Asheville Travel and Things to Do Guide
Elevated meetings start in Asheville. With its spectacular scenery, celebrated local cuisine, and impressive range of services, Asheville represents an exceptional destination for your next meeting or convention. Easy to get to from most places in the U.S., Asheville’s mild climate and many group-friendly activities make it popular with attendees. For many familiar with its vibrant mountain beauty, thriving artisan community and proximity to such extraordinary venues as Biltmore Estate, Asheville is a beloved destination. Travel + Leisure named it one of the 50 best places to travel in 2020, saying, “With a small-town feel and big-city cultural cred, Asheville, North Carolina is home to…new offerings that showcase the sophisticated side of Appalachia.” Meeting venues in Asheville are abundant, from grand resorts like The Omni Grove Park Inn to beautiful mountain farm settings.
For planners seeking a meeting location that is easy to get to, Asheville is the premier Southeast mountain destination. With half of the U.S. population living within 600 miles of Asheville, potential meeting attendees are already nearby, and many are within easy driving distance. Two major interstates (I-26 & I-40) connect Asheville to a multitude of other cities. Just 20 minutes from the Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), Asheville is easily accessible by air with service to 17 destinations, including six international hubs. The Asheville Regional Airport has consistently ranked as one of the fastest growing airports in the country. In 2019, AVL served 1.6 million passengers, marking its sixth consecutive year of record growth. Once in town, visitors to Asheville find getting around the city easy and affordable. Taxis and rideshares are plentiful in Asheville, and rental cars remain an attractive option for visitors. Asheville Rides Transit (ART) operates a convenient system of buses that cover most of the area.
From grand resorts and elegant inns to modern boutique properties, Asheville has accommodations for a variety of meeting sizes. Our wide range of meeting properties includes the iconic Omni Grove Park Inn and the Biltmore Estate. Recent downtown development has brought new meeting hotels that offer walkable access to our celebrated independent restaurant and craft beverage scenes, with many offering rooftop spaces. Our scenic mountain location includes venues with breathtaking views and wide-open spaces, as well as accessible adventure opportunities like hiking, rafting, and outdoor yoga practices. Asheville’s largest meeting facilities include downtown's Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville, which provides more than 83,000 square feet of space, and the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center, which has over 65,000 square feet of enclosed meeting space. Whether your group is large or small, it will find the perfect fit in Asheville.
(This information was last updated in October of 2020.)
For planners seeking a meeting location that is easy to get to, Asheville is the premier Southeast mountain destination. With half of the U.S. population living within 600 miles of Asheville, potential meeting attendees are already nearby, and many are within easy driving distance. Two major interstates (I-26 & I-40) connect Asheville to a multitude of other cities. Just 20 minutes from the Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), Asheville is easily accessible by air with service to 17 destinations, including six international hubs. The Asheville Regional Airport has consistently ranked as one of the fastest growing airports in the country. In 2019, AVL served 1.6 million passengers, marking its sixth consecutive year of record growth. Once in town, visitors to Asheville find getting around the city easy and affordable. Taxis and rideshares are plentiful in Asheville, and rental cars remain an attractive option for visitors. Asheville Rides Transit (ART) operates a convenient system of buses that cover most of the area.
From grand resorts and elegant inns to modern boutique properties, Asheville has accommodations for a variety of meeting sizes. Our wide range of meeting properties includes the iconic Omni Grove Park Inn and the Biltmore Estate. Recent downtown development has brought new meeting hotels that offer walkable access to our celebrated independent restaurant and craft beverage scenes, with many offering rooftop spaces. Our scenic mountain location includes venues with breathtaking views and wide-open spaces, as well as accessible adventure opportunities like hiking, rafting, and outdoor yoga practices. Asheville’s largest meeting facilities include downtown's Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville, which provides more than 83,000 square feet of space, and the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center, which has over 65,000 square feet of enclosed meeting space. Whether your group is large or small, it will find the perfect fit in Asheville.
(This information was last updated in October of 2020.)
Weather and Seasonality
Ringed by the highest mountains east of the Mississippi, Asheville sits on a plain atop the Blue Ridge escarpment at an altitude of 2,134 feet. The region has four distinct seasons, as well as a temperate climate year-round. Spring comes early in the mountains and lasts from early March to late May. Warm summer days (which rarely top 85 degrees) invariably give way to cool, refreshing evening temperatures. Thanks to altitude and geology, the fall season extends from September to mid-November. In winter, Asheville is protected by the surrounding mountains from extreme weather.
With the warmest month being July and winter hitting its peak in January, average temperatures in summer tend to be in the low 80s and winter temperatures average in the mid-40s. Asheville receives an average of 37 inches of rainfall throughout the year. Due to its mountainous location, Asheville also receives snow in the winter months, making it a fantastic skiing destination.
With the warmest month being July and winter hitting its peak in January, average temperatures in summer tend to be in the low 80s and winter temperatures average in the mid-40s. Asheville receives an average of 37 inches of rainfall throughout the year. Due to its mountainous location, Asheville also receives snow in the winter months, making it a fantastic skiing destination.
| Month | High/Low °F | Seasonality |
|---|---|---|
| January | 47°/28° | Low |
| February | 50°/30° | Low |
| March | 57°/35° | Low |
| April | 68°/45° | Medium |
| May | 76°/53° | Medium |
| June | 82°/60° | High |
| July | 84°/63° | High |
| August | 83°/62° | High |
| September | 77°/56° | Medium |
| October | 68°/45° | Medium |
| November | 57°/35° | Low |
| December | 48°/29° | Low |
