Which place is cheaper, North Conway or Asheville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Asheville or North Conway?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Asheville and North Conway. 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.
Where Should I go: Asheville or North Conway?
Asheville
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.
North Conway
North Conway is a small town in New Hampshire in the Mount Washington Valley (MWV). The entire valley is a popular vacation area year-round due to the multiple ski resorts and summer activities including amusement parks, hiking, outdoor activities, and more.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAsheville $133North Conway $224
The average daily cost (per person) in Asheville is $133, while the average daily cost in North Conway is $224. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Asheville and North Conway in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAsheville $89North Conway $125
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAsheville $178North Conway $250
Compare Hotels in Asheville and North Conway
Looking for a hotel in Asheville or North Conway? 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.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Asheville Hotel Prices and North Conway Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Asheville $14North Conway $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Asheville or North Conway?
Prices for flights to both North Conway 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAsheville $33North Conway $64
Typical Food Prices in Asheville
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Asheville:
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Biltmore Estate Entrance Fee$60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Asheville
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Asheville.
- 1-HR cooking class: $40
- Electric Bike Tour of Asheville's Best Pizza: $98
- Best Pizza E-bike Tour: $111
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Asheville $16North Conway $38
Typical Entertainment Prices in Asheville
Here are a few typical costs in Asheville for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Massage$40
Tours and Activities in Asheville
Here are a few actual costs in Asheville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- (3 HR) Guided Safari Jeep Mile-High & Waterfall Adventure: $100
- (3 HR) Off-Road UTV Wilderness Adventure : $175
- (4 HR) UTV Sunset, Waterfall, and Eco Elk Wilderness Adventure : $275
- 2.5-Hour Blue Ridge Parkway Guided Jeep Tour: $99
- 4 Hour Guided Safari Jeep Eco ELK Wilderness Adventure : $144
- Amazing Asheville Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $44
- An afternoon with the artist, private art gallery tour: $60
- Asheville Coffee Tours: $65
- Asheville Ghost Tour: A Walk Through Riverside Cemetery & Montford Neighborhood: $27
- Asheville Historic Downtown Guided Electric Bike Tour with Scenic Views: $75
- Asheville Historic Highlights: Self-Guided Walking Tour: $8.49
- Asheville Insider Guided Walking Tour: $35
Tours and Activities in North Conway
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for North Conway.
- Kancamagus Highway: Audio Driving Tour: $12
- Kancamagus Scenic Byway Audio Driving Tour Guide: $17
- 3-Hour Private Sightseeing Outdoor Escape Game in Littleton, NH: $39
- Meet the Winemakers - Seven Birches Winery Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAsheville $16North Conway $33
Sample the Local Flavors in Asheville
Also in Asheville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Skip the Line: Copper Barrel's Premium Distillery Tour & Tasting: $10
- Terrors, Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Ultimate Late Night Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- Asheville Terrors Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl: $39
- Expert-Led Brewery Walking Tour with Beer Samples: $65
- Downtown Asheville Guided Brewery Walking Tour: $69
- Premier Walking Guided Brewery Tour Through Downtown Asheville: $69
- Electric Bike Brewery Crawl of Asheville: $74
- Premier Mobile Guided Brewery Tour Around Asheville: $99
- Guided Craft Brewery Tour with a Snack: $99
- Asheville Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $105
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asheville and North Conway, we can see that North Conway 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 North Conway would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in North Conway than you might in Asheville.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Asheville Expensive? and Is North Conway Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Asheville or North Conway?
Asheville has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of North Conway. When comparing the sizes of Asheville and North Conway, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Asheville or North Conway?
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.
Should I visit Asheville or North Conway in the Summer?
Both North Conway and Asheville during the summer are popular places to visit. The hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Asheville this time of year.
Asheville is a little warmer than North Conway in the summer. The daily temperature in Asheville averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and North Conway fluctuates around 69°F (20°C).
In North Conway, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Asheville. In the summer, Asheville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as North Conway. Asheville gets 268 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while North Conway receives 282 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Asheville. Asheville usually gets more rain in July than North Conway. Asheville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while North Conway receives 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAsheville 82°F (28°C)North Conway 69°F (20°C)
Should I visit Asheville or North Conway in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Asheville and North Conway. Many travelers come to Asheville for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Asheville is much warmer than North Conway. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Asheville in October average around 64°F (18°C), and North Conway averages at about 49°F (9°C).
In Asheville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Asheville usually receives more sunshine than North Conway during autumn. Asheville gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while North Conway receives 196 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Asheville usually receives around the same amount of rain as North Conway. Asheville gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while North Conway receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAsheville 64°F (18°C)North Conway 49°F (9°C)
Should I visit Asheville or North Conway in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Asheville as well as North Conway. Many visitors come to Asheville in the winter for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
North Conway can be very cold during winter. In January, Asheville is generally much warmer than North Conway. Daily temperatures in Asheville average around 44°F (7°C), and North Conway fluctuates around 21°F (-6°C).
In the winter, Asheville often gets more sunshine than North Conway. Asheville gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while North Conway receives 163 hours of full sun.
Asheville receives a lot of rain in the winter. Asheville usually gets more rain in January than North Conway. Asheville gets 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain, while North Conway receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAsheville 44°F (7°C)North Conway 21°F (-6°C)
Should I visit Asheville or North Conway in the Spring?
Both North Conway and Asheville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Asheville for the natural beauty during these months.
Asheville is much warmer than North Conway in the spring. The daily temperature in Asheville averages around 64°F (18°C) in April, and North Conway fluctuates around 43°F (6°C).
It's quite sunny in North Conway. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Asheville. Asheville usually receives more sunshine than North Conway during spring. Asheville gets 266 hours of sunny skies, while North Conway receives 212 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Asheville. In April, Asheville usually receives more rain than North Conway. Asheville gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while North Conway receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAsheville 64°F (18°C)North Conway 43°F (6°C)
Typical Weather for North Conway and Asheville
| Asheville | North Conway | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 21°F (-6°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Feb | 47°F (8°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) | 24°F (-5°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Mar | 55°F (13°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 33°F (1°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Apr | 64°F (18°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Jul | 82°F (28°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 69°F (20°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 67°F (20°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 49°F (9°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Nov | 55°F (13°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) | 39°F (4°C) | 4.8 inches (123 mm) |
| Dec | 47°F (8°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) | 27°F (-3°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.