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Travel Updates to Western North Carolina
Re-Opening and Reinventing Your Visit
Updated January 7, 2024
Welcome back to the mountains!
As we all navigate the reopening of Western North Carolina for travelers and locals, we would like to update those who wish to visit WNC this winter season. We have great news: much of our area is now open for business!
See more specific information below as of January 7, 2025 – providing alternative things to do and top attractions. We will continue to update, but please use the links below to see the most updated information.
Here are some tips and updates to consider for your trip to the mountains:
For the most up-to-date, statewide information, go to VisitNC.com. ​
​The latest road openings and closures can be found at DriveNC.gov.
Top Five Reasons People Travel to Asheville:
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Biltmore Estate - OPEN! Winter at Biltmore 2025 January 6 - March 20, 2025. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3PoLRvy
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Blue Ridge Parkway - CLOSED with partial openings. Winter Weather Closure Date Posted: 12/10/2024 Closure due to winter weather conditions. Recreation of any kind is not permitted in any Parkway closure area due to potentially unstable landscape in the post Helene environment.
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The Arts - River Arts District - Reopening as of November 10, there are galleries, shops, and some dining open.
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Biltmore Village - CLOSED for the foreseeable future. You can drive through the village, but it remains 95% closed.
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NC Arboretum - OPEN!​​​
Photo: Biltmore Estate from a past winter season.
By Area / City / Town
Places mentioned below are in and around Asheville within 30 minutes drive:
Asheville - OPEN! See Explore Asheville to verify specific locations
Black Mountain - OPEN! See Visit Black Mountain and their Facebook page for updates.
Brevard - OPEN! See Explore Brevard to verify specific locations
Bryson City - OPEN! See Explore Bryson City to verify specific locations
Hendersonville - OPEN! See Visit Henderson to verify specific locations
Highlands / Cashiers - OPEN! See Highlands Chamber of Commerce to verify specific locations
Sylva / Cullowhee - OPEN! See Discover Jackson County to verify specific locations
Waynesville - OPEN! See Visit Haywood to verify specific locations
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​Burnsville - CLOSED until further notice
Lake Lure - CLOSED until further notice
Marshall - CLOSED until further notice
Spruce Pine - CLOSED until further notice
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Photo: Talented local photographer, André Daughtery.
Outdoor Activities
For specific WNC trail status & updates for outdoor recreation areas, please refer to the US Forest Service website here.
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For all state park closures, go here.
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Asheville
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Asheville is OPEN - See more current updates on Visit Asheville Travel Update.
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NC Arboretum OPEN as of Oct. 28​.
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North Asheville Beaver Lake - OPEN Bird Sanctuary + Nature Walk.
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Bent Creek Forest - OPEN Asheville near the NC Arboretum.
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City Parks - Some are OPEN, see current updates on the Buncombe County website.
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Black Mountain
Black Mountain is OPEN - Please click on Black Mountain Recovery or Visit Black Mountain for more information about town specifics.
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Brevard
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For specific outdoor adventure information and things to do in Brevard, go to Explore Brevard.
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These outdoor recreation sites below are considered OPEN for outdoor adventure:
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Pisgah National Forest in Brevard, more info: Pisgah Ranger Station.
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Pink Beds Trail - OPEN, only accessible through Brevard, NC
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Cradle of Forestry - OPEN, Updates are on their Facebook page
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Bracken Preserve in Brevard - OPEN
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Estatoe Trail (Hike/bike path near Downtown Brevard) - OPEN
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Dupont State Forest - OPEN
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Bryson City
Bryson City is OPEN to visitors - Please click on Explore Bryson City for more information about town specifics​.
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Hendersonville
Hendersonville is OPEN to visitors - Please click on Visit Henderson for more information about town specifics.
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Waynesville
Waynesville is OPEN to visitors - Please click on Visit Haywood for more information about town specifics.
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Weaverville
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Weaverville is OPEN to visitors - Town of Weaverville - Travel Updates
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For all Weaverville Recreation - Learn more here
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Nature Trail from Main Street - OPEN
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Lake Louise - Walking Trail​ - OPEN​​
Photo: Explore Brevard
Biltmore Estate
Winter at Biltmore 2025 January 6 - March 20, 2025
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Chihuly at the Biltmore Estate. Ends February 2, 2025.
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​Explore the Biltmore Estate Grounds & Established Itineraries
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Biltmore Estate Helene Response
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Photo: Biltmore Estate from a past winter season.
NC Arboretum
Food & Drink
Places mentioned below are in and around Asheville within 30 minutes drive:
Asheville
Please see the most updated list on the Asheville Independent Restaurants website.
Another resources is Explore Asheville and AVL Today.
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Brevard
See restaurant updates here, Explore Brevard
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Black Mountain
See restaurant updates here, Visit Black Mountain​
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Bryson City
See restaurant updates here, Explore Bryson City
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Hendersonville
See restaurant updates here, Visit Hendersonville
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Waynesville
See restaurant updates here, Visit Haywood
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Weaverville
See restaurant updates here, Town of Weaverville
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Photo: at Blue Mountain Pizza in Weaverville, by Kara Dahlberg
Retail Therapy
These RETAIL areas and links are OPEN for businesses. Please use the links to verify specific businesses' status or contact businesses directly for each area is providing their own timeline. Places mentioned below are in and around Asheville within 30 minutes drive:
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Asheville
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Black Mountain
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Brevard
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Bryson City
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Hendersonville
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Weaverville
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​​​​​​​​Waynesville
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Photo: Inside WAKE FOOT SANCTUARY at Grove Arcade Downtown Asheville.
