All Four Wards of Uptown Charlotte in an Open-Air Cart
A guide drives and narrates the same ninety minutes, covering churches, courthouses and 1867 houses across uptown's four wards.
Uptown Charlotte keeps its history in four wards, and it is spread thin across them. A church on one block, a courthouse a few streets on, houses that go back to 1867.
Queen City Rides covers all four in ninety minutes on an open-sided electric cart. The carts are non-lifted and low to the ground, with thick cushioned seats and seat belts. Seven riders fit on one.
Departures run five times a day, every day of the year, the first at 10:00 AM and the last at 6:00 PM. Adults pay USD 39.75, riders aged 5 to 12 pay USD 29.75, and children 4 and under ride free. Gratuities sit outside that. Seats are sold individually, and the cart fills with whoever else booked that slot.
Charlotte's Original Historical City Tour on Eco- Friendly CartQueen City Rides · departs from 150 North College Street · adults from USD 39.75www.viator.comWhat the Loop Actually Passes
The cart takes in all four wards. It passes the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Spectrum Center, Bank of America Stadium and Truist Field, along with the churches, courthouses, hotels, museums and theaters the guide picks out on the way.
The ride is one continuous loop, and riders hold their seats for the full ninety minutes. The guide pulls over at a few points when people want photographs.
One Person Drives and Narrates
The guide handles both jobs at once, and the cart carries few enough people that questions get answered as they come up.
The fleet runs seven carts of seven seats each. Groups of five to seven can arrange a pickup from an uptown hotel by calling ahead.
Rain Swaps the Cart for a Bus
This tour runs year round, rain included. A cart booking moves to the enclosed shuttle bus on rainy days, and the company switches to a heated and air-conditioned van when the temperature drops below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Significant snow or ice gets a reschedule or a full refund.
Plan around the swap. The vehicle waiting on East 5th Street may be the van, and open air applies to dry, mild days.
Who Boards Easily, and Who Should Email First
The listing rates this tour as suitable for all physical fitness levels.
The carts are not wheelchair accessible. Queen City Rides can accommodate riders using walkers and asks for those arrangements by email in advance. Service animals are allowed. Children 4 and under ride free, riders aged 5 to 12 pay the reduced fare, and anyone 13 and over pays the adult fare. Every booking has to include an adult.
The meeting point is the Bank of America ATM outside 1 Bank of America Center, 150 North College Street, at the corner of East 5th Street. Look for the vehicle on East 5th Street. The company keeps no office there.
- Arrive 10 minutes early for check-in. Tours leave at the scheduled time and are not held for latecomers.
- Parking is in paid garages along East 5th Street at rates that vary. The operator does not provide free parking.
- The Charlotte Transportation Center light rail stop sits one block away.
- Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
- Walk-ups are taken when a tour has room, though booking ahead secures the seat.
The last cart leaves at 6:00 PM and runs ninety minutes, which leaves the rest of the evening in uptown.