Bus to Hickory

Hickory sits in the western Piedmont of North Carolina, in the foothills of the Brushy Mountains halfway between Charlotte and Asheville on Interstate 40. It's a working furniture-manufacturing city of about 43,000, the seat of Catawba County and a long-standing centre of the North Carolina furniture industry — the city has shipped furniture to retailers across the United States since the late 19th century. The downtown has rebuilt steadily around the central Union Square, the central historic blocks and the access to the Brushy Mountains and Lake Hickory. The bus to Hickory drops you on the north side at the Appalachian State Hickory Campus or at the Newton Citgo flag stop, with the central historic Union Square, the Hickory Museum of Art and the surrounding Brushy Mountains country reachable by short rideshare. People come for the Hickory Furniture Mart, for the Catawba Science Center, for the central historic Union Square and the surrounding Brushy Mountains and Lake Hickory access, for the access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and for an unhurried western Piedmont weekend. A Hickory bus ticket lands you a short rideshare from Union Square.

Greyhound stops in Hickory

Hickory has two Greyhound stops. The main one is at the Appalachian State Hickory Campus at 800 17th Street NW, on the northwest side of the city — a full terminal that's the right choice for most travellers. The second is the Newton Citgo flag stop at 3361 Highway 70 SE, in nearby Newton southeast of central Hickory.

For most travellers, the Appalachian State Hickory Campus stop is the right choice — it's the central transit hub on the northwest side of the city. As a full terminal, the building has indoor seating, restrooms and the basic shelter you'd expect. The Newton Citgo flag stop is more functional than central, useful only if your trip ends naturally on the Highway 70 corridor. As the Newton stop is a curbside flag stop, plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure to be in position when the bus pulls in.

If you're being met, both locations are familiar to rideshare drivers. The most useful first move after arrival is a rideshare into the central historic Union Square. Have your ticket ready on your phone or printed for boarding.

Getting around Hickory after your bus to Hickory arrives

Hickory's central historic downtown along Union Square is more compact than the metro footprint suggests. From a rideshare into central downtown, walking covers Union Square, the central restaurants, the historic brick commercial blocks, the Catawba Science Center and the Hickory Museum of Art. The Hickory Furniture Mart on US 70 is a short rideshare south.

The Greenway Public Transportation network — known as the Greenway — runs the local public-transport service with city buses across the Hickory metro area. Useful routes connect downtown to the Hickory Furniture Mart, the Lenoir-Rhyne University campus, the Valley Hills Mall and the surrounding suburbs. Service runs through the day on weekdays and is more limited on weekends. Rideshare runs reliably across the city.

For the wider region — Lake Hickory north of the city, the Brushy Mountains hiking and orchard country (with apple orchards across the surrounding ridge), the Blue Ridge Parkway access points northwest, and onward to Asheville or Charlotte — a rental car is the practical option. Cycling is also viable on the central downtown grid and the surrounding country roads. The Catawba River runs through the metro and forms Lake Hickory north of the city.

Top things to do in Hickory

• The Hickory Furniture Mart, on US 70 east of central downtown, the working showcase of the regional North Carolina furniture industry — over a million square feet of furniture showrooms, factory outlets and a working hub for the surrounding industry that ships furniture across the country. Useful for serious furniture shoppers and curious window-shoppers alike.
• The Hickory Museum of Art, in the central historic downtown, with strong holdings in American art including Hudson River School paintings, regional Southern art and rotating exhibitions. Free entry.
• The central historic Union Square, the central downtown plaza with restored late-19th and early-20th-century brick commercial buildings, restaurants, antique shops and the steady year-round commercial life.
• The Catawba Science Center, on the central downtown's edge, with hands-on science exhibits, a planetarium and the surrounding park grounds.
• Lake Hickory, north of the city formed by the Oxford Hydroelectric Dam on the Catawba River, with public boat launches, fishing access, picnic areas and the summer recreation pattern.
• The Brushy Mountains, north of Hickory, with the surrounding apple-orchard country, scenic drives along Highway 18 and the harvest season from August through October.
• The Lenoir-Rhyne University campus, in central historic downtown, with the central walking grounds, the Belk Centrum cultural complex and the campus art gallery.
• Henry Fork River Park, on the south side of the city along the Henry Fork River, with walking paths, fishing access and a community park.
• Newton-Conover Auditorium, the central historic theatre in nearby Newton with concerts, theatre and a year-round programme of touring acts.
• The Catawba County Museum of History, in nearby Newton in the restored 1924 Catawba County Courthouse, with strong galleries on regional Catawba County history.
• The Bunker Hill Covered Bridge, southeast of Hickory in nearby Claremont, the restored 1895 covered bridge over Lyle's Creek — a historic bridge open for walking visitors.
• The Lake Norman State Park, about an hour southwest of Hickory, with hiking trails, swimming and the lake recreation.
• The Patrick Beaver Memorial Library and the surrounding central downtown library system, with regular cultural programming and a community space.

