Asheville NC Travel Guide 2026

Asheville, located in west-central North Carolina, is a robust community of nearly 100,000 residents. The city is well-known for its temperate climate, its vibrant arts community and its proximity to the Blue Ridge Mountains and major national parks and forests that surround them. Asheville's chief attraction is the massive Biltmore Estate, the former summer home of the Vanderbilt family, and the city's food and craft-beer scene is another big draw.

This guide to Asheville will tell you what you need to know to get the most out of your visit to this unique, exciting city. Whether you're looking for a quiet weekend or an active week of sightseeing and outdoor activities, Asheville has plenty to offer.

It's very easy to get around Asheville. The downtown area is one of the most walkable in the United States. For trips outside of the center of3 the city, Asheville has plenty of rental car companies, rideshares, public transportation and even bikeshares.

Downtown Asheville is a "walker's paradise", according to Redfin's Walk Score. The accessibility guide gives the downtown area an excellent score of 91/100. They cite the many services and shops within walking distance of downtown hotels, as well as the many downtown parks and attractions. For a weekend trip, you could stay downtown and walk to plenty of attractions, shops and restaurants.

While downtown Asheville is very walkable, renting a vehicle makes it easy to get to areas outside the city center and to be able to take day trips out of town. All the major car rental outlets are represented at Asheville Regional Airport. You can also rent a car downtown or have one delivered to your hotel.

Uber and Lyft are popular transportation options in and around Asheville, and drivers are generally readily available. However, it's wise to keep in mind when planning rideshares that "surge pricing" can raise the price substantially during bad weather or peak demand periods.

Asheville e-Bikes offers e-bikes for hourly, daily and longer rentals...and they will deliver them right to your door. In addition, the City of Asheville offers bike lockers, designated bike lanes and other facilities for cyclists throughout the downtown area.

Asheville's public transportation system is run by the City of Asheville. The system includes bus service between downtown and a host of points all over the city, as well as to the Biltmore area, River Art District and Orchard Grove Park. Discount fares are offered to those aged 65 and older, Medicare recipients, students ages 16-19, and individuals with disabilities. Monthly and weekly passes are available.

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Asheville's relatively mild climate makes it enjoyable to visit any time of the year. However, some seasons are better than others. Autumn is, arguably, the best time to visit. The fall foliage is lovely, the summer crowds have left, and the temperatures have yet to dip. The average temperature in Asheville in September is 77 degrees Fahrenheit; in October, the average temperature is 68, still warm enough for hiking and other outdoor activities.

To save money, the best time to visit Asheville is in the winter, from early January to mid-March. Most flights are cheaper at that time of year, and hotels generally cost 15 to 25 percent less than in the peak summer and fall seasons.

Annual events in Asheville that you won't want to miss include the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival in March; Spring at the Biltmore Estate, held between late March and late May; the Lake Lure Arts and Crafts Festival in May; Asheville Wine Walk in September; North Carolina Ceramic Arts Festival in November and Christmas at the Biltmore in December.

There are a myriad of fun things to see and do in and around Asheville. When traveling to Asheville, make sure to include one or more of these attractions.

The largest privately-owned home in the United States, the Biltmore Estate was constructed between 1889 and 1895 by the Vanderbilt family. The 178,926-square-foot Gilded Age mansion has more than 250 rooms, including 35 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms. Visitors can tour parts of the mansion as well as the extensive gardens. There is also a winery, a dairy and a restaurant on the property. A variety of ticket packages are available, from a grounds-only pass to seasonal tickets that include a tour of the house, admission to the grounds and special exhibitions.

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The Blue Ridge Parkway extends 469 miles from the Great Smoky National Park in Tennessee to Shenandoah National Park in central Virginia, passing directly through Asheville. The scenic drive has been the most visited park in the National Park System since 1946. It travels along the Appalachian Mountain Range and offers spectacular views. There is no fee to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Visit Asheville

The River Arts District is a collection of more than 300 artists' workshops and galleries that feature artist creations that range from watercolors to metal art, with everything in between. The district, located along the French Broad River southwest of downtown, welcomes visitors to watch artists at work and to shop for unique, original art. The district is also home to an eclectic collection of eateries.

Sterling E. Stevens

The Asheville Urban Trail is a 1.7-mile walking route in downtown Asheville that includes 30 stops relating to the city's cultural and architectural history. The trail begins at Pack Square near the intersection of Biltmore and Patton Avenues and circles around downtown before arriving back at the square. The best parts about the trail are that it's free and you can travel at your own pace.

