Plan Your Trip to CREATIVE
Worth the drive, from all over the Piedmont
CREATIVE is in historic downtown Claremont, NC, right off I-40 between Hickory and Statesville. Families, couples and friends drive in from Lake Norman, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Asheville and everywhere in between for the biggest paint-your-own pottery selection around, the region's only walk-in clay, and a latte from The Creative Brew.
How far is CREATIVE from you?
Approximate drive times to 3246 W Main Street, Claremont, NC 28610:
Next door, 10–20 minutes
Hickory, Newton, Conover, Catawba and Statesville
A short drive, 30–45 minutes
Taylorsville, Morganton, Sherrills Ford, Denver, Lincolnton, Mooresville, the Lake Norman area and Mocksville
A great day trip, about an hour
Charlotte, Gastonia, Shelby, Clemmons, Winston-Salem and Elkin
Worth the trip, about 1.5 hours
Asheville and the mountains
Why people make the drive
- The biggest selection. Hundreds of pieces to paint, and the largest selection of paint colors in the area. See how it works.
- Walk-in clay. No other studio in the region lets you walk in and make something from real clay. Learn more.
- Coffee and pottery together. The Creative Brew is right inside the studio.
- Clay classes and workshops. Wheel and hand-building courses and one-night workshops at CREATIVE Clay, right next door at 3244 W Main St.
- No studio fees. You only pay for the pottery you choose.
Tips for your visit
- Come anytime we're open: Tuesday and Wednesday 8am–4pm, Thursday through Saturday 8am–6pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.
- Bringing 6 or more? Call 828-461-4042 first so we can save you a table.
- Plan for 1–2 hours of painting. Grab lunch or a coffee and make a day of it in downtown Claremont.
- Coming from out of town? We glaze and fire your piece, and it's ready in about 7–10 days. Ask us about pickup options when you visit.
- Check the events calendar for theme nights and workshops worth planning a trip around.
Bringing a big group? We can come to you
For groups of 30 or more, we'll bring paint-your-own pottery or clay to your school, church, business, brewery or event, up to about 1.5 hours from Claremont. That covers the Charlotte region, Lake Norman, Gastonia, Shelby, Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Mocksville, Elkin and Asheville. See We Come to You.
Good to know
How far is CREATIVE from Charlotte?
About an hour. Take I-77 north to I-40 west, then exit toward Claremont.
Is it a good day trip from Lake Norman or Mooresville?
Yes, it's about 30–45 minutes, an easy half-day trip for families and friends.
Do I need a reservation?
No, we're walk-in only. Groups of 6 or more, please call first.
- Studio & Brew
- 3246 W Main Street, Claremont, NC
- CREATIVE Clay
- 3244 W Main St, Claremont, NC
- Hours
- Tue–Wed 8–4 · Thu–Sat 8–6