Best time to visit Hickory

Spring and autumn are the windows. From late March through May the dogwoods, redbuds and azaleas come in across the western Piedmont, the apple orchards on the Brushy Mountains begin their working season and the temperature sits in a pleasant range for walking. Lake Hickory opens to a full season in May.

October and November bring the western Piedmont fall — colour through the surrounding Brushy Mountains hardwoods, comfortable walking weather, the apple harvest at the surrounding orchards and the start of the cooler indoor-museum season. The Hickory Apple Festival in early October pulls a regional crowd; the surrounding Brushy Mountain orchards are at their working peak.

Summer is warm and humid, with afternoons regularly in the 80s and into the 90s. Lake Hickory becomes the central regional draw through the heat — boat rentals, fishing and the surrounding waterfront are at full pace. Plan walking and outdoor sightseeing for early morning, lean into the air-conditioned Hickory Museum of Art and the Catawba Science Center in the afternoon, and respect the late-day thunderstorms when they roll in.

Winter is mild by Northern standards but real. Daytime temperatures sit in the 50s through January and February, with occasional cold snaps and the rare ice event. The Hickory Museum of Art, the Catawba Science Center, the Hickory Furniture Mart and the long-running Union Square restaurants all stay full pace, and a quiet weekday afternoon at Hickory Museum of Art is genuinely worth having.

The Bunker Hill Covered Bridge in nearby Claremont, with the restored 1895 wooden bridge spanning Lyle's Creek and the county-park surrounding grounds, is the kind of place that doesn't make most travel guides but tells you something about the working western Piedmont geography. Stand at the bridge entrance on a quiet weekday morning, look down through the slats at the creek below and the surrounding hardwood forest, and the Brushy Mountains landscape that supplied the lumber to build the bridge — and the surrounding furniture industry that grew up around it — comes through more directly than the indoor exhibits suggest. Use the search bar on this page to check schedules and book bus tickets to Hickory when your dates are firm.

Planning Your Greyhound Bus Trip to Hickory?

You're in the right place! Get all the details you need to arrange your bus journey to Hickory! There are 2 bus stops in Hickory. You can board the Greyhound at Appalachian State Hickory Campus, Newton (Citgo). You can easily find the location of the stop(s) on the map available on this page. Traveling to or departing from Hickory can cost you as little as $15.98. If you're on the hunt for a cheap ticket to Hickory, remember to book early. Traveling on weekdays or during non-peak hours can also lead you to some of the most budget-friendly fares available! With 15 destinations linked to Hickory, Greyhound provides you with multiple options for planning your bus trip.

Why travel to Hickory with Greyhound

When you choose Greyhound, you're promised a comfy seat and free Wi-Fi throughout your journey. Stay connected and entertained while we safely drive you to your destination! Enjoy a comfy bus trip to Hickory with our onboard facilities like free Wi-Fi and power outlets. Choose your favorite seat while booking and travel with peace of mind rest easy knowing your ticket covers one carry-on and one checked bag.

How to book your bus ticket to Hickory

Booking a ticket with Greyhound is a breeze: on this website or on the free Greyhound App, you can complete your booking in a few clicks. When purchasing your ticket to Hickory online, you can choose between different secured online payment methods, such as credit and debit cards. Alternatively, you can pay in cash at a sales point.