18 days in North Carolina Itinerary

Change things up with these side-trips from Asheville: Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park (in Chimney Rock), Crystal Mountain Gem Mine (in Brevard) and Hendersonville (Elijah Mountain Gem Mine and Goat Farm & Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards). There's lots more to do: let your taste buds guide you at a local gastronomic tour, examine the collection at Asheville Pinball Museum, sample the tasty concoctions at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Tours & Tastings, and learn the secrets of beer at a beer tour and tasting.

For more things to do, where to stay, other places to visit, and tourist information, you can read our Asheville route planner.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Asheville is an approximately 15.5-hour flight. Due to the time zone difference, you'll gain 2 hours traveling from Rio de Janeiro to Asheville. Traveling from Rio de Janeiro in May, expect Asheville to be slightly colder, temps between 75°F and 53°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Charlotte.

Change things up with a short trip to The Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville (about 44 minutes away). The adventure continues: see the interesting displays at NASCAR Hall of Fame, walk around Freedom Park, test your problem-solving skills at popular escape rooms, and brush up on your knowledge of spirits at Muddy River Distillery.

To see maps, where to stay, photos, and tourist information, use the Charlotte trip itinerary planning tool.

You can drive from Asheville to Charlotte in 2.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or fly; or take a bus. In May in Charlotte, expect temperatures between 80°F during the day and 58°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Wed) early enough to fly to Kill Devil Hills.

Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around Kill Devil Hills: Corolla (Currituck Beach Lighthouse and Museum & Off-Road Tours) and Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (in Buxton).

To find reviews, maps, traveler tips, and tourist information, refer to the Kill Devil Hills tour itinerary tool.

Traveling by flight from Charlotte to Kill Devil Hills takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of train, bus, and taxi. Expect a bit cooler weather when traveling from Charlotte in May: highs in Kill Devil Hills hover around 74°F, while lows dip to 61°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 20th (Sat) so you can go by car to Wilmington.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Wilmington: Jacksonville (Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial & Walton's Distillery). There's still lots to do: learn about all things military at Battleship North Carolina, stop by Cape Fear Spice Merchants, make a trip to Riverwalk, and wander the streets of Downtown Wilmington.

For reviews, other places to visit, where to stay, and tourist information, go to the Wilmington trip planner.

Traveling by car from Kill Devil Hills to Wilmington takes 5 hours. Alternatively, you can fly; or do a combination of taxi and bus. Expect somewhat warmer weather when traveling from Kill Devil Hills in May: highs in Wilmington hover around 81°F, while lows dip to 62°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 23rd (Tue) early enough to drive to Raleigh.

Explore Raleigh's surroundings by going to Durham (Sarah P. Duke Gardens & Duke University Chapel) and International Civil Rights Center & Museum (in Greensboro). Next up on the itinerary: admire the masterpieces at North Carolina Museum of Art, pause for some photo ops at Memorial Bell Tower, examine the collection at North Carolina Museum of History, and learn more about the world around you at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

To find other places to visit, reviews, more things to do, and tourist information, use the Raleigh day trip planning app.

You can drive from Wilmington to Raleigh in 2 hours. Other options are to drive; or take a bus. In May, daily temperatures in Raleigh can reach 79°F, while at night they dip to 58°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 27th (Sat) early enough to catch the flight back home.