It’s time to let your inner basic girl shine because today’s post is all about flower fields. While they might be over for this year – sorry I didn’t get to this earlier to allow more time for you to get there, I’m hoping this can help you prepare for future years. Here’s my guide on checking out the sunflowers in Raleigh at Dorothea Dix Park. You can visit just for the flowers and I’ve added some tips at the end with other things to do in the area if you want to make a full day trip of it. Hope it helps and as always, if you have any questions just let me know.
Where To See Sunflowers In Raleigh And How To Plan A Day Trip
Disclaimer
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FAQ for Dorothea Dix Park
Where is it located?
Raleigh, a little over an hour from Fayetteville.
What is the cost?
Free to enter and park.
When is sunflower season?
You can see them in bloom from mid July to around the end of July.
Is it kid-friendly?
Absolutely. Of course you know your kids best though, so use your best judgment as to whether it’s good for them.
Is it dog-friendly?
Yes, usual rules like keep them on a leash and pick up after them.
What facilities are available?
There are a few port-a-loo’s at the entrance, and a shaded area with tables and hammocks.
What should you bring with you?
- Sun protection – it’s out in the sun so make sure you have something to protect yourself
- Water bottle – I’ve been using this one lately
- Camera – your phone will be fine but I used my trusty adventure camera with this compact selfie stick and tripod
- Maybe closed in shoes if you don’t like walking in the dirt
Getting there and parking
You can use ‘Dorothea Dix Park’ in Google Maps and it will take you straight there.
They also had placed temporary signs to lead you to the sunflower field which was helpful. Once you get close you can just follow the signs and it’s easy to get there.
There is a large, gravel parking area by the sunflower field. Parking is free, you just need to find a spot then walk over to the field.
These signs made it easy to find the sunflowers
Part of the parking area
Toilet facilities
What to expect
The big highlight here is that you can wander through the rows of sunflowers. The only restriction is that you need to stick to the paths between the flowers and not pick any of them. Pretty basic rules to follow.
It’s a huge field so there’s plenty of room to see a lot of them, take some cute photos, and you can walk as much or as little as you want.
Be prepared to see a lot of cute bees all over the flowers – if you’re allergic you might not think they’re as cute but just know there’s lots of them.
It’s also out in the open and quite hot in the daytime – they’re called sun-flowers not shade-flowers after all. *dad joke* So make sure you have some water with you and sun protection.
Don’t leave it too late to visit – I visited at the last chance in early August and many flowers were like this
The park
Dorothea Dix Park is a cool place to visit even if the sunflowers aren’t in bloom.
There’s a really cool shaded area by the sunflowers with hammocks that you can chill in for free. There’s something super relaxing about laying in a hammock under the trees so this is a nice treat. It’s also a nice break from the North Carolina heat after walking around in the sunflower field.
Even if you don’t lay in the hammocks, the shaded area is also a nice spot for a picnic.
Alternative option for seeing sunflowers in Raleigh
Millstone Creek Orchards had a u-pick-it sunflower field this year where you could pick your own sunflowers as well as other flowers. It’s also a cool place for snacks like seasonal donuts, fun farm activities, and local goodies. Check out my full review of Millstone Creek Orchards here for more information.
There was also a field planted at the North Carolina Museum of Art this year so check that in future to see if it will be another option for you.
Other things to do in the area
After your visit to the sunflower fields, I recommend stopping for an ice cream at Andia’s Homemade Ice Cream. If you want to get something with wow factor, try one of their famous monster shakes! Otherwise, they have plenty of awesome flavors you can get in a cup or cone for a nice treat.
For a hike in the area, you could combine a trip to Dix Park with the Historic Yates Mill Park which is about 10 minutes away. There are a few hiking trails there as well as a whole lot of scenic views. Here’s my full guide for planning a trip to Historic Yates Mill for more info.
If you live in the Fayetteville area, it’s a good opportunity to stop by Trader Joes while you’re in the area. Here’s my video from when I went for the first time.
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Other guides you might enjoy
Where To Swim At Jordan Lake, NC – Complete Beach Hopping Guide
Here’s Why You Gotta Visit The World’s Largest Strawberry Building In NC
6 Of The Best Coffee Shops In Fayetteville (And Surrounding Area)
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