Your Ultimate Guide to Visiting Western North Carolina: Everything You Need to Know
Western North Carolina offers an assorted array of attractions, parks, experiences, and more, all set against the backdrop of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Great Smoky Mountains. There is something to love for everyone and many activities to enjoy throughout this part of the state.
The following is an ultimate guide to Western North Carolina that will tell you everything you need to know about this endearing part of the country as presented by Blue Ridge Mountain Rentals and Greybeard Rentals:
Getting to Western North Carolina, Flying In
If you don’t drive in, then you will obviously be flying into this beautiful region. Thankfully, Western North Carolina is not lacking when it comes to airports that you can fly into and gain access to all nearby attractions along with exploring the natural beauty that defines this part of the state. The following is a list looking at the most popular airports in Western North Carolina:
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL): This commercial airport is the closest option to Asheville and the surrounding region. It is located on NC Highway 280, near 1-26. JetBlue, United, American, Allegiant, Delta and Sun Country fly out of the Asheville Regional Airport. The AVL is around two hours' drive from Boone and Blowing Rock, NC, which makes it an option to get into the area and then drive to other parts of the state.
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP): This airport offers more destination options when compared to the AVL already mentioned, but it is located about an hour outside of Asheville. Airlines that utilize Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport include American, Avelo, Breeze Airways, Delta, Southwest Airlines, and United. Again, this airport is a two hour forty-minute drive to get to Boone and surrounding areas like Blowing Rock and Banner Elk.
Tri-Cities Airport (TRI): The Tri-Cities Airport is a closer option to Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk as it is only a little over an hour's drive. It is about an hour and ½ away from Asheville.
Getting Around Western North Carolina During Your Stay, All Things Transportation
After you have landed in Western North Carolina, you need a way to get around to explore. This includes car rental companies, along with public transportation options and shuttles that will get you from point A to point B during your stay:
WNC Shuttle: This shuttle service is a family-owned and operated, private transportation shuttle company that services the entire Western North Carolina area. It is small and based out of Waynesville, NC, which is situated 35 miles west of Asheville. The WNC Shuttle motto is “We got where others won’t…or can’t,” so this is a great option if where you want to go is more rural.
Rental Car Companies: There are several car rental companies that work out of AVL, which is the most popular airport to fly into when visiting the Western North Carolina area. Some of these options include Avis, Budget, enterprise, Hertz, Thrifty Car Rental, Alamo, Dollar Rent a Car, and National.
Public Transportation: Even though a great deal of Western North Carolina is rural, there are still some options when it comes to public transportation. Asheville Rides Transit (ART) is one such option. It is a bus system that serves parts of Buncombe County and Asheville, and even the Biltmore Village. Greenway Public Transportation is a regional transportation system that serves several counties in Western North Carolina and has both fixed routes and demand-response services.
Alternative Options: If public transportation doesn’t work for you, and you would rather avoid renting a car or paying for a private shuttle, you can always opt for transportation services through either Lyft or Uber, which both serve the Asheville area. Of course, depending on where you visit in the region, you might have more or less luck finding good deals on these rides.
What to Do When in This Part of the Country
Now that you have a way into Western North Carolina and also have a plan to get to and from various attractions and must-visit stops, it’s helpful to know what in Western North Carolina is a must-do experience. The following are just a few to consider:
The Biltmore Estate: Holding the moniker of being the largest private home in the nation, The Biltmore Estate is more than just an attraction and could be considered a destination unto itself. In fact, there is enough to do on this estate, which is situated within Asheville, to not leave even once during your stay. Of course, there is the home itself to tour. However, the estate has its own restaurants, activities, like horseback riding, falconry classes, specialty tours, the estate gardens and greenhouse and much, much, more. Suffice it to say it can take days to see all the sites just within the estate itself.
Tweetsie Railroad: An interesting attraction near Boone, NC, in Blowing Rock is Tweetise Railroad, a Wild West Theme Park Adventure. You can see an authentic historic steam locomotive, enjoy entertaining shows, experience classic amusement park rides, visit the in-house Deer Park Zoo and even try your hand at gold panning.
Blue Ridge Parkway: No guide to visiting Western North Carolina would be completed without considering the many outdoor adventures you can enjoy along the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are numerous hiking trails, bike paths, treks to waterfalls and overlooks to view, along with beautiful drives. There are also historical sites if you prefer, such as Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. Please note that some roads have been closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene, so check before visiting to ensure where you want to go is accessible.
Where to Stay When Visiting Western North Carolina
The following are a few worthwhile options when it comes to staying in Western North Carolina:
The Flying Eagle at Eagles Nest
This Boone, Blowing Rock Cabin, The Flying Eagle can sleep up to 12 and includes four bathrooms and three ½ bathrooms. Its most noteworthy feature has to be its glass walls that offer unobstructed views of the Tennessee Mountains and Elk River Valley below.
A River Mist Too
This riverfront property overlooks the Watauga River in Boone, NC. It sleeps 10 and has four bathrooms and three bedrooms. A River Mist Too is ideal for nature lovers who enjoy hearing the sounds of flowing water.
Bluebird Cottage at Sweetgrass
This is a smaller property, sleeping six with three bedrooms and three ½ bathrooms. This home is beautifully appointed, but perhaps the best feature is its floor-to-ceiling stacked stone gas fireplace. The Bluebird Cottage also has a covered porch and a hot tub!
A Celestial Chalet
This home by Greater Asheville and Greybeard Rentals sleeps six and includes three bedrooms and three bathrooms. It is in a gated community, the Gateway Mountain Old Fort, which features eight acres of private landscape. The property also has a wrap-around deck, outdoor dining and a hot tub.
Your Ultimate Western North Carolina Guide
At Blue Ridge Mountain Rentals and Greybeard Rentals, we hope that you have garnered some inspiration from the above guide, along with having a bit of a better idea of how to get to Western North Carolina and then get around once here. This region of the country is replete with natural beauty and much of what you can do to spend your time can be experienced by simply going outside and exploring. We hope you have a great experience when you visit us in Western North Carolina!
