Getting around · Asheville · United States
Getting around Asheville
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: River Arts District, Asheville · Photo: Tunneluser, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Downtown Asheville and the South Slope are walkable, but Biltmore, the parkway and most day trips need a car. The city's ART bus network links downtown with Biltmore Village, West Asheville and other neighbourhoods. Yes for most trips.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Car
- Airports
- AVL, GSP, CLT
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Plan a trip to Asheville
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Ways to get around
Car
A car is the easiest way to reach the Biltmore Estate, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the arboretum and the mountains. Interstates 26, 40 and 240 run around the city.
Check road closures before driving the parkway or mountain routes, especially in winter and after storms.
Walking
Downtown, the South Slope and Montford are compact and walkable, though the streets are hilly.
Bus
ART (Asheville Redefines Transit) buses run from the downtown transit centre to Biltmore Village, West Asheville, the airport and other areas, though service can be infrequent.
Ride-hailing
Uber, Lyft and local taxis are useful for evenings, the airport and brewery outings.
From the airport
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is about 25 km south of downtown, around 20–25 minutes by car. Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) is about 100 km away and Charlotte (CLT) about 200 km, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes and 2 hours by car.
Do you need a car?
Yes for most trips. Downtown is walkable, but Biltmore, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the mountains are far easier with a car.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park via Cherokee | About 1 hour 15 minutes | Car |
| Hendersonville | About 30 minutes | Car |
| Black Mountain | About 25 minutes | Car via Interstate 40 |
| Carl Sandburg Home | About 35 minutes | Car |
| Brevard and DuPont State Recreational Forest | About 50 minutes | Car |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Asheville?
Yes for most trips. Downtown is walkable, but Biltmore, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the mountains are far easier with a car.
+How do you get from the airport to Asheville?
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is about 25 km south of downtown, around 20–25 minutes by car. Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) is about 100 km away and Charlotte (CLT) about 200 km, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes and 2 hours by car.
+What is the best way to get around Asheville?
Car: A car is the easiest way to reach the Biltmore Estate, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the arboretum and the mountains. Interstates 26, 40 and 240 run around the city.