Month guide · Asheville · United States
Asheville in December
What December is really like in Asheville: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Asheville Art Museum, Asheville · Photo: Davidhuffcreative, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 10°C (50°F), lows of -1°C (30°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 9.8 hours of daylight. Cold, festive and busy around the holidays; candlelit evenings at Biltmore sell out.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 10°C (50°F) / -1°C (30°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Plan a trip to Asheville
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Asheville: days average 10°C (50°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about -1°C (30°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with November (15°C (59°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 9°C (48°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:33
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 17:19
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold with occasional snow, parkway closures at elevation, Christmas at Biltmore and low prices outside the holidays.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is October at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in October). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in December
- Christmas at Biltmore candlelight evenings (December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Experience · Downtown Asheville
Pritchard Park drum circle
For more than two decades, drummers, dancers and onlookers have gathered in this small downtown park on Friday evenings in the warmer months.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Kids
Gallery · Blue Ridge Parkway
Folk Art Center
Ask about the day's craft demonstrations, and combine your visit with a short drive along the parkway.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Shopping
- Rainy day
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Architecture · Downtown Asheville
Grove Arcade
Opened in 1929 as one of the first indoor shopping centres in the country, the Grove Arcade fills a downtown block with a Tudor-Gothic facade, carved griffins and a skylit interior arcade.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Museum · Downtown Asheville
Asheville Art Museum
Go up to the rooftop sculpture terrace for the view, and look for works by Black Mountain College artists in the permanent galleries.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Views
What to pack
For highs near 10°C (50°F), lows near -1°C (30°F) and 10 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Asheville?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Asheville in other months
Questions travellers ask
+What time does the sun set in Asheville in December?
At about 17:19 local time in mid-December, with sunrise at about 07:33: roughly 9.8 hours of daylight.
+How warm is Asheville in December?
Average highs are around 10°C (50°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Asheville in December?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.