Hotel recommendations Charlotte/Concord area

[FeelnFroggy]

My family and I (two adults and two children) are planning a trip to Carowinds the middle of next month. We also want to visit Concord Mills mall (for the Nascar Speedpark, Bass Pro, etc). We would go to Carowinds one day, the mall one day and maybe go to the Earnhardt museum. For those that know the area, should I book a room in Charlotte or Concord? I would appreciate any hotel recommendations or reviews.

Thank you.

 

[plutolovr]

There's a Great Wolf Lodge in Concord if that interests you. It will take about 30 to 40 minutes I believe to get from one place to the other. There are plenty of hotels right near the mall.

 

[FeelnFroggy]

There's a Great Wolf Lodge in Concord if that interests you. It will take about 30 to 40 minutes I believe to get from one place to the other. There are plenty of hotels right near the mall.

Thank you plutolovr for the suggestion. I would love to take the kids there, but we could not afford to stay there and go to Carowinds, too. We are looking for something nice but not too costly per night, since we would be there for three nights.

 

[SC Minnie]

Carowinds is actually about 2 miles from me. I wouldn't stay in a hotel by the park-the ones there aren't that nice and there are always notes in the police blotter about cars getting broken into. Personally I would stay closer to Concord. There are a number of hotels at the exit for Concord Mills. If you wanted to stay south the night before going to Carowinds there is a Hampton Inn & Suites off Arrowood I believe (there are some others off Arrowood as well in the other direction). That's about as far south as I would go.

PM me if you have any other specific questions.

 

[cadesfirsttrip]

Well, if you made a triangle around Charlotte, two points would be two places you mentioned!!! It would depend with me on whether this was during the week or weekend. A kind of middle ground place would actually be Northlake Mall (it's about 20 miles to Carowinds, and less to Concord Mills, but probably the same amount of time to each. Not positive how far the Earnhardt museum is from Concord Mills). Trying to get to Concord Mills mall area during the week can be horrible - there is a lot of construction on I-85 in that area.

I actually live in Lake Norman, and have lived Charlotte for about 37 years. Try the Drury Inn at Northlake. They have breakfast and a "cocktail hour" that includes food that could be considered a dinner by some. I've stayed there several times before my future husband and I moved in together.

 

[MAD4EEYORE]

I personally would stay in the Concord area. We stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge and had a great time but like you said it's pricey. There are plenty of hotels in that area and since you will be doing mostly things around there that's where I'd stay. Plenty to see, do and eat around there. Plenty of places to stay as well. From my notes there is a Emabssy Suites, a Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Springhill suites all by Marriott, Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, a Wingate and Sleep Inn at that exit.

Most of the Nascar garages are in the area and are free to get into. We toured Hendrick Racing garage. It was split into two sections. One building housed the current teams and their garges. Across the way was a museum (almost) of past drivers and some merchandise you can buy. Also you can take a tour of the Charolette Motor Speedway. They take you out onto the track and do a loop. It was 9.00 per person and about an 1-1 1/2. You can also sit in the stands and watch the Richard Petty Driving experience go around the track.

Have a great time! Hope some of this helps!

 

[FeelnFroggy]

Carowinds is actually about 2 miles from me. I wouldn't stay in a hotel by the park-the ones there aren't that nice and there are always notes in the police blotter about cars getting broken into. Personally I would stay closer to Concord. There are a number of hotels at the exit for Concord Mills. If you wanted to stay south the night before going to Carowinds there is a Hampton Inn & Suites off Arrowood I believe (there are some others off Arrowood as well in the other direction). That's about as far south as I would go.

PM me if you have any other specific questions.

Thank you for confirming what I had heard about the high crime rates at the hotels near Carowinds. I wasn't sure but I will stay away from those now!

 

[FeelnFroggy]

Well, if you made a triangle around Charlotte, two points would be two places you mentioned!!! It would depend with me on whether this was during the week or weekend. A kind of middle ground place would actually be Northlake Mall (it's about 20 miles to Carowinds, and less to Concord Mills, but probably the same amount of time to each. Not positive how far the Earnhardt museum is from Concord Mills). Trying to get to Concord Mills mall area during the week can be horrible - there is a lot of construction on I-85 in that area.

I actually live in Lake Norman, and have lived Charlotte for about 37 years. Try the Drury Inn at Northlake. They have breakfast and a "cocktail hour" that includes food that could be considered a dinner by some. I've stayed there several times before my future husband and I moved in together.

We will be going Thursday and coming home Sunday. Thanks for the suggestion about the Drury Inn. I will definitely check into it!!

 

[FeelnFroggy]

I personally would stay in the Concord area. We stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge and had a great time but like you said it's pricey. There are plenty of hotels in that area and since you will be doing mostly things around there that's where I'd stay. Plenty to see, do and eat around there. Plenty of places to stay as well. From my notes there is a Emabssy Suites, a Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Springhill suites all by Marriott, Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, a Wingate and Sleep Inn at that exit.

Most of the Nascar garages are in the area and are free to get into. We toured Hendrick Racing garage. It was split into two sections. One building housed the current teams and their garges. Across the way was a museum (almost) of past drivers and some merchandise you can buy. Also you can take a tour of the Charolette Motor Speedway. They take you out onto the track and do a loop. It was 9.00 per person and about an 1-1 1/2. You can also sit in the stands and watch the Richard Petty Driving experience go around the track.

Have a great time! Hope some of this helps!

I will look into the hotels you mentioned near Concord and thanks for the suggestions about the tours!!

 

[pantherlj]

We enjoyed our stay (and made to order breakfast!) at the Embassy Suites in Concord this spring.

They have an online non refundable rate that's a good deal, especially when you factor in the big breakfast and the cocktail reception at night.

 

[mommy2twingles]

Don't live in NC but we do travel there every year for the Coke 600. We have stayed at the Comfort Inn 9701 E. Independence Blvd., Matthews, NC for at least the last 8 years. Works great as we can get to the racetrack within 30 minutes using back roads we found, it is outside of center Charlotte but still close if we wanted to go into town. There is an Outback right next to the hotel, Target, Old Navy, Harris Teeter, Dairy Queen all within 5 minutes. It is close to 485 and lists Carowinds as being 14 miles away. For us we love the fact that it is just far enough from the track to not raise prices much for that weekend, stayed Friday to Monday this year for under $250.