Here are 7 end-of-summer trips within a two-hour drive of Charlotte to take before fall

Summer is slowly winding down, and time is running out to soak up the sun before the crisp Carolina fall weather slowly creeps in.

If you’re still looking to make one last summer vacation, there are plenty of places to check out that aren’t too far from Charlotte — even just for a day.

Whether you want to cool off in the water on a lake or break the heat on a hike in the mountains, here’s a list of day trip destinations within a short drive:

Kings Mountain, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 32.1 miles

What to do: Grab a wine flight at Veronét Vineyards & Winery, plan a picnic at Patriot’s Park, or go paddling, fishing, or hiking at Crowders Mountain State Park.

Lake Norman, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 37.4 miles

What to do: Go jet skiing on Lake Norman, have a beach day at Ramsey Creek Beach, or cool off with a swim at the Quarry at Carrigan Farms.

Lake Lure, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 91 miles

Splash in the water park at Lake Lure Beach, go ziplining at Canopy Ridge Farm, or go rock climbing at Chimney Rock State Park.

Columbia, South Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 92.2 miles

What to do: Shop small at the weekly Soda City pop-up market, visit the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, or take a stroll through West Columbia Riverwalk Park.

Boone, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 99.3 miles

What to do: Check out the trails and waterfalls along the Blue Ridge Parkway, ride horses through the mountains at Dutch Creek Trails, or take a tour of the blooms at Arborcrest Gardens.

[RELATED: Looking for a mountain getaway? Here’s our guide to planning an affordable weekend trip to Boone]

Greenville, South Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 101 miles

Plan a picnic at Falls Park, take a self-guided art tour around town, or bike through Swamp Rabbit Tail.

Asheville, North Carolina

Distance from Charlotte: 128 miles

What to do: Take a brewery tour around town, check out the famous Biltmore Estate, or go on a gallery crawl through the River Arts District.

This story was originally published August 15, 2023 at 8:59 AM.

Chyna Blackmon

The Charlotte Observer

Chyna Blackmon was a service journalism reporter for The Charlotte Observer. A native of the Carolinas, she grew up in Columbia, SC, and graduated from Queens University of Charlotte. She’s also worked in local television news in Charlotte, NC, and Richmond, VA. Support my work with a digital subscription