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Travel Updates to Western North Carolina
Re-Opening and Reinventing Your Visit
Updated April 14, 2025
Welcome back to the mountains!
As we all navigate the reopening of Western North Carolina for travelers and locals, we would like to update those who wish to visit WNC this winter season and beyond. We have great news: Much of our area is now open for business!
See more specific information below as of April 14, 2025, providing alternative things to do and top attractions. We will continue to update it, but please use the links below to see the most updated information.
Here are some tips and updates to consider for your trip to the mountains:
For the most up-to-date, statewide information, go to VisitNC.com. ​
​The latest road openings and closures can be found at DriveNC.gov.
Top Five Reasons People Travel to Asheville:
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Biltmore Estate - OPEN! Winter at Biltmore 2025 January 6 - March 20, 2025. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3PoLRvy
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Blue Ridge Parkway - CLOSED with partial openings. Winter Weather Closure Date Posted: 12/10/2024 Closure due to winter weather conditions. Recreation of any kind is not permitted in any Parkway closure area due to the potentially unstable landscape in the post-Helene environment.
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The Arts - River Arts District - Reopening as of November 10, there are galleries, shops, and some dining open in the upper areas.
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Biltmore Village - CLOSED for the foreseeable future. You can drive through the village, but it remains 95% closed.
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NC Arboretum - OPEN!​​​
By Area / City / Town
Places mentioned below are in and around Asheville within 30 minutes drive:
Asheville - OPEN! See Explore Asheville to verify specific locations
Black Mountain - OPEN! See Visit Black Mountain and their Facebook page for updates.
Brevard - OPEN! See Explore Brevard to verify specific locations
Bryson City - OPEN! See Explore Bryson City to verify specific locations
Hendersonville - OPEN! See Visit Henderson to verify specific locations
Highlands / Cashiers - OPEN! See Highlands Chamber of Commerce to verify specific locations
Sylva / Cullowhee - OPEN! See Discover Jackson County to verify specific locations
Waynesville - OPEN! See Visit Haywood to verify specific locations
Mars Hill - OPEN! See the Madison County Chamber website
Spruce Pine - OPEN! See the Town of Spruce Pine website.
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Lake Lure - CLOSED until further notice
Chimney Rock - CLOSED until further notice
Marshall - CLOSED until further notice
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Photo: Talented local photographer, André Daughtery.
Outdoor Activities
For specific WNC trail status & updates for outdoor recreation areas, please refer to the US Forest Service website here.
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For all state park closures, go here.
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Asheville
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Asheville is OPEN - See more current updates on Visit Asheville Travel Update.
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NC Arboretum OPEN.
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North Asheville Beaver Lake - OPEN Bird Sanctuary + Nature Walk.
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Bent Creek Forest - OPEN Asheville near the NC Arboretum.
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City Parks - Some are OPEN, see current updates on the Buncombe County website.
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Black Mountain
Black Mountain is OPEN - Please click on Black Mountain Recovery or Visit Black Mountain for more information about town specifics.
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Brevard
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For specific outdoor adventure information and things to do in Brevard, go to Explore Brevard.
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These outdoor recreation sites below are considered OPEN for outdoor adventure:
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Pisgah National Forest in Brevard, more info: Pisgah Ranger Station.
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Pink Beds Trail - OPEN, only accessible through Brevard, NC
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Cradle of Forestry - OPEN, Updates are on their Facebook page
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Bracken Preserve in Brevard - OPEN
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Estatoe Trail (Hike/bike path near Downtown Brevard) - OPEN
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Dupont State Forest - OPEN
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Bryson City
Bryson City is OPEN to visitors - Please click on Explore Bryson City for more information about town specifics.
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Hendersonville
Hendersonville is OPEN to visitors - Please click on Visit Henderson for more information about town specifics.
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Waynesville
Waynesville is OPEN to visitors - Please click on Visit Haywood for more information about town specifics.
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Weaverville
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Weaverville is OPEN to visitors - Town of Weaverville - Travel Updates
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For all Weaverville Recreation - Learn more here
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Nature Trail from Main Street - OPEN
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Lake Louise - Walking Trail​ - OPEN​​
Photo: Explore Brevard
Biltmore Estate
Biltmore Blooms
​Spring at the Biltmore 2025 March 21 – May 22, 2025​
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Exhibits:
Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures
Now - January 2026
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​Explore the Biltmore Estate Grounds & Established Itineraries
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Biltmore Estate Helene Response
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NC Arboretum
Food & Drink
Places mentioned below are in and around Asheville within 30 minutes drive:
Asheville
Please see the most updated list on the Asheville Independent Restaurants website.
Another resources is Explore Asheville and AVL Today.
