Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville began as a small town in 1784 when Colonel Samuel Davidson settled with his family in Swannanoa Valley after redeeming an unknown soldier’s land grant from the government of the state of North Carolina. Today, Asheville is an important financial center and seat of the county of Buncombe (since 1797).
Where is Asheville, NC?
The western part of the state of North Carolina extends into Tennessee like a sore thumb. The city of Asheville is located in the middle of this extension. Asheville also happens to be the intersection of two important roads: Interstate 26 that runs from south to north and Interstate 40 that from east to west. Asheville is the largest city on the western flank of North Carolina.
Asheville, NC population
According to the 2018 census records from the United States Census Bureau, the population of Asheville is approximately 92,452 (https://bit.ly/3iduICL). This makes it the principal city in the Asheville metropolitan area which consists of four counties and a population of about 424,854.
Visiting Asheville, NC
United Airlines, Allegiant Air, and Air Canada fly the most to Asheville. These three will land you in of the two major airports in the city: Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) or Six Oaks Airport (NC67). You can also get here via feeder roads including the Interstate 26 and Interstate 40.
Asheville doesn’t have any unpleasant season although there are a few factors to bear in mind when visiting. The best time to visit tends to be during and around the summer more so the autumn when the fall foliage of the surroundings is exploding with beautiful colors. Another spike in visitors and crowds occurs in October, so consider booking early. The spring offers pretty colors as well, and low prices. Winter time always lights up the festive season around here is mild albeit with significant snow.
Things to Do in Asheville
Asheville, NC Hotels
Inn on Biltmore Estate
Address: Inn on Biltmore Estate 1 Antler Hill Road, Asheville, NC28803 United States
This hotel is located on the grounds of the famous Biltmore Estate and 3 miles south of Asheville downtown. Biltmore Estate is located off Exit 50 on I-40 in western North Carolina. It is located 8 miles north of Asheville Regional airport.
Inn on Biltmore Estates is the only luxurious hotel in the region to have won Five Star Alliance’s Best Hotel & Resort for Destination Wedding award. But there is more you can do here other than walking down then tying the knot:
Hotel Amenities
Meeting Space, Banquets & Meetings, Fine Dining Nearby, High-Speed Internet, Fine Dining On-Site, Pool Outdoor, Fitness Center, Spa Facility
Available Activities
Skeet Shooting, Biking in the Mountains, Fishing Fly, Dining, Golfing, Hiking, Jogging Running, Horseback Riding, Shopping, Winery Tours
Theatre & Museums
This hotel is the epitome of the hospitality of Asheville. All rooms feature elegant fabrics and fine furnishings. Each offers exemplar five-star appointments. Suites and Chateau Tier rooms include customized services and offerings to suit your personal needs. There are default offerings you don’t expect to miss in a hotel of its class: 24/7 room service, free Wi-Fi, flat screens all over the place, and luxe furnishing. You can choose to stay in upgraded rooms with terraces and balconies, kitchenettes, dining areas, and Bose stereos.
The Groove Park Inn Spa and Resort
Address: The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa
290 Macon Avenue Asheville, NC28804 United States
The top provisions of this luxury hotel are:
Hotel Amenities: Business Center, Banquets & Meetings, Meeting Space, Fitness Center, Fine Dining On-Site, High-Speed Internet, Pool Indoor, Child Programs, Pool Outdoor, Tennis Courts on Site, Spa Facility
Available Activities: Biking in the Mountains, Fishing Fly, Golfing, Biking Touring, Dining, Hiking, Shopping, Jogging Running
Specifics:
CDC-Certified Enhanced Cleaning Methods
513 Suites and Guest Rooms, including 28 Rooms situated on an Adults-Only Floor
18-Hole, Donald Ross Inspired Mountain Golf Course
43,000 square foot Subterranean Spa
Multiple Formal and Casual Restaurants with Panoramic views of the Mountain
3 Outdoor and 3 Indoor Tennis Courts
50,000 Sq. Ft. Sports Complex complete with Fitness Classes and Weight Rooms
2 Retail Promenades
This hotel is located in the Blue Ridge Mountain area. Originally built in with granite stone in 1913 and restyled in 1998, and with 510 rooms, it is an important historic Arts and Crafts hotel covering about 43,000 sq. ft. of space. It is positioned in such a way that it overlooks the city of Asheville, meaning you have a good view of the sprawling city and the Blue Ridge Mountains from your suite’s window or balcony. The original Roycroft furnishings can still be spotted in most parts of the hotel. Coupled with red clay tiled roof and massive lobbies, these furnishings turn the hotel into an absolute gem. Words of inspiration from numerous anonymous sources have been etched on stone walls all over the gigantic lobbies to keep you motivated during your stay here.
The Windsor Boutique Hotel
Address: The Windsor Boutique Hotel, 36 Broadway Street, Asheville, NC28801 United States
Book a stay at the Windsor Hotel and have access to:
Disabled Access
Amenities: High-Speed Internet, Fine Dining Nearby, Pets Allowed
Available Activities: Biking Touring, Ballooning Hot Air, Dining, Fishing Fly, Shopping, Winery Tours, Horseback Riding and
Theatre & Museums
The Windsor Boutique Hotel is one of the few places in Asheville you could go for a unique and upscale stay. Located in the middle of downtown Asheville, it was built in 1907 but remodeled in 2015 to have a more modern look. Today, it features 14 luxury suites that come with a private bedroom, washer/dryer, bathroom, and full modern kitchen. Luxurious furnishings and décor obtained from Paris have also been included. Two suites can accommodate the utmost six people although each suite was designed to comfortably accommodate up to four people.