Who says you can't go home again? The Thomas Wolfe Memorial is a circa 1883 home in downtown Asheville where the writer Thomas Wolfe lived when he was young. The house is filled with Wolfe memorabilia plus artifacts relating to the history of Asheville. Tours are given on the half hours. Discounts are given for seniors and children.

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Hotels in Asheville range from sleek downtown hotels to charming bed and breakfast inns. There is something to satisfy every budget and style. Below are a few of our favorite Asheville hotels and inns:

Located in the heart of downtown Asheville, just steps away from shopping, entertainment and restaurants, the Doubletree by Hilton Asheville Downtown offers seven floors of guest rooms and suites. Room amenities include free WiFi and some have mountain views and whirlpool bathtubs. Facilities include an indoor swimming pool, an on-site restaurant and a workout room. The hotel is pet-friendly and an EV charging station is available.

Conveniently located just off the highway, three miles from the Biltmore Estate, the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Asheville Downtown offers large accommodations with free WiFi. Parking and a hot breakfast are generally included in the room rates. Facilities include a workout room and an indoor heated swimming pool. Pets are not accepted at this hotel.

The Biltmore Village Inn Bed and Breakfast is a great place for a romantic weekend getaway. This hostelry was created from a vintage, 150-year-old Victorian home that once belonged to the Vanderbilts' attorney. Today, the inn offers three guest rooms, two suites and three separate cottages, all with complimentary WiFi, mini-fridges, private baths and period furnishings. The Honeymoon cottage, the home's former carriage house, features a front porch, dual electric fireplaces and a heart-shaped tub.

Just down the road from the Country Inn and Suites, the Holiday Inn and Suites is a six-story, modern hotel right off of the highway, convenient to the Biltmore Estate, downtown and other Asheville attractions. All rooms and suites feature free Wi-Fi, small refrigerators and microwave ovens. Breakfast and parking are included in all room rates. Facilities include an indoor swimming pool and a fitness room. Pets are not allowed at this hotel.

Located in the restored, former Bon Marche department store building, the Haywood Park Hotel offers unique accommodations crafted out of the former sales floors. The crown jewel is the 1,200-square-foot grand suite. All rooms have mini-refrigerators, Keurig coffeemakers and charging stations. Many rooms have separate sitting/work areas and large picture windows with views of downtown.

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Asheville is well-known for its food scene and dining is a key element to enjoying your trip to Asheville. The city offers eateries of all ilks, from casual breweries to fine-dining establishments. Below are a few of our favorites:

Located at the classic, arts and craft-style Omni Grove Park Inn, Edison serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. The stylish and sleek restaurant is noted for its innovative cuisine and large selection of locally-brewed craft beers. Menu highlights include cast-iron trout with carrot puree and corn pesto, bacon-wrapped bison meatloaf and classic, southern shrimp and grits.

Blue Ridge is the more casual eatery at the Orchard Grove Park Inn. This restaurant is noted for its food, but also for its spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the large, floor-to-ceiling windows. The breakfast buffet features all your morning favorites and the Friday prime rib special and Saturday seafood buffet are big draws. Blue Ridge is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

If you want to pretend that you're a Vanderbilt in the late 19th century, then dinner at The Dining Room at the Biltmore Estate is a must. This award-winning, elegant restaurant is warmed by a large stone fireplace and features white linen tablecloths and fine china and crystal. Menu highlights include rosemary butter-seared salmon and harissa-marinated lamb rack. The Dining Room at the Biltmore Estate is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea. Dinner reservations are strongly suggested and required dinner attire is "resort elegant" (no jeans, shorts, short-sleeved shirts or flip flops). The DIning Room has been awarded the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for 18 consecutive years.

Part of the downtown Asheville restaurant scene, this casual eatery is known for its craft cider and innovative, casual cuisine. Menu highlights at Bold Rock include three-cheese grilled cheese sandwiches with bacon and apples, a fried-chicken sandwich with jalapeño slaw, and chicken pot pie. Bold Rock is open for lunch and dinner daily, as well as for Saturday and Sunday brunch. Bold Rock has daily specials, such as Wednesday wing night and half-priced appetizers on Tuesdays.

Chestnut, another downtown Asheville eatery, serves brunch and dinner daily. This popular, casual restaurant has been an Asheville staple since 2012. Chestnut specializes in house-cured meats and farm-to-table cuisine that won't break your budget. Menu highlights include a house-smoked salmon bagel, house-made corned beef hash and "benedict du jour" for brunch and classic cassoulet, pecan-crusted NC trout, and braised pork shank for dinner. Chestnut also offers several vegan and vegetarian options.

