About Asheville
Asheville is a city in Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the county seat of Buncombe County. It is the most populous city in Western North Carolina and the state's 11th-most populous city with a population of 94,589 at the 2020 census. The three-county Asheville metropolitan area has an estimated 422,000 residents.
Places to visit in Asheville
-
Biltmore Estate
Historic · 4 mi from centreThe vast Vanderbilt mansion is the largest privately owned house in the United States, with lavish rooms, formal gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted's firm, a winery and miles of trails.
-
Blue Ridge Parkway
NatureThis scenic mountain road passes right by Asheville, with overlooks, waterfalls and hiking trails nearby, including the drives up to Craggy Gardens and Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi.
-
River Arts District
NeighborhoodFormer warehouses along the French Broad River now house hundreds of artist studios where you can watch potters, painters and glassblowers at work, plus breweries, cafes and riverside greenways.
-
Downtown Asheville
NeighborhoodA walkable center packed with Art Deco buildings, independent shops, street musicians and restaurants, where the Friday evening drum circle at Pritchard Park is a long-running local tradition worth catching.
-
Basilica of St. Lawrence
ReligiousA Spanish Renaissance style church downtown known for its large freestanding elliptical tile dome, built using the Guastavino vaulting technique by the same architect who helped construct the Biltmore house.
-
North Carolina Arboretum
Park · 8 mi from centreCultivated gardens and forest trails on the edge of Pisgah National Forest, featuring a notable bonsai collection, native plant displays and quiet paths for walking and mountain biking.
-
Grove Arcade
LandmarkAn ornate 1920s commercial building downtown with decorated facades and a skylit interior arcade, restored as a home for local shops, restaurants and offices that is pleasant to browse on a rainy day.
-
Thomas Wolfe Memorial
HistoricThe rambling boarding house where novelist Thomas Wolfe grew up, immortalized in Look Homeward, Angel, offers guided tours of its rooms and a visitor center about his life and writing.
Best time to visit Asheville
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Asheville is September to October, when average daytime highs are around 68–77°F and rain falls on about 8 days a month.
Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
Asheville weather forecast
- Wed 21 Oct 71° 44° 0%
- Thu 22 Oct 70° 42° 0%
- Fri 23 Oct 67° 44° 0%
- Sat 24 Oct 64° 42° 0%
- Sun 25 Oct 67° 40° 0%
- Mon 26 Oct 68° 40° 0%
Know before you go
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD)
- Language
- English
- Calling code
- +1
- Driving
- On the right
- Time zone
- America/New_YorkUTC−4
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
Upcoming public holidays in United States
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Presidents DayWashington's Birthday
Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.
Getting to Asheville
These are the airports closest to central Asheville. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.
- AVL Asheville11 mi (18 km) from the city centre
Getting around Asheville
A car is definitely your best bet. Street parking is metered Monday through Saturday, 8AM–6PM at $1 per hour. Street parking is free on Sundays, evenings after 6pm and official city holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas). In addition to street and garage parking, there are several surface lots throughout downtown.
By taxi
Within the City of Asheville, fares are as follows: For the initiation (drop) of the meter $2.50; For each one-tenth mile after initiation $0.25; For each passenger in excess of two $2; For each two minutes of waiting time or fraction thereof after the first two minutes $0.40.
By bike
Self-guided tour routes, maps and guidebooks are available for bicycle rides on the area forest lands, on the Blue Ridge Parkway and around downtown Asheville. Tour Asheville by pedal assist electric bike with guided bike tours.
Asheville travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Asheville?
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Asheville is September to October, when average daytime highs are around 68–77°F and rain falls on about 8 days a month.
What is the weather like in Asheville?
July is usually the warmest month in Asheville, with average highs of 86°F (30°C). January is the coolest, with average lows of 26°F (-3°C). The wettest month is typically September, with about 133 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Asheville?
Asheville (AVL) is the closest airport, about 11 miles (18 km) from the centre of Asheville.
What time zone is Asheville in?
Asheville uses the America/New_York time zone (currently UTC−4). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.
How do I get around Asheville?
A car is definitely your best bet. Street parking is metered Monday through Saturday, 8AM–6PM at $1 per hour. Street parking is free on Sundays, evenings after 6pm and official city holidays (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas).
What are the best places to visit in Asheville?
Top sights in Asheville include Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway, River Arts District and Downtown Asheville. The vast Vanderbilt mansion is the largest privately owned house in the United States, with lavish rooms, formal gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted's firm, a winery and miles of trails.
