North Carolina's nine Welcome Centers promote thousands of tourism-related businesses — attractions, accommodations, events and more — to visitors already in the state actively seeking travel information.

To find out how to display tourism-related brochures for your company in our Welcome Centers, review our brochure policy.

Background

Located on Interstate highways just inside the state line, each Welcome Center has a statewide focus, with an emphasis on information for visitors traveling a particular interstate corridor.  Our professional, nationally-certified travel counselors:

  • Distribute the state's Official North Carolina Travel Guide, the Department of Transportation's official state map, and other marketing publications exclusively about North Carolina.
  • Offer detailed travel information in clean, modern facilities.
  • Book room reservations at no charge for visitors staying overnight in North Carolina.

The Welcome Centers are open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily. The centers are closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Free Wi-Fi Internet access is available at each center during regular business hours.

Specific facility information about each of our nine centers can be found below the map on this page.

Interactive Map

North Carolina’s Highway Rest Areas offer opportunities for convenient, brief stops and provide easy roadside access to public restrooms, drinking water and telephones, 24-hours, every day.

Click on the location for more information. For best results, open the map on a full screen

Individual Welcome Centers

Tab/Accordion Items

Located at Polk County, Westbound I-26 Milepost 36, north of South Carolina line.

Manager

Kathy West
kathywest@commerce.nc.gov
(828) 894-2120

Address

Physical Address
I-26 at Mile Marker 68
Columbus, NC 28722

Mailing Address
PO Box 249
Columbus, NC 28722

Parking Spaces

  • Cars: 41
  • Car/Trailer: 5
  • Trucks: 7

This facility was opened in 1983 and was renovated in 2005.

Located at Madison County, Eastbound I-26 6 miles east of Tennessee state line.

Manager

Vickie Sealock
vsealock@commerce.nc.gov
(828) 689-4257

Address

Physical Address
I-26 at Mile Marker 6
Mars Hill, NC 28754

Mailing Address
P.O.Box 1210
Mars Hill, NC 28754

Parking Spaces

  • Cars: 77
  • Car/Trailer: 10
  • Trucks: 30

This facility was opened in 2003.

Located at Haywood County, Eastbound I-40 milepost 10, east of Tennessee state line

Manager

Samantha Sherrill
Samantha.sherrill@commerce.nc.gov 
(828) 627-6206

Address

Physical Address
I-40 at Mile Marker 10
Waynesville, NC 28786

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 809
Waynesville, NC 28786

Parking Spaces

  • Cars: 75
  • Car/Trailer: 7
  • Trucks: 10

This facility was opened in 1970 and was renovated in 1995

Located Surry County, Southbound I-77 milepost 105, south of Virginia state line.

Manager

Jeff Mills
jmills@commerce.nc.gov
(336) 320-2181

Address

Physical Address
I-77 at Mile Marker 105
Dobson, NC 27017

Mailing Address
PO Box 1066
Dobson, NC 27017

Parking Spaces

  • Cars: 75
  • Car/Trailer: 8
  • Trucks: 10

This facility was opened in 1982 and renovated in 1997.

Located at Mecklenburg County, Northbound I-77 milepost 1, north of South Carolina line.

Manager

Louie Comer
ccomer@commerce.nc.gov
(704) 588-2660

Address

Physical Address
I-77 at Mile Marker 1
Charlotte, NC 28241-0724

Mailing Address
PO Box 410724
Charlotte, NC 28241

Parking Spaces

  • Cars: 66
  • Car/Trailer: 11
  • Trucks: 17

This facility was opened in 1986 and was partially renovated in 2009.

Located at Cleveland County, Northbound I-85 Milepost 2, north of South Carolina line.

Manager

Victoria Bingman
victoria.bingman@commerce.nc.gov
(704) 937-7861

Address

Physical Address
I-85 at Mile Marker 2
Kings Mountain, NC 28086

Mailing Address
5 Northbound I-85
Kings Mountain, NC 28086

Parking Spaces

  • Cars: 60
  • Car/Trailer: 10
  • Trucks: 18

This facility was opened in 1972 and was renovated in 2004

Located at Warren County, Southbound I-85 milepost 231, south of Virginia State line.

Manager

Cherie Nielsen
cherie.nielsen@commerce.nc.gov
(252) 456-3236

Address

Physical Address
I-85 at Mile Marker 231
Norlina, NC 27563

Mailing Address
PO Box 156
Norlina, NC 27563

Parking Spaces

  • Cars: 49
  • Car/Trailer: 8
  • Trucks: 16

This facility was opened in 1968 and was renovated in 2000.

I-95 North Welcome Center

Located on southbound I-95 in Northampton County at milepost 181 south of Virginia state line.

Manager

Melvin Casper
melvin.casper@commerce.nc.gov
(252) 537-3365

Address

Physical Address
I-95 at Mile Marker 181
Pleasant Hill, NC 27866

Mailing Address
PO Box 52
Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870

Parking Spaces

  • Cars: 181
  • Car/Trailer: 13
  • Trucks: 20

This facility was opened in 1968 and was renovated in 1995.

I-95 South Welcome Center

Located on Robeson County, Northbound I-95 milepost 5, north of South Carolina state line.

Manager

Kat Littleturtle
klittleturtle@commerce.nc.gov
(910) 422-8314

Address

Physical Address
I-95 at Mile Marker 5
Rowland, NC 28383

Mailing Address
PO Box 999
Rowland, NC 28383

Parking Spaces

  • Cars: 67
  • Car/Trailer: 10
  • Trucks: 18

This facility was opened on November 21, 1973 and was renovated in 2009.