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- Sylva. Average home value: $309,266. Median monthly rent: $1,027. About 50 miles outside of Asheville, Sylva has a population of just 2,500 people, lending it plenty of small-town charm.
- Brevard. Average home value: $431,629. Median monthly rent: $1,378. Known as the “Land of Waterfalls,” Brevard has more than 250 of them to explore. It’s also home to a large population of white squirrels—and you can even adopt one, if you’re feeling charitable.
- Banner Elk. Average home value: $538,671. Median monthly rent: $1,397. If you love to hit the slopes on a regular basis, the classic ski town of Banner Elk is for you.
- Weaverville. Average home value: $459,686. Median monthly rent: $1,630. Located just 10 miles outside Asheville, Weaverville has a quaint downtown area and plenty of natural beauty, including Lake Louise Park and Main Street Nature Park, for when you want to get away from it all.
- Black Mountain
- Bryson City
- Weaverville
- Marion
- Mills River
- Lake Junaluska
- Sylva
- Hendersonville
- Highlands
- Cashiers
This is absolutely one of my favorite small towns near Asheville. Black Mountain is in the shadows of the Seven Sisters mountain range. It’s about 20 minutes east of Asheville and an easy drive down I-40. You’ll want to explore Town Hardware and Sassafras for sure. Get ice cream at The Hop – locally made!! The Black Mountain restaurantsare second t...
Home to the Nantahala Outdoor Center! At this adventure lover’s paradise, you can whitewater raft down the Nantahala Riveror zip line and they also offer different wilderness/rafting classes. There are two restaurants and an Outfitters Store here as well. You can get any outdoor equipment that you may need. There is plenty to do here to occupy an e...
This cute little mountain town is full of surprises. This is a popular spot for artists so you’ll find a few art galleries and pottery studios. Shop at Curtis Wright Outfitters and Honey and the Hive for sure. If you are in town during late June/July then go by Blue Ridge Daylilies – a Daylily farm! If you are looking for good restaurants then Twis...
The town of Marion is close to lots of great hikes like Tom’s Creek Falls and Roaring Fork Creek Falls. It’s also just south of Lake James State Park– a great place for camping, hiking, and fishing and it borders Pisgah National Forest. It’s 40 minutes east of Asheville on I-40. Highway 221 intersects I-40 here and you can follow it north into the ...
Is it bad that I know most of these towns based on their breweries? In Mills River, you’ll find Sierra Nevada and Burning Blush Breweries. I highly recommend both. Sierra Nevada is a destination in itself. You can tour the brewery, eat at their on-site restaurant, or shop in their retail store. They also have a spacious game room/bar area upstairs ...
This charming lake town is most commonly known as a retreat for Methodist churches. Anyone can enjoy the beautiful scenery though. Here you can kayak, canoe, or SUP on the lake and fish if you’d like. There are also boat tours that are offered at the lake. You’ll find a golf course by the lake if you like to play golf. If you are looking for an act...
Sylva is another small town near Asheville that has a picturesque downtown area. They have weekly concerts in the summer called Concerts on the Creek! On Main Street you’ll find four different breweries. Yes, four of them. Innovation, Balsam Falls, Lazy Hiker, and Nantahala (Sylva Outpost) are all within walking distance. Dangerous, I know. The onl...
I will be the first to admit that I have not explored Hendersonville nearly enough. Hopefully, I can change that soon as it’s just south of Asheville. Downtown Hendersonville is actually pretty lively and they have lots of events going on especially on weekends. There are lots of shops, restaurants, and breweries here as well. But did you know that...
Those who have visited Highlands often don’t want to go anywhere else in Western NC – they love returning here. This little town is close to the corner where the borders of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia meet. It’s one of the cutest small towns near Asheville! It’s a bit like the town of Blowing Rock in northwestern NC. Lots of great s...
The town of Cashiers is only 10 miles from Highlands. Many times when someone is talking about the area they’ll lump them together in the Highlands/Cashiers area. With the proximity to Highlands, you’ll find many of the same things to do. There are lots of boutiques along the highway but you may need to do some investigating to find them. Whiteside...
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Explore our 40 favorite small towns in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville NC, with shopping, restaurants and many things to do.
Experience the charm of local neighborhoods and the appeal of small town Appalachia by exploring one of the many communities surrounding Asheville. Here you’ll discover artist havens, distinctive shopping districts, and historic neighborhoods tucked all around the region.
- Boone. Nearby Outdoor: Pisgah National Forest, Grandfather Mountain State Park. Home to Appalachian State University, Boone is a college town at heart and one of the most popular mountain towns in the Blue Ridge.
- West Jefferson. Nearby Outdoor: Elk Knob State Park, New River State Park. I can’t stay away from West Jefferson. This may be my favorite North Carolina mountain town.
- Banner Elk. Nearby Outdoor: Grandfather Mountain State Park, Pisgah National Forest. Banner Elk may be the cutest town on this list. It’s almost as if you’ve driven onto a movie set as you head downtown.
- Blowing Rock. Nearby Outdoor: Pisgah National Forest, Grandfather Mountain State Park. Blowing Rock is named for a rock formation where it’s said a Cherokee brave, torn by conflict between his duty to return to his tribe and love for his beloved, leaped from the rock.
Explore the historic downtowns of charming towns in western North Carolina Blue Ridge mountains filled with many surprises. More details at http://www.romanticasheville.com/small_towns.htm
1. Brevard NC. Located about 30 miles southwest of Asheville, Brevard is the first place I lived in North Carolina. So I have a special fondness for the town and its surroundings.
