3 Charming Small Towns Near Charlotte, NC

While many flock to Uptown Charlotte, I’m a small-town gal. Anymore, I like to be on the edge of the hubbub, with local eateries, art, and bakeries galore, ya know? These three small towns near Charlotte, NC, are anywhere from 30-45 minutes outside of Uptown and have some of the cutest historic downtowns in the area.

As someone who grew up north of Charlotte, young Hannah would be fairly flabbergasted that I could find anything nice about the area. Ah, the glories of teenage angst, ya know? Exploring the area now, I’m constantly surprised by all the little delights sprinkled throughout this region of North Carolina. 

To be very clear, these small towns make up the historic downtowns of each of these areas. None of these are one-stoplight towns. They have larger suburbs surrounding them, all within the same zipcode, but the downtowns themselves are charm central. AKA perfect small towns near Charlotte, NC, if you’re looking for a fun excursion!

So if you love to spend an afternoon strolling about, peeping the latest local art, grabbing a local bite to eat, and exploring unique shops, then these three towns are for you. I’ve included some honorable mentions below as well, in case you’re in those areas. I just personally didn’t think they had enough happening for you to venture out to them as a solo outing.

If you explore anything from this list, leave a comment below and tag @accentgolden in your posts on social!

1. Davidson, NC

If you love a college town vibe, but small, the brick-lined sidewalks of this cute downtown will scream just that. Have you heard of Steph Curry? Then you’ve probably heard of Davidson, North Carolina, where he attended Davidson College. The college itself is a focal point of the town, though off to the side, giving it that cozy vibe in the heart of an active little community. Here you’ll find coffee shops, local boutiques, art galleries, and more. Some of my favorites:

• Davidson Farmer’s Market: Features 35+ vendors from flowers to produce, baked goods to craft cider, and even practical pop-ups like knife sharpening! The market is open rain or shine from 9 AM to noon, April through Thanksgiving. Heads up, though, no pets are allowed.
• The Soda Shop: A nostalgic Davidson establishment that’s been around since 1951. Grab a burger and their classic cottage fries and enjoy the checkered floor ambience. 
• KF Studios Handmade Marketplace: An affordable gallery featuring large and small creations. They even have a “little free art gallery” outside their shop, where you can swap your own art for a piece of art inside the hutch.
• The Bungalow Market: A decor and home shop featuring quality items, small and large, from around the world. Everything from knick-knacks and postcards to lighting and small furnishings. 
• Davidson Candle Company: Woman-owned boutique handcrafted candle shop. Follow the path behind The Soda Shop down to the store, where you can purchase pre-made candles, bath products, and even make your own candle in the shop! 
• The Pickled Peach: If you’re looking for a fresh meal, head to this farm-to-table cafe for a variety of soups, salads, and sandwiches. My current favorite is the grilled halloumi salad and the pimento cheese sandwich. They also have a small market with artisan groceries, take-home dinners, beer and wine, and more. 
• Main Street Books: What’s a small town without a bookshop? All your favorite authors wrapped into a small bookstore, ready for you to peruse. 
• AVA Gallery: Small gallery featuring a range of art. Fun to pop in and look around! 

2. Mooresville, NC

This gives classic historical town vibes. Notice the outline of the former shops outside each building, the old paint billboards on the brick side streets, and there are even a few shops with nods to the past. What I appreciate the most about Mooresville is how it’s modernized while still keeping its roots. There are some great spots to eat and shop, while also lots of town events to bring the community together throughout the year (“Nashville Nights,” food trucks, art crawls, etc.). A few of my favorites:

• Bae’s Burgers: If you’re a fan of a smashburger, you have to visit Bae’s. The burgers are perfectly done and packed with flavor (not to mention how soft the buns are!). Share a basket of garlic parmesan fries and simply enjoy.
• The Refillery LKN: I LOVE a refillery shop. Such a great way to reduce waste while supplying your home with great products. They don’t do any food products, but stop by for anything from face soap to laundry detergent!
• Main St. Antiques: Packed with stalls of so many good finds. Grab a buggy and plan to spend some time here (it’s huge!). 
• Anything’s Possible: Ya know, if you’re feeling a tattoo or a piercing. Can confirm they fixed my nose piercing in college, and I’m forever grateful. 
• East: Awesome boutique shop featuring art and style.
• Big Tiny’s BBQ: Cheap eats, Texas-style. I split one of their 2-meat family meals between three adults and one child, and it was more than plenty. 
• Rock Star Records & CDs: A small shop with a great variety, right on Main Street. 
• The Cosmo Gypsy: Great vintage finds (mostly?), predominantly clothing as well as some jewlery and other odds and ends. If you’re looking for unique style pieces, you’ve gotta head here. 
• Fred & June’s Books: New and used bookshop with all the right vibes (and a great sticker selection tbh). They do lots of bookie events and author showings as well as just awesome selections for your next favorite read. P.S. Big shoutout to their window displays, which are always unique.

3. Waxhaw, NC

It took me way too long to visit Waxhaw and find out what a gem it is. A small but mighty downtown made up of a few short streets, and packed with goodies. From bakeries and coffee shops to loads of boutiques and antique finds. You could easily spend more than an afternoon exploring this little town. Some must-visit spots:

• Virtuoso Breadworks: For the bakery hunters, this one is pretty solid. A variety of bread and pastry selections “focused on quality over quantity.” I won’t lie, I didn’t love the chocolate croissant, but I would 100% go back first thing in the morning to give it a retaste. My mom, however, loved the berry pastry she ordered. So I have faith I need to retry.
• Waxhaw Antique Mart: Large shop with many stalls featuring an array of fun antiques. Could come time and again for some good finds. 
• Stewart’s Village Gallery: A home converted into a unique art studio run by famous pottery artist Bill Stewart and his wife, Holly.
• 88A Boutique: Wasn’t sure if I’d find anything inside, but ended up seeing so many fun clothing gems, I can’t wait to go back!
• Iris & Poppy Gift: Cute everyday clothes as well as some great options for more formal wear (think weddings, special events, or even prom).

If you love North Carolina or simply want to check out some cool places within the state, follow @accentgolden on Instagram or TikTok for the next post in the series! 

P.S. Check out these 5 Unique Things to Do in the Outer Banks for some coastal North Carolina inspiration! Happy traveling!