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
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.
Acting Manager
Bradley Baker
bbaker@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
Brian Fletcher
brian.fletcher@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
Marie Amsdill
marie.amsdill@commerce.nc.gov
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.