Wake district, North Carolina, United States

Places to visit near Cary

Cary is a city in Wake district, North Carolina, United States, home to about 159,769 people. Within 50 km by road there are 239 places to visit — 95 churches, 39 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 31 forts & heritage and 20 museums. The must-see places are Sree Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina (3 km), Lake Crabtree (7 km) and North Carolina Museum of Art (9 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Cary on the map

Cary, North Carolina
Cary, Wake district, North Carolina, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Cary at a glance

Location
Wake district, North Carolina, United States
Population
about 159,769
Coordinates
35.7915° N, 78.7811° W
Places within 50 km
239 (49 must-see)
Best time to visit
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for churches and museums

Top places to visit near Cary

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Cary: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Cary

Things to see near Cary, by type

Churches near Cary

98 churches within 100 km of Cary. The closest is First Baptist Church, Cary (1 km); the best-known is Pullen Memorial Baptist Church (14 km). Best time: year-round.

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Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Cary

42 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Cary. The closest is Holiday Acres Lake Dam (3 km); the best-known is Lake Crabtree (7 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in North Carolina →

Forts & heritage near Cary

32 forts & heritage within 100 km of Cary. The closest is Ivey Ellington House (1 km); the best-known is North Carolina Museum of History (16 km). Best time: october to february.

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Museums near Cary

22 museums within 100 km of Cary. The closest is North Carolina Museum of Art (9 km). Best time: year-round.

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Waterfalls near Cary

17 waterfalls within 100 km of Cary. The closest is Falls Church, Raleigh (12 km). Best time: july to january, best august to november right after rains.

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Parks near Cary

16 parks within 100 km of Cary. The closest is WakeMed Soccer Park (3 km); the best-known is JC Raulston Arboretum (9 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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A one-day trip from Cary

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 34 km on the road.

  1. Start in Cary
  2. 3 km Sree Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina · temple, Wake
  3. 5 km Lake Crabtree · lake, Wake
  4. 6 km William B. Umstead State Park · nature spot, Wake
  5. 9 km North Carolina Museum of Art · museum, Wake
  6. 2 km JC Raulston Arboretum · park, Wake
  7. 9 km Back to Cary

Plan a longer trip from Cary — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Cary

No traveller has reported from around Cary yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Cary

    All places near Cary by distance

    Within 15 km of Cary

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Cary by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Churches9598First Baptist Church, Cary (1 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs3942Holiday Acres Lake Dam (3 km)
    Forts & heritage3132Ivey Ellington House (1 km)
    Museums2022North Carolina Museum of Art (9 km)
    Waterfalls1717Falls Church, Raleigh (12 km)
    Parks1216WakeMed Soccer Park (3 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens1012Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve (9 km)
    Temples44Sree Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina (3 km)
    Beaches & coast44Crosswinds Beach (25 km)
    Other attractions33Carousel (13 km)
    Caves22The Luxe Cave (14 km)
    Mosques & dargahs11Islamic Association of Raleigh (10 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints11Terrells Mountain (45 km)
    Treks01Haw River Land Trail (78 km)

    Cary: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Cary?

    Sree Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina (temple, about 3 km), Lake Crabtree (lake, about 7 km), North Carolina Museum of Art (museum, about 9 km), JC Raulston Arboretum (park, about 9 km), William B. Umstead State Park (nature spot, about 10 km), Raleigh North Carolina Temple (temple, about 12 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Cary?

    239 places on Spotwander: 95 churches, 39 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 31 forts & heritage, 20 museums, 17 waterfalls.

    Which is the nearest church to Cary?

    First Baptist Church, Cary, about 1 km by road; All Saints Anglican Church (8 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest lake to Cary?

    Holiday Acres Lake Dam, about 3 km by road; Hoffman Lake Dam (5 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Cary?

    Ivey Ellington House, about 1 km by road; American Eagle Flights 3378 and 3379 Memorial (10 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Cary?

    Start in Cary, visit Sree Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina, then Lake Crabtree, then William B. Umstead State Park, then North Carolina Museum of Art, then JC Raulston Arboretum, and drive back — about 34 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Cary?

    August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for churches and museums.

    Towns near Cary

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Cary’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Cary on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.