50 historic tours and trails in North Carolina: 23 walking tours and ranger programs, 12 driving trails, National Historic Trails and heritage areas, and more. 21 are free. Prices and schedules come from each operator’s own page.
Header photo: Salem Tavern on South Main Street in Old Salem, Winston-Salem, in a Historic American Buildings Survey photo (after 1933). Credit: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, HABS NC,34-WINSA,4-.
- 50tours and trails
- 23walking tours and ranger programs
- 21free
- 12trails and heritage areas
- Self-guided walking
- Guided walking
- Ranger-led
- House tour
- Boat/train/trolley
- Audio/app
- Ghost & history tour
- Driving trail
- National Historic Trail
- Heritage area
Download this data: CSV · JSON · 50 tours · free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link to It’s North Carolina. All open data: catalog.json.
Self-Guided Walking Tours (6)
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bodie Island Lighthouse climb Climb to the top of the lighthouse; views of ocean and Pamlico Sound | Nags Head | National Park Service | $10 adults; $5 seniors 62+, children 11 and under, disabled | Late April-early November 2026; Oct-early Nov Tue-Thu only | Just over 200 steps |
| Moores Creek History and Tar Heel trails Earthworks, battlefield and Widow Moores Creek Bridge | Currie | National Park Service | Free | Grounds daily 9-5 | Short trails |
| Portsmouth Village self-guided visit Salter House, school, post office/general store, church, Life-Saving Station | Portsmouth Island (Cape Lookout NS) | National Park Service | Ferry fare (authorized ferry services) | Buildings staffed seasonally from mid-April | Village trails |
| Mountain Farm Museum self-guided tour Late-19th-century log farm buildings; tour booklet keyed to numbered posts | Cherokee (Great Smoky Mountains NP) | National Park Service | Free (parking tag required over 15 minutes) | Year-round | Short walk behind Oconaluftee Visitor Center |
| Historic Halifax self-guided walking tour 1838 Jail, 1790 Eagle Tavern, Underground Railroad Trail; guided tours also include restored buildings | Halifax | NC Division of State Historic Sites | Free | Tue-Sat 9-5 | Historic district |
| Historic Oakwood self-guided walking tour Historic residential neighborhood; printed brochure at Capital Area Visitor Center | Raleigh | Historic Oakwood | Free | Any time | Neighborhood |
Guided Walking Tours (15)
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Dobbs guided tours French and Indian War fort site | Statesville | NC Division of State Historic Sites | $5 adults; $4 seniors/military; $1 youth 3-17 | Tue-Sat (check Facebook for daily schedule) | See official site |
| Reed Gold Mine underground tour Restored underground gold mine | Midland | NC Division of State Historic Sites | $5 adults; $4 seniors/military; $1 children 3-17 | Tue-Sat 10, 11, 12, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 | See official site |
| Battleship North Carolina Hidden Battleship Tour Areas of the ship normally closed to the public | Wilmington | Battleship North Carolina (DNCR) | $75 per person (+tax) | Sat Feb 27, Mar 20, Apr 24 and Nov 20, 2027, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | See official site |
| Fort Fisher ‘Above the Scenes’ tours Behind-the-scenes areas of the visitor center | Kure Beach | NC Division of State Historic Sites | $10 + tax (2026 anniversary event) | Offered at special events | See official site |
| Fort Macon guided tours Restored pre-Civil War fort; cannon and musket demonstrations | Atlantic Beach | NC State Parks | Free | Daily guided tours (fort open 9-5) | See official site |
| Historic Edenton guided tours Historic buildings of NC’s first colonial capital incl. 1767 Chowan County Courthouse | Edenton | NC Division of State Historic Sites | $5 adults; $4 seniors/military; $1 youth 3-17 (+tax) | Tue-Sat 10, 11, 1, 2, 3 (summer hours) | See official site |
| Somerset Place guided tours Plantation community of more than 861 enslaved people; reconstructed homes; Lake Phelps | Creswell | NC Division of State Historic Sites | $5 adults; $4 seniors/military; $1 youth 3-17 (+tax) | Tue-Sat 9-5 | See official site |
| Oconaluftee Indian Village guided walk Cherokee artisans and village life | Cherokee | Cherokee Historical Association | Adult $25; child $15 (see notes) | Tue-Sat 9:30-4:30, mid-April-October | About 1-2 hours; mulched path |
| Alamance Battleground guided tours 1771 Regulator battlefield and Allen House | Burlington | NC Division of State Historic Sites | $2 adults; $1 seniors/military/youth (+tax) | Tue-Sat 11, 1, 3 | See official site |
