Best North Carolina State Parks near RDU
Getting out and exploring state parks is a wonderful way to spend a fall weekend. With so many within a short drive of the Raleigh/Durham area, you could easily fill up your fall weekends in nature. Consider camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, fishing, boating & swimming all as possibilities in that delightful NC fall weather. We’ve kept this list of our favorite NC State Parks near RDU to under 2.5 hours away from Raleigh, to make it easy for day or weekend trips.
The North Carolina State Parks website is a great resource for finding information on trails, any closures and camping availabilities at each of the parks. Be sure to check for any relevant updates before you go!
William B. Umstead State Park
Nestled into the midst of Raleigh’s urban scenery (it’s right next door to the airport), Umstead is a great place to feel far away from city life without much commitment to the car, even if just for a long morning or afternoon. The Sycamore trail is the longest in the park, and makes for a full day hike with kids, with time built in for playing and snacking. We’ve also done the Pott’s Branch and Company Mill trails.
If you’re into mountain biking, there are trails, like Reedy Creek and Graylyn, that share the path between bikers, horses and hikers.
Raven Rock State Park
A one hour drive from the center of Raleigh, Raven Rock sits just outside of the town of Lillington. Picnic facilities are wonderful here, with shelters and numerous tables located just near the main parking lot.
The Raven Rock Loop trail will take you to the Cape Fear River and allow you to scamper along the namesake rock structure, the Raven Rock. We’ve also done and enjoyed the Campbell Creek Loop trail.
The Mountain Laurel Bike Loop trail has multiple levels, for beginner to advanced riders.
CC Favorite: Any trip to Raven Rock should include a stop in lovely downtown Fuquay-Varina. We love Vicious Fishes for food, Aviator Brewing Co for drinks and Cultivate Coffee Roasters for coffee.
Medoc Mountain State Park
Maybe the most unknown gem on this list, Medoc Mountain sits north of Raleigh near tiny Hollister, NC. The drive through the country is enchanting and the family will love the easy trails taking you to the top of Medoc Mountain. Try the Summit Loop or Bluff Loop trails to get to the top, or the Fishing Creek Loop trail to be close to the water.
Kerr Lake State Recreation Area
Kerr Lake is a wonderful spot to enjoy those warm days and cool nights we all love in the fall. Set up for camping at one of many sites and then spend the evenings around the fire and the days in the water.
The Hibernia access point is great for swimming, boating, and a wonderful view of the lake. Satterwhite Point also offers bathrooms, a playground, and a handicap accessible beach. The Kerr Lake website details the many kinds of camping you can do in the area, from cabin rentals to group camping sites. Highly recommend if you’re wanting to build some real fall memories for your kids.
Pilot Mountain State Park
Extending our reach out a little allows us to enjoy some of the state’s most incredible parks. Pilot Mountain, located northwest of Winston-Salem, boasts an incredible natural landmark that is worth exploring. This lonely mountain makes for an incredible half day of hiking.
The Mountains-to-Sea trail connects through Pilot Mountain State Park, so take on this 12 mile segment if your family is full of adventurous hikers. If not, the many trails through the park are perfect for a few hours on the trail.
CC Favorite: On the way home, Winston-Salem makes for a great place to grab an interesting meal or donut from the original Krispy Kreme.
Hanging Rock State Park
Perhaps my favorite of the state parks, Hanging Rock is the perfect place to camp and spend a full weekend enjoying those first breaths of the mountains that make the western part of the state so special.
Numerous trails are worth mentioning here. We love the Hanging Rock, Hidden Falls and Window Falls trails. For us, camping is a must if we’re heading up to Hanging Rock, there’s just too much to do.
Goose Creek State Park
At the mouth of the Pamlico River lies Goose Creek. It’s a fun camping destination, with biking trails, riverside beaches and super cute eastern river towns to explore. River towns are a living, breathing thing in eastern NC, trust me. It’s also a perfect place for kayaking or fishing.
The Palmetto Boardwalk trail is an interesting feature, displaying some of that marshy, swampy nature prevalent in the area. There are no truly lengthy trails in the park, so pair a few together and spend some time exploring the beach.
CC Favorite: Be sure to give Washington (the closest adorable small town) at least an afternoon of time. Bill’s Hot Dogs is a famous eastern NC institution, while coffee shops, cafes and breweries abound in the downtown area.
Eno River State Park
Just down the road from Durham, we love the hikes & swimming from the Fews Ford access, or a longer hike starting at West Point on the Eno.
If you’re near Hillsborough, you could throw in a quick stop at Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area for more adventuring. Pair it with an afternoon or evening in Hillsborough, which we’re slightly partial to.
What to bring on your State Park adventure:
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For Hiking:
None of these state parks require special equipment or intense hiking gear, so don’t be stopped if you don’t have top of the line gear. With that being said, here are some of our favorite hiking/outdoor gear finds for families.
Shoes
We love a good boot that can double for hiking (when it’s more casual) and for style (aka it looks good with jeans), so both of our families love these boots for: little kids, big kids, adult men & adult women.
Outerwear
A good rain jacket to medium weight jacket is all you will need for fall exploring in NC. I’ve had multiple versions of this jacket, while I’ll choose this for my kids. We love everything by Fjällraven (a Swedish brand that delivers). This light weight fleece for women or light weight fleece for men is perfect for cooler days.
Backpacks
This backpack would be great for a day of hiking. We also love this one. Both are water resistant if you happen to catch a quick shower.
For Camping:
You can go as far as you want with camping equipment, but because most state parks will offer you more car camping (where you park your car directly in your camp site), just the basics are essential here, making state park camping super approachable. This 4-person tent is affordable and efficient. If you have a bigger family or want more space, you can upgrade to this size.
Sleeping bags – I’ve had this one for years and absolutely love it. We’ve had these for the kids – they’re cheap (we haven’t wanted to pay full price until they’re fully grown) and get the job done if you’re not camping in the coldest weather.
If you’re an adult, investing in one of these will change camping for you. Highly recommend.
As for cooking and food, we usually throw together a skillet, sauce pan for water, some knives and a cutting board from home (we’re not professionals). This water container is clutch, as well as an effective cooler for keeping things cold.
Hopefully this fall provides you and your family with many opportunities to get out and explore all that NC has to offer. September, October and November are this state’s time to shine. Enjoy those incredible state parks!
Looking for more NC inspiration? Check out one of these posts…
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