If you’re planning the ultimate weekend in Asheville, you’re in the right place! In this guide, guest blogger Polly Clover shares a perfect 3 Day Asheville weekend itinerary filled with outdoor adventure, cultural experiences, and delicious food.
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3 Days in Asheville
Weekend Itinerary
A weekend in Asheville is nothing short of fun! There’s something for everyone – delicious food, outdoor activities, exciting history, and a vibrant art scene.
Use this Asheville weekend itinerary as a step-by-step guide, or customise it to create your perfect weekend getaway.Here’s a quick rundown of each day in Asheville:
- Day 1: Hang out in Downtown Asheville for history, art, food, and more.
- Day 2: Check out the River Arts District, then drive the Blue Ridge Parkway and enjoy nature.
- Day 3: Explore Biltmore Forest or spend the morning on the river, then take a food tour.
Asheville NC Weekend Getaway: Day 1
Hang out in Downtown Asheville for history, art, food, and more.
Downtown Asheville is one of my favourite areas to explore throughout North Carolina. It’s energetic, welcoming, and fun – what’s not to love?
With plenty to see and do, I recommend spending an entire day exploring downtown, which you can easily do on foot.
Start the morning with a simple breakfast at Café Bomba or a larger delicious meal at Early Girl Eatery. There are also many other breakfast and brunch options in the area if you’re looking for something else.
After breakfast, the Urban Trail is a unique way to explore Asheville’s fascinating past. This self-guided walking tour is about 2 miles long and consists of 30 stations with statues, plaques, and local art.
As you adventure along the Urban Trail, be sure to stop at shops, cafes, galleries, and breweries. You’ll also come across some cool street art, which makes for awesome photo ops!
After a day downtown, I recommend extending your adventure into the evening. Capella on 9 is a trendy tapas bar that offers gorgeous sunset views. There are also many tasty dinner spots, including Twisted Laurel.
If you’re interested in experiencing a night out in Asheville’s downtown area, check out one of the eclectic bars or fun breweries. You can also catch a show at Asheville Music Hall or North Carolina Stage Company.
Asheville NC Weekend Getaway: Day 2
Check out the River Arts District, then drive the Blue Ridge Parkway and enjoy nature.
On the second day of your Asheville weekend itinerary, you’ll start the day in the River Arts District with a coffee and a quick bite to eat from Ultra Cafe Bar.
From there, I recommend spending the rest of the morning wandering around and discovering the incredible street art. Here are some of the best spots to see!
After you’ve had your fill of art and some lunch, it’s time to take a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This winding, scenic highway expands over 500 miles and runs from Virginia to North Carolina.
You can find charming mountain towns, long-range vistas, and rocky mountains up and down The Blue Ridge Parkway. You’ll find many lookout points along the way, so be sure to stop at at least a few of these.
There are also several trails if you’re into hiking, and check out the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center for wildlife-filled trails and a picnic area.
You can easily spend the rest of the afternoon through sunset exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway. In fact, I wouldn’t end the journey before you catch a sunset view!
If you’re looking for something fun to do when you return to Asheville for the night, there are many remarkable bars, restaurants, and music venues.
A couple of my favourite fun spots are The Odd, a quirky bar and restaurant that hosts live bands and drag shows and The Orange Peel, a fun live music venue.
Asheville NC Weekend Getaway: Day 3
Explore Biltmore Forest, spend the day on the river, and then take a food tour.
Your final day in Asheville will be just as memorable as the first two. Depending on the weather and time of year, either start the day exploring Biltmore Forest or spend the morning on the French Broad River.
As I mentioned earlier, Biltmore Forest is a quaint, historic village. It’s home to the famous Biltmore mansion, which to be honest, I’ve never visited. With that said, I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about it.
I’ve been waiting to go when I’m around the area during the holidays because I’ve heard that Biltmore offers one of the most magical experiences during the holiday season.
Whether or not you go to the Biltmore mansion, the entire village is fun to wander around. There are many shops and restaurants to see.
If the weather is nice, spending the day on the French Broad River is always a great time. I’ve floated this river several times, and it offers the perfect day of relaxation during a busy vacation.
Most of the river is pretty flat, with bigger rapids north of Asheville. The French Broad River is excellent for kayaking, paddle boarding, floating, and whitewater rafting.
Tip – French Broad Outfitters makes your day on the river accessible and fun! The adventure usually takes about 2-3 hours.
After your day checking out Biltmore Forest or hanging out on the river, a food tour is a delicious way to finish your weekend in Asheville. Eating Asheville holds a few different tours that last 2-2.5 hours.
The dining tours usually start around 2 PM, and the food and brewery tour begins in the morning, so be sure to plan your day accordingly.
