Comparison · Asheville vs Sedona · United States
Asheville vs Sedona
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, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife; choose Sedona for red rock buttes and hiking. Asheville is generally less expensive, and the two are about 2,644 km (1,643 mi) apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 2,644 km (1,643 mi)
- Less expensive
- Asheville
- Best time for Asheville
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Sedona
- March–May and September–November
Plan either trip
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Side by side
| Asheville | Sedona | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway and Craft beer | Red rock buttes, Hiking and Cathedral Rock |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | March–May and September–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | US$220–350 | US$260–450 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 29°C (84°F) | July, 36°C (97°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 9°C (48°F) | December, 13°C (55°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | AVL, GSP, CLT | PHX, FLG |
Month by month
Going by our guides' own ratings, the better pick is Asheville in June–August, and Sedona in February–April and November–December. Both are at their best in May and September–October.
| Month | Asheville | Sedona | Better pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9°C (48°F), 11 rainy days | 14°C (57°F), 5 rainy days | No clear pick |
| February | 11°C (52°F), 10 rainy days | 16°C (61°F), 5 rainy days · shoulder season | Sedona |
| March | 16°C (61°F), 11 rainy days | 18°C (64°F), 5 rainy days · best time | Sedona |
| April | 20°C (68°F), 10 rainy days · shoulder season | 23°C (73°F), 3 rainy days · best time | Sedona |
| May | 24°C (75°F), 12 rainy days · best time | 28°C (82°F), 2 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| June | 27°C (81°F), 12 rainy days · best time | 33°C (91°F), 1 rainy day | Asheville |
| July | 29°C (84°F), 13 rainy days · shoulder season | 36°C (97°F), 6 rainy days · best avoided | Asheville |
| August | 28°C (82°F), 12 rainy days · shoulder season | 34°C (93°F), 8 rainy days · best avoided | Asheville |
| September | 25°C (77°F), 9 rainy days · best time | 31°C (88°F), 4 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| October | 20°C (68°F), 8 rainy days · best time | 25°C (77°F), 3 rainy days · best time | Both at their best |
| November | 15°C (59°F), 9 rainy days · shoulder season | 18°C (64°F), 3 rainy days · best time | Sedona |
| December | 10°C (50°F), 10 rainy days | 13°C (55°F), 4 rainy days · shoulder season | Sedona |
Which one is right for you?

Choose Asheville for…
Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. 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 Sedona for…
Red rock buttes and hiking. Sedona is a small town of about 10,000 people at roughly 1,300 metres, surrounded by towering red sandstone buttes such as Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte in the Coconino National Forest. Most visits revolve around hiking, jeep tours and…
Top sights compared
| # | Asheville | Sedona |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biltmore Estate | Cathedral Rock |
| 2 | Blue Ridge Parkway | Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte |
| 3 | Folk Art Center | Chapel of the Holy Cross |
| 4 | River Arts District | Devil's Bridge |
| 5 | Grove Arcade | Red Rock State Park |
Food compared
| Asheville | Sedona |
|---|---|
| Biscuits | Prickly pear margarita |
| Mountain trout | Navajo taco |
| Ramps | Elote |
| Sourwood honey | Green chile |
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$260–450 in Sedona (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Asheville on a budget.
Asheville or Sedona from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones and airport coordinates: straight-line distances, not flight routes.
| Asheville | Sedona | |
|---|---|---|
| Time vs New York | Same time | −2 h Jan, −3 h Jul |
| Time vs Los Angeles | +3 h | +1 h Jan, Same Jul |
| From New York (JFK) | 590 mi (950 km) | 2,100 mi (3,370 km) |
| From Los Angeles (LAX) | 2,030 mi (3,260 km) | 384 mi (618 km) |
| U.S. plugs | U.S. plugs fit | U.S. plugs fit |
From New York, Asheville is about 1,510 miles (2,420 km) closer than Sedona in a straight line. Asheville is also the smaller time change: 0 hours from New York in January, against 2 for Sedona.
Can you visit both?
They are about 2,644 km (1,643 mi) apart, so combining them means a flight. With 7 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Asheville or Sedona cheaper?
Asheville is usually less expensive: about US$220–350 a day mid-range against US$260–450 (estimates).
+Is Asheville or Sedona better for a first trip?
Pick Asheville for Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife, or Sedona for red rock buttes and hiking.
+How far is Asheville from Sedona?
About 2,644 km (1,643 mi) in a straight line.