Looking for day trips from Asheville, NC? There are plenty of wonderful places near the city that are very fun to explore during a day trip.
With its many fun things to do, museums, art scene, great restaurants, and more, you won’t easily get bored in Asheville, but it can still be fun to go to a new place you haven’t visited before.
If you’re looking for the best Asheville day trips, this guide helps you out! From places with historic architecture to cities with famous landmarks, I added a large variety of perfect destinations for a day trip from the city to this guide.
Day Trips from Asheville
Helen, GA
Distance from Asheville: 2 hours
From Asheville, you can get to the small town of Helen, Georgia in about 2 hours.
Helen, GA, is a mountain town that is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is known for its Bavarian architecture. Throughout the town, you can see many examples of buildings with this architecture.
During a day trip, there’s much to do in the town. For example, you can find a lot of shops in the town with unique items.
You can also go to Alpine Mini Golf and have a fun time playing miniature golf.
Throughout the year, lots of events also take place at Helen, GA. Especially during the holiday season, there are many events in the town.
For example, during the holiday season, you can shop at the annual Christkindlmarket and see the magnificent Christmas parade.
Charlotte, NC
Distance from Asheville: 2 hours
The city of Charlotte can be reached from Asheville, by car, in about 2 hours. During a day trip, there are many things to do in Charlotte to explore, but you are going to have to make a selection because there’s so much to do in the city.
You can find a variety of museums in Charlotte, such as Discovery Place Science, the Mint Museum, and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.
In addition to that, you can find many places in the city where you can have a fun time, such as The Box Escape Room, where you can play an escape game.
When you are spending a day in the city, you can also go to Optimist Hall. This is a food hall, where you can find vendors selling all kinds of foods.
Charlotte is also home to many great theaters where you can see a show at the end of your day trip. For example, you can attend a concert at the Knight Theater.
Black Mountain, NC
Distance from Asheville: 30 minutes
Black Mountain, NC, a small town that you can find very close to Asheville is a town with a lot of things to do.
When you are visiting Black Mountain, you can check out great local restaurants and art galleries in downtown.
You can also go to White Horse Black Mountain, a nonprofit performance venue, to see a great live performance when you are doing this day trip.
Throughout the year, lots of festivals and annual events take place in the town.
From Asheville, you can get to Black Mountain in about 30 minutes by car.
Knoxville, TN
Distance from Asheville: 1 hour and 45 minutes
By car, you can get to Knoxville, TN, from Asheville, in about 1 hour and 45 minutes. When you are in Knoxville, there’s much to discover.
One of the best things to do in the city is to visit the Knoxville Museum of Art, which is a museum where you can see art from East Tennessee and the connection of this region’s art with art from all over the world.
You can also find World’s Fair Park in Knoxville. This is a park that is situated on the former site of the 1982 World’s Fair. You can still see various structures from the World’s Fair here, such as the Sunsphere, which is a tower with an observation deck from where you can enjoy a great view of the city.
During a day trip from Asheville to Knoxville, you can see a show at the Tennesse Theatre as well. This is a historic movie theater from the year 1928 where you can attend all kinds of performances.
Gatlinburg, TN
Distance from Asheville: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Gatlinburg is a small town that you can get to from Asheville in about 1 hour and 45 minutes. It is a beautiful small town that you can find in the state of Tennessee.
Gatlinburg is situated in the Rockies, and throughout the town, there are many places where you can get amazing views.
For example, you can ride the Aerial Tramway, which is a scenic tramway, or you can ride the Gatlinburg Space Needle, which is an attraction from which you can enjoy a panoramic view.
In addition to that, you can find many other attractions. For example, you can find Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies and the Hollywood Star Cars Museum in Gatlinburg.
The town is great as well if you enjoy shopping as you can find many great stores in Gatlinburg.
Roanoke, VA
Distance from Asheville: 3 hours and 40 minutes
Roanoke is a small city located in the state of Virginia that you can reach from Asheville, by car, in about 3 hours and 40 minutes. It’s a wonderful destination because there are many things to do and see.
For example, you can find the Mill Mountain Star in the city. This is the largest freestanding neon star in the world.
Roanoke is also one of the best day trips from Asheville if you like museums. The city is home to many great museums that you could explore during a day trip. A great option is the Taubman Museum of Art, which is a museum where you can find modern and contemporary American art.
You can also go to the Roanoke Pinball Museum and see a collection of more than 65 pinball machines that are playable machines.
When you are doing this day trip with kids, you could also go to Kids Square, which is a children’s museum in downtown Roanoke.
Blowing Rock, NC
Distance from Asheville: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Blowing Rock, NC, is a small town that you can get to from Asheville in about 1 hour and 45 minutes and that is known for “The Blowing Rock”.
When you are doing a day trip, you can check out the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum. At this museum, you can learn about the arts, heritage, and history of the Southern Appalachian, and you can see rotating exhibitions at the museum that change three times per year.
