Raeford, NC

Raeford is a small, unhurried city that serves as the county seat of Hoke County in the Sandhills region of North Carolina, with a population of roughly 4,800 residents. Tucked into the longleaf pine belt south of the Piedmont, the city carries a quiet, small-town character anchored by a historic main street and a community that has long been tied to the military presence just down the road. Raeford is perhaps best known as a friendly gateway to the Sandhills' golf-and-pine country, and it sits roughly 30 miles northwest of Fayetteville and about 90 minutes southwest of Raleigh.

Just a short drive east of Raeford, Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Preserve protects one of the last remaining stands of old-growth longleaf pine forest in the region, an ecosystem that once blanketed much of the southeastern coastal plain. About 20 to 25 minutes from town, the preserve offers shaded hiking trails, a small visitor center with interpretive exhibits, and some of the best bird-watching in the Sandhills, including the rare red-cockaded woodpecker in its native habitat.

A little farther south of Raeford, the adjoining towns of Pinehurst and Southern Pines form the heart of one of America's most celebrated golf destinations. Home to multiple championship courses and the site of several U.S. Open tournaments, Pinehurst draws visitors year-round who come for the resort, the village atmosphere, and the well-preserved New England-style downtown of Southern Pines. The Pinehurst-Southern Pines area is roughly a 25- to 30-minute drive from Raeford, making it a natural day trip for guests staying in town.

To the east of Raeford, the massive Fort Liberty installation, one of the largest military posts in the country, shapes much of the surrounding economy and identity, and travelers sometimes pass through the area on their way to family or events on post. Within Raeford itself, the local historical society museum and a walkable historic downtown provide a more local counterpoint, with preserved storefronts, a small-town square, and seasonal community events that give the city its own low-key sense of place.

With its central Sandhills location, its proximity to both military activity and one of the country's premier golf regions, and its relaxed small-town feel, Raeford offers short-term-rental owners an affordable base from which guests can explore longleaf pine preserves, championship golf, and the broader central North Carolina Piedmont, all without the higher nightly rates of the more famous resort towns to the south.