fall foliage on Lake Norman in North Carolina

Lake Norman

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The beautiful Lake Norman area includes the Town of Davidson as well as the close by communities of Cornelius, Huntersville and Mooresville.

These communities offer a variety of shopping, dining, entertainment, and outdoor recreation opportunities all within a 10-to-15-minute drive of Davidson's campus. Lake Norman is 34 miles long with 520 miles of shoreline and offers numerous attractions to explore. Davidson College students, faculty and staff enjoy exclusive access to Lake Norman at the College's Lake Campus located five minutes north of campus. All of these communities have experienced tremendous growth over the past 20 years and continue to grow rapidly. 

Huntersville

Located just 15 minutes south of campus at exits 25 and 23, Huntersville is home to Birkdale Village, a popular outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex. Near Birkdale are many walking and biking trails and additional shopping centers anchored by Lowe's and Target. In addition to spaces like Blythe Landing Park and Rural Hill, Huntersville offers year-round events for the whole family such as the Carolina Renaissance Festival.

Cornelius

Located just a few minutes south of Davidson at exit 28 or by heading south on Main Street is the Town of Cornelius. Like the other Lake Norman communities, Cornelius has grown from a small downtown into a thriving area full of shops, restaurants, and outdoor activities. From Davidson, you can explore Cornelius through its 13+ miles of greenway trails or by kayak along its 54 mile of Lake Norman shoreline.

Mooresville

Known as Race City USA, Mooresville is just north of campus at exits 33 and 36 and home to many NASCAR racing teams. It is also the corporate headquarters of do-it-yourself homebuilding company Lowe's. Mooresville has a historic downtown but has grown to include many recently built shopping centers and dining establishments. Visit Lake Norman State Park to camp, swim and hike or Queen's Landing for a tour of Lake Norman on a replica Mississippi paddleboat. 

A Weekend on Lake Norman

Deborah Holt Noel of PBS North Carolina experiences the art, food and culture of Lake Norman and the nearby towns of Cornelius, Huntersville and Davidson.