Published by Carl. Last Updated on August 2, 2024.
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We’re pretty proud of the many adventures that start from I-95 exits in North Carolina and thought we’d share a few of them with you here.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with this busy road, I-95 North Carolina exits run for nearly 2,000 miles (1,908) along the US Atlantic Coast, and for 182 miles, it passes through Eastern North Carolina.
And while we normally prefer more scenic routes, we understand that time is a factor for many people.
That’s a big reason why this road attracts so many folks traveling between Maine and Florida. But if you’re like us, you could use a break or two during that long journey.
That’s why we created this guide, focusing on 10 towns and cities that qualify for places to visit along Interstate 95. Near each place, there are at least a few attractions worth extending your time off the busy interstate.
Read More: 100+ Unique Things to Do in North Carolina
I-95 Exits in North Carolina
Some towns and cities may be reachable by additional I-95 exits in North Carolina. But in this post, we’re only going to include those that lead to specific attractions.
We’ll move from south to north for organization purposes since the exit numbers start at 0, just over the South Carolina line.
- Lumberton (Exits 13, 17, and 19)
- Hope Mills (Exit 41)
- Fayetteville (Exits 49, 56, and 58)
- Dunn (Exits 65, 72, and 73)
- Benson (Exits 79 and 81)
- Smithfield (Exits 93 and 95)
- Wilson (Exits 116, 119, and 121)
- Rocky Mount (Exit 138)
- Halifax (Exit 160)
- Roanoke Rapids (Exits 171 and 176)
Lumberton
Where to Get Off: I-95 Exits 13, 17, and 19
Lumberton is known as the midway point between New York and Florida, which is a good hint to stop if you haven’t yet! It’s the first or last major town you’ll see before or after crossing the South Carolina border, depending on where you’re headed.
It’s named for the Lumber River, which today is a popular state park (Exit 13) for fishing and paddling. People traveling with kids will enjoy a stop at Exploration Station (exit 19), where various hands-on activities await.
Another interesting thing about Lumberton and Robeson County is its minority-majority population. The nearby town of Pembroke (Exit 17) is the seat of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. They are one of our state’s seven recognized tribal communities.
Each May, stop by the Southeastern Agricultural Center (Exit 17) for the Lumberton Spring Powwow. There, you’ll see music, dancing, and more Native American culture up close.
Read More: 50+ Easy Day Trips from Fayetteville (Great Getaways!)
Hope Mills
Where to Get Off: I-95 Exit 41
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As lovers of NC beer, we first think of Hope Mills as the home of Dirtbag Ales (Exit 41). This place offers an experience beyond delicious brews.
Oh, and we’re not just talking about the awesome food coming out of Napkins, the on-site restaurant. Events are held each week, and the Sunday farmer’s market is one of our favorites throughout North Carolina!
Of course, there’s much more going on elsewhere in Hope Mills. The Cumberland County town hosts events throughout the year.
A few highlights are their Memorial Day Ceremony, 4th of July Festivities, Gallberry Corn Maze (September to November), and various Christmas celebrations in December.
Read More: Christmas in North Carolina
Fayetteville
Where to Get Off: I-95 Exits 49, 56, and 58
Traffic on Interstate 95 in North Carolina typically picks up around Fayetteville, which many folks might first know for Fort Bragg.
There are tons of fun things to do here, especially if you like to eat. We also love strolling around Fayetteville’s fun downtown (Exits 49 and 56) and exploring outdoor spots like Cape Fear Botanical Garden (Exit 56).
The latter is recommended in our guide to traveling with kids in Fayetteville, including the amazing US Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum (Exit 56). That place is a hard-to-top tribute to soldiers who’ve answered the call of duty time and time again.
We love visiting to enjoy all these things but understand there’s so much more to Cumberland County beyond Hope Mills and Fayetteville. One great example is Carvers Creek State Park (Exit 58), near the town of Spring Lake.
Read More: Day Trips from Raleigh
Dunn
Where to Get Off: I-95 Exits 65 (Cumberland County), 72, and 73
Dunn is Harnett County’s largest city, home to two truly stop-worthy I-95 exits in Norht Carolina. The General William C Lee Airborne Museum (Exit 72) honors the “Father of the Airborne” in his former home. A variety of exhibits detail his story and the evolution of the US Army Airborne, especially during World War II.
The 5-mile Dunn-Erwin Rail Trail (Exit 73) invites walkers, runners, and cyclists to ride along farmlands, wetlands, and cotton fields. You’ll also meet the Averasboro Civil War Battlefield along the way. Of course, you can skip the walk and access this historic spot via Exit 65.
If you’re driving through on the first Saturday in November, you might just stumble upon the NC Cotton Festival. It’s a daylong celebration celebrating cotton with food, crafts, gin tours, and more!
Read More: The NC Museum of History in Raleigh (+7 Things We Love About It!)
Benson
Where to Get Off: I-95 Exits 79 and 81
Benson is home to one of North Carolina’s finest distilleries, known as Broadslab (Exit 79). Here, you can pick up a bottle of North Carolina’s first farm-to-distillery spirits to enjoy when you reach your destination.
Elsewhere in this Johnston County town, you can learn about this area at the Benson Museum of Local History. And if you’d like to go up, hitch a ride with Carolina High Hot Air Balloon Company.
