Highest-rated free things to do in North Carolina by visitors

Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in North Carolina.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in North Carolina using data from . Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

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#30. SouthPark

- Rating: 4.4/5 (237 reviews)
- City: Charlotte North
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#29. North Carolina Museum of History

- Rating: 4.6/5 (939 reviews)
- City: Raleigh North
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#28. Fields of the Wood

- Rating: 4.5/5 (477 reviews)
- City: Murphy North
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#27. Grovewood Village

- Rating: 4.6/5 (599 reviews)
- City: Asheville North
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#26. State Farmers Market

- Rating: 4.6/5 (318 reviews)
- City: Raleigh North
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#25. Airborne and Special Operations Museum

- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,098 reviews)
- City: Fayetteville North
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#24. Pilot Mountain State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (779 reviews)
- City: Pinnacle North
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#23. Fort Macon State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,635 reviews)
- City: Atlantic Beach North
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#22. Looking Glass Falls

- Rating: 4.7/5 (926 reviews)
- City: Pisgah Forest North
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#21. Duke University

- Rating: 4.8/5 (666 reviews)
- City: Durham North
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#20. Duplin Winery

- Rating: 4.8/5 (595 reviews)
- City: Rose Hill North
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#19. Oak Island Beach

- Rating: 4.6/5 (646 reviews)
- City: Oak Island North
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#18. Cape Hatteras National Seashore

- Rating: 4.7/5 (599 reviews)
- City: Hatteras Island Outer Banks North
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#17. Wrightsville Beach

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,119 reviews)
- City: Wrightsville Beach North
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#16. Hendrick Motorsports Complex

- Rating: 4.6/5 (457 reviews)
- City: Charlotte North
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#15. Freedom Park

- Rating: 4.6/5 (805 reviews)
- City: Charlotte North
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#14. Mingo Falls

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,247 reviews)
- City: Cherokee North
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#13. The Folk Art Center (Southern Highland Craft Guild)

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,438 reviews)
- City: Asheville North
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#12. Riverwalk

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,466 reviews)
- City: Wilmington North
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#11. Casino at Harrah's Cherokee

- Rating: 3.8/5 (4,096 reviews)
- City: Cherokee North
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#10. JOLO Winery & Vineyards

- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,097 reviews)
- City: Pilot Mountain North
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#9. Pullen Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,310 reviews)
- City: Raleigh North
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#8. North Carolina Museum Of Art

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,856 reviews)
- City: Raleigh North
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#7. Jockey's Ridge State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,342 reviews)
- City: Nags Head Outer Banks North
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#6. Topsail Island

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,117 reviews)
- City: Surf City Topsail Island North
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#5. Sarah P. Duke Gardens

- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,223 reviews)
- City: Durham North
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#4. Dry Falls

- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,655 reviews)
- City: Highlands North
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#3. Blue Ridge Parkway

- Rating: 4.8/5 (6,994 reviews)
- City: North
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#2. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,351 reviews)
- City: Raleigh North
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#1. Billy Graham Library

- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,528 reviews)
- City: Charlotte North
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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