AC Hotel Ashville Downtown
Address: 10 Broadway Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28801 USA
Hotel Amenities: Meeting Event Space, Fitness Center, Valet dry-cleaning, Pet friendly, Coffee-tea in-room, Mobility accessible rooms
Newspaper lobby, Continental breakfast (starting at $16), Coin-operated laundry site
Fitness and recreation
Snow skiing (31 miles)
River rafting (2.6 miles)
Tennis (4.5 miles)
Golf (25.5 miles)
Asheville Airports
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
If you are flying to Asheville from within or outside the state, you are more likely to land at Asheville Regional Airport. It is located about 9 miles south of Asheville downtown near Interstate 26 close to the town of Fletcher.
The terminal is equipped with seven gates, meaning there is little space left for parking and walking. About 1.9 travelers passed through AVL in 2019 alone, making it one of the fastest-growing airports in the United States. It is serviced by five large airlines: Allegiant, Delta, Elite, United, American, and Spirit. You can fly into and out of AVL non-stop to and from 20+ cities across the United States, including Dallas, Atlanta, New York, Denver, Chicago, Washington, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Boston, and over eight cities in Florida alone. Since AVL has numerous connecting flights to an array of major hubs, you have a lot of flight options to choose from.
There are also several rental car agencies to choose from once you land here. Car rental agencies present in this airport include AVIS, Enterprise, Hertz, Budget, Thrifty Car Rental/ Dolar Rent A Car, and Alamo/National Car Rental. If you wish to use public transport instead, Asheville Public Transit service offers a bus that ferries passengers on Route Three (3). It only costs $1 to travel to downtown.
A few impressive restaurants and bars can be found in the Airport close to the main entrance. The Blue Ridge Trading &Tavern consists of a bar and restaurant that serves locally brewed beer and food.
How far is AVL from Biltmore and Downtown Asheville?
Biltmore is approximately 15 miles from the airport. To get to downtown Asheville, you will need to use I-26 or 1-240 roads (between 20 and 30 minutes of driving or about 14 miles). The towns of Brevard and Hendersonville are a 30 minutes driving distance from the airport.
Six Oaks Airport
Six Oaks Airport (NC67) is located along the Lower Bush Creed Road, A 16-minute drive distance from Asheville Regional Airport via Can Creek Road (or 21 minutes Mills Gap Road). Unless you intend to use a private jet, there is no point in using this airport. Still, it Is close to some impressive hotels, including Clarion Inn Asheville, Holiday Inn & Suites Arden, and Courtyard by Marriot.
Asheville Airbnb
New vacation rentals are allowed in specific parts of Asheville zoned as “Resort.” They are only permitted for home stays i.e. the host must be present during the guest’s stay. In this type of rentals, guests may rent a maximum of two rooms. Guest rooms are not permitted to have their kitchens. Violation of these directions can result in fines in the region of $500 a day. The reason why the state of North Carolina is becoming strict on how homes are rented is the spike in cases of residential homes being turned into short-term rentals.
There are 500+ affordable cabin rentals in the Asheville City area.
Top Budget Airbnb Rentals
If you are traveling to Asheville on a tight budget, you might want to stay in an affordable rental inside or on the outskirts of the city. Here are a few options:
Charming Cottage North of Asheville (https://bit.ly/3isamG9)
Accommodates 2 Guests
Bed: 1
Price: $121/night
This quiet and charming cottage is within a walking distance from downtown Asheville’s shops and restaurants. It is not directly attached to the owner’s home, so you are guaranteed some privacy. Tastefully furnished complete with a Queen Bed and kitchen with refrigerator, stove, microwave, and coffee machine, it is excellent for a couple with a pet.
Retreat on Town Mountain (https://bit.ly/3keqWtB)
Accommodates 2 Guests
Beds: 2
Price: $161/night
This will occupy the entire lower floor of this two-story home located on Town Mountain and sitting above downtown. The 1,400 sq. ft. space includes a full bath, kitchenette, large windows, fireplace, flat-screen TV, and a 700 sq. ft. and a walking area on the deck where you can relax and enjoy your morning coffee as gaze at the sunset. The owner charges US$75 per night for every additional guest.
Modern Zen Living in Walkable West Asheville (https://bit.ly/2ZpEZo6)
Accommodates 4 Guests
Beds: 2
Sometimes you need a clean, comfortable, and modern rental in a great location and close to plenty of restaurants and social joints. That’s exactly what this rental offers – two spacious beds for 4 guests, a modern kitchen, master suite complete with vaulted ceiling, living/TV area, and a covered front porch. It is located a walking distance to Oyster House Brew Pub, Sunny Point Café, King Daddy’s, and many similar establishments.
Luxury Airbnb Rentals
If you would prefer a luxurious rental that offers more than basic and simplistic accommodation, you might want to consider one of these:
Retreat in Downtown Asheville (https://bit.ly/3iiowJF)
Accommodates 5 guests
Beds: 2
Price: $238/night
A classic Ashevillian property built in 1905 and beautifully renovated to mix antiquity with a modern feel. The best part about this rental is that it is located in the heart of downtown Asheville. You are guaranteed 100% privacy. Other features include a BBQ Grill, backyard complete with a BBQ grill, 50” TV in the main living room, leather chesterfield sofa, Casper mattress, clawfoot bathtub, and two rollaway beds.
Modern Downtown Loft (https://bit.ly/32ci8Os)
Accommodates 4 guests
Bed: 4
Price: $194/night
This centrally located luxury rental offers everything you need for a short comfortable stay: guest access, full kitchen, coffee maker, coffee and tea provided, linens and towels, washer and dryer, smart TV with cable, Wi-Fi, Queen size bed, pullout queen size sleeper sofa (in the likely event you need a second bed when you arrive with more guests, up to 4).
With the above review you can plan your next tour to this great place with a lot of ease. Good Luck!