Best Day Trips Near Asheville—A Local’s Perspective
- Ian Wasserman
- 20 hours ago
- 5 min read
I’ve been on the road a lot recently. Traveling around, seeing the sights. Breathing that fresh air breezing in through my window while I cruise down these mountain roads at safe and responsible speeds.
It got me thinking about day trips. As many excellent things as there are to do here in the Paris of the South, sometimes you just got to go out and explore, roam further afield, and see what the rest of WNC has to offer.
Fortunately, this little section of the state is chock-full of small towns, natural hideaways, and some of the most scenic drives anywhere in the nation. So read on, and discover five of the best day trip destinations around Asheville.
The Blue Ridge Parkway connects Asheville with a whole smorgasbord of hikes, overlooks, and overall stunning natural scenery. And if you too decide you want to see what all the hubbub’s about, then it’s as easy as grabbing some local coffee, piling in your car, and heading on down the road.
If you take the Parkway north of Asheville, then you're headed towards some of the best mountain vistas that the Blue Ridge has to offer. Closest to downtown you’ll find Rattlesnake Lodge, a walk through the woods to the ruins of an early 1900s hunting lodge, especially beautiful come the fall.
Further on, you’ll find one of my personal favorites: Craggy Gardens. A hike to the pinnacle of this trail, thick with wildflowers in the spring, delivers you up to a full three-sixty view of the mountains. Truly worth the drive.
And finally, about an hour out from Asheville, you’ll reach Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi, with suitably impressive views.
Distance: Twenty minutes to Rattlesnake Lodge, forty-five minutes to Craggy Gardens, two hours to Mt. Mitchell.
As great as the Parkway’s northward hikes are, many of the trails that are nearest and dearest to my own heart lie to the south. I grew up roaming these spots, and I’ll always have a deep appreciation for just how quiet and peaceful they can get, especially during the colder months.
The first landmark I pass is always the Pisgah Inn. High up in the mountains, not only does this remote resort serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but has some absolutely astounding views, open to the public. Recently, the word’s gotten out, making it harder to work a full meal here into your day-trip plans without reservations. That said, it's still quick and easy to stop in for a pastry and hot drink at their café and gift shop.
Another fifteen-to-twenty down the Parkway from the Pisgah Inn, you’ll run into Graveyard Fields, a local favorite for blueberry and blackberry picking come late summer. Still a mighty fine hike the rest of the year too, thick with water features, and a good deal less steep than many of these paths through the mountains.
And finally, even further past Graveyard Fields, you’ve got Black Balsam Knob, my absolute favorite hike near Asheville, which begins with a plunge through a mystifying pine forest, then up to some rolling balds above the tree-line.
No matter whether you head north or south up the Parkway, I recommend packing a picnic, and taking your meal out on an overlook. It’s an unforgettable addition to your trip to Asheville. Plus, you can always make it back to town before sunset.
Distance: One hour to Graveyard Fields, one-hour-ten to Black Balsam.
Staying on the theme of the great outdoors, if you head off the Parkway towards Brevard, you’ll find one of the most enchanting stretches of all of Appalachia, punctuated with more than two-hundred-and-fifty waterfalls, large and small.
Their website has a great map, breaking down all the main waterfalls by ease of access, ensuring you can see these awe-inspiring sights no matter whether you brought your hiking shoes or flip-flops.
One of my favorites is Looking Glass Falls. It can be reached right off Pisgah Highway, not more than a couple minute’s walk down off the side of the road. And come winter, it sometimes freezes into a petrified cascade, iridescent in the sunlight (hence the name).
Once you're through touring all these great cascades, you can head on towards downtown Brevard for plenty of chic cafes, perfect for unwinding after some time on the road.
Distance: Forty-five minutes.
One of my favorite small towns near Asheville, a trip out here is like visiting a miniature version of downtown, full of restaurants, galleries, and enticing storefronts. And yet, Black Mountain has a dose of sleepier, small-mountain-town energy that in my view makes it all the more worth a trip.
Everything’s within about a ten-minute walk of each other, so typically I find parking off Broadway Street, and explore Black Mountain on foot. I often start off with coffee or lunch at Cousin's Cuban Café, one of the best spots for authentic Cuban fare you’ll find out here in the mountains. From there, I recommend checking out Key City Antiques, just a block away, before heading towards the southwest corner of town for great gift shops, including Europa, with imported handmade goods from the continent.
If you visit more towards dinner time, I suggest grabbing a table at Thai Basil, preferably outside in their covered courtyard. This is a true hidden gem of a restaurant, serving fragrant curries, and spicy papaya salads with lime.
Distance: Twenty minutes.
As my final recommendation for day trips near Asheville, I’d like to include one of my favorite attractions out here in the Blue Ridge. I’ve long sought the proper article to mention it in, and at long last, I’ve found it.
Discovered in the early 1800s via a fishing trip gone awry, today you can see the stunning subterranean structures within these caverns via a safe, guided tour. Their main season runs through March to November, only open during the weekend from December to February.
Tickets are fourteen dollars per adult, thirteen for seniors, and twelve for kids twelve and under. It may lay a little further afield than your other day trip options, but if you ask me, that’s just an excuse to spend more time taking in all the great views you’ll find along your drive.
Distance: One hour.
Businesses Mentioned
Pisgah Inn
(828)-235-8228
408 Blue Rdg Pkwy, Canton, NC 28716
Cousin's Cuban Café
(828)-357-5513
108 Broadway Ave, Black Mountain, NC 28711
Key City Antiques
(828)-357-8324
105 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain, NC 28711
Europa
(828)-419-0304
125 Cherry St, Black Mountain, NC 28711
