Charlotte Motor Speedway

Visitors to the Charlotte metro area will be pleased with both the convenience of the massive city nearby and the bevy of excellent state parks in the vicinity. With your campervan rental, you can head off to places like Morrow Mountain State Park, less than a half an hour's drive from the Charlotte Motor Speedway. This pleasant park in the Uwharrie Mountains has scenic vistas and vantage points overlooking the forest below it. Morrow Mountain is an ancient geological feature that once stood over 20,000 feet tall; a billion years of erosion have worn it down to just over 1,000 feet tall, although it is still the most prominent peak in the Uwharrie Mountains. Guests can see archaeological dig sites, historic structures, a human-made lake, and a cozy campground.

Lake Norman State Park is north of Charlotte on the shores of Lake Norman, known for being one of the state’s brightest recreation hotspots during the warm summer months. The state’s largest human-made body of water is great for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, tubing, waterskiing, and wakeboarding, and there are miles of trails for hiking or mountain biking. A small camping area by the water is a nice place to stay overnight in your RV rental while you explore this scenic spot.

Crowders Mountain State Park features a much taller mountain than Morrow Mountain, reaching over 5,000 feet in elevation. This prominent monadnock has unbelievable views from the top and is a popular destination for rock climbers and bouldering enthusiasts. The hiking loops in the park provide endless hours of peace and quiet with meditative treks through the woods. If you don’t mind dipping over into South Carolina and heading towards the state capital, Columbia, you can see one of the rare national parks no more than 100 miles from Charlotte. Congaree National Park features hundreds of miles of waterways that are ideal for canoeing and kayaking, with beautiful trails and wonderfully maintained boardwalks carving through its old-growth forests and cypress swamps. You can see all sorts of amazing animals while camping in a motorhome at this jaw-dropping park.

Charlotte is a phenomenal place to visit when you're camping at Charlotte Motor Speedway; there is so much to do and see in the area. Before you head out though, set aside some time to enjoy the speedway's legendary races and events, like the Coca-Cola 600, the Bank of America ROVAL 400, and the NASCAR All-Star Race Weekend. Hundreds of thousands of people pour into the stands during these weekends, with many more tailgating in the parking lot.

Racing fans can also head into Charlotte and check out the NASCAR Hall of Fame, a fantastic museum filled to the brim with racing memorabilia, race cars, trophies, statues, and enshrined racers. The interactive exhibits, High Octane Theater, and a series of restaurants in the food court are a pleasure to see.

For art lovers, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is a nice place to add to the list. This strange yet beautiful brick building in the downtown area has four floors of art showcased in trendy galleries. It may not be the largest collection, but art enthusiasts are left in awe after passing through this elegant building.