Do you have a car lover in your family? My little boy is obsessed with all things car related, so we headed out to Historic Occoneechee Speedway to take a walk and see old cars at an abandoned NASCAR race track!
Walking Trail
Historic Occoneechee is a great place to take a walk. We saw a lot of hardcore walkers and runners while we were there. My kids are definitely the more wander and pick up rocks kind of walkers, so we just tried to stay out of everyone’s way. Luckily since it was hot that day, most of those people cleared out after about 10:00am and we were able to relax and enjoy our more leisurely pace.
The path is a dirt and gravel mix so you should be able to bring a stroller. Some strollers might have issues, but we saw people running with jogging strollers.
Abandoned Raceway
The speedway trail leads you to an abandoned NASCAR track that was used from 1948-1968. In fact, the Occoneechee Speedway is the only surviving dirt speedway from NASCAR’s inaugural 1949 season. You will pass by the old spectator stands, concession stand, and flag tower. The speedway makes a nice 1 mile oval, perfect for little legs!
spectator seating and flag tower 
we climbed to the top of the stands 
old concession stand
Old Racing Cars
The highlight of the trip for my little guy was checking out the old racing cars scattered throughout the park. He wanted to get inside one of the cars so bad, but they have been exposed to the elements are not in good condition. However, It was neat to point out the differences between these cars and the ones we drive today. I was surprised the tires were in such great shape!
old racing car 
checking out the historic cars
Also along the speedway you will find some basic workout equipment and a few picnic tables for your enjoyment. It was a great spot for us to take a little break!
workout spot 
picnic tables
Mountain to Sea Trail
If you’re looking for a longer walk than one mile, the trail connects to the Mountain to Sea Trail and the James M. Johnson Nature preserve. You can also walk along the Eno river and meander through the woodlands.
To add a little more history to your day, you could swing by nearby Ayr Mount. We didn’t make it over there, but it is a federal-era home built in 1815 that you can tour and see inside. It is currently closed during the pandemic, but could be a fun field trip for the older kids once it reopens!
We also made a pit stop at the Occoneechee Mountain State Natural area while we were in the area. Everyone enjoyed walking up to the top of the mountain and checking out the view!