Asheville is an amazing city to explore and it’s close to many other destinations that make for great weekend trips from Asheville, NC. From charming old cities to places with many incredible sights, there’s so much to explore!
There’s something for everyone’s liking near Asheville. There are great destinations to visit if you’re traveling with kids. But there are also amazing getaways if you’re a couple that wants to have a romantic time or if you’re traveling alone!
So if you’re looking for weekend getaways from Asheville, I got you covered! This list contains a large variety of amazing places to explore.
Weekend Trips from Asheville
Savannah
Distance from Asheville: 5 hours
Savannah is an amazing destination. You can reach this city in the state of Georgia in about 4 hours and 45 minutes by car, so it is a great destination for a weekend trip.
Savannah is a very old city. In fact, it is the oldest city in the state of Georgia, with it being founded in the year 1733.
The city has a beautiful historic district where you can see a lot of historic architecture that can be great to check out!
Also, the city has a lot of good museums that can be wonderful to visit during your trip. For example, the SCAD Museum of Art is a great one.
What’s nice about the city as well is that there are a lot of good restaurants that serve Southern cuisine that I’m sure you’ll like.
Charleston
Distance from Asheville: 4.5 hours
Charleston is another great place for a weekend trip from Asheville. You can reach Charleston in about 4.5 hours from Asheville when you travel by car.
You can find Charleston in the state of South Carolina and it is a very beautiful place to check out.
The city has a charming atmosphere!
Furthermore, you can see a lot of great examples of antebellum architecture in the city. Also, what’s nice is that there are very colorful houses in the city.
Also, Charleston has a lot of sights that can be great to check out. For example, you can go to the South Carolina Aquarium to learn about marine animals.
Charlotte
Distance from Asheville: 2 hours
Spending a weekend in the largest city of the state of North Carolina can be a great experience as well. By car, you can get to the city of Charlotte in about 2 hours, which is very doable for a weekend trip.
Charlotte has a lot of fun things to do and see.
For example, you can find several good museums in the city, such as the Mint Museum Uptown. Also, you can go to the NASCAR Hall of Fame if you like car racing.
Furthermore, there are several good places for entertainment. For example, you can go to the Belk Theatre at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center to see a performance. Or you can go to the Bank of America Stadium for great sports events.
Also, the amusement park Carowinds can be great to check out.
Knoxville
Distance from Asheville: 2 hours
By car, you can reach the city of Knoxville from Asheville in less than 2 hours, which makes it a great destination for a weekend trip.
Knoxville is a city that you can find in the state of Tennessee. Throughout history, the city of Knoxville played an important role. For example, it was the first capital of the state of Tennessee.
When you are in the city, there are so many great things to check out!
For example, you can go to Zoo Knoxville to see and learn about animals.
Also, you can check out the Sunsphere, which was built for the World’s Fair in 1982. This structure can be great to see from below, but you can also go to the top. From the top, you can get a great view of the city, which is nice.
Furthermore, you can go to the Knoxville Museum of Art to see a great collection of art, and there’s much more to discover in the city.
Cincinnati
Distance from Asheville: 5.5 hours
Cincinnati can be reached from Asheville in about 5.5 hours, which is still doable if you’re looking for weekend getaway from Asheville.
You can find this city in the state of Ohio and on the Ohio River.
Cincinnati has a lot of great sights that you can check out.
For example, you can go to the Cincinnati Art Museum when you are in Asheville.
Also, you can go to the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. This is a lovely place where you can learn about animals and see beautiful nature, which makes the place perfect for a relaxing walk.
Furthermore, if you like baseball, you can check out the Great American Ball Park. This is a baseball park where the Cincinnati Reds play their games.
Atlanta
Distance from Asheville: 3.5 hours
You can get to the city of Atlanta from Asheville as well. You can get here for a weekend trip in about 3.5 hours by car.
Atlanta is the capital of the state of Georgia and it is a city with a lot of different types of sights. Also, the city played an important role in several important events in history.
