North Carolina is where the world’s first airplane was launched back in 1903. So what better place to go fly unmanned aerial vehicles over 100 years later?
North Carolina has a lot to offer between all its cities, forests, and mountains so we’ve narrowed down the best locations for you.
In this article, we’ll go over our top 7 picks for places to fly drones in North Carolina. But first, let’s talk about all the federal, state, and local drone laws you need to know.
Table of Contents
Drone Laws in North Carolina - U.S. Federal Drone Laws
If you’re flying your drone just for fun, you need to first pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). It will test you on rules like flying at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace and requesting Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) authorization in controlled airspace. If your drone weighs more than .55 lbs, you’ll also need to make sure you register it with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Registration costs $5 and is good for 3 years.
If you plan to fly your drone commercially, you’ll need to pass a knowledge test that covers the FAA Part 107 rules like yielding to other aircraft and avoiding airports. You’ll also need to register your drone and be at least 16 years old.
NOTE: This article is purely for entertainment purposes only. It is the responsibility of the pilot to properly research, follow, and abide to all local, state, or federal aviation laws. FAA permission may be required for flight within these listed locations.
Local and State Drone Laws for North Carolina
On top of the federal drone laws, there are some state and local drone regulations you need to follow as well. For example, flying a drone in state parks or bodies of water is prohibited unless you get a special activity permit. The same goes for correctional facilities.
Then there are some regional drone regulations as well. For example, in Kannapolis, you can’t fly drones in city parks. Or in the town of Beech Mountain, you’re not allowed to operate drones over any town-owned property.
So to stay on the safe side, it’s always best to check local flying regulations first and then fly. After all, if you fly illegally, you could receive a hefty fine.
Now without further ado, here are the top 7 places to fly drones in North Carolina:
The Best Places to Fly a Drone in North Carolina
Video Credit: TAPP Channel
1. Charlotte
Located near the South Carolina border, Charlotte is the biggest city in the state. There are plenty of options for flying your drone here. Start at Marshall Park in the city center. It’s 5.5 acres big and has trees, a lake, a large fountain, and an amphitheater. If you launch your drone here, you’ll also get a great view of the city skyline.
Toward the southwest of the city, there’s a narrow man-made lake called Lake Wylie that straddles the NC-SC border. It’s surrounded by beautiful trees and offers 325 miles of shoreline. So there are plenty of places for your drone to take off from. We recommend launching from Copperhead Island or McDowell Park on the east side of the lake.
If you head north along the Catawba River, you’ll reach a smaller lake called Mountain Island Lake. It only has 61 miles of shoreline, but it has a nice island in the middle of it that’s covered in forest. We recommend parking at the Mountain Island Lake Park access at the southwestern end of the lake.
To the north of Charlotte, you’ll also find the David B. Waymer Aeromodeler Flying Field. It’s a great place to fly over some open fields and trees if you prefer a designated area for flying remote control aircraft.
Be aware that most of Charlotte falls within Class B airspace due to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (KCLT) on the west side of the city. That means you’ll need LAANC authorization and permitted flight altitudes will vary. In the city center, there’s also the Bank of America football stadium, so make sure there are no temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) in place.
Video Credit: Hi-Tech Hikers
2. Bald Head Island
Bald Head Island is a small island right off the east coast of NC. If you drive to Wilmington, it’s about an hour and half drive south, and you’ll have to take a ferry for the final stretch.
The island has a little marina and lots of sandy beaches. Head over to River Point, South Beach, or East Beach to get some pretty views of the ocean. You can also fly over Old Baldy Lighthouse. Just watch out for the nearby Bald Head Island Club golf course.
The whole island is in unrestricted class G airspace. But be aware of the Military Terminal Sunny Port to the north where flying drones is illegal.
Video Credit: 4K Aerial Videos
3. Raleigh
Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina. We recommend going downtown and flying your drone over the State Capitol. It’s a cross-shaped granite building built in the 19th-century Greek Revival style with a central domed rotunda. From above, you can catch some impressive shots with the city skyline in the background.