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Brevard
See restaurant updates here, Explore Brevard
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Black Mountain
See restaurant updates here, Visit Black Mountain​
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Bryson City
See restaurant updates here, Explore Bryson City
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Hendersonville
See restaurant updates here, Visit Hendersonville
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Waynesville
See restaurant updates here, Visit Haywood
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Weaverville
See restaurant updates here, Town of Weaverville
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​Photo: at Blue Mountain Pizza in Weaverville, by Kara Dahlberg
Retail Therapy
These RETAIL areas and links are OPEN for businesses. Please use the links to verify specific businesses' status or contact businesses directly for each area is providing their own timeline. Places mentioned below are in and around Asheville within 30 minutes drive:
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Asheville
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Black Mountain
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Brevard
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Bryson City
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Hendersonville
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Weaverville
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​​​​​​​​Waynesville
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Photo: Inside WAKE FOOT SANCTUARY at Grove Arcade Downtown Asheville.
Events & Top Attractions
April EVENTS & TOP ATTRACTIONS
Top event recommendations from us at Asheville Bed & Breakfast Association:
April 2025​​​​​​​​​​
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Biltmore Blooms at Biltmore Estate. Happening now through May 22.
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Walking the Great Lakes of WNC - April 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, time: 10AM - Noon. Spots are limited, RSVP soon. Learn More here.
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Jazz Jam at Leaf Global Arts - April 18 & 25. Learn More here.
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Into The Woods - April 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27. See times. Asheville Community Theatre.
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The Ancient Law – A Film and Concert - April 22, 7 PM. Diane Wortham Theatre.​
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Events & Top Attractions
May EVENTS & TOP ATTRACTIONS
Top event recommendations from us at Asheville Bed & Breakfast Association:
May 2025​​​​​​​​​​
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​Appalachian Heritage Weekend - May 2 & 3, 2025. Downtown Waynesville. Hosted by Haywood County Arts Council.
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​Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend - May 2 - 4, 2025. Hendersonville. Learn more here.​​
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Blue Ghost Firefly Tours at the Cradle of Forestry! 2025 Events: May 19-20, 22-25, 27-31 & June 1-3, 5-7. Purchase Tickets!
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RAD Renaissance Rivers Arts District! May 10, 2025 10 AM - 5 PM. Learn more here.
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White Squirrel Festival Weekend - May 23 - 25, 2025. Brevard, NC. ​
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​"Quilted Expressions A Celebration of Block-Based Art" Haywood Arts Exhibit - Now through June 2, 2025. Learn more here.
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Haywood County Quilt Tours Part of the Appalachian Heritage Festival. May 3, 2025. Waynesville. Learn more here.​
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Maggie Valley Fly Fishing & Outdoor Festival 2025 May 23 - 24, 2025. Maggie Valley. Learn more here.
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Steep Canyon Rangers - May 29th, 6 PM. Pack Square Downtown Asheville.
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Music in the Mountains - See the whole calendar of events.
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Art on Display in Asheville - See hundreds of artists in action.
The Arts
Places mentioned below are in and around Asheville within 30 minutes drive:
Asheville - For the entire vibrant art scene in Asheville, go to Explore Asheville
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Downtown Asheville: ​
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Asheville Art Museum - Wednesday–Sunday, 11 am-6 pm (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
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B&B Innkeeper Recommendations:​
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Custom Art Tours with Sherry Masters - Let Sherry be your personal tour guide to our area art galleries and studios​​
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Black Mountain
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B&B Innkeeper Recommendations:​
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Downtown Black Mountain:​​
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Brevard
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Bryson City
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Explore the Craft and Art of Bryson City:
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Hendersonville
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Downtown Hendersonville
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The Perry N. Rudnick Art & Nature Trail - Whimsical outdoor art created by well-known artists combines with nature along this quiet one-mile pathway with interpretive signage and an array of regional plant species.
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Weaverville
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Innkeeper Recommendations:​​
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Main Street Weaverville & Beyond:
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Waynesville
Downtown Waynesville:
Yellow House Recommendations - Waynesville Galleries
Haywood Arts Council & Gallery​​​
Photo: Asheville Art Museum
Getting Here
By Air
The Asheville Regional Airport is open and operating.
By Car
The latest road openings and closures can be found at DriveNC.gov.
Open Highways and Interstates:
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I-26 (south of Mars Hill/Mile 9/U.S. 19)
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I-40 (southeast of Cove Creek/Mile 21)
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U.S. 23
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U.S. 25/U.S. 25A
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U.S. 70
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U.S. 74
Current Road Closures:
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I-40 has Two lanes open in both directions as of March 1, 2025.
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