LONG WEEKEND IN NORTH CAROLINA UNDER $550
North Carolina is a great place to spend a long weekend this fall. It has some amazing hikes and viewpoints that only get better as the leaves change color.
The best part is that there are some great flight deals right now for October, plus hotels in the area are also very reasonable.
Price per person based on 2 people can be as cheap as $550 (hotels, accommodations and transportation). See below for recommendations for each budget.
Below is a sample itinerary.
Day 1 Thursday: Arrive in Charlotte, NC
Day 2 Friday: Spend the morning in Charlotte, and Drive to Chimney Rock State Park, stay in Flat Rock or Greenville
Day 3 Saturday: Flat Rock/Greenville
Day 4 Sunday: Head back to Charlotte and fly home
Note: All pricing is accurate at date of post, but is subject to change as hotels/airlines frequently update pricing. Pricing is usually accurate for 24-72 hours, may be longer especially for hotels.
What to do in North Carolina
North Carolina is a great place to explore in the fall. The stat offers some great hikes and other outdoor activities. My top recommendations for a long weekend are:
Visit Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park
Visit some local breweries
Hike Caesars Head State Park, SC
Visit the Biltmore Estate and Biltmore Village
Flight from Chicago to Charlotte
There are a number of affordable flight options to Charlotte in October. The cheapest options are on Spirit Airlines which is not my favorite (is it anyone’s?). But it is hard to beat the price, and for short trips like this well worth the savings. For those that haven’t flown Spirit, it is a budget airline and your ticket only includes a personal item. For a short trip like this, I usually can fit what I need without paying for bags. Nonstop roundtrip tickets from October 19th - October 22nd are $88 per person.
Hotel Recommendations
The hotels below are my recommendation in Charlotte, NC and in Flat Rock and Greenville. Based on what you want to see in the area and whether you want to say in a larger town, you can adjust where you stay.
Charlotte
Residence Inn Charlotte City Center: This hotel is located in downtown Charlotte and is one of the best hotels in the city. One of the best amenities the hotel has rooftop terrace with beautiful views of the city, and an onsite restaurant. The rooms are simple, modern and clean, plus the hotel is near great restaurants and extremely walkable. It also includes a free breakfast.
Cost: $221/night
Flat Rock
The Lodge at Flat Rock: This hotel is all about proximity to some of the best hikes and activities in the area. It is located in the quant town of Flat Rock and has a great lodge interior. There is also an indoor pool and other onsite amenities.
Cost: $148/night
Mountain Inn & Suites: Another great option in Flat Rock. It is a smaller hotel, but has large rooms and is centrally located.
Cost: $/night
Greenville
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites: The Hyatt offers everything you want in a hotel. It is located right downtown and within walking distance to the restaurants, breweries, and shops. It also provides a free continental breakfast, large comfortable rooms, and pool.
Cost: $279/night
Getting Around North Carolina
The only way to get around the area to visit some of the best hiking and viewpoints, is to rent a car. There are plenty of options that you can pick up at the Charlotte airport. For the weekend, car rentals start at $250 from Thursday through Sunday.
Total Cost of Transportation: $200 per person. This budgets the rental car and gas for the drives.
Budget Breakdown - $550
For those with a very tight budget and/or who want to stay closer to the hikes and other outdoor activities, you can do a long weekend for under $550 (this includes flights, hotels and transportation). See below for the budget breakdown:
Roundtrip Air Fare: $88
Residence Inn Charlotte City Center $221 (1 Night): $111/person
The Lodge at Flat Rock $296 (2 Nights): $148/person
Transportation: $200
Total Cost : $547
Budget Breakdown - $850
For those with more room within their budget and who want to stay in Greenville, you can still plan a long weekend under $850 (this includes flights, hotels and transportation). See below for the budget breakdown:
Roundtrip Air Fare: $88
Residence Inn Charlotte City Center $221 (1 Night): $111/person
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites $617 (2 Nights): $314/person
Transportation: $200
Total Cost : $823
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