To the west of downtown, you can fly your drone in Pullen Park. It’s the oldest park in NC and 66.4 acres big. It has a little lake and plenty of trees to fly over. If you want a little more space, you can head two minutes down Western Boulevard to Dorothea Dix Park. It’s the city’s largest park at 308 acres with even more open fields.
Most of Raleigh is in unrestricted class G airspace, but you need to watch out for the nearby Carter-Finley Stadium, which enacts TFRs at times as well as the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (KRDU), which falls into class C airspace and allows only low altitude flying.
Video Credit: 9 to 5 Voyager, Travel Blogger
4. Asheville
Asheville is a beautiful city in North Carolina’s western Blue Ridge mountains. The trees and hills make this an especially scenic place for drone flying. In the heart of the city, you’ll find Pack Square park. It’s got a fountain and a good view of the city. And in the winter, the trees are lit up to give it a magical feel. Just don’t fly here when there’s a public event or concert going on.
Five minutes west, you can also check out the Basilica of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr. It’s a Roman Catholic structure with a large dome that spans 58 by 82 feet. In fact, it’s the largest, freestanding, elliptical dome in North America. It’ll give you some unique aerial footage for sure.
On the southern outskirts of the city, you’ll find the North Carolina Arboretum. It’s a giant botanical garden that includes the tallest metasequoia in the South. Try capturing its colorful botanical designs from above.
Asheville is in unrestricted class G airspace, but be aware of the Asheville Regional Airport (KAVL) to the south of the city. It’s class C airspace so only low altitude flying is permitted. And watch out for the Blue Ridge Parkway that runs south of the city as well. Because it’s a National Parkway, drones aren’t allowed to fly over it.
Video Credit: Bmore Cmore
5. Lake Norman
Twenty minutes north of Charlotte, you’ll find Lake Norman. It’s North Carolina’s largest man-made lake spanning nearly 50 square miles. It’s surrounded by a lot of lakeside homes, but there are also a few parks that make for good take-off areas. We recommend launching from Jetton Park or Ramsey Creek Park on the east side or Beatty’s Ford Park on the west side.
If you come at the right time, you can catch some good shots of the sunset or sunrise along the water’s surface. The entire lake falls under class G airspace, so you don’t have to worry about getting flight authorization.
Video Credit: Coastal Things
6. Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach is a long sandy beach on the southern corner of North Carolina close to the South Carolina border. Come here for some incredible views of the Atlantic waves coming in. You can also take photos and videos of the wooden Sunset beach pier. It stretches out toward the ocean for 900 feet, so it looks great against the ocean backdrop. And it even has its own 24/7 live pier cam, so you can check conditions before you go. The whole beach falls under unrestricted class G airspace.
Video Credit: James - BeBop
7. Greensboro
Lastly, check out Greensboro, NC. You can fly your drone in the middle of downtown at the City Center Park. It has some open grass fields where you can launch and a fountain that looks great from above. Plus, you can get some good shots of the city’s skyscrapers here.
To the west of the city, you can check out the Greensboro Botanical gardens, aka the Bog Garden. It’s a wetlands area with an elevated boardwalk. The gardens are free to the public and open daily. Not far to the south, there’s also the Greensboro Arboretum. It’s similarly landscaped and has a lighted fountain. Both of these gardens are great places to get some cool drone footage.
Or head further south to Hester Park to get some more great water footage. It has a 5.7-acre lake with lots of fishing piers and surrounding trees.
Most of Greensboro is in class G airspace, but there are some western sections of the city that are within restricted class C airspace due to the Piedmont Triad International Airport (KGSO).
Connecting with Drone Pilots in North Carolina
That’s it! We hope you enjoy these places to fly drones in North Carolina. If you want to find more great locations, consider joining a local drone club like the NORTH CAROLINA Drone Club on Facebook or the North Carolina Drone Club at the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA).
And if you ever need professional drone services in North Carolina, we can help. Our FAA licensed drone pilots are well equipped to conduct infrastructure inspections, construction surveys, business and event photography, and more. Contact us today for a free consultation.
This article is purely for entertainment purposes only. It is the responsibility of the pilot to properly research, follow, and abide to all local, state, or federal aviation laws. FAA permission may be required for flight within these listed locations.
