Transportation in North Carolina

North Carolina is a big and busy state with over 10.4 million people, so it needs many ways to help people and goods move around. The state has many different kinds of transportation to meet these needs. You can travel by air using one of its 10 commercial airports or smaller municipal airports. If you prefer trains, there is a special passenger rail service called NC By Train, which works together with Amtrak to offer many routes across the state. In cities like Raleigh and Charlotte, there are also public buses to help people get around easily. And of course, there are many highways that stretch all across North Carolina, connecting different parts of the state. All these transportation options make it easier for people to travel, visit, and do business in North Carolina.

International/regional airports

Main article: List of airports in North Carolina

North Carolina has many airports for people to fly in and out of the state. Some of the big airports where many people travel include Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham International Airport serving Raleigh and Durham. There are also smaller airports in cities like Asheville, Fayetteville, and Wilmington.

Other airports in places such as Hickory and Kinston mainly serve local needs and don't have many flights. These airports help connect North Carolina to the rest of the world.

Rail

Amtrak runs several passenger trains in North Carolina. Most trains run every day, but the Piedmont train runs twice a day.

The Carolinian train goes between New York and Charlotte, stopping in places like Rocky Mount, Wilson, Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, High Point, and Charlotte.

The Piedmont train also runs between Raleigh and Charlotte, stopping at the same places as the Carolinian.

Other trains include the Crescent from New York to New Orleans, the Palmetto from New York to Savannah, Georgia, the Silver Meteor from New York to Miami, Florida, and the Silver Star from New York to Tampa, Florida. These trains stop in various cities across the state.

North Carolina helps support the Piedmont and Carolinian trains between Raleigh and Charlotte, which serve the Research Triangle area. There are plans for more trains and faster rail service in the future, including a new high-speed line that could help connect more people across the state.

Mass transit

Several cities in North Carolina have public transportation systems to help people get around.

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) runs buses and trolleys in Charlotte and nearby areas. It also has a light rail line called LYNX that connects Charlotte to Pineville. There are plans to add more rail lines and streetcars in the future. UNC Charlotte has its own bus system called Niner Transit for students and staff.

Raleigh uses GoRaleigh for bus service, including special tours of historic areas. N.C. State University has its own bus service called the Wolfline.

GoCary operates buses in Cary, with new routes being planned. GoDurham serves Durham with many bus routes, including a special school-day service.

Other cities like Fayetteville, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Wilmington, Asheville, and Greenville also have their own bus systems to help people travel around.

Major highways

Main articles: North Carolina Highway System, List of Interstate Highways in North Carolina, List of U.S. Highways in North Carolina, and List of state highways in North Carolina

North Carolina has a big network of roads for cars and trucks. This includes many important roads called Interstate Highways, such as Interstate 26, Interstate 40, Interstate 73, Interstate 74, Interstate 77, Interstate 85, and Interstate 95. There are also other roads called U.S. Highways and state highways. In total, North Carolina has a lot of roads, about 77,400 miles long!