When looking at the two largest cities in North Carolina, it can be hard to decide where to visit. There are a lot of arguments out there between Raleigh vs Charlotte. People have big feelings in North Carolina between these two cities. But they both have so much to offer for all visitors that are both local to North Carolina or visiting the state for the first time.
Raleigh vs Charlotte: The Big Differences
Raleigh is the state capitol of North Carolina and part of the area known as the “Triangle”. Located in the center of the state is has fairly easy access to both the ocean and the mountains. Both Raleigh and Charlotte are the seat of their respective county governments. In terms of population and growth Raleigh and Charlotte are consistently competing with each other for top spot in North Carolina. Charlotte is located several miles over the border from South Carolina and located on the west side of the state putting it closer to the mountains.
Raleigh vs Charlotte: Things to do
One of the most important aspects of picking a place to visit is making sure that it fits within what you want to do for your vacation. Whether that may be outdoor activities, museums, shopping, concerts & shows, or even festivals each city has their own mix to bring to the table. Below Raleigh and Charlotte will go head to head in some of the more common criteria of things to do.
Outdoor Activities
| Raleigh | Charlotte |
|---|---|
| Dorothea Dix Park – Home of the annual sunflower festival | Catawba River– Float down the river or walk along its many trails |
| Juniper Level Botanic Garden – 28 Acres of flowers and plants | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden– 30 acres of spectacular gardens |
| Neuse River Greenway Trail – 34.5 miles of paved trail running along the riverbank | DuPont State Recreational Forest – Check out its four incredible waterfalls |
| Pullen Park – North Carolina’s oldest park | Greenway- Enjoy the many miles of Charlotte’s greenway |
| William B. Umstead State Park – 5,599 aces of nature to enjoy | US National White Water Center – 50 miles of trials, access to the river, and white water rafting |
Raleigh has more than 200 individual parks and 8 Pools, but only two Splash Pads. Charlotte boasts 230 parks and four public pools, including a beach area and some splash pads. Raleigh has seven dog parks if you’re traveling with a furry friend. Raleigh’s dog parks are also free. Charlotte, however, only has two dog parks within the city and a couple outside the city.
Given Charlotte’s larger city feel compared to Raleigh’s smaller town feel, Charlotte feels like it has less green spaces and parks. Charlotte does have the White Water Center, which is a particularly fun place to visit, with many trails for walking or biking. Additionally, you can white water raft, go on the river, rock climb, and participate in many different activities. They are also dog-friendly.
Winner: Raleigh
Historical & Educational Activities
| Raleigh | Charlotte |
|---|---|
| Contemporary Art Museum (CAM Raleigh) – A multimedia contemporary art gallery | Discovery Place Nature– Explore many nature interactive exhibits |
| James B Hunt Library – The library of the future | Mint Museum- North Carolina’s first art museum |
| North Carolina Museum of Art – Over 164 acres of art, indoors and out | Museum of Illusions- Nothing is as it seems in this museum |
| North Carolina Museum of History – A Local Smithsonian-Level Experience | Home of the 90s– A Blast from the past for all 90s babies |
| North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences – The biggest museum in the Southeast | Music Hall of Fame– For all music lovers in North Carolina |
This category is another example of where being the state capital has its advantages. Raleigh boasts 12 museums, but 4 of them are state-owned and operated museums, which means they have free admission. Charlotte has over 15 museums. Compared to Raleigh, there are more varied museums in Charlotte. Both cities have many museums geared for children as well.
Winner: Charlotte
Shopping
| Raleigh | Charlotte |
|---|---|
| Crabtree Valley Mall – 200+ stores, and 35 restaurants in the largest enclosed mall | Carolina Place Mall- A bustling shopping center with many types of stores |
| North Hills – Nearly 80 stores, a movie theater, and 35+ restaurants & bars | Galleria Shopping Center- relaxing atmosphere with a mix of stores |
| South Hills Mall – 40 stores and 3 restaurants | Piedmont Town Center- Open air shopping and dining destination |
| Triangle Town Center – 115 stores, 15 restaurants, and the state’s only Saks Fifth Ave | SouthPark Mall- 150+ stores and 25 restaurants making it a large mall |
Both cities have lots of shopping available in forms of malls as well as shopping plazas. Charlotte may have some malls that are smaller, but it has a lot more malls. I personally dislike Crabtree Mall in Raleigh, even though it is the largest in North Carolina. SouthPark Mall does offer a good alternative in Charlotte. Personally, I like going to shops that are local, and both cities offer a lot of small local shops.
Winner: Tie
Concerts & Shows
| Raleigh | Charlotte |
|---|---|
| Coastal Credit Union Amphitheater – 20,000 outdoor seats and around 100 shows annually | Bojangles’ Coliseum- BOplex holds 8,600 in multi-purpose arena |
| Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts – Includes 5 performance spaces with over 600 shows per year | Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheater- Outdoor amphitheater with skyline views |
| PNC Arena – 19,500-seat indoor arena with 150+ events per year | Ovens Auditorium – Holds 2,455 people and has hosted over 7,500 events |
| Raleigh Convention Center – 500,000 sq ft convention space with 30 – 50 events annually. | Charlotte Convention Center- 280,000sq ft seeing half million people a year |
| Red Hat Amphitheater – A 6,000-seat outdoor venue with around 70 concerts per year | Spectrum Center- Seats 20,200 for basketball games and many shows |
If you want to see a major concert, you’ll be heading either to Raleigh or some cases nearby Cary for the Koka Booth Amphitheater. Most big concerts are held either at the PNC Arena or the Coastal Credit Union Amphitheatre. The most popular place for a major concert is the PNC Music Pavilion. It holds less people than the PNC Arena in Raleigh. Additionally, Charlotte has Bank of America Stadium and Spectrum center that hold large amount of people for concerts and sports games.