As a child, I once visited Benson for its annual Mule Days, held on the fourth Saturday weekend in September. The parade alone is a great introduction to this awesome town, with hundreds of horses, mules, buggies, and more.
Exit 81 is particularly important because that’s where I-95 meets I-40, which runs east to Wilmington and west through the heart of North Carolina. It also passes through the rest of Benson, where you’ll find some amazing competition-style ‘cue at Redneck BBQ Lab (Exit 319).
Raven Rock State Park is about 40 minutes east of Benson and one of our favorite spots to hike, especially to the overlook that stands above the Cape Fear River.
Read More: Excellent Day Trips from Wilmington Within 2 Hours
Smithfield
Where to Get Off: I-95 Exits 93 and 95
Smithfield sits above the I-40/I-95 split but also draws a lot of traffic. A lot of it is due to US 70 (Exit 95) attracting cars to and from Raleigh. Since it’s within 30 minutes of Oak City, it’s convenient for day trips from Raleigh and also the capital city’s neighbor, Durham.
The Ava Gardner Museum is one great reason to stop in Smithfield, and you’ll agree when visiting this interesting tribute to the iconic Johnston County native. Her mark is felt elsewhere, too, especially at the Rat Pack-decorated Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q (Exit 93).
The museum also offers a Heritage Tour, which will take you to important places in Ava’s life, including her birthplace and gravesite in Sunset Memorial Park.
And if you’ve ever enjoyed a red Bright Leaf Hot Dog, then you might want to stop by Carolina Packers (Exit 93). That is the Smithfield-based company that makes this famous North Carolina food.
Wilson
Where to Get Off: I-95 Exits 116, 119, and 121
Of all the I-95 exits in North Carolina, Wilson is the only one that offers an amazing whirligig park (Exit 116).
At the Vollis P Simpson Whirligig Park, you’ll find amazing kinetic sculptures that move around with the wind and shine bright on sunny days. November’s Whirligig Festival celebrates the park and the community that’s come together over Wilson’s existence.
Casita Brewing Company is across the street from Whirligig Park, and another reason to stick around in Wilson. They have a large selection of taps and cans if you’d like to grab something to go.
Walks at Lake Wilson Reservoir (Exit 121) are nice, too, especially if you indulge with some awesome Eastern NC barbecue in Wilson. Parker’s (Exit 119) and Marty’s (Exit 121) are two area heavyweights.
Bonus: From Exit 119, you can head east toward Greenville (great spot for food and additional beer for passengers!), south to Goldsboro (also amazing food!), or west to Raleigh (okay, they have wonderful restaurants, too!).
Read More: Day Trips from Durham
Rocky Mount
Where to Get Off: I-95 Exit 138
Rocky Mount offers a lot of fun things to do, but its recent claim to fame is the restored Rocky Mount Mills (Exit 138).
You can enjoy a nice meal there and extend your time with a stay at River and Twine, the world’s largest tiny house hotel. We think River and Twine rank high among the most adorable tiny houses in North Carolina, in case you were wondering.
Throughout much of the year, you can get out on the water at Sunset Park (Exit 138) or let your little one get their wiggles out at the playground.
You can also stretch your legs walking or running along the Tar River Trail from Sunset Park. And if you bring a boat, you can join a canoe excursion on the Tar River Paddle Trail.
Side Note: If you find yourself driving to the Outer Banks or elsewhere on US 64 East, you’ll pass Rocky Mount (Exit 470) and will probably need to take a break, so why not there?
Don’t forget to check out our favorite restaurants in Rocky Mount when you’re there, okay?
Halifax
Where to Get Off: I-95 Exit 160
Many folks know our license plates that read “First in Flight,” but some folks opt for the “First in Freedom” variety, which leads to a fun fact and reason you should stop at one of the I-95 exits in the historic town of Halifax.
“First in Freedom” refers to the “Halifax Resolves,” which was North Carolina’s very own Declaration of Independence. In fact, it predated the Continental Congress’s version by three months.
You can walk around the state historic site (Exit 160) today and learn about this event and more about the area.
Medoc Mountain State Park (Exit 160) isn’t too far to the west of Halifax and is filled with trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and bridlers. We also hear Big Foot likes this park, but based on all reports, he or she is pretty shy.
Roanoke Rapids
Where to Get Off: I-95 Exits 171 and 176 (Northampton)
And the first or last (depending on which way you’re traveling) places we’ll mention near I-95 exits in North Carolina sit near Roanoke Rapids. A great way to get to know this town is by walking through the Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail (Exit 171 or 176).
It’s a great way to learn about the Roanoke River’s importance to this area. Inside the museum, there’s plenty of information about the people who helped make the river a prominent trade route.
A series of historic buildings await elsewhere in Roanoke Rapids, including the original Roanoke Rapids High School.
And if you want even more outdoor fun, check out Roanoke Rapids Lake (Exit 176). That’s a nice spot for swimming, fishing, and hanging out by the water.
And to the southeast, we couldn’t leave out Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck (Exit 171). This park is home to the world’s biggest endangered and rare waterfowl collection.
Which I-95 Exits in North Carolina will You Stop For?
Writing this post has made me appreciate I-95 much more, thanks to all these exits leading to many wonderful places. And if you ever find yourself on that interstate going north or south, I hope this guide helps you better enjoy this road, too.
And if you had to choose, which of these I-95 exits in North Carolina will you be stopping at first? Also, are there any other places that we should explore and add to the list? We’d love to know about them!
