Kannapolis
Kannapolis is a town in North Carolina, roughly 15 minutes north of Charlotte by car. It is known primarily as the home of the Earnhardt auto-racing family, and the former home of a large textile industry. It is being revitalized as a bedroom community of Charlotte with a population of just under 50,000 residents.
Get in
By car
From Interstate 85 North, take exit 58, 60, or 63.
By plane
By train
The Kannapolis Amtrak station is found at 201 South Main Street.
By bus
Concord Kannapolis Area Transit offers service from Concord.
Get around
See
- NC Research Campus.
- The Dale Trail. A self-guided tour of important landmarks in the life of Dale Earnhardt.
- 1 Village Park, 700 W C St, ☏ +1-704-920-4343, parks@kannapolisnc.gov. 8AM-9PM. Beautiful 17-acre park featuring North Carolina's only 2-story carousel and train that runs around the park. Splash Pad is fun for kids and enjoyable for adults. Entry to the park is free, with the train, carousel, and splash pad being $1.50 each. Free summer concert series features names such as 38 Special and Diamond Rio. During winter, the park is transformed into a winter wonderland with over 300,000 Christmas lights. Tickets during Christmas to train and carousel $2 each.
Do
- NC Research Campus.
- Gem Theater. A movie theater built in 1938 and still in operation today, showing first-run movies.
- Cannon Village. A Williamsburg-style shopping village styled in the heart of Kannapolis.
- Kannapolis Cannonballers. Class "A" Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Member of the South Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, Northern Division. Won last season's South Atlantic League Title. Play 70 home games from April–September at Atrium Health Stadium. Most affordable form of family entertainment.
- Kannapolis Recreation Park. Water park, swimming pool, disc golf and miniature golf.
- Curb Motorsports Museum. M-F 9AM-5PM. Mike Curb opened this racing facility in 1983 so Richard Petty could drive from Kannapolis in what he called, 'my kind of town.' Mr. Petty won his last two races driving for Curb Motorsports - his 199th and 200th. The car he drove in his 199th win is on display as well as the car Dale Earnhardt drove in 1980 for his first Winston Cup Championship, the car Dale Jarrett drove in his first Busch race, and the car Johnny Sauter drove when he won the September 2003 Richmond race. Over the past 20 years the following drivers have driven for Curb Motorsports: Richard Petty, Dale Jarreett, Ron Bouchard, Ed Primm, Brad Noffsinger, Stevie Reeves, Kevin Brugg, Shane Hall, Jay Sauter and Johnny Sauter. During this time Curb Motorsports had 118 top ten finishes. In all, 21 cars are on display in this museum, including 7 Indy cars. Free.
Buy
Eat
- Los Arcos, one of the region's favorite Mexican restaurants, serves a full range of Mexican dishes, including a great taco salad and chicken soup. They are known for their fast, friendly service and some of the area's best sweet tea. 1021 S. Cannon Blvd (Hwy 29).
- 1 Park Road Soda Shoppe, 800 Rogers Lake Road, ☏ +1 704-933-0062. Sit down restaurant serving burgers and fries. Fast, friendly service and a great local atmosphere.
- What-A-Burger #10, 926 S. Main St, ☏ +1 704-932-8851. Old fashioned drive-in/car hop. Best burgers and Cherry-Lemon-Sundrop in town. If you're feeling frisky, try a Witch-doctor and onion rings too.
Drink
Sleep
- America's Best Value Inn, 2808 Lane St, toll-free: +1-800-528-1234.
- [dead link] Fairfield Inn by Marriott, 3033 Cloverleaf Parkway, ☏ +1 704-795-4888, toll-free: +1-800-228-2800.
- Hampton Inn, 612 Dickens Place NE, ☏ +1 704-793-9700, toll-free: +1-800-426-7866. Concord.
- Mainstay Suites, 3200 Cloverleaf Blvd, ☏ +1 704-788-2140, toll-free: +1-800-4-CHOICE (246423).
- [formerly dead link] Microtel Inn & Suites, 3113 Cloverleaf Parkway, ☏ +1 704-782-2300.
Go next
| Routes through Kannapolis |
| END ← Charlotte ← | W  E |
→ Salisbury → Greensboro |
| Greensboro ← Salisbury ← | N  S |
→ Concord → Charlotte |
| Lexington ← Salisbury ← | N  S |
→ Concord → Charlotte |