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Sandhills
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Discover North Carolina’s Sandhills for Pinehurst golf, longleaf forests, equestrian country, historic towns and relaxed southern hospitality.

North Carolina’s Sandhills form a distinctive inland region between the Piedmont and the coastal plain, centred on Moore County and extending through adjoining communities in the south-central part of the state. The landscape is shaped by deep, sandy soils, rolling terrain and longleaf pine forests rather than by dramatic mountains or broad farmland. Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen provide the region’s principal visitor bases, while smaller communities and rural roads reveal a quieter agricultural and equestrian character.
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Golf is the Sandhills’ international calling card. Pinehurst Resort and its celebrated courses, especially Pinehurst No. 2, have hosted major championships and helped establish the region as one of the world’s important golfing destinations. Yet the area’s appeal is not confined to fairways. Pinehurst Village has a carefully planned, walkable centre, Southern Pines combines mature trees with independent businesses and historic architecture, and Aberdeen retains the atmosphere of a former railway and trading town. Together, these places offer a more varied experience than the region’s sporting reputation might suggest.
The natural environment is equally important. Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve protects one of the remaining tracts of old-growth longleaf pine habitat, while other preserves, gardens and rural trails provide opportunities for walking, birdwatching and observing the seasonal landscape. Longleaf ecosystems support specialised plants and wildlife, and the open pine woods can look particularly different in winter, when the region’s mild climate and clear woodland structure make outdoor exploration comfortable. Equestrian facilities and horse farms are an important part of the countryside around Southern Pines and adjacent Moore County.
Sandhills history is visible in its planned resorts, former railway settlements, agricultural traditions and literary institutions. The region’s cultural calendar includes theatre, music, galleries and events connected with horses and golf, while the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens demonstrates the importance of cultivated landscapes and regional plant knowledge. Local dining ranges from Carolina barbecue and American comfort food to contemporary restaurants using seasonal produce. A stay based in one town can cover several highlights, but a car is useful for reaching nature reserves, gardens, rural roads and communities beyond the main centres.

Getting to and around Sandhills

How to get there

The Sandhills is most conveniently reached by road. Interstate 73/74 and US 1 provide major approaches, while US 15-501 connects the Pinehurst and Southern Pines area with the broader North Carolina network. Raleigh-Durham International Airport, outside the Sandhills to the north-east, is the principal international gateway and normally requires a drive to the region. Piedmont Triad International Airport is another possible option from the north-west. Amtrak serves nearby Southern Pines, although rail connections are less frequent than air or road travel and should be checked before planning an itinerary.

Transportation

A car is useful for reaching the region’s spread-out golf courses, nature reserves, gardens, horse-country roads and smaller communities. Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen have local taxi and rideshare availability, but coverage can be limited outside the main centres. Walking is practical in parts of the village and downtown areas, while cycling is pleasant on selected quieter roads but requires care around traffic and without assuming continuous dedicated lanes. Public transport exists locally but is not designed for comprehensive sightseeing, so visitors without a car should plan accommodation and excursions carefully.

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Best attractions in Sandhills

The Sandhills’ attractions combine internationally recognised golf with accessible nature, historic towns and cultivated landscapes. Pinehurst Resort is the region’s best-known sporting destination, while the resort village and the Tufts Archives provide context for the community’s planned origins. Golf visitors can explore a deep tradition of course design, but the area also suits travellers interested in walking and wildlife. Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve protects valuable longleaf pine habitat and offers trails through a landscape shaped by conservation and controlled fire. Sandhills Horticultural Gardens, at Sandhills Community College, presents regional planting and formal garden design. Southern Pines contributes galleries, theatre, historic streets and equestrian associations, while Aberdeen adds railway-era character and local shopping. Seasonal events, horse-related activities and cultural programming broaden the itinerary, although many experiences are spread across the countryside and are best combined with a car. The region’s attraction landscape is defined less by a single monumental sight than by the relationship between resort development, pine ecology and small-town life.

