The North Carolina system of scenic byways consists of a number of roads that you can travel when you are here with your North Carolina car rental that will take you through scenic, historic, and cultural areas of significance. The system was designed to let travelers have an alternate route that is both safe and interesting to travel. The Byway begins when the NC 66 intersects with the SR 2000 (Denny Road). It continues along the 66 until it reaches SR 1742 at McBride Road in the community of Shelton Town.

Hanging Rock

Hanging Rock Scenic Byway can be founding the Piedmont region of the state with your North Carolina car rental. The highway is named for the outcropping of the Sauratown Mountains that you travel through along the way. The mountains provide wonderful places to make stops and take pictures, such as Cascade Falls, which has a drop of 200 feet in the upper cascade and 60 feet in the lower cascade. Places like Tory’s Den was used as a hiding place for those loyal to the British crown during the Revolutionary War. One of the best aspects of travelling through this area is that it is not very well-known. The length of the highway is 38 miles, and you can expect to take about an hour to travel the entire length, unless you make a lot of stops!

Places to stop along the way

When you hang out along the Hanging Rock Byway with your North Carolina car rental, there are many places where you can stop along the way and really enjoy your day. The town of Danbury is on the byway and has a unique history and is a great place to grab a bite to eat. Hanging Rock State Park offers hiking and camping in the Sauratown Mountains. There are nearly a dozen trails in the park that you can hike, and this is where you will find the beautiful Cascade Falls. If you can make it to Moore’s Knob, at an elevation of 2572 feet, you will not want to leave your camera behind! This stop offers panoramic views of the mountains and the valleys below. There is also Pilot Mountain State Park, which was once part of the Sauratown Mountain range, but today stands alone. Along the highway, there are several small towns such as Danby, which have historical and cultural significance for the area. Many towns were significant parts of the Civil War. If you visit Mount Airy, you may think parts of the town seem familiar as you travel down Main Street with your North Carolina car rental. This is where Andy Griffith grew up and the town has a resemblance to the show.

Planning your trip

If you plan to travel the Hanging Rock Scenic Byway with your North Carolina car rental, you may be relived to find out there are visitor centers in the cities of Mount Airy and Winston-Salem where you can find out more information on where you can camp, eat, fill up your tank, sleep, shop, and make pit stops. It is also handy to have a map or GPS available in case you want to change your route or make an extra stop during the day.

When you are here with your North Carolina car rental, you will find the Hanging Rock Scenic Byway provides great views of the mountains and allows you to explore the towns and parks at your own pace.

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