Travel Budget for Chimney Rock and Lake Lure Visit Chimney Rock and Lake Lure on a Budget or Travel in Style

Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, North Carolina, United States of America

How much does it cost to travel to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure?

You should plan to spend around $196 per day on your vacation in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $52 on meals
  • $35 on local transportation
  • $235 on hotels

A one week trip to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure for two people costs, on average, $2,742. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $196
  • One Week Per person
    $1,371
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $2,742
  • One Month Per person
    $5,875
  • One Week For a couple
    $2,742
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $5,483
  • One Month For a couple
    $11,750
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure cost?

A one week trip to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure usually costs around $1,371 for one person and $2,742 for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure on average costs around $2,742 for one person and $5,483 for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure on average costs around $5,875 for one person and $11,750 for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Chimney Rock and Lake Lure expensive to visit?

Prices in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.

Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Chimney Rock and Lake Lure is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Portland, Maine or Washington.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Chimney Rock and Lake Lure Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure?

The average Chimney Rock and Lake Lure trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Chimney Rock and Lake Lure travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) $235
Local Transportation 1 $35
Food 2 $52
Entertainment 1 $34
Alcohol 2 $10 - 31
Accommodation Budget in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure is $117. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure is $235. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $117
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $235

Hotel Prices in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure

Looking for a hotel in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $204. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $35 per person, per day, on local transportation in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $35


Flights to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure
How much does it cost to go to Chimney Rock and Lake Lure? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure
The price of renting a car in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure can vary, the average cost of food in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure is $52 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure should cost around $21 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $52


Entertainment Budget in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure typically cost an average of $34 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $34


Alcohol Budget in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $21 on alcoholic beverages in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $21


Chimney Rock and Lake Lure On a Budget
Chimney Rock and Lake Lure Chimney Rock with Lake Lure
The town of Chimney Rock and the neighboring Lake Lure draws a fairly large number of visitors every year, especially in the warmer summer months. This mountain area can sometimes be an expensive travel destination due to its popularity, but it is often still more affordable than many other destinations in the southeastern U.S. If you're on a tight budget, then it's not hard to find affordable places to stay, cook your own meals, and avoid the more expensive activities while still having fun. If you do wish to splurge and spend more money, it's quite easy and tempting with all of the activities around.

Chimney Rock is a small and scenic mountain town with a main stretch of shops and restaurants. The adjoining state park just to the south of town is a great place to go for a hike, visit the namesake rock with its fantastic views, or participate in some rock climbing, camping, or other activities. Just to the west of the town is the more busy section of Lake Lure, a manmade lake that stretches for several miles to the east. As you travel east along the lake, the crowds get thinner but so do the amenities, as most of the action is on the western end of the lake at the town of Chimney Rock.
Sights
Chimney Rock State Park and Lake Lure are the main attractions here. The state park is home to a large rock outcropping known as Chimney Rock which can be reached by driving up to a parking lot (paying an entrance fee), and then walking up the trail. The precipice has a flag at the top and some amazing views. But this is just one small part of this park, as the surrounding area is full of hiking trails, rock climbing faces, waterfalls, streams, camping areas, and more.

The entire area is so scenic that many movies have been filmed here. Last of the Mohicans took full advantage of the steep cliffs in many of its dramatic scenes. Also, Dirty Dancing was filmed here in a lodge near Lake Lure, and numerous scenes from the movie can be spotted around the lake.

Lake Lure itself is one of the best lakes to visit in the southeastern U.S. You can swim and have fun at the Lake Lure Water Park which is a beach with a few water slides. Or take in the views of the lake with some gorgeous flora from the Flowering Bridge. From here you can also take the Town Center Walkway which also has nice views.

The town of Chimney Rock itself is full of restaurants, antique shops, an ice cream parlor, a few spas, and other amenities.

Activities
The Dirty Dancing Festival brings in plenty of activity every year. With live music, dancing-oriented reenactments from the film, screenings of the film, and more fun activities, adults and kids will love it. It takes place at the Morse Park Meadows on the lake.

Boating is popular on the lake. If you don't have your own, you can rent one. Better yet, take a boat tour which will show you the various highlights around the lake, as well as its history. You can see famous movie scenes, some huge homes of wealthy visitors, and great scenery. And did you know that because the lake was man made, the ruins of a small town lie at the bottom of the lake?

Paddleboarding, kayaking, rafting, and other water sports are also quite popular. Equipment can be rented around town, mostly on the western side of the lake by the town.

Rock climbing in the state park is a popular activity. A few outfitters can take you if you don't want to go on your own. Rumbling Bald Trail is one of the more popular spots for climbers.

Hiking is also extremely popular. Whether you're an expert that wants a challenge or if you just want a casual stroll through the woods, the park has a trail for you. Check out Exclamation Point near the pinnacle at the top as it's the start for some of the more scenic trails near the higher elevations.
Food and Dining
Chimney Rock and Lake Lure are home to some great restaurants. You can experience fine dining, a casual meal, or fast food. A few grocery stores are in the area, too.

Scoop Lake Lure sits near the Water Park and provides a nice ice cream break. The Lake House Diner is next door and is a great casual place to eat. And nearby, La Strada has Italian food, pizza, and some nice views overlooking the lake.

Heading east into the main area of Chimney Rock, you'll find Riverwatch Bar & Grill and Medina's Village Bistro. Both restaurants provide quality food in a casual environment at good prices. Genny's restaurant is a nice homestyle place, and Bayou Billy's brings in a cajun taste to the area. Several Mexican restaurants are also around town which are good if you want something different.

Try Burntshirt Vineyards Bistro for some great wine and food, too. While it's not too fancy, it's one of the nicer places in town.

Transportation
You'll definitely need a car in this area, as public transportation is non-existent. But you probably came here in a car anyway.

From Asheville, Chimney Rock and Lake Lure is about 45 minutes away along highway 74 east. Or take highway 9 south from Black Mountain if you want an even more scenic mountain route.

From Charlotte, Chimney Rock is about 2 hours to the west along I-85 and highway 74 west.

From cities in the east such as Raleigh/Durham or Greensboro, take I-40 west to exit 73 (Old Fort) and then venture south on Bat Cave Rd. to highway 9 south. From Raleigh, the drive takes around 4 hours depending on traffic and road construction.

The nearest airports are in Asheville and Charlotte. Both have plenty of rental car options.

If you stay in the town of Chimney Rock, you can walk to many of the shops and restaurants in town. To go into the state park or venture farther east along the lake, you'll need to drive.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.