The 5 Best Parks in North Carolina
These are the 5 highest-rated parks we list in North Carolina, ranked by what visitors actually say about them.
Shining Rock Wilderness in Canton leads, with 4.9 stars from 46 reviews; Zootastic Park in Troutman follows at 4.5. The list spans 5 cities, including Canton, Troutman, Asheville and Franklin.
Between them they carry 4,721 Google reviews and average 4.4 stars. We weigh a rating by how many people left it, so a place with a handful of five-star reviews does not leapfrog one that thousands have rated nearly as well.
1.Shining Rock Wilderness
4.9 · 46 reviews · Canton
The top pick in Canton, holding 4.9 stars across 46 reviews. Good for kids. Open around the clock.
2.Zootastic Park
4.5 · 4,430 reviews · Troutman
4.5 stars from 4,430 reviews in Troutman, one of the most reviewed on this list. Good for kids and parking on site.
3.West Asheville Park - Gassaway Field
4.4 · 209 reviews · Asheville
Rated 4.4 from 209 reviews in Asheville. Dogs welcome, good for kids and parking on site.
4.Franklin Ultimate
4.9 · 7 reviews · Franklin
Rated 4.9 from 7 reviews in Franklin. Dogs welcome and good for kids.
5.Great Lake Recreation Site
3.4 · 29 reviews · Havelock
Rated 3.4 from 29 reviews in Havelock. Good for kids.
Common questions
What is the best park in North Carolina?
Shining Rock Wilderness in Canton ranks first, with 4.9 out of 5 stars from 46 Google reviews.
Which parks in North Carolina allow dogs?
West Asheville Park - Gassaway Field and Franklin Ultimate are listed as dog-friendly.
Which parks in North Carolina are good for kids?
Shining Rock Wilderness, Zootastic Park, West Asheville Park - Gassaway Field, Franklin Ultimate and Great Lake Recreation Site are flagged as family-friendly.
Rankings come from Google ratings and review counts, and refresh whenever the AllParx directory is updated. Conditions and hours change, so check a place's page before you travel.