7 days in North Carolina Mountains Itinerary

Asheville nestles between two major mountain ranges in the scenic western section of North Carolina.

Get some historical perspective at Basilica of Saint Lawrence and Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. Take a break from the city and head to The North Carolina Arboretum and Blue Ridge Pkwy. Venture out of the city with trips to Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park (in Chimney Rock), Bearwallow Mountain (in Hendersonville) and French Broad Adventures (in Marshall). Next up on the itinerary: get the lay of the land with BREW-ed, wander the streets of Biltmore Village, sample the tasty concoctions at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Tours & Tastings, and indulge in some personalized pampering at some of the best spas.

To see photos, ratings, traveler tips, and other tourist information, use the Asheville online road trip planner.

Tampa to Asheville is an approximately 5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. Prepare for little chillier weather when traveling from Tampa in September: high temperatures in Asheville hover around 79°F and lows are around 59°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 9th (Wed) to allow enough time to drive to Boone.

Boone is a town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, United States. Kick off your visit on the 10th (Thu): whizz through the canopy at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks, then ride a horse along Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, and then contemplate the long history of Flat Top Manor. On the next day, look for gifts at Mast General Store, take in the awesome beauty at Grandfather Mountain, and then relax and float downstream with Wahoo's Adventures.

For other places to visit, where to stay, more things to do, and tourist information, read our Boone trip maker tool.

You can drive from Asheville to Boone in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Traveling from Asheville in September, expect Boone to be slightly colder, temps between 72°F and 53°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 11th (Fri) so you can drive to Bryson City.

The location of an old Cherokee village, Bryson City embraces a quiet side of the Great Smoky Mountains.

On the 12th (Sat), let the river carry you with a rafting and tubing tour, then explore the galleries of Oconaluftee Indian Village, and then try your luck at Casino at Harrah’s Cherokee.

To find where to stay, traveler tips, maps, and tourist information, you can read our Bryson City vacation planner.

Getting from Boone to Bryson City by car takes about 3.5 hours. Other options: do a combination of bus and car. Expect somewhat warmer weather when traveling from Boone in September: highs in Bryson City hover around 79°F, while lows dip to 57°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 12th (Sat) so you can travel back home.