Getting Around in North Carolina

Getting around North Carolina is easy.

Here are some essentials for North Carolina land, air and water travel as well as NC-specific information for driving.

Highways

North Carolina has the largest state-maintained highway system in the nation, incorporating over 78,600 miles of highways. Five major interstate highways intersect North Carolina: I-26, I-40, I-77, I-85 and I-95.

Rules of the Road

• Seat belt use is mandatory for drivers and passengers in front and rear seats.
• Child safety seats are required for children up to age 8 and weighing less than 80 pounds. For information, visit www.buckleupnc.org
• Motorists are required, if they can safely do so, to move one lane away from any law enforcement or other emergency vehicles; on a two-lane highway, motorists must slow down while maintaining a safe speed and approach with caution.
• Motorists are required to use headlights when using windshield wipers in inclement weather.
• Right turn on red is permitted after a complete stop, unless otherwise posted. Left turns on red are not permitted.

511 Statewide Travel Information

By dialing 511 from a landline or cell phone, visitors can access road conditions, weather updates and other travel-related information. This service also allows access to travel information though the state’s 1-800-VISIT NC information line as well as the NC Department of Transportation’s Rail Division, Ferry Division and other transit agencies.

TIMS is the internet-based version of the 511 information line. TIMS stands for Traveler Information Management System and provides real time information on events that cause severe or unusual congestion on state-maintained roadways in North Carolina. Visit TIMS.

Special Access

Access North Carolina: a Vacation and Travel Guide for Persons with Disabilities provides accessibility rating information regarding many attractions’ parking, entrance, interior, exterior and rest rooms to travelers with disabilities. View this information online or call 1-800-VISIT NC (847-4862) to request a free copy. The Americans with Disabilities Act established standards for a variety of properties. Visitors with special needs are encouraged to contact the accommodations or attraction directly to find out their level of accessibility.

Take a Break

North Carolina’s Welcome Centers and Highway Rest Areas offer opportunities for convenient stops and provide easy roadside access to public restrooms, drinking water and telephones. Welcome Centers also provide picnic tables and grills, family restrooms, even displays of North Carolina arts and crafts. North Carolina Welcome Centers and Visitor Centers are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Rest Areas are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Car Rental

North Carolina recognizes a valid driver’s license from other countries for hiring and driving a vehicle. If your license is not in English, an International License is suggested. Most rental car companies will require the driver to be at least 25 years of age and will often insist on a credit card; otherwise, a large cash deposit may be required.

Car Rental Companies

Trains

Two Amtrak routes between New York and Florida are available through North Carolina’s eastern and Piedmont (central) regions. Twelve daily Amtrak passenger trains serve 16 North Carolina cities on six routes including the northbound and southbound Carolinian, Piedmont, Silver Star, Silver Meteor, Crescent and Palmetto.

The Carolinian and Piedmont are operated jointly by the State of North Carolina and Amtrak to provide daily, round-trip passenger rail service between the capital city, Raleigh, and the state’s largest city, Charlotte. The Carolinian continues service to the Northeast.

Additional information available at: www.amtrak.com or 1-800-USA-RAIL

Ferries

Since the mid-1920s, ferries have connected the coastal communities of Eastern North Carolina. Ferries are a fun way – and sometimes the only way – to get around on NC’s coast. Ferries can accommodate pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and any size car or RV that operates on the highway. Special permits are required for vehicles over 65 feet. Although all routes operate year-round, they are subject to change with weather conditions.

Eight ferry routes operate along the North Carolina coast, linking:

Ferries Continued

Additional information available at: www.ncferry.org  or  1-800-BY-FERRY
Download a ferry schedule at: www.visitnc.com/tools_brochure_download.asp
Enjoy a gallery of ferry images here: www.ncdot.org/transit/ferry/gallery/

Bicycles

In North Carolina, the bicycle has the legal status of a vehicle. This means that bicyclists have full rights and responsibilities on the roadway and are subject to the regulations governing the operation of a motor vehicle. North Carolina traffic laws require bicyclists to ride on the right in the same direction as other traffic, obey all traffic signs and signals and use hand signals to communicate intended movements. Bicyclists must also equip their bicycles with a front lamp visible from 300 feet and a rear reflector that is visible from a distance of 200 feet when riding at night.

Events, trails, maps, projects and regulations information is available at:
www.ncdot.org/transit/bicycle/

Air Transportation

North Carolina has 74 publicly owned airports and nearly 300 privately owned. Ten airports have regularly scheduled commercial airline service and three major international airports serve the state, also offering nonstop service from Canada and Europe.

Airports with Scheduled Passenger Service

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Airlines