Month guide · Asheville · United States
Asheville in January
What January is really like in Asheville: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Biltmore Estate, Asheville · Photo: Blake Lewis, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 9°C (48°F), lows of -3°C (27°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 10 hours of daylight. Cold with occasional snow; the parkway may close at higher elevations, but downtown is quiet and hotels cheap.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 9°C (48°F) / -3°C (27°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 10 hours
- Crowds
- Very quiet
- Hotel prices
- Lowest
Plan a trip to Asheville
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Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Asheville: days average 9°C (48°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about -3°C (27°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with December (10°C (50°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs climb to around 11°C (52°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:39
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:40
- Daylight
- About 10 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, January rates 1 for crowds (the peak is October at 5) and 1 for hotel prices (highest in October). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Christmas at Biltmore ends (usually early January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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
Historic site · Downtown Asheville
Thomas Wolfe Memorial
Novelist Thomas Wolfe grew up in this rambling boarding house, run by his mother and immortalised as 'Dixieland' in his 1929 novel Look Homeward, Angel.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
What to pack
For highs near 9°C (48°F), lows near -3°C (27°F) and 11 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 January 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 January?
At about 17:40 local time in mid-January, with sunrise at about 07:39: roughly 10 hours of daylight.
+How warm is Asheville in January?
Average highs are around 9°C (48°F) and lows around -3°C (27°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Asheville in January?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.