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Best landmarks in Sandhills

Pinehurst No. 2 is the Sandhills’ most recognisable sporting landmark, its carefully shaped course and historic association with major United States golf championships giving the landscape international significance. Pinehurst Village itself is also important: its planned streets, landscaped spaces and resort buildings express the late nineteenth-century transformation of a rural setting into a destination community. Southern Pines’ historic downtown and railway-influenced townscape convey a different chapter, reflecting the transport links and seasonal tourism that helped the settlement grow. Weymouth Woods contains a landmark natural landscape rather than a single structure, preserving mature longleaf pine habitat that once covered much more of the region. The Sandhills Horticultural Gardens represents the area’s cultivated side, linking horticultural education with the sandy local environment. Around the towns, horse farms, open pine woodland and broad rural roads form a defining visual setting, although many are working or private properties and should be viewed from public routes.

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Best restaurants in Sandhills

Dining in the Sandhills reflects North Carolina’s broader food culture while drawing on local produce and the region’s resort economy. Barbecue, biscuits, fried chicken, burgers and other American comfort foods appear alongside contemporary restaurants in Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen. Menus may feature seasonal vegetables, peaches, berries and other produce associated with the warmer Sandhills climate, although availability changes through the year. Traditional diners, cafés, bakeries and family-owned restaurants provide informal meals, while golf resorts, historic inns and independent dining rooms offer more polished settings. Craft beer and regional wines are commonly available, and farmers’ markets can be useful for preparing a picnic or finding locally produced preserves, baked goods and fresh fruit. Restaurant choice is strongest in the principal towns; rural areas tend to rely on scattered eateries and roadside establishments, so evening plans beyond the centres benefit from advance checking.

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Best bars in Sandhills

Evenings in the Sandhills are generally relaxed rather than dominated by large nightclubs. Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen offer pubs, hotel bars, casual restaurants, breweries and cocktail-focused venues, with Southern Pines particularly associated with independent businesses and a small-town arts atmosphere. The historic Sunrise Theater in Southern Pines provides a cultural evening option when performances or screenings are scheduled. Golf tournaments and seasonal events can make the towns busier, while equestrian and community gatherings often shape local social life. In rural districts, evening entertainment usually centres on restaurants, local bars or private events rather than a concentrated nightlife district. Visitors should expect earlier closing patterns than in a major city and should arrange transport before drinking, particularly when staying outside the main towns.

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Best nightclubs in Sandhills

Evenings in the Sandhills are generally relaxed rather than dominated by large nightclubs. Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen offer pubs, hotel bars, casual restaurants, breweries and cocktail-focused venues, with Southern Pines particularly associated with independent businesses and a small-town arts atmosphere. The historic Sunrise Theater in Southern Pines provides a cultural evening option when performances or screenings are scheduled. Golf tournaments and seasonal events can make the towns busier, while equestrian and community gatherings often shape local social life. In rural districts, evening entertainment usually centres on restaurants, local bars or private events rather than a concentrated nightlife district. Visitors should expect earlier closing patterns than in a major city and should arrange transport before drinking, particularly when staying outside the main towns.

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Best shops in Sandhills

Shopping in the Sandhills is concentrated in the walkable centres of Pinehurst and Southern Pines, with additional everyday retail and antique businesses in Aberdeen. Pinehurst Village is oriented towards visitors, with golf-related merchandise, gifts, clothing, books and polished specialty shops, while Southern Pines offers a broader mix of independent retailers, galleries, homewares, fashion and locally minded businesses. Aberdeen’s commercial areas and antique shops provide a less resort-focused alternative. Farmers’ markets and seasonal produce stalls can yield peaches, berries, preserves, baked goods and other items connected with the Sandhills’ agricultural character, although market dates vary. Golf equipment and branded apparel are particularly prominent, but visitors can also look for North Carolina-made crafts, pottery, art and books connected with regional history or literature. Retail choice becomes more limited outside the main towns, so rural excursions are better suited to landscape and heritage than extensive shopping.