| Historic Bethabara Park guided tours 1753 Moravian settlement site and 1788 Gemeinhaus | Winston-Salem | Historic Bethabara Park | $5 adults; $1 students and children over 3 | Visitor center Tue-Sat 10:30-4:30, Sun 1:30-4:30 | See official site |
| International Civil Rights Center & Museum signature tour Woolworth lunch counter and permanent collection incl. ‘The Battlegrounds’ | Greensboro | Sit-In Movement, Inc. | $20 adults; $15 K-12 | Mon-Sat 10-6 | 60-75 minutes |
| Bennett Place guided tours Reconstructed Bennitt farmhouse where Johnston surrendered to Sherman | Durham | NC Division of State Historic Sites | $4 adults; $3 seniors/military; $1 youth 3-17 | Tue-Sat 9:45, 11, 1 | See official site |
| Hillsborough Ramble preservation walking tour Colonial and Revolutionary-Era Hillsborough | Hillsborough | Alliance for Historic Hillsborough | See official site | See official site | Walking |
| Historic Stagville guided tours History of slavery at one of NC’s largest plantations; outdoor self-guided tour free | Durham | NC Division of State Historic Sites | $2 + tax (discounts for children, seniors, veterans, military) | Weekdays 1 and 3; Sat 11, 1, 3 | See official site |
| NC State Capitol Saturday public tours 1840 Capitol chambers and rotunda | Raleigh | NC Division of State Historic Sites | Free | Sat 11, 1, 3 (no reservation) | See official site |
Ranger-Led Programs (2)
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wright Brothers ranger programs Ranger talks on the Wright brothers and first flight | Kill Devil Hills | National Park Service | Included with $10 entrance (16+) | Check park calendar | Varies |
| Guilford Courthouse Veterans Day battlefield hike Ranger-led hike with reenactor musket demonstration | Greensboro | National Park Service | Free | Sat Nov 7, 2026, 10-11:30 a.m. | 1.5 miles, about 90 minutes |
Historic House Tours (9)
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biltmore House self-guided visit Biltmore House and grounds | Asheville | The Biltmore Company | From $110 (house day visit); discounts 16 and under; 9 and under free | Open 365 days; hours vary | See official site |
| Carl Sandburg Home house tours Interior of the Sandburg home | Flat Rock | National Park Service | Free | Tours 11, 12, 1, 2, 3 (staffing dependent), first come first served | About house interior |
| Thomas Wolfe Memorial guided tours ‘Old Kentucky Home’ boardinghouse | Asheville | NC Division of State Historic Sites | $8 adults; $7 seniors/military; $1 youth 3-17 (+tax) | Tue-Sat | See official site |
| Historic Salisbury Foundation Hall House tours 1820s Hall House museum in the West Square Historic District | Salisbury | Historic Salisbury Foundation | See official site | Saturdays 1-4 (2026 season) | See official site |
| Edenton Christmas Candlelight Tour Historic homes, incl. Hayes (1-3 p.m.) | Edenton | Edenton Historical Commission | See official site | Dec 11-12, 2026 (45th annual) | Two days |
| Historic Bath house tours Historic homes of NC’s first town incl. Palmer-Marsh House | Bath | NC Division of State Historic Sites | $5 adults; $4 seniors/military; $1 youth 3-17 (+tax) | Tue-Sat 9-5 | See official site |
| Tryon Palace guided Palace tour Palace first and second floors and cellar, Kitchen Office, gardens | New Bern | Tryon Palace (DNCR) | One Day Pass $20 adults, $10 youth 6-14 (+tax) | Mon-Sat 10:30-2:30; Sun 12:30-2:30 (reserved tour times) | Half-day visit recommended |
| Home Moravian Church Candle Tea Single Brothers’ House: Moravian sugar cookie, trimmed Lovefeast candle, the Putz (miniature Salem scene) and Nativity | Winston-Salem (Old Salem) | Home Moravian Church | $9 general; $5 children 3-12; under 3 free | Dec 3-5 and Dec 10-12, 2026 (see times) | About 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour Interiors of private historic homes | Raleigh | Historic Oakwood | See official site | Each December | About a dozen homes |
Historic Boat, Train and Trolley Rides (2)
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NC Transportation Museum train ride Historic Spencer Shops railyard; Bob Julian Roundhouse & Turntable | Spencer | NC Transportation Museum (DNCR) | See official site | See official site | See official site |
| Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Historic depot; steam (‘Steam of the Smokies’) and diesel excursions along Fontana Lake and Nantahala River | Bryson City | Great Smoky Mountains Railroad | See official site | Seasonal excursions | Nantahala Gorge Excursion 4.5 hours, 44 miles roundtrip |
