Comparison · Asheville vs Charleston · United States
Asheville vs Charleston
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 and Blue Ridge Parkway; choose Charleston for Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter, beaches and a milder winter. Asheville is generally less expensive, and the two are about 395 km (246 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 395 km (246 mi)
- Less expensive
- Asheville
- Best time for Asheville
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Charleston
- March–May and October–November
Plan either trip
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Side by side
| Asheville | Charleston | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway and Craft beer | Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter and Lowcountry cuisine |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$220–350 | US$250–400 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 29°C (84°F) | July, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 9°C (48°F) | January, 15°C (59°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | Folly Beach |
| Airports | AVL, GSP, CLT | CHS |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Asheville in June–September, and Charleston in February–April and November–December. Both are at their best in May and October.
| Month | Asheville | Charleston | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9°C (48°F), 11 rainy days | 15°C (59°F), 9 rainy days | No clear pick |
| February | 11°C (52°F), 10 rainy days | 17°C (63°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | Charleston |
| March | 16°C (61°F), 11 rainy days | 21°C (70°F), 9 rainy days · best time | Charleston |
| April | 20°C (68°F), 10 rainy days · shoulder season | 25°C (77°F), 7 rainy days · best time | Charleston |
| May | 24°C (75°F), 12 rainy days · best time | 28°C (82°F), 8 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| June | 27°C (81°F), 12 rainy days · best time | 31°C (88°F), 12 rainy days · shoulder season | Asheville |
| July | 29°C (84°F), 13 rainy days · shoulder season | 33°C (91°F), 14 rainy days | Asheville |
| August | 28°C (82°F), 12 rainy days · shoulder season | 32°C (90°F), 14 rainy days | Asheville |
| September | 25°C (77°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 29°C (84°F), 10 rainy days | Asheville |
| October | 20°C (68°F), 8 rainy days · best time | 25°C (77°F), 6 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| November | 15°C (59°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | 21°C (70°F), 6 rainy days · best time | Charleston |
| December | 10°C (50°F), 10 rainy days | 17°C (63°F), 8 rainy days · shoulder season | Charleston |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Asheville for…
Biltmore Estate and Blue Ridge Parkway. 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…
Choose Charleston for…
Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter, beaches and a milder winter. Charleston sits on a narrow peninsula between the Ashley and Cooper rivers, and its historic core — from the Battery north to Marion Square — is small enough to walk in a day. Its streets of single houses with side piazzas, church steeples and gas lamps are…
Top sights compared
| # | Asheville | Charleston |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biltmore Estate | The Battery and White Point Garden |
| 2 | Blue Ridge Parkway | Rainbow Row |
| 3 | Folk Art Center | Fort Sumter National Monument |
| 4 | River Arts District | Charleston City Market |
| 5 | Grove Arcade | Joe Riley Waterfront Park |
Food compared
| Asheville | Charleston |
|---|---|
| Biscuits | Shrimp and grits |
| Mountain trout | She-crab soup |
| Ramps | Lowcountry boil |
| Sourwood honey | Oyster roast |
Which is cheaper?
Asheville is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about US$220–350 per person there, against US$250–400 in Charleston (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Asheville on a budget.
Asheville or Charleston from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Asheville | Charleston | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | Same time | Same time |
| Time vs Los Angeles | +3 h | +3 h |
| From New York (JFK) | 590 mi (950 km) | 641 mi (1,030 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 2,030 mi (3,260 km) | 2,210 mi (3,550 km) |
| U.S. plugs | U.S. plugs fit | U.S. plugs fit |
From New York, Asheville is about 51 miles (82 km) closer than Charleston in a straight line.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Asheville and Charleston are about 395 km (246 mi) apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Asheville and 4 in Charleston.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Asheville or Charleston cheaper?
Asheville is usually less expensive: about US$220–350 a day mid-range against US$250–400 (estimates).
+Is Asheville or Charleston better for a first trip?
Pick Asheville for Biltmore Estate and Blue Ridge Parkway, or Charleston for Rainbow Row, Fort Sumter, beaches and a milder winter.
+How far is Asheville from Charleston?
About 395 km (246 mi) in a straight line.