You can also find several cozy coffee shops in the town, such as Camp Coffee Roasters, and the town has unique boutique shops and local art galleries, where you can shop and admire beautiful art.
Raleigh, NC
Distance from Asheville: 3.5 hours
Raleigh, NC, the state’s capital makes for a great day trip and can be reached from Asheville in about 3.5 hours. During a day trip, there are many things to do in Raleigh.
When you are visiting Raleigh with kids, you have plenty of options as well. For example, you can go to the attractions at Pullen Park. In this park, you can find a miniature train, fun games, and other types of attractions. Furthermore, the Marbles Kids Museum is a great children’s museum with fun and educational exhibits.
Raleigh is home to many great museums as well. For example, you can go to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and learn about the state’s natural history, or you can go to the North Carolina Museum of Art for a great collection of works of art.
You can find many great performing arts theaters in Raleigh where you can see a show at the end of your day in the city. For example, you can attend a concert at the historic Raleigh Memorial Auditorium.
The city also has two food halls that are great if you want to have dinner or lunch: the Morgan Street Food Hall and the Transfer Co. Food Hall.
Hendersonville, NC
Distance from Asheville: 30 minutes
Hendersonville, NC, is a small city that you can reach in about 30 minutes, making for an easy day trip from Asheville.
You can find many fun sights in Hendersonville.
For example, you can find the Appalachian Pinball Museum in Hendersonville, where you can play all kinds of unique pinball machines.
Another unique place to visit in Hendersonville is the Mineral and Lapidary Museum of Henderson County. At this museum, you can find a collection of minerals, fossils, and other objects from North Carolina, but also from other places in the country and in the world.
A great way to end your day trip is by seeing a movie at Epic Theatres of Hendersonville, or by seeing a live show at the Hendersonville Theatre.
Augusta, GA
Distance from Asheville: 3 hours
The city of Augusta, GA, can be reached from Asheville in about 3 hours. This is one of the most populous cities of Georgia and there are many things to do and see in the city.
You can go to the Morris Museum of Art during your day trip if you want to see a collection of works of art from the American South. Another great museum that you can consider for a day trip is the Augusta Museum of History.
During a day trip, you can also see The Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson.
A great way to end your day in Augusta is by going to the 1818 Savannah Theatre. At this historic theater, you can enjoy live performances and see movies.
Greensboro, NC
Distance from Asheville: 2.5 hours
There are many things to do in Greensboro making it one of the most fun day trips from Asheville. From Asheville, you can get to the city of Greensboro, NC, in about 2.5 hours.
The Greensboro Science Center is an interesting science museum and zoo that you can go to. You can find all kinds of exhibits here related to various topics of science, and you can also find exhibits here with live animals, such as red pandas.
Other interesting museums are the Greensboro History Museum and the Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum. The latter option is great when you are visiting Greensboro with kids.
You can also see a live show at the 1927 Carolina Theatre. You can see shows of the Greensboro Ballet, the Greensboro Opera, and other organizations here.
Another place to check out during a day trip is Bourbon Bowl. This is a local bowling alley with an industrial design where you can bowl and enjoy a drink.
Blacksburg, VA
Distance from Asheville: 3 hours and 15 minutes
Blacksburg is a college that is located in Virginia that is home to Virginia Tech.
During a day trip, you can go to the Moss Arts Center. This is an arts center that is part of Virginia Tech where you can see art exhibitions, attend talks about art, enjoy performances, and do much more.
You can also see a movie at The Lyric Theatre. This is a historic movie theater where you can see classic films, indie films, and other types of films.
Also, when you do this day trip, there might be a college football game that you can attend at the Lane Stadium.
Blacksburg, VA, can be reached from Asheville in about 3 hours and 15 minutes.
Winston-Salem, NC
Distance from Asheville: 2 hours
You can get to the city of Winston-Salem in about 2 hours from Asheville. There are many fun things to do in Winston-Salem during a day trip.
You can go to the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art to attend contemporary art exhibitions with art made by artists from the region, as well as art made by artists from other places in the world.
Another highlight of the city is the Reynolda House Museum of American Art. At this place, you can find a collection of more than 6,000 works from the colonial period to the present day.
Winston-Salem has a variety of great venues where you can enjoy live performances. For example, you can enjoy a performance at the small and intimate Hanesbrands Theatre, or you can go to a concert at the R. J. Reynolds Auditorium.
You can also find various places in Winston-Salem where you can have a fun time. One of the best places for this is the Reboot Arcade Bar. This is an arcade with classic games as well as a bar where you can get many different types of drinks.
Hillsborough, NC
Distance from Asheville: 3 hours
You can get to Hillsborough, NC, from Ashville, in about 3 hours. Hillsborough is a wonderful small town with a history that goes back to the year 1754. The town is situated on the banks of the Eno River.
Hillsborough has a great downtown where you can find unique boutique shops, cozy coffee shops, art galleries, and much more.
The town also has great historic architecture.
Throughout the year, lots of events take place in Hillsborough and you can also check out the Eno River Farmers Market when you are doing a day trip on Saturday.