Audio and App Tours (2)
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellamy Mansion self-guided audio tour Mansion interiors via smartphone audio tour | Wilmington | Preservation North Carolina | $16 adults; $8 students 4-13; 0-3 free | Daily 10-4 (must finish by 5) | See official site |
| Guilford Courthouse battlefield audio tour Battlefield stops narrated through the NPS app | Greensboro | National Park Service | Free | Any time the park is open | Self-paced |
Ghost and History Tours (2)
Ghost tours mix documented history with legend. We list long-running operators with their own pages; the stories are theirs, not facts we have checked.
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock House Ghost Tours 1774 Rock House | Charlotte | Charlotte Museum of History | See official site | See official site | See official site |
| Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington 30+ researched locations in old Wilmington (researched since 1978, per operator) | Wilmington | Haunted Wilmington (Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington) | See official site | See official site | Walking |
Driving Trails (7)
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Ridge Parkway New Deal-era scenic road (begun 1935, completed 1987), Linn Cove Viaduct | Western NC (and VA) | National Park Service | Free | Road open 24 hours, weather permitting | Through 17 NC counties |
| Civil War Trails (North Carolina) Interpretive roadside signs at Civil War sites | Statewide | Civil War Trails, Inc. | Free | Year-round | Program has 1,500+ sites across six states |
| NC Highway Historical Markers Silver-and-black roadside markers on people, places and events | All 100 counties | NC Highway Historical Marker Program (DNCR with NCDOT) | Free | Year-round | Over 1,600 markers |
| North Carolina Civil Rights Trail Markers at sites of the Civil Rights Movement in NC, including 10 in Hometown Strong counties | Statewide | NC African American Heritage Commission (DNCR) | Free | Year-round | Goal: 50 walk-up markers statewide |
| Revolutionary Routes Wayside and Marker Program Outdoor exhibits and markers at sites of Revolutionary significance | Statewide | America 250 NC (DNCR) | Free | Rolling out during the America 250 commemoration | Statewide trail of waysides and markers |
| U.S. Civil Rights Trail – North Carolina sites Woolworth building/ICRCM and February One Monument (Greensboro), Hayti Heritage Center (Durham), Estey Hall at Shaw University and MLK Jr. Memorial Gardens (Raleigh) | Greensboro, Durham, Raleigh | U.S. Civil Rights Trail | Free to follow (museum fees vary) | Year-round | 5 NC attractions |
| Guilford Courthouse tour road Battlefield stops and monuments | Greensboro | National Park Service | Free | Vehicles daily 8:30-5; walkers/cyclists dawn-dusk | Loop road |
National Historic Trails (2)
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail Route of Patriot militia in the 1780 Kings Mountain campaign; waysides, affiliated sites | Western NC (plus VA, TN, SC) | National Park Service | Free | Year-round, sunrise to sunset | 330 miles across 4 states; 80+ miles walkable; Commemorative Motor Route on state highways |
| Trail of Tears National Historic Trail (North Carolina segment) Sites and waysides tied to the 1838-1839 forced removal of the Cherokee | Western NC (plus 8 other states) | National Park Service | Free (site fees vary) | Hours vary by site | Multi-state trail |
National Heritage Areas and Corridors (3)
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Appalachian music, craft, foodways and Cherokee traditions; craft and music trail guides | Western North Carolina mountains | Blue Ridge National Heritage Area | Free to explore | Year-round | Regional |
| Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (NC portion) Gullah Geechee culture of coastal communities; StoryMap of sites | Coastal NC to Florida | Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission | Free | Year-round | Multi-state coastal corridor |
| Southern Campaign of the Revolution National Heritage Corridor Revolutionary War battlefields, historic communities, farmsteads and landscapes | North and South Carolina | Designated National Heritage Corridor (NPS listing) | Free | Year-round | 8-mile-wide corridor across multiple NC and SC counties |
What We Could Not Verify
- The NPS says the Southern Campaign of the Revolution National Heritage Corridor was designated in 2023, but the bills creating it were filed in the 2021-2022 Congress. We have not confirmed the enactment year on congress.gov.
