Western North Carolina daytrips: 10 for the bucket list
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Daytrip 6: Caesar’s Head State Park
- Highlights: 300+ foot tall Raven Cliff Falls, outstanding fall foliage, far away from any commercialization, a gorgeous scenic drive up the mountain, located within close proximity to numerous other waterfalls, located adjacent to Jones Gap State Park (also features a great waterfall hike).
- How to get here: Caesars Head is located about an hour south of Asheville, via I-26 E. The visitor’s center is located at: 8155 Geer Hwy, Cleveland, SC
- My guide to visting in fall
Caesars Head State Park
Caesar’s Head is the gem of Upstate South Carolina. Although, with this beauty, comes a price as finding weekend parking is near impossible during the prime season. Highlights here include an overlook looking out upon the Blue Ridge Mountains, a unique natural feature with a spooky legend, and miles of beautiful hiking trails.
This park is best visited during the fall. The bright golden hues which comprise the trails and the picturesque drive over makes it one of the best leaf peeping destination in the Upstate. The hike to Raven’s Cliff waterfall, a 2.2 mile out-and-back moderate journey is incredible this time of year.
Don’t worry if you are not up for a hike, as the scenic drive up the mountain, beautiful overlook, and pretty picnicking areas justify the drive for just about anyone. Any leaf peepers & nature lovers will especially appreciate the beauty of Caesars Head.
Nearby attractions
Also in the vicinity is beautiful Wildcat Falls, a 30 foot tall roadside waterfall which is definitely worth the short detour. If you are up for a longer adventure, you can hike a mile long trail to see the Upper Falls.
For a grand vista of the Blue Ridge mountains, continue on another 3 miles or so to Bald Rock Heritage Preserve. No hiking is required to enjoy the view. This is a nice detour where you can get out of the car stretch your legs and enjoy the view. Sadly much of the rock has been covered in graffiti, however, the view is still quite incredible.
Like Triple Falls, there really is not a whole lot in the way of restaurants in this area. Consider stopping for a quick breakfast in Asheville before hitting the road. High Five is a great stop for a quality espresso with delicious bagels with homemade cream cheese also available for a quick no-fuss breakfast. If you prefer a sit down, check out Tupelo Honey, a popular Southern style breakfast spot. Try the Old Skool Breakfast Bowl (2 eggs, potato cracklins, cheddar cheese, black-eyed peas, served over goat cheese grits).
Daytrip 7: Whitewater and Dry Falls
- Highlight: 2 amazing waterfalls located within a half hour of each other, little hiking required to see these beauties
- How to get here: Upper Whitewater is located about an hour and a half south of Asheville via NC-280W & US-64W. Continue on another half hour or so to Dry Falls via NC-107N. Whitewater parking area is off NC 281. Parking for Dry Falls on US 64W. Both require a small fee (cash only).
As the Western North Carolina region is loaded with more waterfalls than you could ever possibly visit over the course of one visit (or one year for the matter), it’s hard to choose just which ones to place high on your bucket list. The best way to go is to plan a daytrip combining a number of the best-of-the-best.
Whitewater Falls
Whitewater is an exhilarating 411 foot waterfall surrounded by uninterrupted forest land. Due to the isolated location, it remains under visited. An easy paved trail of just a quarter of a mile leads you to a stunning overlook. For a better view, you will have to go down 154 steps. Nothing too difficult for anyone in decent shape. Note that the paved path is wheelchair accessible.
Dry Falls
From Whitewater, continue on to Dry Falls. Dry Falls is a mesmerizing 75 foot waterfall which cascades beautifully over a cliff. It’s one of the few waterfalls in the region which you can (safely) walk behind. The trail is less than a quarter mile long, thus, minimal effort is required to see this beauty. I really
The drive in between the 2 waterfalls is quite beautiful as well. Bring with a picnic lunch as there is no shortage of picturesque picnicking areas along the route. Bridal Veil Falls (pic below) is also on the route.
