For LGBTQ people, it’s always a good idea to check whether your next vacation destination is a gay-friendly location. This guide is meant to make that process a little easier, and give queer people confidence that they can safely enjoy what North Carolina has to offer.
Whether you are a local or visiting North Carolina from out of state, there is sure to be something new and interesting for you in this guide.
City Living
Looking for a slice of city life in North Carolina? Or maybe you are visiting for work and are looking for something queer to do while you’re visiting Charlotte or the Research Triangle Park (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the surrounding area).
If you are visiting one of these metropolitan areas and want to know what your options are, we have got you covered.
Charlotte
Charlotte is North Carolina’s most populous city. It has the most urban feel out of the state’s major metropolitan areas. It also has the most gay nightlife venues available or all the cities in the state.
Charlotte Nightlife
There are about 8 gay bars and clubs throughout Charlotte (depending on your definition of a “gay” bar or club), each with its own vibe and crowd.
For a thorough look at all of these venues, check out our guide to the Best Gay Bars in Charlotte. If you are only in town for a few nights, we recommend hitting up one of the following spots.
- Argon & Sidelines – These two spots are right next door to each other in south Charlotte. This is great if you only have one night to explore Charlotte’s gay nightlife. Sidelines in a gay sports bar with flat-screen TVs, pool, and darts. Argon is a video bar with a dance floor and lounge seating.
- Chasers – Chasers is a recently remodeled nightclub in Charlotte’s Noda neighborhood. This spot hosts theme nights like EDM night, and is a great place to get a drink, dance, and meet new people.
- The Woodshed – If you are looking for a gay bar near the airport, the Woodshed is your best bet. This bar is especially popular with the leather, daddy, and bear communities.
Charlotte Parks & Rec
Charlotte is a great vacation hub because it is only a few hours’ drive to the beach and to the mountains. Charlotte folks love sports and the outdoors. If you do too, check out these attractions in and around Charlotte.
- White Water Center – This popular outdoor center in west Charlotte offers rafting, paddling, climbing, ziplining, and more.
- Freedom Park – Charlotte’s largest park, located in south Charlotte, features trails, a creek, and a pond.
- Stonewall Sports – This LGBTQ and allied sports league organizes dozens of sports seasons throughout the year. Check out their website to see if you can catch a game of kickball or volleyball while you are in town.
Charlotte Pride
If you happen to be visiting Charlotte around August, you might be able to get in on the Charlotte Pride festival action that takes place annually each summer. Charlotte hosts a free parade a festival in its Uptown neighborhood that attracts thousands of visitors from around the state.
Raleigh and the RTP
Raleigh is the state’s capital, and together with the neighboring communities of Durham and Chapel Hill, makes up the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina. This area is another reasonably LGBT-friendly part of North Carolina.
Raleigh Nightlife
Visitors to the RTP area looking for gay nightlife are best advised to stick to the Raleigh area. While Durham and Chapel Hill are great places for LGBTQ people to call home, Raleigh is a better option for gay bars and clubs. Some of the local favorites are:
- Flex – This downtown gay bar features karaoke, drag shows, and a dance floor. It hosts theme nights like leather night and bear night.
- Legends – This LGBT nightclub is a great place for dancing and vibing to music. Legends has a huge dancefloor so there is plenty of space for large crowds.
Raleigh Parks & Rec
Like Charlotte, the RTP region is home to awesome parks, including city parks and larger state parks.
- Lake Johnson Park – This park is just west of Raleigh between Raleigh and Cary, NC. This park is built around a lake, features over 5 miles of trails, and offers boat rentals and fishing.
- William B. Umstead State Park – This 5,600-acre park is super close to Raleigh, located halfway between Raleigh and Durham. Raleigh residents have access to this amazing outdoor area for hiking and exploring, less than a 20-minute drive from the city.
Raleigh Pride
If you are visiting the RTP area, you have multiple chances to be part of the Pride festivities. Raleigh hosts a pride festival each year in June. Durham hosts its own festival in September. Both Pride events feature free parades and activities.
Outdoors and Mountains
North Carolina is famous for its mountains. The western part of the state is made up of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a subset of the Appalachian Mountains, the oldest mountain range in the United States.
If you are looking for cozy cabin vibes and hiking trails in an LGBTQ-friendly community, North Carolina is a great choice.
Asheville
Asheville is a mountain town in western North Carolina, It is a popular getaway for locals from the Carolinas and neighboring Tennessee. Thankfully for LGBTQ travelers, Asheville is known to be a welcoming and accepting community for queer people.
Despite its relatively small size of about 100,000 people, Asheville hosts the annual Blue Ridge Pride festival and parade. It also has its own gay bar, O Henry’s, which bills itself as North Carolina’s oldest gay bar.
You can find a range of lodging options in Asheville ranging from resorts to cabins, to camping, and everything in between. Downtown Asheville offers a plethora of local businesses and restaurants.
Pisgah National Forest sits just outside of Asheville and offers scenic mountain views, waterfalls, hiking trails, and everything else you would expect to find in a beautiful natural mountain setting.
For a slightly less well-traveled hub for exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, check out nearby Boone, NC.
Starlite Trailer Lodge
If you are looking for a family-friendly LGBT campground or RV park in North Carolina, Starlite Trailer Lodge is the place for you. Starlite is also in the Blue Ridge Mountains, about 80 miles northeast of Asheville.
Starlite Lodge is the only LGBT-focused campground in North Carolina. It offers tent camping, RV camping, and private cabins. It is pet-friendly and offers a lake and a pool. The pool is child-friendly during the day, but adults-only in the evenings.
There are other LGBT campgrounds nearby, including the male-only Timberfell Lodge in Eastern Tennessee, about 70 miles west of Asheville.
Beaches
North Carolina is one of a few states in the country that can proudly boast about both its mountains and its beaches. While there is no designated “gay beach” town in North Carolina like you might find in California or Florida, there are great options for LGBTQ visitors to enjoy beach fun in the state.
The Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is a collection of sandspits and islands that run north-south along 100 miles of North Carolina’s coast.
Popular beach communities to visit along the banks include the towns of Rodanthe and Nags Head. These places offer downtown shopping including restaurants serving beach staples like ice cream and seafood.
The Outer Banks is a favorite destination for many North Carolina LGBTQ residents. The Outer Banks has its own pride festival and a number of queer-friendly businesses that sponsor it, including inns and restaurants.
Wilmington
Wilmington is one of North Carolina’s largest coastal cities and is another great spot for LGBTQ visitors to check out the state’s beaches. Popular beaches near to Wilmington include Wrightsville Beach and Kure Beach.
Wilmington is home to two LGBTQ-adjacent nightlife venues. Hi-Wire Brewing is a queer-friendly brewery that occasionally hosts drag shows. Ibiza nightclub is a popular place for the LGBTQ community to dance and enjoy drag and DJs. While these places don’t brand themselves as dedicated “gay” venues, they are certainly welcoming to the LGBTQ community.
Conclusion
While North Carolina may not be top of mind for visitors looking for a queer vacation, you can rest assured that the state has something to offer every LGBTQ traveler. Whether you are looking for energetic gay nightlife, or a quiet getaway in the mountains or at the beach, North Carolina has something for everyone.