Durham, NC
Distance from Asheville: 3.5 hours
Durham, NC, is a city with a lot of things to do and you can get there from Asheville in about 3.5 hours.
When doing a day trip, the American Tobacco Campus is a place that you have to see. This is the site of a historic tobacco factory that dates back to the year 1874. The factory was transformed and you can now find restaurants, shops, and venues here.
You can also visit one of Durham’s museums during your day trip from Asheville. For example, one of the best things to do in Durham is to go to the Museum of Life and Science to learn about science and nature. Another great museum to consider is the Nasher Museum of Art.
Durham is also home to many performing arts venues, such as the Durham Performing Arts Center where you can attend concerts, see a Broadway show, or see another type of show.
You can also find various historic landmarks in the city, such as the Duke Homestead.
Madison, GA
Distance from Asheville: 3 hours
Madison is a small town that is located in Georgia. You can reach the town by car from Asheville in about 3 hours.
Madison is home to charming, local restaurants, beautiful antebellum houses, and quaint streets.
When you are doing a day trip, you can go to the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, which is a historic schoolhouse where you can see art, learn about history, and enjoy performances.
Athens, GA
Distance from Asheville: 3 hours
You can get to Athens, GA, from Asheville in about 3 hours. Athens is a small city with many sights to explore during a day trip.
When you are in Athens, you can go to the Georgia Museum of Art, which is a museum with a collection of more than 100 works of art that is part of the University of Georgia.
You can also go to an event at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Throughout the years, a variety of events takes place at this garden, including an event with beautiful Christmas lights during the holiday season.
The Georgia Theatre, a venue in downtown Athens, is a great place to listen to live music during this day trip. You can also go to the rooftop bar of this venue to enjoy a drink with a view of downtown Athens.
Atlanta, GA
Distance from Asheville: 3 hours and 15 minutes
Atlanta, Georgia’s capital city, is a city that you can reach from Asheville in 3 hours and 15 minutes.
There are many attractions in Atlanta that you can consider going to during a day trip. For example, you can go to the Georgia Aquarium, which is a large public aquarium where you can see thousands of animals and hundreds of species from all across the world.
Another attraction is the World of Coca-Cola. Atlanta is home to the headquarters of The Coca-Cola Company, and at this attraction, you can learn about the popular soda brand.
You can also find various good museums in Atlanta, such as the High Museum of Art and the Atlanta History Museum.
The Krog Street Market, a food hall that you can find on the Atlanta BeltLine, is a great place to go for dinner.
There are also great performing arts theaters in Atlanta. One of these is the Fox Theatre, which is a historic theater that dates back to the year 1929 where you can see Broadway shows and other types of shows.
Mooresville, NC
Distance from Asheville: 2 hours
Mooresville, NC, reachable from Asheville in about 2 hours, is a great city where you can find many things to do and see.
The city is known for car racing, and there are many things to do in Mooresville related to that. For example, you can go to the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame to learn about drag racing, stock car racing, and much more.
Another sight in the city not to miss is the Lazy 5 Ranch. This is a privately owned zoo where you can see 750 animals, including llamas and giraffes.
Main Street can be great to explore during a day trip. You can find many local stores here as well as local restaurants. One of the best places to visit here is Main St. Antiques & Design Gallery, which is the largest antique mall in the Carolinas.
Hickory, NC
Distance from Asheville: 1 hour and 15 minutes
You can get to the city of Hickory, NC, by car, in about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Hickory is a city with many sights.
One of the best places to check out in the city is the Hickory Museum of Art, where you can see modern and contemporary works of art.
The Catawba Science Center, where you can learn about science, and the Hickory Aviation Museum, which is all about local aviation history, are two other great museums in Hickory that you can go to during a day trip.
You can also go to the Hickory Motor Speedway and attend a race, or you can go to the Carolina Theater and see a movie.
Blairsville, GA
Distance from Asheville: 2 hours and 15 minutes
If you like small towns, Blairsville, GA, is one of the best places to visit in this Asheville day trips guide. It’s a charming small town that was founded at the beginning of the 19th century and that is surrounded by beautiful nature.
From Asheville, you can get to Blairsville, by car, in about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Blairsville is home to great local stores, restaurants where you can enjoy delicious food, and cozy coffee shops.
The Historic Blairsville Courthouse, a beautiful historic building that was constructed in 1899 can be found in the town. This former courthouse is now home to a military museum and various other organizations.
You can also go to the Union County Farmers Market during many months of the year, to shop for local goods.
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Asheville Day Trips Tips
When you’re going to visit one of the cities or towns of this Asheville day trips guide, you will be short on time as there is a lot to do in most of the places that I mentioned.
Because of that, I recommend making an itinerary and planning your whole day in advance to make the most of your time.
For example, you can plan where you are going to have lunch and dinner. You can also make a reservation to avoid having to wait or having to look for a different restaurant.
Day Trips from Asheville Map
I hope you found a great place to visit. As you see, there are a lot of amazing day trips from Asheville, NC!