Where to Eat and Drink
in Asheville, NC
Asheville is a foodie’s paradise and offers some of the best restaurants, breweries, and bars in North Carolina! While this list could be endless, here are some of the best spots:
- Brunch: Early Girl Eatery, Downtown ($$)
- Coffee shop: Café Bomba, Downtown ($)
- Cafe and small bites: Ultra Coffeebar, River Arts District ($)
- Tapas bar: Capella on 9, Downtown ($$)
- Bar & restaurant: The Odd ($)
- Brewery + food menu: Wicked Weed Brewing, Downtown ($$)
- American fare: Twisted Laurel, Downtown ($$)
- Spanish cuisine: Cúrate, Downtown ($$$)
- Cocktail bar: Top of the Monk, Downtown ($$)
Tips & Advice for
a Weekend in Asheville
Is 3 Days in Asheville Enough?
I’ve been to Asheville a handful of times and usually spend 2-3 days. I think a long weekend in Asheville is plenty of time to enjoy the best of the city.
I love Asheville so much that I could probably spend weeks there, but I’ve created this Asheville weekend itinerary around 3 days of culture, fun, and nature.
Three days in Asheville allows you to explore the best neighbourhoods, enjoy natural beauty, and experience a delicious food and drink scene.
Where to stay
for a weekend in Asheville?
Asheville consists of various neighbourhoods, which is part of what makes it so unique. Each area offers a different vibe, whether you enjoy history, nature, architecture, or shopping.
Downtown is a lively, artsy, and historic district that’s easily walkable. It’s close to countless shops, restaurants, and museums.
Biltmore Forest is a small historic village about 5 miles from Downtown Asheville. This area is quiet and is ideal for families.
River Arts District is just a short drive from downtown and offers a fun, quirky atmosphere. It’s also another one of my favourite areas.
You can compare all accommodation options in Asheville here, or by using the map below:
Booking.comRelated Read
Budget for 3 Days in Asheville
For your Asheville, NC weekend getaway, you can plan to spend $100 – $300 per day. This includes accommodation, transportation, meals, and activities. .
Here are some of my favourite ways to enjoy a budget-friendly trip to Asheville:
$ – Visit during the off-season, between November and February. It gets chilly, but there are still many fun things to see and do.
$ – Stay outside of the city centre in areas like Black Mountain.
$ – Enjoy the free activities around the city. There are tons!
$ – Grab meals to-go for picnics at local parks and hiking spots.
When to Visit Asheville, NC
I’ve visited Asheville during all parts of the year, and I’ve loved my experience every time! I prefer to go when it’s warmer but not too busy, between March and May or September and October.
During winter, Asheville is cold but doesn’t get snow often. There are local events for the holiday season, and the city is beautifully decorated.
In the spring, Asheville’s weather is lovely. This is also a great time of year to see colourful blooms and enjoy all of Asheville’s incredible outdoor activities.
I’ve been to Asheville a few times in the summer, which is always fun and lively. It’s a great time to enjoy being on the river, brewery-hopping, and hiking.
Asheville’s fall foliage is one-of-a-kind. During fall, Asheville isn’t only beautiful but also one of the best times of year to get adventurous.
Hiking in Asheville
Many travellers head to Asheville and other NC cities for their incredible hiking and mountain biking opportunities. If that’s what you’re looking for, here are some of the best Asheville trails:
- Linville Falls: 0.87-mile trail with waterfalls off the Blue Ridge Parkway (pet-friendly)
- Richmond Hill Park Trail: 2-mile trail at Richmond Hill Park; quiet and shady (pet-friendly)
- Beaver Lake Perimeter Trail: 2-mile lakeside trail at Beaver Lake Park (not pet-friendly)
- Mountains to Sea Trail: Folk Art Center to Haw Creek Overlook: 4.7-mile trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway; filled with wild-life (pet-friendly)
- French Broad River Greenway to New Belgium Brewery: 8.9-mile trail along the river with interesting stops along the way (pet-friendly)
Getting Around Asheville
With so many modes of transportation, it’s easy to get around during your weekend in Asheville. Many areas are very walkable, most are easily drivable, and plenty of taxis and rideshares are available.
Another fun way to get around and go sightseeing is via the historical trolley tour, which takes you around popular parts of the city. There’s also a bus route around the city.
Is Asheville LGBTQ+ Friendly
Another one of the many reasons I love and appreciate Asheville is its progressiveness. The community is welcoming to all people and has a vibrant LGBTQ+ scene.
In fact, it’s believed that Asheville has more LGBTQ+ people than many American cities.
On your trip to Asheville, you can find many gay-friendly activities and places to visit. O.Henry’s is a fun spot to enjoy the nightlife in Asheville, and it’s one of the oldest gay bars in North Carolina.
Be sure to visit some of these LGBTQ-owned businesses in Asheville!
Related Read
Enjoy Your Asheville,
NC Weekend Getaway
I hope this 3 Day Asheville itinerary has you excited about your trip! It’s the perfect destination for anyone who loves nature, food, arts, and friendly people.
If you’ve already been to Asheville and have something you’d add to this itinerary, let us know in the comments below.
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