By Burlington sits right in the heart of the Triad, an easy 25-minute drive east of Greensboro on I-40/85, and it punches well above its weight when it comes to fun. This is the town that gave America its first outlet mall and still spins a hand-carved 1900s carousel for a dollar a ride. Whether you are visiting for a weekend or you have lived in Alamance County for years, here are the genuinely worthwhile things to do in Burlington, NC.
Ride the Historic Dentzel Carousel at Burlington City Park
If you do one thing in Burlington, make it the carousel. Tucked inside Burlington City Park, the Dentzel Carousel is a hand-carved menagerie ride built around 1906 to 1910 in Philadelphia and beautifully restored. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features 46 carved wooden animals, including horses, cats, ostriches, rabbits, pigs, and a single deer, giraffe, lion, and tiger. It is one of only a handful of municipally operated amusement areas in the entire state.
The park spreads across more than 75 acres and is far more than the carousel. There is a miniature train, kiddie rides, an ADA-inclusive playground, tennis and pickleball courts, ballfields, a walking track, and the Maynard Aquatic Center with a splash park for hot summer afternoons. Big seasonal events like the Carousel Festival, July 3rd in the Park, the Summer Concert Series, and Christmas in the Park draw crowds from all over the Triad.
Here is the part locals love: all amusement ride tickets are just $1.00 each. Most rides cost one ticket per person, while the carousel and the train each take two. Cash, debit, credit, and Apple Pay are all accepted.
Plan your visit: Burlington City Park, 1388 Main Street, Burlington, NC 27215. Phone (336) 222-5033. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Amusement ride hours are seasonal: roughly weekends only in winter, Friday through Sunday in spring and fall, and Tuesday through Sunday (10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sundays from 1 p.m.) during the summer stretch from June 9 to August 24. Rides run weather permitting and close on New Year’s Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Check current hours at the City of Burlington amusement rides page.
Step Onto a Revolutionary War Battlefield
Long before Lexington and Concord, backcountry North Carolina farmers known as the Regulators clashed with the colonial militia here in 1771. The Alamance Battleground State Historic Site preserves that ground with exhibits, a restored 18th-century log house, a nature trail, picnic areas, and a visitor center. It is a quiet, genuinely educational stop, and a favorite for families and history buffs alike. Every May the site hosts the “Fight for the Backcountry” battle reenactment, complete with costumed interpreters and black-powder demonstrations.
Plan your visit: 5803 NC Highway 62 South, Burlington, NC 27215. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Sunday, Monday, and state holidays. Guided tours run at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. Admission is free. Details and the event calendar are on the NC Historic Sites website.
Get Outdoors at Cedarock Park
For residents, Cedarock Park is the local outdoor crown jewel, and visitors find it just as rewarding. This 500-plus-acre Alamance County park combines six miles of hiking and nature trails with six miles of equestrian trails, a historic farm restored to its late-1800s appearance, two disc golf courses, fishing, picnic shelters, and primitive tent camping. The most popular walk leads to an old rock dam on Rock Creek, a pretty and easy destination for kids and casual hikers.
From spring through fall, the park rents canoes and kayaks so you can paddle the creek yourself. It is a low-key, low-cost way to spend a whole day outside without leaving the county.
Plan your visit: 4242 R. Dean Coleman Road, Burlington, NC 27215. Hours are seasonal: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in winter, extending to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the heart of summer (June through August). Closed Christmas Day. Trail maps, rental info, and current hours are posted by Alamance County Parks and Recreation.
Meet Lions, Tigers, and Wolves at the Animal Park
One of the most unexpected attractions in the area is the Animal Park at the Conservators Center, a nonprofit zoological facility on a wooded 45-acre site between Burlington and Mebane. Home to roughly 60 animals across about 20 species, it specializes in big cats and other carnivores: lions, tigers, wolves, and more. You explore on a roughly three-quarter-mile guided path with an experienced guide who shares each animal’s story and conservation role.
This is a reservation-first destination, not a walk-up zoo. The park is open weekends and select holidays, with group tours and field trips available midweek by advance booking. Tour options range from short Family Adventures to longer Adult Adventures, Twilight Tours, and seasonal Big Cat Express tours. Standard pricing starts around $16 for adults and $11 for kids, and reservations are required for most tours.
Plan your visit: 676 E Hughes Mill Road, Burlington, NC 27217. Phone (336) 421-0883. Book tours and confirm current weekend hours and pricing at the Animal Park’s official tours page before you go, since times shift seasonally.
Explore Historic Downtown Burlington
Downtown Burlington has come back to life in recent years and is well worth an afternoon of strolling. The district is anchored by the Paramount Theater, a restored venue operating since 1930 that hosts films, live music, and stage productions. Around it you will find breweries, antique shops, restaurants, and regular live events.
Eat and Shop Local
- Burlington Food Hall (268 E Front Street) is a converted grocery space, open since spring 2021, with five independent eateries and a bar under one roof: Go Burrito, Pork and Spoon (Filipino), Pizza Factory and Cheesesteak Co, Kapadokia Turkish Eatery, and Tea Rex for drinks. There is patio seating and a kids’ corner, making it an easy group stop.
- Company Shops Market is a community-owned cooperative grocery and cafe set in a historic railroad building, with local produce, craft beer, prepared foods, and frequent events.
For the full and current lineup of shops, restaurants, and events, browse Downtown Burlington’s official guide.
Shop Where the Outlet Was Born
Burlington holds a real piece of retail history: Stanley Tanger opened America’s very first outlet shopping center here in 1981. Today shoppers split their time between two destinations. Alamance Crossing is a traditional open-air mall anchored by Belk, JCPenney, and other major stores, with dining and a movie theater. For deep discounts, the nearby Tanger Outlets in Mebane (a short hop east in Alamance County) packs in close to a hundred outlet brands. Together they make Burlington a legitimate shopping day-trip from anywhere in the Triad. See the full roundup at the Alamance County Visitors Bureau.
More Family Fun on a Rainy Day
When the weather turns, Burlington still delivers. The town has long-running indoor options including a 36-lane bowling center with arcade games and pool tables, and a laser tag arena with a laser maze and arcade. These are reliable spots for birthday parties and afternoons with kids. Because indoor entertainment venues change hours and offerings frequently, confirm current details before heading out.
Where to Stay in Burlington
Burlington is an easy and affordable base for exploring the whole Triad, with most hotels clustered just off I-40/85 near Exit 141 and Alamance Crossing. Reliable, bookable picks include the Hampton Inn & Suites Burlington, Drury Inn & Suites Burlington (about half a mile from Alamance Crossing, with free hot breakfast and an evening reception), Holiday Inn Express Burlington, and Best Western Plus Burlington. All sit minutes from shopping, dining, Elon University, and the interstate, so you can reach Greensboro, Winston-Salem, or High Point in well under an hour.
A Practical Planning Tip
The single biggest thing to watch in Burlington is seasonal hours. The City Park amusement rides, Cedarock Park, and the Animal Park all run on schedules that change month to month, and the Animal Park requires reservations for nearly everything. Build your day around those windows first: pin down your carousel-ride afternoon or your animal tour, then fill in downtown dining, shopping, and the battleground (open Tuesday through Saturday) around it. A quick check of each official site the morning of your trip will save you a wasted drive.