Comparison · Asheville vs Atlanta · United States
Asheville vs Atlanta
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Asheville for Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway and free sights; choose Atlanta for Martin Luther King Jr. and civil rights history. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 265 km (165 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 265 km (165 mi)
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Asheville
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Atlanta
- April–May and October–November
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Side by side
| Asheville | Atlanta | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway and Craft beer | Martin Luther King Jr., Civil rights history and Georgia Aquarium |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | April–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$220–350 | US$200–350 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 29°C (84°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 9°C (48°F) | January, 12°C (54°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | AVL, GSP, CLT | ATL |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Asheville in June–September, and Atlanta in March–April and November–December. Both are at their best in May and October.
| Month | Asheville | Atlanta | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9°C (48°F), 11 rainy days | 12°C (54°F), 11 rainy days | No clear pick |
| February | 11°C (52°F), 10 rainy days | 15°C (59°F), 10 rainy days | No clear pick |
| March | 16°C (61°F), 11 rainy days | 19°C (66°F), 10 rainy days · shoulder season | Atlanta |
| April | 20°C (68°F), 10 rainy days · shoulder season | 23°C (73°F), 9 rainy days · best time | Atlanta |
| May | 24°C (75°F), 12 rainy days · best time | 27°C (81°F), 9 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| June | 27°C (81°F), 12 rainy days · best time | 31°C (88°F), 11 rainy days | Asheville |
| July | 29°C (84°F), 13 rainy days · shoulder season | 32°C (90°F), 12 rainy days | Asheville |
| August | 28°C (82°F), 12 rainy days · shoulder season | 32°C (90°F), 10 rainy days | Asheville |
| September | 25°C (77°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 29°C (84°F), 7 rainy days · shoulder season | Asheville |
| October | 20°C (68°F), 8 rainy days · best time | 23°C (73°F), 7 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| November | 15°C (59°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | 18°C (64°F), 8 rainy days · best time | Atlanta |
| December | 10°C (50°F), 10 rainy days | 13°C (55°F), 10 rainy days · shoulder season | Atlanta |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Asheville for…
Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway and free sights. Asheville sits at about 650 metres in a bowl of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the Swannanoa River meets the French Broad. George Vanderbilt's Biltmore, the largest privately owned house in the United States, lies on its southern edge, and the Blue Ridge…
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Choose Atlanta for…
Martin Luther King Jr. and civil rights history. Atlanta is the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. and the city that reshaped itself for the 1996 Olympics, and both stories are easy to trace: King's birth home, Ebenezer Baptist Church and his tomb line Auburn Avenue, while Centennial Olympic Park anchors…
Top sights compared
| # | Asheville | Atlanta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biltmore Estate | Georgia Aquarium |
| 2 | Blue Ridge Parkway | Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park |
| 3 | Folk Art Center | National Center for Civil and Human Rights |
| 4 | River Arts District | World of Coca-Cola |
| 5 | Grove Arcade | BeltLine Eastside Trail |
Food compared
| Asheville | Atlanta |
|---|---|
| Biscuits | Lemon pepper wings |
| Mountain trout | Fried chicken and the meat-and-three |
| Ramps | The Varsity chili dog |
| Sourwood honey | Shrimp and grits |
Which is cheaper?
Asheville and Atlanta cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly US$220–350 in Asheville and US$200–350 in Atlanta (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Atlanta on a budget.
Asheville or Atlanta from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Asheville | Atlanta | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | Same time | Same time |
| Time vs Los Angeles | +3 h | +3 h |
| From New York (JFK) | 590 mi (950 km) | 752 mi (1,210 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 2,030 mi (3,260 km) | 1,940 mi (3,130 km) |
| U.S. plugs | U.S. plugs fit | U.S. plugs fit |
From New York, Asheville is about 162 miles (261 km) closer than Atlanta in a straight line.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Asheville and Atlanta are about 265 km (165 mi) apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Asheville and 3 in Atlanta.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Asheville or Atlanta cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about US$220–350 in Asheville and US$200–350 in Atlanta (estimates).
+Is Asheville or Atlanta better for a first trip?
Pick Asheville for Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway and free sights, or Atlanta for Martin Luther King Jr. and civil rights history.
+How far is Asheville from Atlanta?
About 265 km (165 mi) in a straight line.