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North Carolina has been growing as a popular travel destination in the USA due to its beautiful landscape, delicious food, and endless activities. Find out what to pack for North Carolina in fall and winter!

What to Pack for North Carolina

Written By: Rachel Campbell

Found on the eastern side of the U.S., North Carolina is one of the more popular states for both local and international travelers.

Here you’ll find varying landscapes, lots of small wholesome towns, a beautiful coastline comprised of miles of white sand beach backed by vacation cottages and large cities that pride themselves on offering a ton to do and see.

During both fall and winter, the state trills with outdoor activities and festivals. But if you’re planning a visit to the entire state, in either season, you’ll find that there are a few style differences in each region.

Zella Live In High Waist Leggings

North Carolina Clothing Style

Depending on where you are in the state, you’ll find that the clothing style during fall changes a bit. On the coast you’ll find that skinny jeans reign king while up in the mountains, locals prefer to stick to a classic black legging look.

There are a few exceptions however. Take the lively hippy city of Asheville. Here you’ll find that colorful and bright outfits are preferred over dark browns and reds. In the middle of the state you’ll find that locals tend to dress more like those on the coast.

Here’s what TFG readers voted on the best leggings for women who travel!

Calvin Klein Chevron-Quilted Packable Down Coat

Because winter equates to snowy days and low temperatures in the mountains, thick jackets, heavy leggings, and big, bold boots are the way to go.

On the coast, you’ll find that locals still prefer to stick with a pair of jeans alongside loose sweaters that they layer under a light, yet long, jacket.

Find out the most stylish and best down jacket options for your cold weather travels!

North Carolina Weather

Fall is often viewed as the best time to visit the state. All around, but especially in the mountains, you’ll find reds, oranges, yellows, and golds splashing the countryside like a watercolor painting.

You’ll also find crisp air and temperatures ranging from the mid 50s to the low 70s during the day and down into the 40s at night.

Start by reading these general tips on packing for autumn travel:

Once it hits winter, on the coast you’ll find strong breezes, crisp air, and temperatures in the 50s during the day and down into the 30s at night. Once you travel into the mountains however, everything changes.

Here you’ll find temperatures sometimes drop down into the teens and lower. Snow is found throughout the state during the winter months as well.

Always research the weather forecast before your trip. Once you’ve checked the weather, you can focus on creating your travel capsule wardrobe.

Use packing cubes to help you organize and even compress your belongings to maximize your space.

Start by reading these general tips on packing for winter travel:

Capsule Wardrobe for Winter
How to Pack for Cold Weather
How to Stay Warm in Cold Weather (without the bulk)
The Best Travel Shoes for Winter

What to Wear in North Carolina for Sightseeing

Whether you’re taking a little stroll downtown or walking along your new favorite beach, you’ll want to always wear a scarf. That’s because in both seasons, the chilly air loves to wrap itself around your neck.

When deciding what to pack for North Carolina during fall, you’ll want to stick to reds, greens, tans, and browns while winter calls for scarves that are purple or blue. If you find that your scarf isn’t thick enough, you can always buy a locally made one in one of the many boutiques found in both the small and larger towns.

Here are eight different ways to wear a scarf when you travel!

Pair the scarf with a sweater or long-sleeve top, a pair of suede boots, a jacket (or coat), and jeans or leggings and you’ll be set for the entire day.

One thing you’ll always want to include with your outfit is a pair of sunglasses, especially during winter in the mountains. Though it may not seem like it, the sun does a great job of reflecting off of the fresh white snow, which can harm your eyes.

Find out what TFG readers chose as the best women’s waterproof leather boots!

Cable Knit Beanie

What to Pack for North Carolina: Essentials

When deciding what to pack for North Carolina in fall and winter, you’ll find that clothing choices are on the more stylish side and have less to do with comfort compared to the mountains to the west.

However, there are a few items that are commonly worn throughout the state to help you choose what to pack for North Carolina:

Suede boots– It doesn’t matter if you prefer an ankle height or equestrian style, suede boots are a North Carolina staple. Popular color choices are tan, burgundy and black.
Flowy sweaters– Because they’re both stylish and super comfortable, flowy sweaters are more commonly worn compared to the light turtleneck style sweaters of way back when.
Long jackets– Unless you’re on a long mountain hike, you’ll want to stick to a longer jacket and not one that ends at your waistline. This is because air can easily flow under a normal length jacket and completely undermine all of the time and effort you put into choosing a warm outfit.
Scarves– During fall, you’ll want to stick to thinner wool scarves, while winter calls for something a little thicker.
Beanies– Great for both seasons and easy to find in pretty much any color you want, beanies help keep your hair in place and your head warm.

Find out why thermals are a must for traveling light (and staying warm) in winter!

North Carolina Accommodations

Because North Carolina is such a big state with varying natural environments, you’ll find that there is a rather large assortment of accommodations from which to choose.

These range from vacation beach cottages on the coast to mountainside cabins in the Blue Ridge Mountains. You’ll also find plenty of hotels and resorts to choose from within the major cities.

Generally speaking, you won’t find many hotels open during the winter months in the mountains due to the road conditions. The coastline is a completely different story and you should have plenty of options.

Read these Airbnb tips for more info!

North Carolina Transportation

Though you will find taxis, a public bus system, and bicycle rentals in the major cities, the best way to get around the state is via rental car. This is because taxis are expensive and harder to come by in the small mountain towns.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you plan on driving around the state during the winter, the Blue Ridge Parkway will be closed due to heavy fog and snow.

I love renting a car with Alamo because they have a super easy self check-in and free shuttle at the airport. I can’t recommend them enough. Book here!

What To Do in North Carolina in Fall and Winter

The beach is a perfect destination in both the fall and winter, making it a great activity for all ages. During the rest of the year, even fall, the Outer Banks attract hoards of visitors, but winter everything changes. You’ll find that there is hardly anyone visiting, making it easy to take that perfect landscape picture.

During fall, you’ll want to head over to Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Asheville charms with festivals centered around pumpkins and apples while the Blue Ridge Mountains and the parkway offer prime nature viewing opportunities.

Who doesn’t want to look Insta-perfect in their travel photos? Here’s best makeup for pictures!

What are your recommendations for what to wear in North Carolina? Share your tips in the comment below!

For more North America packing lists, please read:

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Author Bio: Rachel Campbell is a professional travel writer who has been slowly exploring the globe since 2013. Though her heart belongs to Florida and the Caribbean, she can still be found making snow angels in the cold white north from time to time. For more, follow The Florida Living Magazine and her adventures on Instagram.

What to Pack for North Carolina in Fall and Winter