Solo travel · Asheville · United States
Solo travel in Asheville
How to enjoy Asheville at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Asheville Art Museum, Asheville · Photo: Davidhuffcreative, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Asheville is friendly for solo travellers, with walkable downtown streets, chatty brewery bars and an easy-going crowd. A car makes the mountains much more accessible. Many solo travellers base themselves in South Slope.
Key facts
- Base
- South Slope
- Getting around
- Car
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Language
- English
Plan a trip to Asheville
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Solo travel tips
- Stay downtown or on the South Slope to walk to restaurants and breweries.
- Brewery bars and food trucks are easy places to meet people.
- Tell someone your plans before hiking alone, as mobile coverage is patchy in the mountains.
- Join a guided brewery or food tour to meet other travellers.
- Midweek visits outside October bring much lower single-room rates.
Where to stay
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers and solo travellers
South Slope
On the slope south of downtown, former warehouses and car dealerships along Coxe Avenue, Banks Avenue and Hilliard Avenue now hold a dense cluster of breweries and taprooms, along with restaurants and a few hotels. It is walkable from downtown, so you can hop between taprooms without driving.
- Good
- Walk between many breweries; Close to downtown; Lively in the evening
- Watch out
- Can be loud at night; More bars than sights
- Nearby
- Downtown Asheville, Coxe Avenue, Pack Square
Great on your own
Palace · Biltmore Village
Biltmore Estate
Book the earliest house entry, then spend the afternoon in the gardens and at the winery; the estate is large, so allow a full day.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Couples
- Kids
Nature · Around Asheville
Blue Ridge Parkway
Sections of the parkway close for winter weather and storm repairs, and some were damaged by Hurricane Helene; check the National Park Service road status before you set off.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Iconic
- Photo spot
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
Neighbourhood · River Arts District
River Arts District
Check which studios are open before you go, and buy directly from artists to support the district's recovery.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Shopping
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Architecture · Downtown Asheville
Grove Arcade
Look at the winged lions guarding the north entrance, then walk to Battery Park Book Exchange for a drink among the books.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Architecture · Downtown Asheville
Downtown Art Deco walk
Start at City Hall and the Buncombe County Courthouse on Pack Square, and follow the downtown Urban Trail markers set into the pavement.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Meeting people
- Brewery hop — Walk the South Slope brewery district for tasting flights, then finish at a downtown rooftop bar.
- Western North Carolina Farmers Market — The state-run market near the Biltmore Estate sells regional produce, honey, jams and crafts year-round, with seasonal apples and pumpkins in autumn.
- South Slope — The densest cluster of breweries and taprooms, within easy walking distance of downtown.
- Downtown — Rooftop bars, cocktail lounges and live music venues around Pack Square and Lexington Avenue.
Sensible precautions
Downtown is generally safe with normal precautions. In the mountains, weather changes quickly, roads are winding and black bears are present, so store food properly. Some trails, roads and riverside areas were damaged by Hurricane Helene in 2024; check closures before heading out.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Staying connected
- Mobile coverage is good in the city but patchy on the Blue Ridge Parkway and in the national forests; download maps offline.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Asheville good for solo travellers?
Asheville is friendly for solo travellers, with walkable downtown streets, chatty brewery bars and an easy-going crowd. A car makes the mountains much more accessible.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Asheville?
South Slope: The brewery district, a few blocks south of Pack Square.