Comparison · Asheville vs Nashville · United States
Asheville vs Nashville
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 Nashville for country music and Honky-tonks on Broadway. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 386 km (240 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 386 km (240 mi)
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Asheville
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Nashville
- April–May and September–October
Plan either trip
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Side by side
| Asheville | Nashville | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway and Craft beer | Country music, Honky-tonks on Broadway and Grand Ole Opry |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$220–350 | US$220–360 |
| 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, 9°C (48°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | AVL, GSP, CLT | BNA |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Asheville in June–August, and Nashville in March–April. Both are at their best in May and September–October.
| Month | Asheville | Nashville | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9°C (48°F), 11 rainy days | 9°C (48°F), 11 rainy days | No clear pick |
| February | 11°C (52°F), 10 rainy days | 12°C (54°F), 11 rainy days | No clear pick |
| March | 16°C (61°F), 11 rainy days | 17°C (63°F), 12 rainy days · shoulder season | Nashville |
| April | 20°C (68°F), 10 rainy days · shoulder season | 22°C (72°F), 11 rainy days · best time | Nashville |
| May | 24°C (75°F), 12 rainy days · best time | 26°C (79°F), 12 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| June | 27°C (81°F), 12 rainy days · best time | 30°C (86°F), 11 rainy days · shoulder season | Asheville |
| July | 29°C (84°F), 13 rainy days · shoulder season | 32°C (90°F), 10 rainy days | Asheville |
| August | 28°C (82°F), 12 rainy days · shoulder season | 32°C (90°F), 9 rainy days | Asheville |
| September | 25°C (77°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 28°C (82°F), 8 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| October | 20°C (68°F), 8 rainy days · best time | 23°C (73°F), 8 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| November | 15°C (59°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | 16°C (61°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | Either: shoulder season |
| December | 10°C (50°F), 10 rainy days | 11°C (52°F), 11 rainy days | No clear pick |
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…
.jpg){kind=link}
Choose Nashville for…
Country music and Honky-tonks on Broadway. Nashville, Tennessee's capital on the Cumberland River, is the centre of the country-music industry, earning it the nickname Music City. Lower Broadway's honky-tonks play live music from late morning until late at night, while the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand…
Top sights compared
| # | Asheville | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biltmore Estate | Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum |
| 2 | Blue Ridge Parkway | Ryman Auditorium |
| 3 | Folk Art Center | Grand Ole Opry |
| 4 | River Arts District | Lower Broadway honky-tonks |
| 5 | Grove Arcade | Johnny Cash Museum |
Food compared
| Asheville | Nashville |
|---|---|
| Biscuits | Nashville hot chicken |
| Mountain trout | Meat-and-three |
| Ramps | Biscuits |
| Sourwood honey | Whole-hog barbecue |
Which is cheaper?
Asheville and Nashville cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly US$220–350 in Asheville and US$220–360 in Nashville (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Asheville on a budget.
Asheville or Nashville from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Asheville | Nashville | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | Same time | −1 h |
| Time vs Los Angeles | +3 h | +2 h |
| From New York (JFK) | 590 mi (950 km) | 768 mi (1,240 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 2,030 mi (3,260 km) | 1,790 mi (2,880 km) |
| U.S. plugs | U.S. plugs fit | U.S. plugs fit |
From New York, Asheville is about 178 miles (286 km) closer than Nashville in a straight line. Asheville is also the smaller time change: 0 hours from New York in January, against 1 for Nashville.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Asheville and Nashville are about 386 km (240 mi) apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Asheville and 3 in Nashville.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Asheville or Nashville cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about US$220–350 in Asheville and US$220–360 in Nashville (estimates).
+Is Asheville or Nashville better for a first trip?
Pick Asheville for Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway and free sights, or Nashville for country music and Honky-tonks on Broadway.
+How far is Asheville from Nashville?
About 386 km (240 mi) in a straight line.