When Tom and I moved to Asheville, its quirky and beautiful NC mountain neighbors quickly surprised and impressed us. These are just a few of the best cities and small towns near Asheville that make Western North Carolina so special.
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Although Asheville has enough to keep visitors and locals endlessly busy, the surrounding towns are equally worthy for day trips and overnight getaways. They also boast comfortable residential areas for that coveted Blue Ridge Mountain life.
These are just a few of the best small towns and cities near Asheville with quaint and walkable downtown areas, unique histories, local shops, shimmering lakes, and unforgettable hiking and biking trails – my favorite waterfalls included. Enjoy delicious cafes, vibrant street art, craft beer, and quirky finds. All photos are my own. 💙 Christine
9 Best Cities & Towns Near Asheville, NC With My Top Highlights
With so many great places to visit and live near Asheville, every time I update this article, I struggle to pick just a handful of our favorites. Please let me know yours (and why) in the comments. I am always changing up our lists.
Hendersonville
Just 40 to 50 minutes south of Asheville, Hendersonville is a must if you love beautiful vineyards, free museums, hopping breweries, unpretentious and budget-friendly restaurants, and literary travel. There is so much to do, making it a strong Asheville rival.
Most well-known as “Apple Alley,” Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina residents flood Hendersonville in the fall for the best apple picking, corn mazes, and cider donuts. Walkable Downtown Hendersonville is the perfect stop after hiking DuPont State Forest’s breathtaking waterfalls. Tom and I looked at homes here, but we ultimately chose Asheville.
My Top Recommendations For Hendersonville, NC
Drinks: Stone Ashe Vineyard, Souther Williams Vineyard, Oklawaha Brewing, Black Bear Coffee Co.
Restaurants: The Book & Bee Cafe, Umi Sushi, Haus Heidelberg German Restaurant, Pita Express
Orchards: Jeter Mountain Farm, Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard
Museums: Western North Carolina Air Museum and the Mineral and Lapidary Museum of Henderson County
✨ Extra: Explore the Village of Flat Rock – ShareWell Coffee, Boon Choo, Marked Tree Vineyard, Sky Top Orchard, Carl Sandburg Home
Black Mountain
Small towns near Asheville don’t get any more picturesque than Black Mountain, NC. Most famous for its Southern Appalachian arts and crafts scene, you won’t find a shortage of things to do in Black Mountain, including art shopping in historic downtown and walking around Lake Tomahawk.
Don’t tell the others, but it’s my favorite Western North Carolina small mountain town… Twenty-five minutes by car, this is our go-to for overnight staycations and unique restaurants. We were pretty obsessed with our gorgeous room at Peri Social House.
My Top Recommendations For Black Mountain, NC
Shops: Sassafras On Sutton, Mountain Nest Gallery, NC Glass Center, and C. W. Moose Trading Company
Drinks: Peri Social House, Dripolator, Oak & Grist, Dynamite Roasting Co. Coffee Bar
Restaurants: Cousins Cuban Cafe, The Pure & Proper, Bush Farmhouse, Dough House
Museums: Swannanoa Valley Museum
Weaverville
One of the closest cities to Asheville – about 10 to 15 minutes north – Weaverville houses Lake Louise, a shimmering recreational lake with a hidden dam waterfall, playground, farmers market, and perimeter trail.
With so much to do in Weaverville, I suggest parking in one of the public lots, visiting Main Street Nature Park, and walking around its small downtown, which is filled with artist shops, pretty cool breweries (one has a TARDIS), and grabbing a bite to eat. Head to nearby Barnardsville for u-pick flowers at The Never Ending Flower Farm. We shop at Reems Creek Nursery every year for our home garden.
My Top Recommendations For Weaverville, NC
Drinks: Leveller Brewing Co., Zebulon Artisan Ales, Allgood Coffee
Restaurants: Stoney Knob Cafe, Glass Onion, Soba Sushi and Noodles, Yellow Mug Coffee Lounge
Shops: Maggie B’s, Reems Creek Nursery, Mangum Pottery
Hot Springs (& Nearby Marshall)
Even with just 600 residents, I cannot leave out quirky Hot Springs, NC. For small towns near Asheville – just 50 minutes away – Hot Springs is the best for relaxation (its namesake!) and local vibes. Plus, heavily devastated by Helene, Hot Springs is making a comeback.
Hot Springs Resort and Spa houses naturally hot mineral water that’s divine (our friends come here monthly). Along with the resort and spa, enjoy camping options and access points to the Appalachian Trail. Nearby, we also adore Marshall, NC, which is making a Helene comeback from the utter devastation of their downtown area.
My Top Recommendations For Hot Springs & Marshall, NC
Drinks: Big Pillow Brewing or Marshall’s Mad Co. Brew House (pizza!)
Restaurant: The Grey Eagle Taqueria in Big Pillow Brewing or nearby Zadie’s Market in Marshall
Nearby Hikes: Lover’s Leap, Laurel River Trail, Max Patch, Appalachian Trail
Shops: Artisun Gallery and Cafe (new location) and Madison Natural Foods in Marshall
Brevard
Did you know that Transylvania County is known as the “land of the waterfalls?” It’s no surprise, then, that Brevard is one of the best cities near Asheville for waterfall hikes. Just head 45 minutes from Asheville and straight into the Pisgah National Forest.
Explore endless hiking and mountain biking trails. Afterward, head to walkable Downtown Brevard, which is filled with shops, restaurants, and breweries. I enjoy the Brevard breweries along the growing Ecusta Trail. Or, take a guided waterfall tour and hike.
