This itinerary for a day out near Asheville starts with a great breakfast (+ a view!) and includes time on the Blue Ridge Parkway, visits to two forests, and dinner at one of the best restaurants in town.
Planning a day out can be overwhelming. Let us do the work! Our expertly crafted Asheville itineraries offer unforgettable experiences, tailored to your interests.
The itinerary detailed below is a great way to spend a day whether you are visiting Asheville or a local looking for a new adventure. We spend a lot of time mapping out and testing adventure days before sharing them, and we hope you enjoy this one as much as we do!
About This Itinerary
We’ll give you an overview of the itinerary first, but be sure to read on for details we think are important!
Start with breakfast to-go from a West Asheville eatery. Not just any eatery, though! It’s a locally-loved, kind of hidden gem restaurant in a gas station.
Take in a few views on the Parkway (+ eat breakfast here!)
Go on an adventure in Pisgah National Forest– we give plenty of ideas so you can pick the one best for you
Lunch in Pisgah Forest, NC at a new bakery/cafe
More adventures! Check out nearby waterfalls in DuPont State Forest. We did say this was an adventure day, right?
End with dinner at a great Asheville restaurant
The total drive time starting at Sand Hill Kitchen is 2 hours 11 minutes (79 miles.) While this may sound like a lot, almost half is on the Parkway. It’s a very enjoyable drive and truly part of the destination.
First Up: Breakfast To-Go!
The best chicken biscuit in Asheville
This itinerary starts off the strongest way possible: breakfast from Sand Hill Kitchen. If you aren’t familiar, Sand Hill Kitchen is AMAZING. And interestingly enough, they are located inside a gas station in East Asheville.
What to order: Don’t miss the chicken biscuit! It’s drizzled with hot honey. They also serve Penny Cup coffee.
How to order: Order online! They even have a dedicated pickup window on the side– you have to order ahead to use the window! It’s for pickups only.
One thing to note: Sand Hill serves breakfast Wednesday through Saturday, so plan accordingly!
Want a few more breakfast ideas? Check out Taco Billy in West Asheville or Liberty House Cafe in North Asheville.
Now, you can eat at Sand Hill Kitchen. But we have a better idea! Why not breakfast with a view? You’ll have to hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway first, though.
NExt: Blue Ridge Parkway
If the weather’s nice, enjoy your breakfast al fresco at an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can hop on the Parkway by the NC Arboretum.
The easiest thing to do is to map yourself to Chestnut Cove Overlook. This overlook is easy to get to and is generally pretty quiet with excellent views.
While there aren’t picnic tables the Chestnut Cove overlook, you can eat at your car or bring chairs or a blanket (there’s some grassy area along the side.)
There are other lookouts around if you want to explore before dining.
Sunrise Views: Chestnut Cove faces east, so if you come early enough you can watch the sunrise. If that’s your plan, skip Sand Hill because they won’t open in time.
Drive Time: The total drive time from Sand Hill Kitchen to the Chestnut Cove Overlook is 14 minutes (8.8 miles.)
Adventure In Pisgah National Forest
Here’s the fun part! Our itinerary includes a lunch recommendation and to get to it you will pass several points of interest along the way. Decide which ones sound fun for you and add them to your itinerary.
Mount Pisgah
If you are looking for a moderate hike with excellent views, we recommend the iconic Mount Pisgah trail. It’s a 2.4-mile out-and-back hike with a steep incline at times.
The Mt. Pisgah trailhead is located on the Parkway and near Pisgah Inn. Pisgah Inn makes for a great stop post-hike for restrooms and a snack or ice cream.
Plan to spend around 2 hours so that you can enjoy the views at the top.
Drive Time: The total drive time from Chestnut Cove Overlook to Mount Pisgah is 16 minutes (9.6 miles.)
Cradle of Forestry
Another point of interest you’ll pass on the way to lunch is the Cradle of Forestry. The Cradle of Forestry is an outdoor museum commemorating the first forestry school in the United States.
This is an especially great stop with kids. There are two easy trails, an indoor education center and a steam logging train locomotive.
Plan to spend 2-3 hours exploring the Cradle of Forestry.
There is an admission fee for the Cradle of Forestry.
Drive Time: The total drive time from Mount Pisgah to Cradle of Forestry is 17 minutes (8.8 miles.) You will get off of the Parkway on this portion of the drive and onto Pisgah Highway.
Other Points Of Interest
If you want more inspiration for this part of the day, consider one of the places mentioned below. You will pass each of them on your way to lunch.
Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower: 70-foot lookout tower that you can climb for views (only if you like heights!)
Sliding Rock: 60-foot natural waterslide
Moore Cove Falls: short waterfall hike
Looking Glass Falls: 60-foot waterfall just off the road
Lunch: Pisgah Bakehouse
Lunch in Pisgah Forest, NC
It’s time for lunch! We recommend grabbing a salad, pizza or sandwich at Pisgah Bakehouse. It’s one of our favorite restaurants in the Brevard area.
Pisgah Bakehouse serves lunch daily from 11 am to 3 pm. They have some indoor seating, but we prefer their covered outdoor patio! They also have a few picnic tables on the meadow to the side.
Their salads and sandwiches are available as half or whole portions. Pizzas are all 13″. They also offer a kids’ menu and a delectable pastry case.
What to order: Try their goat cheese or wild mushroom pizza! Their Italian Hero (hot or cold) is also great.
Parking is limited right at the building, but you can park in the other lot to the right of the building.
Drive Time: The total drive time from the Cradle of Forestry to Pisgah Bakehouse is 22 minutes (12.1 miles.) This portion of the drive takes you past several points of interest. Feel free to pull over at any that piques your interest!
DuPont State Forest Waterfalls
If you aren’t quite ready to call it a day, head to DuPont State Recreational Forest. DuPont is known for its stunning waterfalls and hiking trails.
While there are several waterfalls in DuPont Forest, we recommend High Falls and Triple Falls for your first visit.
High Falls is the tallest waterfall in DuPont and it’s absolutely gorgeous! To get to it, park at the DuPont State Recreational Forest Visitor Center.
It’s a 0.5-mile hike to the High Falls overlook and an additional 0.5 miles to the waterfall’s base. You can then continue on to Triple Falls for a 2.5-mile out-and-back hike.
Check out our guide to the High Falls Trail for details, including how to connect to the Triple Falls Trail.
Plan to spend around 2 hours at DuPont State Forest.
Drive Time: The total drive time from Pisgah Bakehouse to the DuPont Forest Visitor Center is 18 minutes (12.6 miles.)
Dinner At Nine Mile
Dinner awaits! We can’t think of a better way to end your day than with dinner at Nine Mile in Asheville.
The great thing about Nine Mile is that they have several locations in Asheville. Their location in Biltmore Park (South AVL) is the closest to DuPont State Forest. And it has great outdoor seating and parking is pretty easy.
They also have a location in Montford and another in West Asheville.
What to order: Start with the Live & Give appetizer! It’s a platter made for sharing– tortilla chips, queso, salsa and their daily hummus. For dinner, try the Mayfield Falls mahi mahi dish with linguine. It’s topped with jicama mint salsa and served with a shockingly dairy-free coconut sauce. One of the best meals in town!
Drive Time: The total drive time from DuPont State Forest to Nine Mile in Biltmore Park is 42 minutes (27 miles.)
And that wraps up this itinerary! We hope it inspires you to take an adventure of your own. Be sure to check out our other itineraries for more inspiration.
Itinerary: Day Trip To Old Fort, NC