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Sandhills essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the United States dollar, written as USD. Credit and debit cards, including contactless payments, are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants, golf facilities and shops in Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen. Carry some cash for small purchases, rural businesses, markets, tips and occasional services where card acceptance may be limited. Prices generally exclude sales tax, which is added at the point of purchase, and restaurant or service staff commonly receive a gratuity in line with United States practice.
Safety
The Sandhills is generally a calm destination, but ordinary precautions remain appropriate in car parks, hotel areas and busy event periods. Rural roads may have limited lighting, changing speed limits and wildlife crossings, while horse traffic and cyclists require patience and extra space. On woodland trails, watch for heat, ticks, uneven ground and seasonal insects, and remain on marked paths. Golf courses, private estates and equestrian properties are working environments rather than open-access parks; follow signs and local instructions.
Emergency Situations
Dial 911 for police, fire or ambulance emergencies throughout North Carolina, including the Sandhills. Give the dispatcher the precise town, road name or trail location, as rural addresses can be difficult to identify quickly. For injuries on woodland or equestrian routes, note the nearest access point before setting out. Coastguard services are not relevant to this inland region, and there is no mountain environment, but emergency responders may still need detailed directions when incidents occur away from built-up areas.
Do's and Don'ts
Do observe course, preserve and estate rules, ask before photographing private property or people, and give horses and riders generous space on rural roads. Do follow fire and trail guidance in longleaf pine habitats, where prescribed burning is an important conservation practice. Do queue politely and allow extra time around golf tournaments and large events. Do not walk onto a golf course, cross riding grounds or enter woodland beyond marked access. Tipping at restaurants and for many personal services is a normal United States custom rather than a specifically regional one.
Local Tips
The principal towns are close enough for a varied itinerary but distinct in character: Pinehurst suits golf and resort history, Southern Pines combines independent businesses with arts and equestrian connections, and Aberdeen has a more commercial and railway-linked identity. Check seasonal conditions before booking outdoor activities, as summer heat can be substantial. The Sandhills Horticultural Gardens and Weymouth Woods are especially useful for understanding local plants and habitats, while a short drive through the rural countryside reveals how extensively horses, pines and open sandy soils shape the region.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHey[Hay]
GoodbyeSee ya[See yah]
YesYep[Yep]
NoNah[Nah]
Please/You're welcomePlease/No problem[Pliz/No prob]
Thank youThanks[Thangs]
Excuse me/SorryExcuse me/Sorry[Ex-kyoos mee/Sor-ree]
How are you?How ya doin'?[How yah doin'?]
Fine. And you?Good. And you?[Good. An' you?]
Do you speak English?Do ya speak English?[Doo yah speek Ing-lish?]
I don't understandI ain't gettin' it[Ah ain't gettin' it]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I see the menu, please?[Can Ah see th' menu, pliz?]
I don't eat meatI don't eat meat[Ah don't eet meet]
Cheers!Cheers![Cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseI wanna pay, please[Ah wanna pay, pliz]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![Help!]
Go away!Get outta here![Git outta here!]
Call the Police!Call the cops![Call th' cops!]
Call a doctor!Get a doctor![Git a doctor!]
I'm lostI’m lost[Ah’m lost]
I'm illI ain’t feelin' well[Ah ain’t feelin' well]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I wanna buy...[Ah wanna buy...]
I'm just lookingJust lookin'[Just lookin']
How much is it?What’s it cost?[What’s it cost?]
That's too expensiveThat’s too high[That’s too high]
Can you lower the price?Can ya bring it down?[Can yah bring it down?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What time it be?[What time it be?]
It's one o'clockIt's one o'clock[It's one o'clock]
Half past (10)Half past ten[Half past ten]
MorningMornin'[Mornin']
AfternoonAfternoon[Afternoon]
EveningEvenin'[Evenin']
YesterdayYesterday[Yesterday]
TodayToday[Today]
TomorrowTomorrow[Tomorrow]
1One[One]
2Two[Two]
3Three[Three]
4Four[Four]
5Five[Five]
6Six[Six]
7Seven[Seven]
8Eight[Eight]
9Nine[Nine]
10Ten[Ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's the...?[Where's th'...?]
What's the address?What’s the address?[What’s th' address?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can ya show me on the map?[Can yah show me on th' map?]
When's the next (bus)?When's th' next bus?[When's th' next bus?]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket to...[A ticket to...]

