Davidson is a small college town in North Carolina. It is known primarily for its association with Davidson College, and is a suburb of Charlotte. It has 15,106 residents (2020), of whom some 1,800 are students at the college.

Though Davidson has been swallowed by the suburban growth of Charlotte, it has made an intentional effort to retain its small-town identity. As a result, the downtown and campus area do not have the characteristic sprawl of most American suburbs.

Get in

Almost all travelers will access Davidson via Interstate 77 (I-77).

If you are in Charlotte and want to visit the town for a day trip, consider using the CATS Express buses that run from Uptown Charlotte to Davidson (take the 77X line). Check the bus schedule ahead of time, as Express buses do not run ordinary schedules.

Get around

Cars are the primary form of transportation in Davidson. However, the downtown area and college campus are easily traveled by foot or bike.

See

The college campus is quaint and full of interesting academic architecture. If the weather permits, it is worth a walk around the tree-lined sidewalks.

• Davidson College. A highly-ranked liberal arts college; as one would expect, it has a regular schedule of performances and lectures. Many of these are open to the public, and they are frequently of an exceptionally high quality. Also, the College has the visual art galleries that are typical of a campus. 
• Tom Clark Museum, 131 N Main St, ☏ +1 704 892-9213. 

Do

Nearby Lake Norman is a major regional attraction. It offers recreational boating, swimming, resorts, and some small beaches.

Eat

Davidson's best eateries are within a short walk of the center of town. There is really no need to settle for interstate food.

• O'Donnell's Main Street, 101 N Main St, ☏ +1 704 655-1335. Great place for visitors to grab lunch, especially since it includes a Wi-Fi hotspot. 
• Soda Shop, 104 S Main St, ☏ +1 704 896-7743. Old-fashioned diner in the middle of town. Good food and service. Great for kids. 
• Jasper's at Davidson, 127 Depot St, ☏ +1 704 896-1881. 
• Davino's Restaurant, 231 Griffith St, ☏ +1 704 892-4794. 
• Fuel Pizza Cafe, 402 S Main St, ☏ +1 704 655-3835. Offshoot of Charlotte-based Fuel Pizza. Sold by the slice. 
• Ben & Jerry's, 202 S Main St, ☏ +1 704 892-0604. 
• Bob Bimini Caribbean Barbecue, 408 S Main St, ☏ +1 704 439-1000. 
• Ming's Bistro, 624 Jetton St, ☏ +1 704 895-5623. 

Drink

If you are college-aged, it is a safe bet that you will be able to find drinking opportunities on campus during the school year.

• Brick House Tavern, 209 Delburg St, ☏ +1 704 987-2022. 

Sleep

• Davidson Village Inn, 117 Depot St, ☏ +1 704 892-8044. 

Go next

I-77 is the primary artery out of Davidson. Charlotte is the nearest major city, about 15 minutes to the south. Heading north the next city is Statesville.

Routes through Davidson

Wytheville ← Mooresville ←

N  S

→ Cornelius → Charlotte