If you’re like me, you spent a lot of time with Opie, Barney, Andy, and the rest of the Mayberry crew. Maybe you can’t sing along past “Meet me at the fishing hole,” but I bet once that whistling starts, The Andy Griffith Show theme lives rent-free in your head, too. So you better believe that when I heard there was a real Mayberry—a REAL LIFE MAYBERRY—waiting to explore, complete with moonshine that would keep Otis coming back for more, homemade pie as good as Aunt Bee’s, rides in a Mayberry police cruiser, and burgers at Barney’s Café, I knew where the road was leading next.

Finding Mayberry

To find Mayberry, you don’t need a magic remote control like the one Don Knotts was handing out in Pleasantville (See what I did there?). You just need to know it’s not really called Mayberry. You want to search for Mount Airy, North Carolina, in your GPS or map of choice. Mount Airy is shy of 12 square miles and nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Ararat River, just north of Pilot Mountain State Park.

The charming town upon which the fictional Mayberry is loosely based is Andy Griffith’s childhood home. For RVers seeking a nostalgic journey back to simpler times, this TV Land-day trip offers the perfect blend of small-town hospitality, delicious home cooking, and authentic Mayberry nostalgia, transporting you straight into your favorite Andy Griffith episode.

RVers might consider booking a spot at Thousand Trails Forest Lake in nearby Advance, North Carolina. This puts you within an hour of Mount Airy. You’ll have all the amenities you need for a great stay and be in easy proximity to other towns like Winston-Salem. This makes it an ideal base camp for exploring everything this part of the state has to offer.

Must-See Mayberry Attractions

Your Mount Airy adventure should begin with a photo op in front of the “Five Faces of Andy” mural by Greensboro artist Brian Lewis. Located on Moore Avenue, this beautiful artwork celebrates five distinct stages of Andy’s life. It’s conveniently located beside a large, free, public parking lot that provides easy access to Main Street shops and Mayberry sightseeing. BONUS: This lot has parking spots able to accommodate our Ram 3500 dually, which we can’t always find in small-town USA. Free? Lots of room? Walkable? Photo op? I mean, is this a dream?

Before getting lost in a day of beautiful shops, head over to the Andy Griffith Museum to see a collection of memorabilia from Andy’s life and career. The museum has everything from original scripts and costumes to some of Andy’s personal belongings, telling the story of how this small-town boy became the Hollywood legend. Don’t miss the beautiful statue commemorating Andy and Ron Howard from the show’s title sequence, complete with fishing poles in hand. You’ll be whistling before you even step through the door.

Be sure to see the Betty Lynn exhibit next door before you leave, included in your admission. Betty Lynn played Barney’s sweetheart Thelma Lou on The Andy Griffith Show. She loved Mount Airy and eventually settled in town herself. This woman lived a truly incredible life, and I found myself completely in awe of all she accomplished. When you’re done at the museum, wrap up your Mayberry tour in a vintage 1962 Mayberry squad car replica at Wally’s Service Station.

Treats to Make You Whistle

No Mount Airy visit is complete without experiencing the local dining scene, and Barney’s Café tops my list for any Andy Griffith Show fan. This local favorite serves up hearty comfort food with a heaping side of nostalgia. I suggest their signature Barney Burger, a delicious tribute to Deputy Fife. But save room for a slice of their homemade chocolate pie. The combination of fresh ingredients and down-home hospitality at Barney’s would make Aunt Bee proud.

For dessert lovers and anyone on the lookout for unique local treats, Miss Angel’s Heavenly Pies is an absolute must-visit. I could write a book about Miss Angel’s, so please forgive me as I wax poetic. This remarkable shop creates so many bakery treats—there are really too many for me to list here. But I was most impressed by the pies made with moonshine, offering a distinctly Appalachian twist on traditional favorites. Further setting them apart is Miss Angel’s commitment to natural ingredients. They sweeten their handmade creations with honey from their own beehives, use fruit from their own orchard, and add no preservatives. The result is a pure, authentic taste that captures the soul of mountain baking. I dare you to try to walk past the open door. The smell is too inviting, too intoxicating to ignore. I couldn’t.

Adjacent to the pie shop is Miss Angel’s Hillbilly Creamery and Gluten-Free Bakery, where the homemade XXX Moonshine Peach Ice Cream is nothing short of legendary. The rich, creamy texture combined with the subtle kick of moonshine and chunks of fresh peaches creates an unforgettable treat. Try it in a cup or in one of their fancy coated waffle cones. I was so excited to discover this additional shop next door offering treats that I could take home to my kid, who has food restrictions. Instead of having the usual issue of finding something he could eat, I had to decide what in the shop not to take him. It was a nice problem to have.

Make sure you grab a loaf of sourdough bread baked fresh in shop every Saturday from Miss Angel’s long-standing sourdough starter. I also highly recommend their amazing gluten-free cinnamon rolls to take back to the RV for an easy next-day breakfast. And don’t miss the apple bread pudding. But take it from me, you don’t want to wait on that one. It’s so good! Just eat it when they hand it over the counter, and definitely say yes to the glaze when they ask. Just say yes.

For the ultimate farm-to-table experience, visit Miss Angel’s Farm and Orchard, where you can pick your own fruit. This hands-on experience connects you directly to the source of those incredible pies and treats. There’s something deeply satisfying about gathering your own fresh produce in the beautiful North Carolina countryside. And throughout the year, Miss Angel’s Farm and Orchard hosts events for everyone, like masquerade balls, Oktoberfest, a zombie apocalypse, and haunted corn mazes. They even offer overnight camping. Check out the calendar to learn if you’ll be picking fruit or zombie escape routes.

Mayberry Souvenirs

There are several Main Street souvenir shops, but my favorite was Bear Creek Gifts and Candy Kitchen. They had a wide selection, and the T-shirt quality was great. (We’re pretty picky about our shirts. If it’s scratchy, the design doesn’t matter. It’s not coming home.) Their shop includes some great Mayberry memorabilia and locally made crafts, plus their candy kitchen has been creating delicious treats for over three decades.

A Timeless Experience

Mount Airy’s charm lies in its ability to transport you back to a time when life moved at a gentler pace, neighbors knew each other by name, and your biggest worry was if Barney had his one bullet loaded. The town embraces its ties to Mayberry and its authentic small-town heritage, creating an experience that’s both nostalgic and genuine.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan of The Andy Griffith Show like me or you simply love a small town, Mount Airy offers a perfect blend of history, hospitality, and homestyle cooking that will have you planning your return visit before you’ve even left. Pack your sense of adventure, bring your appetite, and prepare to discover why this little mountain town stayed in Andy Griffith’s heart and continues to stir the hearts of visitors from around the world all these years later. #TAGS