How to bike to the South Carolina state line from Charlotte

You can travel to the South Carolina state line using Mecklenburg County greenways.

Why it matters: Greenways provide an alternative to congested roads for everyone, from those looking to commute to people seeking exercise and a little fresh air.

State of play: Welcome to the first installment of Ashley's Adventures, where I explore the outdoors and show how you can too.

• Up first: a bike ride from Elizabeth to the South Carolina state line on Little Sugar Creek Greenway.

Flashback: In 2023, I told you how you could bike from Elizabeth to Pineville. Now you can go all the way to the state line.

How it works: You don't have to start in Elizabeth; there are plenty of starting points along the trail with parking if you prefer a longer or shorter distance. For the purpose of our journey, my husband and I started in Independence Park, packed a water bottle and loaded up on sunscreen.

• Head toward American Legion Memorial Stadium to hop on Little Sugar Creek Greenway and head south.

• The entire trip was roughly 3.5-4 hours at a leisurely pace with stops to refill our water along the way at local parks next to the paved trail. It's more than 26 miles.
• You will need to briefly travel through Freedom Park due to Charlotte Museum of Nature construction.

The bottom line: Life is expensive and the outdoors are a fun budget-friendly activity, but maybe avoid being out in the heat of the day. Stay hydrated and wear plenty of sunscreen.