Kannapolis is a city north of Charlotte that was built as a company town around Cannon Mills, once the largest producer of towels and sheets in the world. It is also the hometown of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt.
AT A GLANCE
Best time
April to September for baseball and outdoor events; fall for racing nearby.
How long
One day covers downtown, the ballpark and the Dale Earnhardt Tribute.
Getting there
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is about 35 minutes southwest.
Why visit Kannapolis
James William Cannon opened his first mill here in 1908 and built a whole town for his workers. Cannon Mills employed tens of thousands of people until it closed in 2003.
Since then, the mill site has become the North Carolina Research Campus, and downtown has been rebuilt with a park, restaurants and Atrium Health Ballpark. Racing fans come to honor Dale Earnhardt, and Charlotte Motor Speedway is just south in Concord.
Downtown Kannapolis
Downtown has been rebuilt in recent years.
Atrium Health Ballpark
Opened in 2020, this downtown ballpark is home to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, a minor league team affiliated with the Chicago White Sox, and its concourse is open as a park on non-game days.
West Avenue and VIDA
West Avenue has been redesigned as a pedestrian-friendly street with restaurants, a splash pad and the VIDA Sports Complex and apartments nearby.
Dale Earnhardt Tribute Plaza
A nine-foot bronze statue of Dale Earnhardt stands in a plaza downtown, with granite monuments telling the story of the racing legend's career.
North Carolina Research Campus
Built on the former Cannon Mills site, this research campus focuses on nutrition and health, and its grand Core Laboratory building faces a large lawn.
Parks and nearby
Green space and racing are close by.
Village Park
Village Park has a miniature train, a carousel, a splash pad and playgrounds, popular with families.
Bakers Creek Park
This park has walking trails, a dog park and ball fields.
Lake Fisher
Lake Fisher, on the city's edge, offers fishing and quiet water.
Charlotte Motor Speedway
About 15 minutes south in Concord, Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts major NASCAR races.
The mill town story
For most of the 20th century, Kannapolis was one of the largest unincorporated towns in the country. Cannon Mills owned the houses, stores and even the water system, and the town did not incorporate as a city until 1984. Mill houses still line many streets around downtown, and the brick Cannon Village shops along Main Street were part of the company's planned town center.
When the mill closed in 2003, thousands of jobs were lost in a single day, one of the largest layoffs in state history. The research campus, the ballpark and the new downtown are the city's answer to that loss, and the change is easy to see on a walk from the old mill houses to West Avenue.
Planning a trip to Kannapolis?Compare hotels, flights and vacation rentals for Kannapolis on Expedia.Book nowDay trips from Kannapolis
Kannapolis is a good base for exploring the racing towns and small cities north of Charlotte.
Salisbury and Spencer
About 20 minutes north, Salisbury has a historic downtown and is the birthplace of Cheerwine. Next door in Spencer, the North Carolina Transportation Museum fills the old Southern Railway repair shops, with a huge roundhouse, locomotives and train rides.
Mooresville and Lake Norman
About 30 minutes west, Mooresville calls itself Race City USA, and several NASCAR teams have shops there. Lake Norman, the largest lake in the state, has marinas, waterfront restaurants and boat rentals.
Concord Mills and Charlotte
Concord Mills, one of the biggest shopping malls in the Southeast, is about 15 minutes south, and uptown Charlotte, with its museums and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, is about 30 minutes away.
Food and local flavors
Kannapolis shares the Piedmont's barbecue traditions, and Cheerwine, the cherry-flavored soft drink from nearby Salisbury, is a local favorite. Southern diners serve biscuits, fried chicken and sweet tea.
The rebuilt downtown along West Avenue has new restaurants, breweries and coffee shops, especially busy on game nights.
Popular dishes to try in Kannapolis
Where to stay
Interstate 85 corridor has most of the hotels, close to Concord and the speedway.
Downtown Kannapolis is close to the ballpark and restaurants.
Concord, just south, has many more hotels.
Where to stay in Kannapolis
Best time to visit
Spring brings the start of baseball season.
Summer is hot, with ballgames and splash pads busy.
Fall is pleasant, with racing nearby.
Winter is mild and quiet.
Getting there and getting around
By air: Charlotte Douglas International Airport is about 35 minutes southwest.
By train: Amtrak's Carolinian and Piedmont trains stop at Kannapolis station.
By car: Interstate 85 runs along the city.
Getting around: A car is the easiest way to get around.
A suggested itinerary
First day
Visit the Dale Earnhardt Tribute Plaza and the North Carolina Research Campus, then explore West Avenue and have lunch downtown. In the afternoon, take the kids to Village Park, and end with a Cannon Ballers game.
Practical tips
- Check the Cannon Ballers schedule for fireworks nights.
- Race weekends in Concord fill hotels, so book early.
- Downtown parking is free on most days.
- Combine Kannapolis with Concord and Salisbury for a longer trip.
Find local businesses in Kannapolis on WiserMap
Looking for a restaurant downtown, a coffee shop or a local shop?