Confirmed Events & Top Attractions
February - March EVENTS & TOP ATTRACTIONS
Top event recommendations from us at Asheville Bed & Breakfast Association:
​​​​​February 2025
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Visit Haywood Ice Fest Weekend - Ice Fest Weekend happening January 30 to February 2, 2025
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Stars Servin’ Up Love, A Celebrity Tennis Benefit for Western North Carolina. Get Tickets. February 2, 2025.
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Asheville's Restaurant Week, Round 2! February 17 - 23.
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Bluegrass First Class - February 14, 15, & 16, 2025, Crowne Plaza Resort.
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March 2025
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Mardi Gras Parade - March 2, 2025, South Slope – Downtown Asheville.
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Asheville's version of March Madness! - March 6–10, 2025 The 2025 Ingles Southern Conference (SoCon) Men's and Women's Basketball Championships will take place in Asheville, North Carolina.
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Rock & Roll Weekend at the Grove Park Inn - March 14 & 15, 2025, 8:00 - 9:30pm.
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Asheville Wine & Chocolate Festival - March 16 - 23, 2025, Harrah's Cherokee Center - Asheville.
Asheville
See events & updated openings here, Explore Asheville
This link includes: Asheville's entire December events calendar, live music events, festivals, this weekend events, nightlife, family friendly, free events, tours & experiences, and arts & culture
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Black Mountain
See events & updated openings here, Visit Black Mountain​
This link includes: Black Mountain's December events calendar and Holly Jolly annual event, Deck the Halls at Monte Vista Hotel, and Lake Tomahawk Circle of Lights
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Brevard
See events & updated openings here, Explore Brevard
This link includes: Brevard's entire December calendar featuring upcoming events, live music, festivals, and more
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Bryson City
See events & updated openings here, Explore Bryson City
The top holiday attraction for the holidays is OPEN - Check out the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Polar Express website, train is running on a regular schedule this year
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Hendersonville
See events & updated openings here, Visit Hendersonville
This link includes: Hendersonville's December events calendar, live music and Helene Benefit Events
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Weaverville
See events & updated openings here, Town of Weaverville and Visit Weaverville
This link includes: Weaverville's December events such as Candlelight Stroll - Happening December 6, 5pm - 8pm, Main Street Weaverville
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Waynesville
See events & updated openings here, Visit Haywood and Visit Downtown Waynesville
This link includes: ​ Waynesville's December Christmas Parade - Happening December 2​, (6pm - 7pm), live music, arts & craft fairs, festivals, and more
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The Arts
Places mentioned below are in and around Asheville within 30 minutes drive:
Asheville - For the entire vibrant art scene in Asheville, go to Explore Asheville
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Downtown Asheville: ​
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Asheville Art Museum - Wednesday–Sunday, 11 am-6 pm (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
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B&B Innkeeper Recommendations:​
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Custom Art Tours with Sherry Masters - Let Sherry be your personal tour guide to our area art galleries and studios​​
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Black Mountain
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B&B Innkeeper Recommendations:​
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Downtown Black Mountain:​​
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Brevard
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Bryson City
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Explore the Craft and Art of Bryson City:
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Hendersonville
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Downtown Hendersonville
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The Perry N. Rudnick Art & Nature Trail - Whimsical outdoor art created by well-known artists combines with nature along this quiet one-mile pathway with interpretive signage and an array of regional plant species.
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Weaverville
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Innkeeper Recommendations:​​
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Main Street Weaverville & Beyond:
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Waynesville
Downtown Waynesville:
Yellow House Recommendations - Waynesville Galleries
Haywood Arts Council & Gallery​​​
Photo: Asheville Art Museum
Getting Here
By Air
The Asheville Regional Airport is open and operating.
By Car
The latest road openings and closures can be found at DriveNC.gov.
Critical highways like I-40 eastbound and I-26 are accessible as detailed below.
Open Highways and Interstates:
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I-26 (south of Mars Hill/Mile 9/U.S. 19)
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I-40 (southeast of Cove Creek/Mile 21)
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U.S. 23
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U.S. 25/U.S. 25A
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U.S. 70
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U.S. 74
Current Road Closures:
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I-40 (northwest of Cove Creek/Tennessee Border to Mile 20)
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I-26 (Tennessee Border to north of Mars Hill/Miles 1-9)
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U.S. 64
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U.S. 19
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North Carolina Highway 215, 226 and 197
Alternate Routes:
The impacts of Hurricane Helene have necessitated road closures near the North Carolina and Tennessee border, including I-40 eastbound and westbound near Mile 21 (30 miles west of Asheville). As businesses reopen in stages, travelers may use the following open routes into the Asheville area and Buncombe County:
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From the northwest: I-81 to U.S. 70 to I-26
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From the southwest: I-85 to U.S. 25 to I-26
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From the south: Take U.S. 74 Alt to U.S. 74 East toward Shelby and connect with I-85 to Charlotte