1. First Things First
2. FREE Activities in Asheville, NC 
3. Budget Friendly Activities in Asheville, NC 
4. Other Activities 
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First Things First

Before I travel, I try to research all of the accommodations, hotels, and pricing so I can plan ahead. I usually start planning 2-3 months in advance for small trips, and at least 6 months in advance for larger trips. 

Asheville, NC is a beautiful place for both weekend getaways and family trips. There are loads of things to do that are budget friendly, and available for the whole family! I’ve compiled a list of free things, as well as budget friendly attractions below. 

FREE Activities in Asheville, NC 

• Blue Ridge Parkway
  • Visitor Center, located @ 195 Hemphill Knob Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 – A scenic drive through the mountains down this 469 mile long highway that stretches from Virginia to North Carolina. There are various things to do on the drive. Stop at the Visitors Center before you go and pick up a map; the GPS doesn’t always know the way through the mountains. It is recommended to check for current road closures and weather alerts on their website. 
  • More information can be found here.
  • A beautiful stop just past mile marker 364 sits the Craggy Gardens Pinnacle. It is a short hike, roughly 1.5 miles total with a beautiful view overlooking the valleys below. 
  • You can also use this hiking trail locator here to find the perfect hiking trail. 
• River Arts District
  • Stroll through the streets downtown for an immersive art experience. Enjoy some wonderful food, view various galleries, and even take a class and learn something new with an experienced artist. The best time to visit this area is between 10am and 6pm. 
  • Visit their studio guide for more info.
• Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum – Grovewood Village
  • Located @ 111 Grovewood Rd, Asheville, NC 28804 – There is no entry fee, however donations are accepted. This museum was founded by Harry D. Blomberg in 1966. They are currently closed until 4/1/2024. The visiting hours are 10am to 5pm. You can view a full list of their cars on display at their website here. 
• Grovewood Gallery – Grovewood Village
  • Located @ 111 Grovewood Rd Ste 2, Asheville, NC 28804 – They are open everyday except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and January 1-3. The visiting hours are 10am to 5pm. More info can be found at the link above.
• Western North Carolina Farmers Market
  • Located @ 570 Brevard Rd, Asheville, NC 28806 – This market is filled with various fruits, vegetables, and crafts. The shops are open 7 days a week from 8am to 5pm. Visit their website for more info here.
• Lexington Glassworks 
  • Located @ 81 S Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801 – This downtown studio is a wonderful place to visit if you like watching glassblowers in action. Visit their website for more info here.
• Basilica of Saint Lawrence 
  • Located @ 97 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801 – This church dates back to the late 1800’s designed by architect Raphael Guastavino who came to the area to work on the Biltmore House. The operating hours are Mon 11-2; Tues-Thurs 11-1 , 3-5. Visit their website here for more info. 
• Moog Music Factory 
  • Located @ 160 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801 – The showroom is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 5pm. You can view and play the instruments with staff available to assist when needed. However, if you’d like to see demonstrations of the instruments, sessions take place at 10:30 and 3:30 and last about 45 minutes. Visit their website for more info here 
• Festivals and Events 
  • There are a variety of free events that are held in Asheville throughout the year. These events include, game nights, trivia, art classes, live music, and more! To see all of the upcoming events, visit their event calendar here. 

Budget Friendly Activities in Asheville, NC 

• Western North Carolina Nature Center 
  • Located @ 75 Gashes Creek Rd, Asheville, NC 28805 – Here you can view over 50 different species of wildlife. Admissions are open from 10am to 3:30pm, the park closes @ 4:30. Pricing starts @ $13.95 for adults and $9.95 for kids, 2 and younger are free. You can purchase your tickets in advance here – they are good for 90 days after purchase. 
• Asheville Pinball Museum 
  • Located @ 1 Battle Square, Asheville, NC 28801 – $15 for an all you can play day pass. They are closed on Tuesdays for repairs. View their full list of operating hours here. 
• Grey Line Trolley Tours
  • Located @ 36 Montford Ave, Asheville, NC – The trolley departs every 30 minutes from the visitor center. Hop on Hop off tour – $37 adults, $15 for children 5-11, 2nd day free. View more info here.
• Asheville Nighttime Ghost Tour
  • Located @ 80 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801 – Meet at the Asheville Masonic Temple at least 10 minutes before the tour. Pricing starts at $26.95. Tickets can be purchased here.
• Music Festivals 
  • Asheville hosts a variety of free and paid music festivals. For a full list of upcoming events, visit their website here. 

Other Activities 

• Biltmore House
  • Located @ 1 Lodge Street, Asheville, NC 28803 – Tickets to view the estate start at $70-$80 depending on when you go. This includes the garden and grounds, the village, and a free tasting at the winery. You can also purchase an upgraded pass to the winery for more fun! There is also a spa. Pricing for the spa starts at $165 for 50 minutes, or $250 for 80 minutes of a custom massage. Additional enhancements range between $15-$35. View more about the spa here. If you prefer something more elegant, you can also stay overnight in one of their luxury hotel rooms ($200-$250 a night on average), or a private cottage ($1000-$1500 a night on average). Learn more about their room and board, or to compare pricing visit their website here.  
• Asheville Treetops Adventure Park – Zipline and Wildwater Rafting
  • Located @ 85 Expo Drive, Asheville, NC 28806  –  Closed toe shoes are required for the zipline. Pricing starts at $55 per day for kids 8-12, and $79 per day for adults. You can also get discounted group pricing, or a package deal starting at $100. There are 2 zipline tours; the longest ride, the ‘zipline tour’, is 2-hours and the skyline tour is only an hour. There is also an adventure park that costs $55 per day, per person. It takes approximately 2 hours to complete. Kids as young as 4 can participate with an adult escort.
• The Jon Dee Comedy Hypnosis Show
  • Located @ The Hypnolarium Comedy Theater, 22 Woodfin St, Asheville, NC 28801 – The show lasts approximately an hour and a half. Anyone 13 and up has a chance to go on stage and get hypnotized. The show begins in April and runs every Saturday excluding a few days. Check the time and dates of upcoming shows here.