Which city is cheaper, Gatlinburg or Asheville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Asheville and Gatlinburg. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Asheville is a beautiful mountain town between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. It's a popular tourist destination in western North Carolina that attracts hikers, shoppers, and adventurers alike. It's the largest city in the area and is famous for it's liberal mindset and large art community. Local crafts are frequently available for sale in the downtown shops.
Located in eastern Tennessee, Gatlinburg is a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and for many it is a destination in and of itself. It's anything but natural, and most of its entertainment is centered around amusement park rides and gimmicky sights. You'll find no shortage of cheap hotels and restaurant options, many of which are the typical chains you would find in most tourist towns. It is a convenient town to pick up any necessities you may have forgotten before your visit to the nearby national park.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Asheville is $133, while the average daily cost in Gatlinburg is $190. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Asheville and Gatlinburg in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Asheville or Gatlinburg? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
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Prices for flights to both Gatlinburg and Asheville change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Asheville:
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Gatlinburg:
Here are a few typical costs in Asheville for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Asheville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
For Gatlinburg, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Gatlinburg.
Also in Asheville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Gatlinburg:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asheville and Gatlinburg, we can see that Gatlinburg is more expensive. And not only is Asheville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Asheville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Asheville and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Gatlinburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gatlinburg than you might in Asheville.
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Both Gatlinburg and Asheville during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Asheville for the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Asheville is generally around the same temperature as Gatlinburg. Temperatures in Asheville average around 82°F (28°C), and Gatlinburg stays around 81°F (27°C).
In Gatlinburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Asheville. In the summer, Asheville often gets less sunshine than Gatlinburg. Asheville gets 268 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gatlinburg receives 294 hours of full sun.
Gatlinburg gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Asheville. Asheville usually gets more rain in July than Gatlinburg. Asheville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Gatlinburg receives 4.7 inches (119 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Asheville and Gatlinburg. Many visitors come to Asheville in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Asheville is around the same temperature as Gatlinburg in the autumn. The temperature in Asheville is usually 64°F (18°C) in October, and Gatlinburg stays around 63°F (17°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Gatlinburg this time of the year. In Asheville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Asheville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Gatlinburg during autumn. Asheville gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Gatlinburg receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Asheville usually receives more rain than Gatlinburg. Asheville gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Gatlinburg receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Asheville as well as Gatlinburg. Most visitors come to Asheville for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Gatlinburg can be very cold. In the winter, Asheville is a little warmer than Gatlinburg. Typically, the winter temperatures in Asheville in January are around 44°F (7°C), and Gatlinburg is about 40°F (5°C).
In the winter, Asheville often gets more sunshine than Gatlinburg. Asheville gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gatlinburg receives 134 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Gatlinburg. Asheville receives a lot of rain in the winter. Asheville usually gets less rain in January than Gatlinburg. Asheville gets 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain, while Gatlinburg receives 4.7 inches (119 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Gatlinburg and Asheville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Asheville because of the natural beauty.
In April, Asheville is generally around the same temperature as Gatlinburg. Temperatures in Asheville average around 64°F (18°C), and Gatlinburg stays around 62°F (17°C).
It's quite sunny in Gatlinburg. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Asheville. Asheville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Gatlinburg during spring. Asheville gets 266 hours of sunny skies, while Gatlinburg receives 263 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Asheville. In April, Asheville usually receives more rain than Gatlinburg. Asheville gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Gatlinburg receives 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Asheville | Gatlinburg | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 40°F (5°C) | 4.7 inches (119 mm) |
Feb | 47°F (8°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 4.7 inches (120 mm) |
Mar | 55°F (13°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (123 mm) |
Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
May | 71°F (22°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 78°F (25°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) |
Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 4.7 inches (119 mm) |
Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 80°F (27°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
Nov | 55°F (13°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) |
Dec | 47°F (8°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
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