Ever dreamed about camping out under the stars with no one else around, or enjoying sitting under the shade of a maple tree in a forest with just you and Mother Earth for company? Sounds like you need a secluded retreat.
Finding complete and total solace is rare these days, but these secluded retreats in North Carolina are the next best thing. These places have very few, or no one, around, so you can enjoy a quiet, peaceful, and sheltered vacation away from Raleigh without worrying about crowds.
Whether you’re looking for a quiet place to catch up on your memoirs, or you just need a digital detox or space to decompress, or looking to get back in touch with nature, these secluded escapes are the perfect getaway from the honking noises of the City of Oaks!
Pilot Cove, Pisgah National Forest
Tucked away at the edge of the thick Pisgah National Forest, a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains, sits Pilot Cove, a lodge resort surrounded by hardwoods and wilderness.
When staying at Pilot Cove, you can choose from a range of self-contained cabins, referred to as deck-houses, which are designed to bring the outdoors inside. With floor-to-ceiling windows and a wraparound deck, you are seamlessly connected to the forest beyond.
Although it’s a resort, it offers total seclusion, as each lodge has been oriented for privacy, which means you don’t have to worry about nosy neighbors overlooking your property. The only neighbors are towering pines, cascading waterfalls, and winding mountain trails.
It’s the closest resort to the Pisgah National Forest without being actually in the forest, and is within walking distance of a brewery, bike shop, tap room, and a handful of restaurants. The cute town of Brevard is also an 8-minute drive away.
An activity you can do nearby is rent a bike and explore the trails through the half a million acres of protected forest. You can go hiking, mountain biking, fishing, or rent tubes and float down the Davidson River (available to rent at Dolly’s Dairy Bar just down the street). See prices and availability here.
Read more: The Cutest Small Towns in North Carolina to Fall in Love With
Ash Grove Mountain Cabins and Camping, Brevard
Also near Brevard is Ash Grove Mountain Cabins, which sits on 14 wooded acres and offers both primitive camping, RV hook-ups, and traditional wooden cabins.
This family-run retreat is scattered beneath mature oaks and mountain laurel and has been designed to offer seclusion and serenity.
Privacy is key here: sites are thoughtfully spaced so you rarely glimpse a neighbor, with only the sounds of a gentle woodland stream and intimate waterfall to remind you that you’re not alone.
The cabins offer modern comforts like full kitchens, smart TVs, gas fireplaces, hot showers, Wi‑Fi, and a central firepit to make it snug in any season.
The campground’s location is smack bang in the middle of the “Land of Waterfalls,” and offers you easy access to over 250 cascades within a half‑hour’s drive, including famed gems like Sliding Rock and Looking Glass Falls – one of NC’s impressive falls that looks like Bali!
Of course, there are also nearby hiking and mountain biking trails in the Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Forests, as well as fly-fishing on the French Broad or Davidson rivers, and scenic drives along the Blue Ridge Parkway. See prices and availability here.
Serene Mountain Getaway, Boone
We love the mountain town of Boone, but it’s becoming more and more popular, which makes finding a secluded escape here more challenging.
However, Serene Mountain Getaway has its own private 10‑acre woodland, located near Deep Gap (a 30‑minute drive from Boone), so if you want a serene mountain getaway away from the crowds but still be able to access the Blue Ridge Mountains, this is an option.
Serene Mountain Getaway offers a quintessential secluded log‑cabin retreat designed for those craving peace in nature. This one-bedroom cabin sits on the banks of a man-made lake, which you can swim in, and is surrounded by hardwoods on all sides.
It comes with 5-star amenities, including a hot tub and sauna, and is decorated with rustic comfort interiors. It also has a cozy fireplace, well‑equipped kitchen, fire pit, and private trails winding through hemlocks.
The setting is very private, with only the soothing soundtrack of flowing water below your private deck to keep you company.
When you’re ready to explore beyond the property line, Boone and its surrounding High Country offer plenty to do, such as driving the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, hiking in Elk Knob State Park, or exploring Boone’s lively college‑town arts scene, craft breweries, and mountain‑town restaurants. See prices and availability here.
Read more: Unmissable Things To Do In Boone, North Carolina
Oceanfront Cottage, Nags Head
Finding a secluded ocean-front property in North Carolina is as rare as finding that left sock you lost ten years ago. With so much of North Carolina’s coastline being developed, finding that true secluded escape is not easy.
Fortunately, there is at least one place left where you can enjoy a secluded stay away from the peering eyes of neighbors. This property in Nags Head, a popular town in the Outer Banks, is right on the beach and is detached from its neighbors, so they are spread far enough away that you won’t hear any noises or see your neighbors.
If you’ve ever wanted to be lulled to sleep at night by the sound of waves and wake up to a sunrise over the ocean, this property has it. It has a gorgeous wooden deck/balcony, which overlooks the ocean and connects to the sand below.
The house is self-contained, with three bedrooms that sleep 8 guests, a fully equipped kitchen, and a cozy living space. See prices and availability here.
Read more: Top Things To Do In OBX (Outer Banks) and more vacation rentals in the Outer Banks
Oasis in the Woods, Lake Lure
One of our favorite destinations for a vacation in North Carolina is Lake Lure, known for being the setting of the iconic cult classic movie, Dirty Dancing.
Lake Lure is a popular destination in the summer and draws huge crowds; however, you can find seclusion just outside the town of Lake Lure at this vacation rental, Oasis in the Woods, which offers a peaceful hideaway in the forest.
The spacious log‑cabin features a sprawling deck with a bubbling hot tub and views of the forest.
