Best Places to Fly
Your Drone in Charlotte

Beatty’s Ford Park in Denver is a 54-acre recreational space on one of Lake Norman’s peninsulas. Features include a scenic trail, an amphitheater, a couple of playgrounds, a boat launch, and various sports facilities. The park’s lawn is perfect for operating drones. The lake and surrounding waterscape give aerial photographers some amazing footage.

Stretching more than 7 miles, the trails of the Clark Creek and Mallard Creek Greenway are perfect for those who like to explore. The trails will take yout through densely forested areas, making this a good spot to practice FPV or high-precision drone flight. Watch out for the wildlife here, particularly close to the creek.

Kirk Farms Field (Mallard Creek Rd and N. Tryon St) is part of the greenway and has a large open field for drone activity.

*Correspondence with Mecklenburg County Parks & Recreation indicates that drone flight is prohibited in all county parks and park properties. This is yet to be validated with an official rule, but practice caution.

Lewis-Brooks RC Airfield, Bessemer City, is a large, dedicated space where you can fly drones safely. It’s out in the countryside with no nearby obstructions or obstacles. Gaston RC Flyers manage the field and welcomes guest pilots and the public to the airfield. However, you need an AMA membership to fly here (recommended). The tree-lined green field, covered structures, community events, and pilot training add to this popular club’s appeal.

If you can visit Mallard Creek Park on a day when it’s not crowded, then it’s one of the best places to fly a drone. The park is basically an entire open field periodically used as baseball or football. Measuring almost two miles across, you can fly your drone over and around Mallard Creek Park to your heart’s content.

*Correspondence with Mecklenburg County Parks & Recreation indicates that drone flight is prohibited in all county parks and park properties. This is yet to be validated with an official rule, but practice caution.

The Old Knights Stadium in Fort Mill was the former home stadium of the Charlotte Knights. It has since been abandoned and is now a wide open space that has attracted local drone pilots. This is also a great spot to meet fellow drone pilots or just watch them do their thing.

Reedy Creek Park is a 146-acre space that has something for everyone. The adjacent nature preserve has an area of 727 acres and over 10 miles of scenic trails. Reedy Creek’s open space has lots of sports areas and facilities, a dog park, picnic areas, playgrounds, and a fishing pier. The main attraction for drone users is the natural environment. That includes the small, picturesque lake, lakeside meadow, pretty ponds, and the surrounding treescape.

*Correspondence with Mecklenburg County Parks & Recreation indicates that drone flight is prohibited in all county parks and park properties. This is yet to be validated with an official rule, but practice caution.