information to help shed more light on this unique and often-overlooked part of North Carolinian history—and the history of the South as a whole. Reed Gold Mine is on both the National Register of Historic Places and the list of National Historic Landmarks, and is certainly an important part of this area’s past.
RVing to Reed Gold Mine
It is possible to park an RV in the large (free!) parking lot at Reed Gold Mine. As long as you stick to the main roads, the drive in should be uneventful as well, making this a great choice for a day trip in the RV or a quick stop between destinations.
Rent an RV near Reed Gold Mine!
Camping Near Reed Gold Mine
For those looking to stay near Reed Gold Mine, the closest RV camping is in Concord, which is about half an hour away. Our two favorite campgrounds in this town are listed below:
St. Peter Catholic Church
The oldest Catholic church in the city of Charlotte—and the only Jesuit parish here—the beautiful St. Peter Catholic Church first opened its doors in 1893, and continues to offer masses and services on a weekly basis for its faithful congregation and any who wish to join.
Both youth- and adult-oriented education and spiritual formation classes are available for those looking to deepen their experience of worship, and even if you’re merely popping by to take a look at the building, you won’t be disappointed; its simple but stunning Victorian Gothic architecture has been done in dark brick, making for a very cunning profile against the more modern surrounding buildings that surround the church along the Charlotte skyline.
RVing to St. Peter Catholic Church
There really is not a good place for an RV to park at St. Peter Catholic Church. Therefore, this is a destination that is best visited in your tow vehicle. Fortunately, there are RV parks nearby where you can drop the motorhome or trailer off before exploring the city.
Rent an RV near St. Peter Catholic Church!
Camping Near St. Peter Catholic Church
The aforementioned Concord campgrounds are not too far away from St. Peter Catholic Church. That said, those looking to stay even closer might consider one of the following:
Wright Brothers National Memorial
Whether or not you regularly participate in the miracle of human flight, you probably know how much we owe as a species to the brave Wright Brothers, who were the first to successfully pilot a heavier-than-air flying machine. That historic moment took place at none other than Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in the year 1903—not all that long ago, when you think about it.
These days, the Wright Brothers National Memorial offers visitors the opportunity to reflect on this stunning achievement of ingenuity, as well as giving them the opportunity to learn more about this important part of our human history. Plus, given its location along the scenic Outer Banks of North Carolina, it makes for a great stop while exploring other must-see destinations in this area.
RVing to Wright Brothers National Memorial
This one of the North Carolina landmarks that offers plenty of parking, meaning bringing your RV along should not be a problem on an ordinary day. The drive to the memorial should also be trouble-free for an RV.
Rent an RV near Wright Brothers National Memorial!
Camping Near Wright Brothers National Memorial
There are a handful of great camping options near this landmark in North Carolina. We recommend any of the options below:
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
Another must-see in the Outer Banks, the 210-foot-tall Cape Hatteras Lighthouse bears the distinction of being the tallest brick lighthouse structure in the United States, and the second-tallest such structure in the world. And although it’s the 15th tallest lighthouse in the U.S., that’s due in large part to the fact that the first 14 on the list were built onto higher ground, whereas Hatteras’ base is essentially at sea level.
Like many lighthouses that dot the eastern seaboard, this tower has actually had a number of predecessors, the first tower having undergone damage in the Civil War. Thereafter, the encroaching sea forced operators to up and move the lighthouse, which given its size was no small feat. Visit for yourself to climb the historic building, see its sights, and learn even more about its history!
RVing to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
The drive to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is easy-peasy and an RV should have no trouble at all. On top of that, the parking lot has spaces specifically for RVs. Score!
Rent an RV near Cape Hatteras Lighthouse!
Camping Near Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
We were surprised to find a good number of campgrounds way down by this lighthouse. Here are our favorites:
Battleship North Carolina
Moored in the eerie-sounding Cape Fear River in the town of Wilmington, Battleship North Carolina both memorializes and educates the public about the ship preserved here, which served in World War II.
This ship is the lead ship of the North Carolina class of battleships, and was also the very first vessel of its type commissioned and built for the United States Navy. Today, you and your family can climb aboard to imagine what life was like behind her hull, as well as learn more about the important role she served in our nation’s history.
RVing to Battleship North Carolina
While the website for the ship says there is ample RV and bus parking, recent reviews state otherwise. This is likely due to construction that could be complete by the time you visit, so you might call ahead to learn the situation before you drive that way.
Rent an RV near Battleship North Carolina!
Camping Near Battleship North Carolina
The town of Wilmington is a very welcoming place with plenty to do and several RV parks to choose from. We like the ones listed below:
Continue Exploring North Carolina
Ready to experience all of these North Carolina landmarks for yourself? We’ve got everything you need to plan an epic RV trip to the state! For one thing, we’ve got your back when it comes to the RV rental itself. We also have a guide on Great Smoky Mountains National Park and lists of the to-dos in major North Carolina cities.