Daytrip 8: Blue Ridge Parkway
- Highlights: Ability to drive as little or as long as you like, numerous waterfalls, hikes, attractions, & viewpoints along the way, one of America’s best fall drives, completely isolated in winter, often open for winter recreational activities.
- Parkway interactive map
Whether you feel like exploring 20 miles or 200, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers endless opportunities for hiking and enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. Referred to as “America’s favorite drive,” it comes at no surprise that this drive tends to get packed during the prime seasons (summer and fall). The 469 mile drive spans 2 states, connecting Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with The Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Fall is a gorgeous time to enjoy the beautiful Carolina foliage, take advantage of the crisp weather, and roll down the windows and enjoy the fresh breeze as you cruise along one of the most picturesque drives on the East coast.
Lots of scenic viewpoints, attractions, and hikes along the way make this a worthwhile half day activity. Linville Falls is one of my favorites adn just over an hour from Asheville. Graveyard Fields and Crabtree are more amazing waterfalls to add to your bucket list. Craggy Gardens is a popular viewing point although often closed in the winter. If you do get the opportunity to visit after a big snowstorm, the highway is closed to vehicles, but open for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. This is the prime time to enjoy the tremendous scenery all to yourself! Check out my Parkway waterfall guide for more of the best.
For more scenic vistas, check out my top summit hikes on the Parkway and best Parkway attractions near Asheville posts.
Daytrip 9: Smoky Mountains
- Highlights: Endless opportunities for recreation and fun, gorgeous affordable cabin rentals, miles of rustic hiking, America’s only free national park, beautiful waterfalls, lots of touristy restaurants and attractions in nearby Gatlinburg, the longest pedestrian bridge in the country
- Location: Gatlinburg is located about 2 hours west of Asheville via I-40. Start your day off at Crocketts (1103 Parkway).
- My full Smokies attraction guide
Another amazing daytrip from Asheville which has to be high up on your list is the Smoky Mountains/Gatlinburg region. Gatlinburg is a great base point for exploring all the wonders of the Smokies. If you have the time, a cabin rental is the ideal way to experience the area. Prefer to take the daytrip route? No worry, The Smokies are a convenient 2 hour drive from the city, so really there is no need to book a hotel.
A multi day stay would be preferable, so if you have the time, consider a cabin rental (pictured here is Life’s a Bear from Timber Tops) to soak in the mountain scenery!
There is definitely enough to do to justify the short drive over. For incredible views, head straight over to the Gatlinburg Sky Lift and Bridge (the world’s longest pedestrian swinging bridge) or Ober Gatlinburg, both of which offer gondola rides, the only difference in the first being open air and the latter enclosed. No matter which route you choose, terrific views of the mountains is a guarantee.
Hiking in the Smokies
Hiking in the area (as expected) is also fantastic. The area is loaded with picturesque trails of varying difficulty, with numerous waterfalls to enjoy. For a relatively easy waterfall hike consider the paved trail to Laurel Falls. This trail is just 1.3 miles and paved and leads to a wonderful 80 foot waterfall.
Sightings of black bears are pretty common. In fact, I saw a bear within 10 minutes of hiking Laurel Falls. Pretty crazy as I have been hiking around the country for over 10 years and have never seen a bear until visiting the Smokies! Keep your distance and do not feed or bother any wildlife!
If you are not up for a hike, consider one of the many scenic drives in the region. The Foothills Parkway is one gorgeous option loaded with incredible mountain views. The drive is split into a Western (17 mile) and Eastern (6 mile long) section. The 5 mile Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is also worth considering. It’s really busy all the time, but you can see some nice creeks and even plan a waterfall hike along the way.
Entertainment: Shows/museums/themed dining
You will also find lots of touristy attractions in the region – Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Hollywood Wax Museum, the Hollywood Movie Car museum, a Salt and Pepper Museum, Guiness Book of World Records museum, alpine roller coasters, and numerous other quirky attractions. Themed restaurant are in abundance too. I always prefer Hard Rock Cafe for the fun rock n’ roll ambiance and delicious comfort fare. Sadly, the Gatlinburg location closed, however, you can drive over to Pigeon Forge if you are craving some comfort food.
