Charlotte to Asheville road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The distance from Charlotte to Asheville by car is 125 miles, with a 2h10m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Charlotte to Asheville drive are Crowders Mountain State Park, Flat Rock NC and Hendersonville NC.
Planning a Charlotte to Asheville road trip itinerary
The Charlotte to Asheville drive connects two of the biggest cities in North Carolina.
Charlotte is the biggest city in North Carolina. Major attractions include the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the thrill-packed Carowinds amusement park and the Billy Graham Library. Another popular option is the Sea Life aquarium.
For top Charlotte activities, try historical city tours by golf cart, Segway tours through the Uptown neighbourhood and after dark ghost tours.
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.
Charlotte to Asheville distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Charlotte to Asheville is 125 miles. You can expect a driving time of around two hours and ten minutes. The shortest route is via the I-80, US-74 and I-26.
The best stops to add to a Charlotte to Asheville road trip itinerary are Crowders Mountain State Park, Flat Rock NC and Hendersonville NC.
Charlotte to Asheville drive: Crowders Mountain State Park
Crowders Mountain State Park, just north of the South Carolina border, has two mountain peaks for adventurous visitors to tackle. Of these, the Pinnacle is slightly taller than Crowder’s Mountain. The trail to the top of the Pinnacle is only two miles long, but it is strenuous. It’s a 3.3 mile hike to the summit of Crowder’s Mountain, along the Crowder’s Trail and Backside Trail.
There are, however, some easier, more family-friendly trails in the park – but the views aren’t as good.
Charlotte to Asheville road trip attractions: Flat Rock NC
Flat Rock NC is a supremely outdoorsy town, with several hiking trails on the outskirts. The walks to Little Bradley Falls and Big Bradley Falls are really popular for those who want to get into the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Gorge Zipline course is nearby.
In the town itself, the Park at Flat Rock has a massive playground, and the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site pulls in the literature-lovers.
Best stops between Charlotte NC and Asheville NC: Hendersonville NC
Hendersonville has a handy collection of museums, with the Henderson County Heritage Museum covering local history and the Appalachian Pinball Museum offering the opportunity to play on vintage pinball machines. For younger visitors, the Hands On! Children’s Museum and Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO should do the trick.
There are a few wineries and breweries around the city and Rhododendron Lake Nature Park is a solid escape if you’re not planning to delve further into the Appalachians.
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