Asheville to Orlando road trip: Distance, time & best stops

Planning an Asheville to Orlando road trip itinerary

The Asheville to Orlando drive takes you from the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina to Florida’s famous theme park city.

In the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville NC is one of the main gateways to the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is one of America’s best road trip routes.

But there’s more to Asheville than the mountains. It’s a buzzy city of arty shops, restaurants, breweries and live music venues. The River Arts District is particularly strong on the studios and galleries front. The lavish Biltmore Estate, meanwhile, is the country’s biggest privately-owned home.

Top Asheville experiences include after dark ghost walks, Blue Ridge Parkway hiking tours and Jeep adventures, plus Segway tours and scenic helicopter rides.              

You can also do guided e-bike tours either downtown or in the mountains, then take a guided visit to several craft breweries.

Orlando is known worldwide as the home of Disney World, but there’s far more to it than Mickey and Co. You can get crazy selfies at the Museum of Illusions or WonderWorks, learn how chocolate is made at Chocolate Kingdom and ride the Wheel at ICON Park or Orlando StarFlyer. Alternatively, visit Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, play adventure golf at Pirates’ Cove and say hi to the stingrays at Sea Life.

In the evenings, there’s the Polynesian Fire Luau and Dinner Show, Cirque du Soleil’s Drawn To Life and the Outta Control magic comedy show.

Other Orlando experiences include glow-in-the-dark kayaking, foodie walking tours and kayaking through Cypress forest.

Asheville to Orlando distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Asheville to Orlando is 584 miles. That makes for a driving time of around eight hours and 34 minutes. The quickest route is via the I-26, I-95 and I-4.

The best stops to add to an Asheville to Orlando road trip itinerary are Columbia SC, Savannah and Jacksonville.

For more suggestions, read the guides to the Asheville to Columbia drive and Savannah to Jacksonville drive.

Asheville to Orlando road trip attractions: Columbia SC

Columbia is the capital city of South Carolina. Top attractions include the South Carolina State Museum, which looks at the rich history of the state. It does so in a surprisingly fun way, with a digital planetarium and 4D theater.

But the city’s real appeal is in the numerous parks along the Broad River. These include the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

For well-rated Columbia accommodation options, try the academia-themed Graduate and the characterful Hotel Trundle.

Asheville to Orlando drive: Savannah GA

Savannah has a timewarp handsomeness about it. Parks are lined by mossy oak trees, 19th century buildings ooze history and riverboats glide along the rivers.

Great activities in Savannah include the Ghosts and Gravestones trolley tourriverboat cruises and a true crime pub crawl.

Best stops between Asheville and Orlando: Jacksonville FL

Top Jacksonville experiences include Amelia Island kayak tours, guided art and architecture tours by electric bike and electric skateboard rides along Fernandina Beach.

For cultural attractions, head to the Cummer Museum, where the strength tends to be the rotating temporary exhibitions.

Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Photo by HenningE/ Pixabay.

More Asheville NC road trips

Augusta GA to Asheville NC | Asheville to Charleston | Charlotte to Asheville | Chicago to Asheville | Columbia SC to Asheville | Durham NC to Asheville | Asheville to Gatlinburg | Greensboro to Asheville | Greenville SC to Asheville | Asheville to Myrtle Beach | Asheville to Pigeon Forge | Raleigh NC to Asheville | Richmond VA to Asheville NC | Roanoke to Asheville | Asheville to Sevierville | Asheville to Tampa | Washington DC to Asheville | Asheville to Wilmington NC | Winston-Salem to Asheville.

More Orlando road trips

Albany GA to Orlando | Atlanta to Orlando | Augusta to Orlando | Austin to Orlando | Baton Rouge to Orlando | Orlando to Daytona Beach | Orlando to Destin | Gainesville to Orlando | Houston to Orlando | Huntsville AL to Orlando | Jacksonville to Orlando | Lakeland to Orlando | Macon GA to Orlando | Nashville to Orlando | New Orleans to Orlando | Orlando to Palm Coast | Panama City to Orlando | Pensacola to Orlando | Ocala to Orlando | Orlando to St Augustine | Tallahassee to Orlando | Orlando to Tampa | Valdosta to Orlando.