Discover Cabarrus
9 carefully curated photography spots with GPS coordinates, shooting tips, and local insights
Concord
Concord offers a mix of small-city streetscapes, well-preserved historic downtown architecture, lakes and parkland, plus the high-adrenaline Charlotte Motor Speedway nearby — all within easy driving distance of Charlotte. Best light is golden hour for downtown facades and park reflections; blue hour for illuminated courthouse and murals. Weekday mornings are quieter for street scenes; events at the Speedway draw crowds and require tickets. Parking is generally available downtown and at parks; no
5935 Old Salisbury-Concord Road
A semi-rural / suburban stretch on Old Salisbury‑Concord Road offering roadside scenes of mixed low-rise industrial buildings, older commercial facades, utility lines, and open lots — useful for documenting North Carolina small‑town character and light-filled horizons. Easy access from the road with informal parking; no entry permits for public sidewalks or roadside viewpoints. Best at sunrise or golden hour for warm side light and long shadows; weekdays and early mornings are quieter. Expect US
Bost Grist Mill
Bost Grist Mill is a small historic wooden mill set beside a calm millpond and tree-lined river—ideal for rustic architecture, reflections, and intimate waterscapes. Visit at golden hour or early morning for soft side light and potential mist; autumn yields colorful foliage. Site is park-accessible with nearby parking on NC‑200; no formal entry fee but observe signage and preserve the grounds. Weekdays are quieter; watch for seasonal mosquitoes and variable water flow after rain.
Pharr Family Preserve Trail - Carolina Thread Trail
A wooded preserve on the Carolina Thread Trail with shady forest paths, small streams and seasonal wildflowers—good for intimate landscape and wildlife shots. Visit early morning for bird activity and mist, spring for blooms and fall for color. Trail is moderate dirt paths, free parking at 9111 Mt Pleasant Rd S; no entry fee. Expect soft, filtered light under canopy; weekdays are quieter.
Buffalo Creek Preserve
Wooded creek corridors, wetlands and winding trails at Buffalo Creek Preserve offer intimate nature and waterscape shots—stream reflections, mossy roots, seasonal wildflowers and songbirds. Best light is golden hour and overcast mornings for even tones; spring and fall bring peak color and migratory birds. Small parking area and easy, mostly flat trails make locations accessible by foot; no entry fee but follow leave-no-trace rules.
Piedmont Natural Gas Right-of-Way
A long utility corridor cutting through mixed pine and hardwoods offering strong leading lines, repeating poles, seasonal wildflowers and open sky — ideal for minimalist landscape and nature compositions. Best at sunrise or sunset for warm side light and low shadows; late spring and fall give color and blooms. Accessible from Hickory Ridge Rd with informal roadside parking; stay within the cleared right-of-way and off adjacent private property. Weekday mornings are quieter; check weather for fog
6324 Performance Drive Southwest
A commercial/industrial stretch near Concord that offers automotive and industrial backdrops — loading bays, metal-clad warehouses, signage and wide service roads. Good for editorial automotive shoots, gritty urban textures and nightlight studies. Easy vehicle access and roadside parking; weekdays outside business hours (early morning or late evening) reduce traffic. No special entry usually required but respect private property and stay public right-of-way.
Bouncin 4 Fun Party Rentals
A commercial party-rental yard with colorful inflatable bounce houses, slides and party gear — great for vibrant detail, candid kid portraits and event storytelling. Best for capturing textures, saturated colors and action during private or public events. Weekends are busiest (good for candid group shots); weekday mornings offer cleaner setups for staged detail shots. Lighting: outdoor inflatables work well in soft morning/evening light; harsh midday sun creates strong shadows on vinyl. Access:
4801 Morehead Road
4801 Morehead Road sits on a suburban/industrial corridor in Concord — useful for photographing everyday American street scenes: mixed commercial buildings, roadside signage, utility textures and passing traffic. Best light is golden hour (sunrise or sunset) for warm side-light and long shadows; overcast days bring even light for details and colors. Site is drive-up accessible with curbside parking; expect light traffic on weekday mornings and heavier flow evenings. No special entry requirements