Search results
- Hendersonville. Highlights: A lively main street, nearby apple orchards, great dining. Asheville may be the best-known destination in the mountains of North Carolina, but Hendersonville is a wonderful small-town alternative.
- Banner Elk. Highlights: A fun ski town in the winter, trout fishing in the summer, Wilderness Alpine Coaster thrill ride. Just 15 minutes from two of the best ski resorts in North Carolina, Banner Elk is a popular winter destination.
- Blowing Rock. Highlights: Historical 20th-century buildings and homes, cute main street, good accommodation options. Blowing Rock's downtown has the look and feel of a true mountain town, with a mix of restored historic buildings and modern structures designed to fit in with the town's village atmosphere.
- Highlands. Highlights: A mix of shops along a lovely main street, luxe accommodation options. A little over 1.5 hours from Asheville, just over two hours from Atlanta, and about three hours from Charlotte, Highlands is a beautiful town in the far southwest corner of North Carolina, not far from the South Carolina border.
- Asheville
- Bakersville
- Banner Elk
- Beech Mountain
- Black Mountain
- Blowing Rock
- Boone
- Brevard
- Bryson City
- Burnsville
Ashevilleis the largest city in the NC mountains and the biggest in this guide. It’s long been known as one of the coolest mountain towns in NC. We’ve often used it as a base for nearby hikes and waterfalls. Asheville is also perfect for hopping on the Blue Ridge Parkway, or just relaxing in luxury at Biltmore Estate or The Omni Grove Park Inn. The...
Bakersville is the Mitchell County seat and one of many arts-heavy communities in the area. Mica Galleryis one of a few spaces that showcase local artists from here and surrounding counties. Access to Roan Mountain goes through Bakersville, and you can also enjoy the Toe River’s waters here. Of course, a very popular time of year to visit is in Jun...
Floating high at 3,700 feet is one of the best NC mountain towns—Banner Elk. Home to the Woolly Worm Festival in October, we can’t get enough of this town, the amazing restaurantsand shops here, and its gorgeous surroundings. Grandfather Vineyard is one of many nice spots along the water. Except here, you can taste delicious wine and take some home...
Did you know North Carolina’s Beech Mountain is the highest town in the Eastern United States? At 5,506 feet, Beech Mountain is home to awesome views but also, some pretty great ski resorts. Beyond ski season, we love hanging out in this town. Land of Oz (held in September) is one of many great reasons to come here with its warmer outside. Read Mor...
Just off I-40 (Exits 64 and 65), Black Mountain is the closest NC mountain town to Asheville. Black Mountain features quaint shops, impressive restaurants (including Phil’s Bar-B-Que Pit!), and one of our favorite North Carolina distilleries(Oak & Grist). Read More: The Asheville Art Museum (How to Visit + 7 Great Things to Do)
Blowing Rock and Boone are often talked about together because they are so close–but so different! Downtown Blowing Rock is home to adorable shops and restaurants, as well as the only urban entrance to a waterfall that we’ve seen in North Carolina (Glen Burney). Stay at the historic Green Park Inn or luxurious Chetola Resort, but make sure you stop...
It is no secret that Boone is one of our favorite North Carolina mountain towns. Every time we visit, we dream of our next home on a hillside in the High Country! Home to Appalachian State University, Boone is a thriving college town with plenty of High Country hikes, delicious restaurants, trailblazing breweries, and more things to do. Boone’s tru...
Known as the home of the White Squirrel (and annual festival!), downtown Brevardis charming and boasts the best toy store in North Carolina, O.P. Taylor. If you’re looking to explore the many waterfalls near Brevard, we recommend starting with Looking Glass Falls. Of course, the nearby Moore Cove Falls and French Broad Falls (Mill Shoals)are two of...
Sitting on the North Carolina-Tennessee border, right before the Tuckasegee River runs right, Bryson Cityis definitely one of our favorite North Carolina mountain towns! Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, Bryson City is well-known for hiking and river recreation. Hike the easy Deep Creek Loop, go whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River from th...
Burnsville is one of the best North Carolina mountain towns for exploring the outdoors. For example, it’s right on the outskirts of Pisgah National Forest and very close to Mount Mitchell(the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi). But beyond the dramatic summit of Mount Mitchell, there are also waterfalls near Burnsville—Crabtree Falls joins tw...
- Hendersonville. Known as the apple capital of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hendersonville is a great central stop for all the scenery of the area. You’ll find stunning waterfalls and spectacular North Carolina hikes all right outside your doorstep in this small mountain town.
- Blowing Rock. Blowing Rock offers a beautiful balance between the new and the old. Its surrounding landscape makes it one of the prettiest mountain towns and also one of the most popular.
- Banner Elk. With a population of just over 1,000 people, the village atmosphere of Banner Elk makes it an appealing attraction. Its proximity to many NC ski resorts makes it especially alluring for the winter seasons as well.
- Mt Airy. Mount Airy is a tiny town at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and one of my favorite North Carolina mountain towns. Its reputation for charm precedes it, known mainly as the hometown of Andy Griffith and the inspiration for the idyllic neighborhood his show was set in, Mayberry.
- 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.
- Blowing Rock. Blowing Rock, North Carolina, is a quaint mountain town that sits on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway and is named after the nearby rock formation.
- Hendersonville. Hendersonville, North Carolina, is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, just south of the city of Asheville. It’s best known for its abundance of fertile apple orchards and hosts the famous Apple Festival each year.
- Boone. Beautiful Boone, North Carolina, is easily one of the most popular NC mountain towns to visit. The city is named after pioneer Daniel Boone and has breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
- Bryson City. Bryson City, otherwise known as the Gateway to The Smokies, is a small mountain town that sits right on the border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Since many cities in the NC mountains are in close proximity, it's easy to visit several in a day trip (see the map at the bottom of the page). You’ll find many of the best mountain towns in NC near state parks and national parks, including Pisgah National Forest , Great Smoky Mountain National Park , and many more.
5 days ago · The 10 Best Small Towns in North Carolina (NC Tripping’s Picks) We made some tough decisions when picking the 10 best North Carolina small towns. After considering a variety of factors, here’s what we think are the best of the best: Boone; Davidson; Brevard; Duck; Burnsville; Swansboro; Black Mountain; Surf City; Saxapahaw; Elkin