How to Get Away from Everything

Numerous polls and surveys document how Americans are feeling burned out; from the pandemic, from working from home, from politics, from the news.

In fact, the high demand for air travel, rental cars, hotels, etc. is a sure sign people want to get away and take a break.

But if you REALLY want to get away from it all and find a spot with no people, no signs of people and just be alone, go to the far western part of North Carolina.

The research

That’s the discovery of the husband-and-wife team that has made it their mission to find the most remote place in every state. They call their effort Project Remote.

Ryan and Rebecca Means are wildlife biologists, ecologists and naturalists. So far, they’ve calculated and documented the most remote place in 39 of the 50 states with their daughter in tow. And yes, they’ve calculated the spot in North Carolina!

But before you head out on your get away journey, it’s important to understand just what “remote” means. 

Defining "remote"

Yes, it would be the farthest place from civilization. But it’s important to create a definition that can apply all 50 states. The website lists some of the criteria Ryan and Rebecca used:

• A remote spot must be located on high, developable ground above flood plains or tidal zones. That excludes the middle of lakes. Islands are ok, as long as they support an upland ecosystem.
• Roads are pretty broadly defined. Paved and unpaved, logging roads and power line right-of-ways are all counted. The team defines a road as any “designated motorized vehicle routes.”
   

Given all that, Project Remote created this definition of remoteness: “The remotest location within a state is the point that is the farthest straight-line distance from a road or city/town. It is a point on the landscape that is marked by a set of geographical coordinates (latitude and longitude). We refer to these areas as state Remote Spots."

So where is NC's most remote spot?

So, if you want to get away in North Carolina, the most remote spot is found in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Click on the website to find out more.

Happy and quiet, peaceful travels!