Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Asheville?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Asheville?

Not sure how much time you'll need in Asheville, North Carolina? Most people spend two to three days in Asheville during their visit. After all, the eclectic mountain town will let you discover the nearby hiking trails, enjoy the evening activities, enjoy the live music scene, and go shopping.

Asheville is located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The mountain town has an eclectic and artsy vibe with a great food and music scene. Visitors enjoy hiking, dining, and shopping in the area. Also in Asheville are the famed Biltmore Estate and the Grove Park Inn. Both are at their best during the Christmas season.

Do you have one or two days to visit Asheville? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Asheville?

One day is usually not enough time to experience the eclectic mountain town of Asheville, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the main attractions such as the hiking, the nightlife, the live music scene, and shopping. You'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside around two to three days for their visit to the mountains here. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.

How to spend a day in Asheville

Don't miss the Biltmore Estate during your trip to Asheville, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

This mountain town is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. The city has a fun and eclectic nightlife scene that centers around the city's breweries and live music venues.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Asheville Terrors Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl ($39)

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Asheville?

Asheville is a fun mountain town that is somewhat popular with tourists because of its great list of sights and attractions. So with a weekend, you'll probably feel rushed to experience the ambiance of the town as well as the surrounding vistas and hiking trails. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the eclectic mountain town has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to three days to fully enjoy the activities in the area. If you have a weekend or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.

Asheville, North Carolina Asheville, North Carolina

How to spend 2 days in Asheville

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Asheville will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the mountain town.

Known for it's hiking, Asheville sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. Just outside of town are many great hikes to waterfalls or through the mountains. The hikes range in skill level and length but many pass through local forests or along the beautiful skyline.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Mountaintop Yoga & Meditation Hike in Asheville ($75)
  • Blue Ridge Parkway Waterfalls Hiking Tour from Asheville ($105)
  • Half Day Hike - Water Falls ($85)

Live music is very popular in Asheville, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. The city has grown into a world famous music destination that holds true to its mountain roots and independent artists.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Asheville, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

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.

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