Inside, the cabin has cozy yet light-filled interiors, a stone fireplace, and modern amenities that don’t break the rustic charm.
With five bedrooms and three bathrooms, it’s ideal for large families or groups who want to enjoy each other’s company, with the sounds of birdsongs echoing as you sip your morning coffee under towering pines.
It also comes with resort-like facilities such as a fitness center, sauna, outdoor swimming pool, and children’s playground. There’s also a tennis court and outdoor seating area around a fire pit.
When you want to leave the cabin for some adventure, you are just a few minutes’ drive from Lake Lure Beach & Water Park and the rugged trails of Chimney Rock State Park and Rumbling Bald. See prices and availability here.
Cozy ‘Grey Fox’ Cabin, Blowing Rock
Another hideaway in the forested hills of Boone and Blowing Rock is this vacation rental: the Cozy ‘Grey Fox’ Cabin.
This is the perfect cabin to retreat to in order to escape the everyday. Surrounded by towering hardwoods, this charming two-bedroom, two-bath log cabin blends rustic warmth with modern amenities.
With rich wood-panel interiors and rockers on the covered porch, it gives off rural Cabin In The Woods vibes, but with thoughtful modern comforts like jetted bathtubs, Wi‑Fi, and a fully equipped kitchen.
There are very few neighbors, allowing for total seclusion. You can relax under the stars in the outdoor hot tub, fire up the gas grill, or gather around the fire pit for storytelling and s’mores.
Despite its woodland seclusion, Grey Fox is only minutes from some of the High Country’s most beloved attractions, such as the Appalachian Ski Mountain (a short walk away), the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, and hiking trails up Grandfather Mountain. See prices and availability here.
Cabin in the Clouds, Black Mountain
Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway is this private, wooded enclave, Cabin in the Clouds, which is exactly what it says on the tin. This one-bedroom retreat features a wooden balcony with sweeping valley and mountain views and sits high above the forest canopy, giving the illusion that your cabin is floating above the clouds.
Although deeply secluded, the cabin is just a four-minute drive from the charming town of Black Mountain, which has an artsy downtown with local breweries and a delightful urban park with a lake.
It’s also located off the Blue Ridge Parkway, giving you access to mountain hiking trails and waterfalls like Catawba Falls. And Asheville is an easy 20–30‑minute drive away. See prices and availability here.
Cabin Fever, Saluda
Cabin Fever is a vacation rental resort set in 20 wooded acres of rustic woodland, offering a secluded sanctuary for nature lovers who want solitude and quietude near Saluda.
Although a resort, it only has nine cabins, each of them hand-built and scattered away from each other, and oozing with a remote cabin in the woods charm.
Each cabin features mod cons such as air conditioning, private bathrooms, and an outdoor space where you can sit and admire the woodland setting.
When you want to embark on adventures, you are just minutes from a hike to the stunning Pearson’s Falls or Big Bradley Falls, and there’s also an artsy vibe in the nearby town of Saluda. It’s also close to Hendersonville, Tryon, Asheville, and the Biltmore Estate. See prices and availability here.
You may like these waterfalls in North Carolina that look like Bali!
Rivers Edge Treehouses, Robbinsville
One of our favorite waterfront resorts in North Carolina is the Rivers Edge Treehouses, which sits on the banks of the tranquil Cheoah River outside Robbinsville.
These treehouses offer a dreamy back-to-nature hideaway, but with cozy comforts, such as memory-foam beds, full bathrooms, and private decks.
There are only six treehouses on the resort, so each guest has their own space and is secluded from other guests.
You’re also close to the Nantahala National Forest and Joyce Kilmer National Forest, which both offer miles of hiking trails, kayaking experiences, and waterfall chasing galore! See prices and availability here.
Log Cabin Motor Court, Asheville
Just six miles north of downtown Asheville, the Log Cabin Motor Court is a charming slice of American history, offering remote cabin rentals that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
These motor court lodges date back to 1917 and are decorated in a Rustic Revival style.
As well as being the earliest motor courts around Asheville, they are one of the few resorts that offer their guests solitude and accessibility.
Each of the 17 one and two‑bedroom cabins has its rustic, vintage log charm, with cedar‑timbered walls, rock porches, and cozy fireplaces, but comes with mod cons like AC, Wi‑Fi, and kitchens or kitchenettes.
Despite feeling tucked away, the cabins are ideal for adventurous souls. You’re minutes from the French Broad River, the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, and the artsy scene of Asheville. See prices and availability here.
Read more: 48 Hours in Downtown Asheville NC (Things To Do)
Nantahala Cabins, Bryson City
Over towards the Smoky Mountains in the Nantahala Gorge, there is a remote hideaway you wouldn’t expect to find in the U.S.’s most visited national park.
Nantahala Cabins are located 3 miles out of Bryson City, and feature 11 small one and two-bedroom cabins in a lush, forested section of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Each cabin is thoughtfully designed to blend rustic charm with modern comforts and is built far away from each other so guests can enjoy the quietness and calmness of nature.
Nearby, you can explore the Nantahala River, which is ideal for whitewater rafting, kayaking, and fishing, as well as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which has miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, and black bears roaming around. Bryson City is also a cute Christmas town during the holidays! See prices and availability here.
Read more: On your way to Nantahala Cabins, why not make it a road trip? Here’s a Raleigh to Great Smoky Mountains National Park Road Trip Itinerary. You may also enjoy this guide on How to Enjoy a Weekend in the Great Smoky Mountains from Raleigh
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