The Movie Car museum is quite pricey, but definitely worth a visit if you are a big film buff. I loved seeing the Back to the Future and Ghostbusters cars! Other popular movie cars include those used in the Fast and Furious, Twister, Transformers, Batman, & many more.
Pigeon Forge
Nearby Pigeon Forge (an easy 20 min drive) offers a host of entertainment offerings. Dollywood, the Hollywood Wax Museum, the Smoky Mountain Opry, the famous Titanic Museum, alpine mountain coasters…and the list goes on.
Overall, the Smokies region is a great daytrip destination, whether you are a hiker, nature lover, or simply looking for a tourist destination with absolutely no shortage of things to do.
Sample itinerary: Start off with a hefty country style breakfast at either the Pancake Pantry or Crockett’s Breakfast Camp. Head over to Laurel Falls and enjoy one of the most scenic and easily accessible trails in the Smokies. Next, take your pick between the Gatlinburg Sky Lift or the Sky Bridge, a recently completed pedestrian bridge which now stands as the longest in America. Afterwards, you can take your pick amongst dozens of nearby lunch hotspots.
Breakfast at Crockett’s is a great way to start the day! Love the country ambiance and friendly southern hospitality!
Enjoy a few of the museums/attractions mentioned earlier. The Aquarium of the Smokies is also in the area and extremely popular. There are more than enough stores to keep you occupied. Stop by The Village, an old world themed shopping destination with over 20 boutique shops.
Daytrip 10: Historic Hendersonville/Looking Glass Falls
- Highlights: An abundance of local restaurants & boutique shops, a fantastic pinball museum, great used bookshop, access to numerous parks and waterfalls, lots of orchards and apple picking in the fall
- Location: Hendersonville is located about a half hour south of Asheville via I-26E
- My guide to exploring Hendersonville
Downtown Hendersonville
Hendersonville is home to one of numerous charming Main Streets in the North Carolina region. I love all the local restaurants, boutique shops, and especially the retro pinball museum. Start your day off with a coffee and light breakfast at the Black Bear Coffee Cafe. The decor is adorable and they serve delicious NC based Counter Culture coffee.
Afterwards, take a stroll along the tree-lined Main Street. Mast General Store is a must particularly if you are into outdoor apparel and/or nostalgic old time gifts. Joy of Books is an independent bookstore offering a decent sized selection of used books, DVDs, and records. For lunch, enjoy a sandwich and bowl of homemade soup at Mountain Deli. For a treat, grab dessert at CA’s cheesecakes.
The must-do here is the Appalachian Pinball Museum. For one price, you can play old-fashioned pinball and arcade games to your heart’s desire. Really, it’s a refreshing step back in time to the 80’s where arcades could be found just about everywhere, from your local 7-11 to your favorite pizza parlor. As the summer season is hideously hot and humid, this is a perfect time to take advantage of an indoor activity.
Looking Glass Falls
Like Asheville, Hendersonville is located amidst many natural wonders. While you are out this way, consider getting on the road for another half hour or so to see Looking Glass Falls. This 60 foot tall roadside waterfall wonder requires absolutely no hiking and is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful natural sights in Western North Carolina. It’s definitely worth the detour!
The Apple Picking Capital!
Hendersonville is considered “the apple picking capital.” There are numerous locally owned orchards within a short drive of the city. You can pick your own apples or purchase apples plus other specialty fall treats on-site. From fresh apple cider, to apple cider donuts, to candy apples, there are enough choices to keep anyone with a sweet tooth more than interested. Skytop is my preferred orchard: lots of great fall activities, plus apple picking and great treats!
Grandads is another great local choice. They offer pre picked apples or you can go the rustic route and pick your own! During the fall season, you can also pick your own pumpkins! Amenities include a corn maze, lots of special fall treats (their donuts are delicious!), and a country store jam packed with apple flavored jams, apple pie, and more.
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