Charlotte’s proximity to Atlanta does open up the door to larger concerts, but neither city sees all the biggest names. Charlotte and Raleigh both have many bars that play additional music. Finally, both cities have lots of sports fans from basketball to football and ice hockey. Both cities use their venues for sports games.
Winner: Raleigh
Festivals & Unique Activities
| Raleigh | Charlotte |
|---|---|
| Dreamville Festival – 2-day music festival with some big names | Charlotte Fair- Similar to the state fair over 4 days |
| NC State Fair – 11 days of fairground fun & food | Great Pumpkin Fest- A family friendly month long Halloween Fest |
| Packapalloza – All-day block party & food festival | Queen Charlotte Fair- 10 days of fair fun and food |
| Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo – 11 city blocks and 50 food trucks to choose from | Renaissance Festival- Nearly 2 months of interactive entertainment |
| World of Bluegrass Festival – 2 days and 6 stages | Taste of Charlotte- A week long restaurant festival |
NC State Fair is the largest fair in North Carolina, people come from all over the state to enjoy it. Charlotte has its own city fair at the speedway. Both cities boast many hundreds of fairs and festivals for people to enjoy. They also both have many parades and cultural events. It is hard to pick just one city.
Charlotte has smaller fairs but more of them while Raleigh has larger ones. Charlotte concentrates around Oktoberfest, Christmas, and summer bashes. Raleigh concentrates around the NC State Fair, music, and celebrating many cultures. Both cities center themselves around food so that’s a win for me!
Winner: Tie
Raleigh vs Charlotte: Food & Drink
Both Raleigh and Charlotte are cities for foodies. You know we love trying out new foods in all new places so of course we enjoy going out to eat in both Raleigh and Charlotte. Both cities have food halls. Charlotte has 4 to Raleigh’s 2. Additionally they have many, many restaurants to try out.
Raleigh has gotten several accolades for being a foodie city from Zagat, USA Today, and VinePair. In terms of cities with the most awarded restaurants then Charlotte leads the way. It is truly making its way into the foodie scene.
Winner: Tie
Check out where Locals like to Eat in Raleigh!
Night Life
Raleigh ranks #10 in the US for nightlife. Downtown Raleigh boasts a lively night life with clubs, bars, and many breweries. Additionally, there are many places to find live music throughout the city. As mentioned above in the Spring and Fall there are also plenty of festivals and fairs to keep everyone entertained.
Charlotte also has its own robust night life. There are many clubs, bars, and breweries as well. Along with many concert venues Charlotte also has many places to find live music. This city is well known for its music venues and places to enjoy live music. Its definitely the beating soul of night life in Charlotte. There are so many breweries and bars with happy hours.
Winner: Raleigh
Family Friendliness
Raleigh has many child friendly activities that range from museums to parks. Raleigh has many popular museums such as the Kids Marble Museum and the Museum of Natural Science. Additionally, there are sport activities that are geared for kids such as the Sports Complex, several ropes adventure activities, and trampoline complexes. Finally there is the amusement park at Pullen Park which is fun for all the family.
Charlotte is also a very family friendly city. Much like Raleigh there are fun museums for kids such as the Transportation Museum and Discovery Place. Additionally, there is also the motor speedway and Tiger World. Charlotte also offers several sports activities like a trampoline park, Ninja Nation, and Splash Planet. Charlotte definitely has more varied choices for kids activities.
Winner: Charlotte
Raleigh vs Charlotte: Frequently Asked Questions
Which is more fun Raleigh or Charlotte?
It really depends on what you consider more fun. If you are traveling in a family then you might want to go to Charlotte, but if you want more outdoor spaces then go to Raleigh. Of course they are only 2.5 hours apart so you can go to both!
Is Charlotte or Raleigh more expensive?
Charlotte is slightly more expensive than Raleigh. Charlotte does have more of a big city vibe and because of that it is more expensive.
Is Charlotte or Raleigh bigger?
Charlotte is larger in both city land size and in population. Raleigh however is one of the fastest growing cities in the country so it is quickly catching up to Charlotte in population size. Charlotte is a finance city while Raleigh is a science and tech city. Due to this Raleigh is quickly growing with new businesses opening there.
Does it snow more in Charlotte or Raleigh?
Charlotte and Raleigh average about the same amount of snow per year. It doesn’t snow a lot inn either city. Since Charlotte is more south than Raleigh, it averages 5.0 inches a year. Raleigh averages 6.0 inches a year. To get more snow head towards the mountains or go north to New England.
Final Thoughts about Raleigh vs Charlotte
Both cities are so fun to visit! Living in North Carolina, we spent a lot of time exploring both cities, and we enjoy many things about them. We really like the smaller-town feel of Raleigh. In Charlotte, it’s nice to be able to walk around uptown or South End and get to everything you need.
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