Greensboro to Asheville drive: Distance, time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Greensboro to Asheville drive are Winston-Salem NC, Statesville NC and Hickory NC. The distance from Greensboro to Asheville by car is 173 miles, with a 2h37m driving time.
Planning a Greensboro to Asheville road trip itinerary
The Greensboro to Asheville drive connects two of the biggest cities in North Carolina.
Greensboro NC has a handful of strong cultural attractions. The first port of call should be the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, which houses the original FW Woolworth’s lunch counter. This was where four college freshmen staged a sit-in at the whites-only venue – a key moment of non-violent direct action in the Civil Rights struggle.
There are more backstories at the Greensboro History Museum, and the Guildford Courthouse National Military Park focuses on a Revolutionary War turning point.
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.
Greensboro to Asheville distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Greensboro to Asheville is 173 miles. That makes for a driving time of around two hours and 37 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-40.
The best stops to add to a Greensboro to Asheville road trip itinerary are Winston-Salem NC, Statesville NC and Hickory NC.
Greensboro to Asheville road trip attractions: Winston-Salem NC
Winston-Salem NC is the birthplace of both Camel cigarettes and Krispy Kreme. The top attraction is the Old Salem Museums and Gardens, which brings together several topics across a series of preserved buildings. Wander the site, and you’ll move from decorative arts to indigenous peoples to Moravian settlers.
Other attractions include the Reynolda Museum of American Art in a handsome mansion and Historic Bethabara Park. The latter is the site of the first Moravian settlement in North Carolina.
You can also go on a guided ghost tour.
Greensboro to Asheville drive: Statesville NC
The Fort Dobbs State Historic Site is the main lure in Statesville NC. Fort Dobbs was a frontier post that played a key part in the French and Indian War, although the current reconstruction was completed in 2019.
There’s more heritage at the Gregory Creek Homestead, which runs frequent living history days demonstrating traditional crafts. It’s part of the Iredell Museums collection, which also hosts an Egyptian mummy and a children’s museum.
Best stops between Greensboro and Asheville: Hickory NC
The Hickory Museum of Art, the Hickory History Center at Harper House and the hands-on Catawba Science Center all cluster together in town, but much of Hickory NC’s appeal comes from the parks around Lake Hickory. Of these, the Glenn Hilton Park has a canoe launch, nature boardwalk and disc golf course.
The trail-lined, waterfall-centered South Mountains State Park is just to the south of the city.
More Greensboro NC road trips
Greensboro NC to Atlanta | Boston to Greensboro NC | Greensboro NC to Greenville SC | Greensboro to Myrtle Beach | Greensboro NC to Nashville | Greensboro NC to New York City | Raleigh NC to Greensboro NC | Richmond VA to Greensboro NC | Greensboro to Washington DC | Greensboro to Wilmington NC.
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 | Greenville SC to Asheville | Asheville to Myrtle Beach | Asheville to Orlando | 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.