Concord is a city northeast of Charlotte in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, best known as a center of NASCAR racing. Charlotte Motor Speedway, the zMAX Dragway and dozens of race team shops sit in and around the city, and race weeks bring huge crowds every spring and fall.
AT A GLANCE
Best time
April to May and September to October, for mild weather and the big race weekends.
How long
One to two days covers downtown, the speedway and Reed Gold Mine; add more on race weekends.
Getting there
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is about 30 minutes southwest; Concord-Padgett Regional Airport has a few flights.
Why visit Concord
Concord was founded in 1796 as the county seat of Cabarrus County. Its name, meaning harmony, was chosen to settle a dispute between German and Scots-Irish settlers over where the courthouse should go. In the late 1800s, the Cannon family built textile mills here and in nearby Kannapolis, which became one of the largest towel makers in the world.
Today, Concord's economy and reputation are tied to motorsports. Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend, one of the longest and best-attended races of the season, and many teams are based nearby.
For visitors, Concord offers a mix of racing attractions, family entertainment such as Great Wolf Lodge and Sea Life Charlotte-Concord Aquarium, outlet shopping at Concord Mills, and a historic downtown that feels far removed from the roar of the track.
Racing and motorsports
Motorsports are the main reason many people visit Concord.
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Opened in 1960, Charlotte Motor Speedway is a 1.5-mile oval that hosts NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 in May and other major races, plus the giant Goodyear Auto Fair car shows. On non-race days, speedway tours take visitors onto pit road and the track, and the Richard Petty Driving Experience lets fans ride or drive a stock car.
zMAX Dragway
Across the road from the speedway, zMAX Dragway is a four-lane drag strip that hosts NHRA national events in spring and fall, where top fuel dragsters reach more than 300 miles per hour.
Race shops
Several NASCAR teams have shops in and around Concord and nearby Mooresville. Some, such as Hendrick Motorsports, have museums and team stores that are open to the public on weekdays.
Downtown Concord and history
Away from the track, Concord has a charming historic core.
Downtown Concord and Union Street
Union Street is lined with restored 19th- and early 20th-century buildings housing restaurants, shops and galleries. The North Union Street Historic District nearby has grand Victorian and Neoclassical homes built by mill owners and merchants.
Cabarrus Arts Council and the Historic Courthouse
The 1876 Cabarrus County Courthouse, a handsome Italianate building, now houses the Cabarrus Arts Council's galleries and the Davis Theatre, which hosts plays and concerts.
Reed Gold Mine
About 20 minutes east, Reed Gold Mine marks the site of the first documented discovery of gold in the United States, made by a boy named Conrad Reed in 1799. Visitors can tour restored underground tunnels, see mining equipment and pan for gold in season.
Mill villages
Neighborhoods built for mill workers, with rows of small houses near the old mill sites, show Concord's textile past.
Family attractions and shopping
Concord Mills and the surrounding district are packed with family attractions.
Sea Life Charlotte-Concord Aquarium
This indoor aquarium at Concord Mills has an ocean tunnel, touch pools and displays of sharks, rays and jellyfish.
Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge is a resort with a large indoor water park that is open year round, popular with families.
Concord Mills
Concord Mills is one of the largest shopping and outlet malls in the state, with more than 200 stores, restaurants and entertainment.
Frank Liske Park
This large county park has lakes, trails, sports fields and mini golf, and it is a good break from the busy shopping district.
Kannapolis
Just north, Kannapolis is the former Cannon Mills town, with a revived downtown, Atrium Health Ballpark for minor league baseball and a statue of hometown racing legend Dale Earnhardt.
If you have young kids along, a personalized storybook from Magic Story that makes your child the hero is an easy treat for the drive home, and you get 45% off the first book when you subscribe (affiliate link).
See Magic Story booksFood and local flavors
Concord sits in the Carolina Piedmont, where pulled pork barbecue, fried chicken, collard greens and banana pudding are staples. Race weekends bring tailgates and plenty of grilled food around the speedway.
Downtown Union Street has a growing number of independent restaurants and breweries, and the Piedmont region's own soft drink, Cheerwine, is made in nearby Salisbury. Many restaurants around Concord Mills serve the large crowds that come for shopping and races.
Popular dishes to try in Concord
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Local businesses in Concord
Smith Brothers Paving
Smith Brothers Paving is a paving contractor serving Concord and Charlotte, NC, providing asphalt paving, repair, sealcoating, and striping services for residen...
Appalachian Air Ducts
Appalachian Air Ducts is an indoor air quality business serving Concord, NC, offering air duct cleaning, whole home air filtration, vapor barrier installation,...
Integrity Central Vacuums
Integrity Central Vacuums is a central vacuum business serving the Carolina area. Integrity Central Vacuums provides central vacuum system sales and installatio...
Where to stay
Concord Mills and the speedway area have most of the hotels, including race-week favorites, and quick access to Interstate 85.
Downtown Concord has a few inns and bed and breakfasts near Union Street.
Kannapolis is a short drive north and often has lower prices on race weekends.
Charlotte, about 25 minutes away, has many more hotel choices.
Best time to visit
Spring is mild and green, and May brings the Coca-Cola 600 and big crowds.
Summer is hot and humid, a good time for water parks and baseball.
Fall is pleasant, with NASCAR playoff racing and car shows.
Winter is mild and quiet, with the speedway's holiday light show.
Getting there and getting around
By air: Charlotte Douglas International Airport is about 30 minutes southwest, and Concord-Padgett Regional Airport has limited flights.
By car: Interstate 85 runs through the city between Charlotte and Greensboro.
Getting around: A car is essential; expect heavy traffic and shuttle parking on race days.
A suggested itinerary
First day
Take a tour of Charlotte Motor Speedway in the morning, visit a race team shop, then spend the afternoon at Concord Mills or the aquarium.
Second day
Explore downtown Concord and Union Street, see the historic courthouse, then drive to Reed Gold Mine to tour the tunnels and pan for gold.
Third day
Visit Kannapolis for its downtown and a ballgame, or relax at Frank Liske Park.
Practical tips
- Book hotels months ahead for the Coca-Cola 600 and fall race weekends, when prices rise sharply.
- Reed Gold Mine is free to visit, with a small fee for gold panning in season.
- Check speedway tour times, since tours do not run during events.
- Bring hearing protection to races and drag events.
Find local businesses in Concord on WiserMap
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