Overview
Pittsboro is a town of 4,300 people (2018) near the Haw River in the Research Triangle in North Carolina. The county seat of Chatham County, Pittsboro has a big cat sanctuary as well as a historic district centered around the 19th-century courthouse.
4 sights · 2 things to do · 4 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Pittsboro
Carolina Tiger Rescue
A big cat sanctuary. Guided tours allow you to see tigers, lions, cougars and other big cats, all rescued from poor treatment and brought to the sanctuary.
Chatham County Historic Courthouse
A historic courthouse in the middle of downtown Pittsboro, a cute little area with lots of historic buildings. It was built in 1881 and restored after a fire in 2010. It now houses the Chatham Historical Museum.
Bynum
A small, artsy town just outside Pittsboro next to the Haw River. Keep your eyes out for street art and wooden animal sculptures.
Bynum Bridge
This used to be the main bridge before 15-501 was put in. Now it's a pedestrian bridge covered with lots of interesting graffiti. Nearby there are some walking paths and river beaches.
Lower Haw River Trail
A 5-mile (8-km) hiking trail through the woods beside the Haw River, with lots of river beaches and other interesting little spots along it. The trailhead is in Bynum.
Bynum Dam
There's a short hiking trail starting from the Bynum Dam parking lot. It's possible to go kayaking or swimming above the dam, though be careful not to go too close to it. If you swim to the right spot there's a rope swin…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 91°F; winter lows dip to about 32°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Sep and Jul. (climate data from nearby Research Triangle)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- RDU Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Raleigh/Durham — 24 mi away (major hub). Directions
- GSO Piedmont Triad International Airport, Greensboro — 50 mi away (major hub). Directions
Driving is your best bet. Route 15-501 goes straight through downtown Pittsboro, and U.S. Route 64 goes close. Pittsboro is about halfway between Chapel Hill and Sanford.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Chatham County Historic Courthouse, Bynum Bridge, Bynum
- Lunch Elizabeth's Pizza
- Afternoon Bynum Dam, Lower Haw River Trail
- Dinner Small B&B Cafe
- Evening Starrlight Mead
Day 2
- Morning Carolina Tiger Rescue
- Lunch Virlie's Grill
- Dinner S&T's Soda Shoppe
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
Driving is your best bet. Route 15-501 goes straight through downtown Pittsboro, and U.S. Route 64 goes close. Pittsboro is about halfway between Chapel Hill and Sanford.
By bike
Biking is also possible—Pittsboro is about 20 miles (30 km) from Chapel Hill. The most direct route from Chapel Hill is taking 15-501, but that's just a highway. A more scenic route takes you through rolling hills, green pastures, and quiet forests: Take Smith Level Road south, turn right on Damascus Church Road, then left on Meacham Road, which turns into Polythress Road. When the road ends at a T intersection, turn left to stay on Polythress Road, and take the next right onto Manns Chapel Road. Go left on Hamlets Chapel Road, which will take you to 15-501. Cross the highway to head into Bynum, or turn left to follow the highway for the last few miles to Pittsboro. This route is hilly and there are no bike lanes for most of it (the cars are polite enough to give you a wide berth, though), but the pastoral scenery is lovely. If you're a strong biker it's just feasible to do Pittsboro as a day trip from Chapel Hill by bike.
See
See Bynum
A small, artsy town just outside Pittsboro next to the Haw River. Keep your eyes out for street art and wooden animal sculptures.
See Bynum Bridge
This used to be the main bridge before 15-501 was put in. Now it's a pedestrian bridge covered with lots of interesting graffiti. Nearby there are some walking paths and river beaches.
Do
Haw River
Pittsboro is near the Haw River, and the Lower Haw River State Natural Area has swimming, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, birdwatching, and wildlife photography. You might see people fishing, but eating the fish isn't recommended due to pollution.
If you're interested in wildlife, look for animals like river otters, turtles, toads, and herons, and native plants like horsetail, arrowleaf ginger, mountain laurel, and wild azalea.
Do Lower Haw River Trail
A 5-mile (8-km) hiking trail through the woods beside the Haw River, with lots of river beaches and other interesting little spots along it. The trailhead is in Bynum.
Do Bynum Dam
There's a short hiking trail starting from the Bynum Dam parking lot. It's possible to go kayaking or swimming above the dam, though be careful not to go too close to it. If you swim to the right spot there's a rope swing on a river island. The trail and the river can be muddy after it rains, and watch out for poison ivy.
Buy
Eat
Eat Small B&B Cafe
Breakfast and lunch restaurant that doubles as a bed-and-breakfast.
Drink
Drink Starrlight Mead
A meadery (winery that produces honey wines).
Sleep
Go next
Nearby
Sanford
City / town · 10 listings · 17 mi away
Chapel Hill
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