We re-check these when the source pages change. Spot something we missed? Use the corrections page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best historic walking tour in Raleigh?
For a free start, take a public guided tour of the 1840 North Carolina State Capitol, offered Saturdays at 11, 1 and 3 with no reservation, or tour it on your own during open hours. Then walk Historic Oakwood with its self-guided brochure (source: NC Historic Sites: North Carolina State Capitol).
Which National Historic Trails cross North Carolina?
Two. The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail follows the 1780 Patriot militia march to Kings Mountain, 330 miles across four states with a commemorative motor route. The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail marks the 1838-1839 forced removal of the Cherokee (source: NPS: Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail).
Is there a civil rights trail in North Carolina?
Yes. The U.S. Civil Rights Trail includes five North Carolina sites: the Woolworth building at the International Civil Rights Center & Museum and the February One Monument in Greensboro, Durham’s Hayti Heritage Center, and Estey Hall and the MLK Jr. Memorial Gardens in Raleigh (source: U.S. Civil Rights Trail: North Carolina).
Last checked October 20, 2026 by the It’s North Carolina editors against each operator’s, agency’s or organizer’s own page.
Sources
- Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
- Trail of Tears National Historic Trail (North Carolina segment)
- Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
- Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (NC portion)
- Southern Campaign of the Revolution National Heritage Corridor
- U.S. Civil Rights Trail – North Carolina sites
- North Carolina Civil Rights Trail
- Civil War Trails (North Carolina)
- NC Highway Historical Markers
- Revolutionary Routes Wayside and Marker Program
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- Guilford Courthouse battlefield audio tour
- Guilford Courthouse tour road
- Guilford Courthouse Veterans Day battlefield hike
- Moores Creek History and Tar Heel trails
- Wright Brothers ranger programs
- Bodie Island Lighthouse climb
- Carl Sandburg Home house tours
- Portsmouth Village self-guided visit
- Mountain Farm Museum self-guided tour
- Historic Edenton guided tours
- Historic Halifax self-guided walking tour
- Historic Bath house tours
- Reed Gold Mine underground tour
- Historic Stagville guided tours
- Somerset Place guided tours
- NC State Capitol Saturday public tours
- Bennett Place guided tours
- Thomas Wolfe Memorial guided tours
- Fort Dobbs guided tours
- Alamance Battleground guided tours
- Fort Macon guided tours
- Tryon Palace guided Palace tour
- Biltmore House self-guided visit
- Oconaluftee Indian Village guided walk
- International Civil Rights Center & Museum signature tour
- Bellamy Mansion self-guided audio tour
- Historic Bethabara Park guided tours
- Hillsborough Ramble preservation walking tour
- Historic Oakwood self-guided walking tour
- Historic Salisbury Foundation Hall House tours
- Edenton Christmas Candlelight Tour
- Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington
- Rock House Ghost Tours
- Battleship North Carolina Hidden Battleship Tour
- Fort Fisher ‘Above the Scenes’ tours
- Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
- NC Transportation Museum train ride
- Home Moravian Church Candle Tea
Cite this page: It's North Carolina, “Historic Tours in North Carolina: Walking Tours, Trails and Ranger Programs”, itsnorthcarolina.com/history/historic-tours/ (updated ). By the It's North Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.