Lazy 5 Ranch

Farm · Mooresville · North Carolina

A drive-through wildlife ranch off I-77 in Mooresville, with giraffes, antelope, elk, and more along a three-and-a-half-mile trail you can feed from the car or see by horse-drawn wagon. Fall adds a pumpkin patch, a corn box, and a pumpkin slingshot to the regular animal-park visit.

Best for: A drive-through safari between Charlotte and Statesville

Don’t miss

  • 3.5-mile drive-through animal trail
  • Horse-drawn wagon tours
  • Fall pumpkin patch and corn box

Plan your visit

2026 Forecast

Color nearby peaks: November 8–November 12

Color builds from November 2 · mostly bare by December 3

Color starts: November 2Peak: November 10Bare: December 3AugustDecember

Sampled at Lazy 5 Ranch’s own coordinates and elevation (234 m) rather than a regional average.

This window comes from 25 weather points across North Carolina, nudged 6 days later to match 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com and almanac.com. North Carolina is running 7 days earlier than its own average this year. How the forecast works

When to go to Lazy 5 Ranch

Good color holds through about November 19, giving you roughly 17 days from the first turn to past peak. That is about 1 day earlier than North Carolina as a whole.

From Charlotte it is about 28 mi, close enough for a morning drive.

Lazy 5 Ranch on the map

Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of North Carolina, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.

More things to do in North Carolina

See all things to do in North Carolina

Plan from a city

Frequently asked

When does Lazy 5 Ranch peak in 2026?
Peak color is predicted for November 8–November 12 (best estimate November 10). Color starts around November 2 and is mostly bare by December 3.
How do I get to Lazy 5 Ranch?
Lazy 5 Ranch is in Mooresville. The closest city is Charlotte, about 28 mi away. It's part of North Carolina's fall lineup.

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