{"id":4562,"date":"2026-07-13T21:06:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T21:06:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=4562"},"modified":"2026-07-13T21:06:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T21:06:52","slug":"2-nc-college-towns-rank-among-the-nations-best-hidden-gems-to-visit-heres-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=4562","title":{"rendered":"2 NC college towns rank among the nation\u2019s best hidden gems to visit. Here\u2019s why"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

Students may be on summer break, but travelers can still get a taste of campus life.<\/p>\n

Read more Wake County Animal Center asks for adopters as hundreds of animals fill shelter<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cSome of the country\u2019s most underrated travel gems<\/a> are college towns\u201d \u2014 and two of the top ones to visit are in North Carolina, according to trip planning website Kayak.<\/p>\n

Chapel Hill<\/a> ranks No. 4 and Boone<\/a> is No. 6 on a list of the nation\u2019s top under-the-radar vacation destinations.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur research found that 84% of travelers are interested in exploring smaller, lesser-known destinations and 63% are opting for shorter weekend trips,\u201d Kayla Inserra DeLoache, director of communications for Kayak, told The News & Observer in a Friday, July 10 email. \u201cNorth Carolina\u2019s college towns offer exactly the kind of experience many travelers are looking for today: walkable downtowns, vibrant local culture, great food, and an easy escape that\u2019s close to home.\u201d<\/p>\n

To determine the most underrated college towns, Kayak focused on online hotel searches people made for U.S. trips they wanted to take in 2025. Then, a spokesperson said the website studied:<\/p>\n

Of the two North Carolina places that earned spots on the list, Chapel Hill ranked the highest at No. 4. The Triangle town<\/a> of roughly 63,000 people was found to have an average nightly hotel room price of $204. Kayak praised the destination for boasting \u201ctimeless college energy\u201d tied to the University of North Carolina\u2019s flagship school.<\/p>\n

\u201cChapel Hill offers a perfect blend of history, culture and a vibrant downtown centered around Franklin Street,\u201d the travel website wrote in its March 25 report. \u201cWith unique shops, celebrated dining and enriching events, there\u2019s something for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more \u2018Explosive\u2019 parasitic infection cases continue rising in NC, across the US<\/a><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Boone landed at No. 6 on the list, with an average hotel price of $167 per night. The town<\/a> \u2014 home to Appalachian State University and a roughly 85-mile drive west from Winston-Salem \u2014 has about 20,000 residents. Kayak gave the destination nods for its grand vistas and \u201ccozy escapes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains, Boone is equal parts walkable college town and outdoor playground,\u201d Kayak wrote in its report. \u201cFrom hiking trails to scenic drives, it\u2019s a year-round destination with serious charm.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not the first time these two vacation spots have received recognition. Earlier this year, Chapel Hill and Boone ranked among the best college towns<\/a> in the South, The N&O previously reported.<\/p>\n

And when it comes to ideal places for recent graduates<\/a> to settle down, North Carolina has them covered. Cary \u2014 just west of Raleigh \u2014 ranks No. 9 on a list of the nation\u2019s best mid-sized cities for people to start their careers, and other destinations in the state ranked just outside the top 10 on lists from the job-related website CoworkingCafe.<\/p>\n

On the latest list from Kayak, the nation\u2019s most underrated college town<\/a> was Clemson, South Carolina. Besides Chapel Hill, these places rounded out the top five:<\/p>\n

Portions of this story were previously published<\/a> in The News & Observer.<\/i><\/p>\n

Questions about life in North Carolina? Or have a tip or story idea you\u2019d like to share? The service journalism teams at The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer want to hear from you.<\/p>\n

Read more Duke Energy, state officials reach settlement in NC electric rate hike case<\/a><\/p>\n

You can submit your question by filling out this form<\/a><\/b>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Where\u2019s the best college town? Kayak names Chapel Hill and Boone, NC top hidden gem vacation destinations to visit in US for campuses, food, hotel prices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4561,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"\n2 NC college towns rank among the nation\u2019s best hidden gems to visit. 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