My Top Recommendations For Brevard, NC
Drinks: Ecusta Brewing, Oskar Blues Brewery, Brevard Brewing Company
Area Trails: Ecusta Trail (Brevard Bike Path), Daniel Ridge Loop, Pink Beds Loop, Devil’s Courthouse
Waterfalls/Waterfall Hikes: Moore Cove Falls, Sliding Rock, Looking Glass Falls, Daniel Ridge Falls, DuPont State Forest’s Triple, High, Hooker, and Bridal Veil Falls, Rainbow Falls (Sapphire)
Lake Junaluska & Waynesville
A 30-minute drive from Asheville, Lake Junaluska is my serene happy place. I head here whenever I need a pick-me-up. The stunning lake boasts just under a 4-mile walking perimeter trail, filled with wildlife, a terrific gift and coffee shop, scattered restaurants, and outdoor activities.
Afterward, Downtown Waynesville (10 minutes by car) makes for a fabulous stop as one of the best residential towns near Asheville. Many of our readers live here. Downtown Waynesville is filled with breweries, restaurants, and shops. You certainly won’t find a shortage of antique stores.
My Top Recommendations For Waynesville & Lake Junaluska, NC
Drinks: Junaluska Gifts & Grounds (coffee & souvenirs), Panacea Coffee Company
Breweries With Food: Boojum Brewery Taproom, Frog Level Brewing Co.
Restaurants: Watami Sushi & Noodles, Suwana Asian Cuisine
Shops: Wall Street Books, Mast General Store
Things To Do: Smoky Mountain Sk8way, Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (HART), Fall foliage
Maggie Valley
For Smoky Mountain towns near Asheville, you cannot go wrong with Bryson City or Maggie Valley. I have a lot more love for Maggie Valley than Tom, and it’s about a 45-minute drive from AVL (I love kitschy places). A family-resort town with old-school vibes, relish in rustic mountain charm along with Blue Ridge Parkway hike access.
Maggie Valley is most well-known for its gem and craft shops, quirky niche festivals, winter skiing at Cataloochee Ski Area, proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Soco Falls. Driving through the town, spot funky vintage motels.
The area used to house the abandoned Cessna plane crash site, past Waterrock Knob and is still home to the abandoned Ghost Town in the Sky. Pair Maggie Valley with the Lake Junaluska/Waynesville area if you have time.
My Top Recommendations For Maggie Valley, NC
Drinks & Food: BearWaters Brewing
Shops: Jelly Bellies Mountain Gift Shop, Soco Crafts (part of Soco Tower)
Things To Do: Wheels Through Time, Waterrock Knob, Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Festival, Soco Falls, Mingo Falls, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Greenville, SC
While I wanted to keep this list mostly to Western North Carolina’s small mountain towns, I couldn’t resist one of my favorite cities near Asheville: Greenville, South Carolina. You have to go. We also have many readers who ask us about living here. Having traveled to Greenville for years for doctors’ appointments, I’m a GVL pro.
About an hour and twenty minutes from Asheville, Greenville, SC makes for a great weekend getaway. We most love this jumping city for its street festivals like Fall for Greenville and Artisphere, large concerts at the Bon Secours, and off-Broadway shows at the Peace Center.
Downtown Greenville is full of restaurants and shops, and when it is cooler, Tom and I enjoy biking the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Falls Park on the Reedy, with its unique suspension bridge, is beautiful. Nearby – and just one hour from Asheville – Travelers Rest is equally wonderful with wineries, restaurants, and my favorite used bookstore, As the Page Turns.
My Top Recommendations For Greenville, SC
Drinks: Coffee Underground, Flying Fox Coffee, Liability Brewing, Foxcroft Food & Wine, Ink N Ivy, and Up on the Roof
Restaurants: Nose Dive, Curean, Sushi Murasaki, The Trappe Door, and Gather GVL
Shops: M. Judson Booksellers, Savannah Bee Company, Traveling Chic Boutique, and Augusta Twenty Boutique + A20 Market Coffee Shop
More Attractions: Greenville Zoo, Eagle Mountain Vineyards
✨ Bonus City: Lincolnton
Lincolnton is the perfect hidden gem and stop for food on your way to or from Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The area sees few tourists, and at just a 1-hour and 45-minutes away, enjoy small cafes, a bookstore, woodfire pizza, and a walkable downtown filled with old-school murals.
Walk the gorgeously done Lincolnton Rail-Trail, and drop into Southern Charm Winery for a tasting. Drive to nearby Baker Buffalo Creek Vineyard & Winery in Lawndale, complete with a tasting flight in milk bottles. If you have time, explore Charlotte or stay for a concert.
More Large & Small Towns Near Asheville To Visit
These are equally popular and worthy places to visit near Asheville:
- Bryson City
- Cherokee
- Sylva
- Blowing Rock
- Morganton
- Cashiers
- Little Switzerland
- Boone
- Old Fort
- Charlotte
- Burnsville
- Mars Hill
- Tryon
- Marshall
Where To Head Next
Peruse all of our city and town guides.
If you can only pick two places, I most recommend:
Black Mountain
Hendersonville
When considering Arden or Fletcher or even South Asheville, for that matter…do I need to worry about airport noise?
We are looking for a quiet place to settle.
~~Wendy
Hey Wendy, The Asheville airport runway runs North and South; if you live 5 to 10 miles within the airport in those directions, you are more likely to hear the noise (I’m married to a pilot, so this is his guess).
Love this article, awesome job:)
Thank you!