History of Sandhills

Indigenous Landscapes Before European Settlement

Long before the arrival of European settlers, the Sandhills were occupied and travelled by Indigenous peoples, including communities associated with the region’s wider Siouan-speaking cultural world. The sandy uplands, pine woods and waterways supported hunting, gathering and seasonal movement. European colonisation altered these landscapes through land claims, agriculture and timber extraction, while Indigenous presence was progressively displaced. Today, the region’s natural preserves offer evidence of the ecological setting that shaped human activity, although surviving Indigenous history is broader than the limited number of publicly interpreted sites within the Sandhills.

Pine Forests, Turpentine and Early Agriculture

During the colonial and early American periods, the Sandhills’ longleaf pine forests became an economic resource. Resin, tar, pitch and turpentine were extracted for maritime and industrial uses, and timber gradually entered regional trade. Farming developed in the sandy soils, although conditions differed from the richer agricultural lands farther east and west. Small settlements grew around roads, mills and trading points. The legacy of this period remains visible in the region’s pine ecology, rural settlement pattern and the continuing importance of forestry, even though much of the original longleaf forest was later cleared or replaced.

Railways and the Growth of Southern Pines

Railway construction in the late nineteenth century connected the Sandhills more closely with North Carolina’s larger towns and markets. Southern Pines developed as a railway community and attracted visitors seeking a mild winter climate, while Aberdeen became an important transportation and commercial centre. Easier access encouraged hotels, boarding houses, shops and services, transforming the local economy beyond timber and agriculture. The railway heritage of these towns helped establish the settlement pattern still familiar today, with compact historic centres contrasting with the region’s spacious pine woodland and rural roads.

Pinehurst and the Resort Transformation

In the 1890s, Boston entrepreneur James Walker Tufts developed Pinehurst as a planned resort. The community was designed around landscaped public spaces, accommodation and recreation rather than industrial production. Golf was introduced soon afterwards and became the defining part of Pinehurst’s international identity. Donald Ross played a particularly important role in designing and refining courses in the Sandhills, including Pinehurst No. 2. The resort model stimulated construction, hospitality and tourism, and its carefully maintained village landscape remains one of the region’s clearest historical expressions.

Golf, Major Championships and International Recognition

Throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, Sandhills golf developed from a winter pastime into a major sporting tradition. Pinehurst courses hosted national and international competitions, including United States Open championships, bringing elite players, spectators and media attention to the region. Golf also supported employment in hospitality, course management, retail and tourism. The wider community benefited from this visibility, although the Sandhills remains more than a resort destination: its identity also includes working landscapes, historic towns, equestrian culture and protected longleaf pine habitat.

Conservation and Cultural Renewal

The twentieth century brought growing recognition of the ecological value of the Sandhills’ longleaf pine ecosystem. Conservation organisations and public agencies protected woodland, restored habitat and promoted prescribed fire as an important management tool. Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve is a prominent example of this effort. At the same time, historic buildings, literary institutions, theatres and downtown districts supported a broader cultural identity beyond golf. Contemporary Sandhills communities therefore combine resort tourism with conservation, equestrian activity, arts programming and the preservation of railway-era and early twentieth-century townscapes.

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Sandhills

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Welcome to Sandhills, North Carolina, a destination brimming with natural beauty, history, and Southern charm. With Evendo, your journey through Sandhills becomes seamless and unforgettable. Imagine exploring the lush landscapes of Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, or stepping back in time at the historic Shaw House. Discover local craftsmanship at the Seagrove Pottery studios or enjoy a leisurely stroll through the picturesque streets of Southern Pines.

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