For example, it played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement, and you can find a variety of sights in the city that relate to this. For example, you can go to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.
Also, you can check out the Georgia Aquarium when you are visiting the city of Atlanta. This is a very large aquarium where you can see many thousands of marine animals and learn about them.
Furthermore, the World of Coca-Cola is a great place to visit as well. Here, you can learn about the very well-known soda brand.
Nashville
Distance from Asheville: 5 hours
The city of Nashville can be reached in about 5 hours from Asheville, which is very doable. Also, what’s great is that when you travel to the city, you also ride along the city of Knoxville. You can check out this city as well.
Nashville is a lovely city and the state capital of Tennessee.
The city is known as the Music City because of its musical heritage, and you can find several sights here that relate to that. For example, you can go to the iconic Ryman Auditorium to see a show.
Also, you can check out the Frist Art Museum to see great art.
Another iconic place to check out in the city is Centennial Park. This is a great place for a relaxing walk. Also, you can go here to see The Parthenon, which is a building that is based on its ancient namesake in the city of Athens, Greece.
Louisville
Distance from Asheville: 5.5 hours
You can get from Asheville to Louisville in about 5.5 hours. This is quite a long drive, but Louisville can be a great destination for a weekend getaway.
Louisville is the largest city that you can find in the state of Kentucky and it is one of the largest cities in the United States.
The city has a great atmosphere and is known for a variety of different things.
For example, the Kentucky Derby takes place here, and you can also find the Kentucky Derby Museum here to learn bout the event.
Also, you can find the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville. Here, you can learn about the life of the famous boxer.
Another highlight in the city is the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. This is a place where you can learn about the iconic Louisville slugger baseball bat.
Augusta
Distance from Asheville: 3 hours
Augusta, GA can be reached from Asheville in a bit more than 3 hours.
This city is one of the best weekend trips from Asheville because there is a lot to do here.
For example, you can check out the Augusta Riverwalk when you spend some time in the city. Here, you can have a relaxing time while checking out the river.
Also, you can go to the Augusta Museum of History and learn about the city’s history, which can be very interesting.
Another place that is great to visit is the Morris Museum of Art.
Furthermore, if you you want to see a show, you can do that at the Imperial Theatre. This is a beautiful venue where you can see all sorts of shows.
Bowling Green
Distance from Asheville: 5 hours
The city of Bowling Green can be reached from Asheville in a bit more than 5 hours. You can find this city very close to Nashville, so you can also combine a trip to both of these places.
In Bowling Green, you can check out the National Corvette Museum, which is a great museum that is dedicated to the iconic car model.
Furthermore, you could go to the Historic RailPark & Train Museum to learn about railway history and trains. You can find historic train cars here and lots of other objects.
Another museum that can be great to check out is the Kentucky Museum. Here, you can find a lot of interesting exhibits with historic items.
Also, the Baker Arboretum & Downing Museum is perfect to go to. This place has great nature, making it a great place for a relaxing walk.
Athens, GA
Distance from Asheville: 3 hours
The city of Athens, GA is also one of the best Asheville weekend getaways.
This city, also called the Classic City because of the architecture that you can find in the city and because its name is the same as the city of Athens in Greece, is lovely to visit.
You can find many great things to do and see in Athens.
For example, you can go to the Georgia Museum of Art when you are in Athens.
Furthermore, The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is a wonderful place with nature that is perfect if you want to relax.
Want to have a great night when doing this weekend trip to Athens? Then, you can go to the Georgia Theatre to see a show.
Lexington
Distance from Asheville: 4.5 hours
Lexington, a great city in the state of Kentucky, can be reached by car from Asheville in about 4 hours and 30 minutes.
This city is known for its horse farms and horse racing, and when you are in the city you can go to a place that relates to this.
For example, you can check out the Kentucky Horse Park when you are here.
Also, the Aviation Museum of Kentucky can be found here. This is a museum where you can learn about aviation history, which can be very interesting.