Vacation photos are an integral part of any trip to Asheville, whether you post them on Instagram or have prints made to put on your refrigerator. Below are a few of our favorite Asheville photo spots to help you create the perfect vacation photos.

The Chateauesque Biltmore mansion makes the perfect backdrop to your vacation photos as do the manicured gardens.

Courtesy of The Biltmore Company

The 434-acre North Carolina Arboretum offers plenty of lovely spots for your photographs. Check out the holly garden, the bonsai collection and the stream garden.

This trail inside of DuPont State Park is one of the most popular trails in the region. It's not just a great place for amateur photographers. You might recognize the trail from the "Hunger Games" films and "Last of the Mohicans".

iStockphoto.com / JimVallee

Located in the center of downtown Asheville, Pack Square is lined with trees and historic buildings like the Art Deco City Hall building, all of which will add interest to your photos. There are also decorative fountains in the park and frequent festivals.

iStockphoto.com / Jon Bilous

One of the most beautiful spots in the United States is right outside of Asheville. The mountains, waterfalls, streams and valleys in the Blue Ridge Mountains are ideal for those memorable vacation pictures. The Blue Ridge Parkway, which cuts through Asheville, makes it easy to visit the Blue Ridge Mountains. Just pull off at one of the many scenic viewpoints to take your pictures.

No trip to Asheville would be complete without a trip or two outside of town to visit the many fun towns and natural wonders that surround Asheville. Below are a few day trips from Asheville we think you should consider.

Hendersonville, located about 45 minutes from Asheville, is an absolute delight. The picturesque village has a vibrant downtown shopping area, filled with unique shops and locally-owned restaurants. Outside of town, there are many interesting vineyards and orchards.

Getty / Dennis Govoni

Founded in 1916, Pisgah National Forest is more than 512,000 acres of natural beauty in the Appalachian Mountains, within 30 minutes of downtown Asheville. Activities include hiking, backpacking, fishing and rock climbing.

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The legendary Appalachian Trail comes within an hour's drive of Asheville as it snakes its 2,197-mile way from Springer Mountain, GA to Mount Katahdin in Maine. Hot Springs and Max Patch are both near or on the "AT".

Lake Lure is a man-made recreational lake, located within a short drive of Asheville. The 720-acre lake features boating, fishing and other water-related activities, plus resort-like shopping and eateries. Note: Recovery from the 2024 hurricanes is ongoing. The Lake itself is closed for recreation, however the town is open for shopping, dining, golfing, hiking and picnicking as well as festivals throughout the year.

Dollywood is the entertainment complex created by entertainer, Dolly Parton. The complex features a water park, a museum and, of course, the theme park with lots of rides, fair food and arcades. The adjacent town of Pigeon Forge has its own collection of attractions, including the Titanic museum and an outlet mall.

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Traveling to Asheville doesn't have to cost a fortune. There are a number of ways to keep the cost of your trip from breaking your budget. Below are a few of our Asheville Travel Guide's favorite ways to save money when visiting Asheville.

The City of Asheville is filled with numerous attractions and activities that don't cost a dime. In addition to the Urban Trail, you can visit and tour many area breweries, tour the Folk Art Center, listen to a summer concert at Shindig on the Green and stroll the gardens of the North Carolina Arboretum, all for free.

Asheville has a huge number of outdoor attractions, from city parks to the Blue Ridge Parkway...and most of them are free. Save money by doing what the locals do and go hiking, have a picnic in the park or simply sit and enjoy the passing parade of people.

Being a member of AAA comes with a myriad of perks. Among these are car rental discounts, discounts on admission tickets and hotel discounts. Make sure to ask your travel consultant about these valuable membership perks when planning your trip to Asheville.

Many Asheville area restaurants offer discounts to kids and seniors. Seniors get a discount at Denny's and Outback Steakhouse. Kids eat free in Asheville at International House of Pancakes (everyday), Texas Roadhouse (Mondays) and Applebee's (Tuesdays).

Several companies offer free walking tours, most of which are in downtown or the River Arts District. All you have to do is to remember to tip your guide if you feel he or she deserves it.

Planning your trip doesn't have to be complicated or stressful. Once you’ve gathered inspiration for your dream Asheville NC trip on Trip Canvas, contact one of AAA’s Travel Agents today to start making your dream a reality, using your AAA membership to access exclusive deals. No matter your budget, they can help you simplify the planning process with prepackaged trips or à la carte options.