Furthermore, the Mary Todd Lincoln House is located in Lexington. This is the girlhood home of Mary Todd Lincoln, the wife of Abraham Lincoln. You can do a self-guided tour of this place and learn about history, which is very interesting.
Huntsville, AL
Distance from Asheville: 5 hours
You can reach the city of Huntsville from Asheville in about 5 hours, which is great for a weekend trip.
Huntsville is a city that you can find in the state of Alabama and it has a population that is a bit more than 200,000.
When you are in the city of Huntsville, there are a lot of great places to check out.
For example, you can go to the Huntsville Botanical Garden.
This is a botanical garden where you can find beautiful nature, and this place is perfect for a relaxing walk.
Also, you can check out the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. This is a museum where you can learn about space history, which can be very interesting.
Another great museum to check out if you like art is the Huntsville Museum of Art.
Winston-Salem
Distance from Asheville: 2 hours
Winston-Salem, located about 2 hours away from Asheville by car, is another lovely destination for a weekend getaway.
Winston-Salem is one of the most populous cities in the state of North Carolina and it is part of the Piedmont Triad region.
The city is very old and has a great atmosphere.
Furthermore, there are many great sights that you can check out when you are here.
For example, you can go to the Reynolda House Museum of American Art, which is a museum with an amazing permanent collection of art.
Also, Truist Stadium can be great if you like sports.
Another great place to go to is the Old Salem Museums & Gardens. Here, you can find several museums that all focus on history.
And if you like contemporary art, you can go to the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art.
Richmond
Distance from Asheville: 5.5 hours
Richmond, VA, the capital of Virginia can be great to visit for a weekend. This is one of the USA’s oldest cities and you can find a lot of historic places here.
You can reach the city of Richmon from Asheville in about 5.5 hours, which is perfect for a weekend trip.
A great historic building to check out in the city is the Virginia State Capitol.
Another interesting place to visit is the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. This is a museum with a very large collection of all kinds of works of art.
Also, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden can be great to go to. This is a garden with beautiful nature that is the perfect place for a relaxing walk.
Another good museum to go to is the Science Museum of Virginia. You can learn about many disciplines of science here.
Montgomery
Distance from Asheville: 6 hours
Montgomery in Alabama can be reached from Asheville in a bit less than 6 hours. This is a long drive, but it’s still one of the best Asheville weekend trips because the city is definitely worth it. Also, you can break this long drive in half by stopping in Atlanta along the way.
Montgomery is the capital of its state, and the city is known for its role in the Civil Rights movement. If you want to learn about this movement, you can go to The Legacy Museum.
Also, the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church is a historic site that can be interesting to check out. Martin Luther King Jr. was the pastor of this church.
Another place to visit is the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. This is a museum where you can find a collection of very good art.
Furthermore, the restaurant scene of Montgomery can be great to explore when you are spending a weekend here.
Chattanooga
Distance from Asheville: 3.5 hours
The drive from Asheville to this next city is 3.5 hours in total. You can visit Chattanooga in Tennessee.
This is a city with a large variety of attractions.
For example, you can find the Tennessee Aquarium in this city. At this place, you can learn about all kinds of marine animals.
Also, you can go to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and learn about railway history.
Visiting the city of Chattanooga with children? Then, you can check out the Creative Discovery Museum. This is a place where children can learn about science in a playful way.
Furthermore, the Hunter Museum of American Art is great if you want to see a great collection of art.
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Asheville Weekend Trips Tips
The weekend getaways from Asheville in this article vary a lot. This means that depending on what you like best, certain destinations will be better for you. You should consider what you like most when choosing which getaway you are going to do.
For example, in the city of Chattanooga, you can find a lot of interesting museums. So if you want to learn new things, this can be a great place for you.
Also, the city of Huntsville in Alabama has a lot of great nature and art, which can also be great to see.
Can’t choose? Then, you could also combine going to several of the places on this list.
Weekend Getaways from Asheville Map
This was my guide to the best weekend trips from Asheville, NC. I hope you like the destinations!