This itinerary for a fall weekend in Asheville shares our top picks for an enjoyable trip. We recommend restaurants, day trip ideas, timing details and more.
Asheville is a top destination for the fall season (and for good reason!) Experience breathtaking views, vibrant fall foliage, award-winning dining, the iconic Biltmore Estate, nearby apple orchards, breweries, a vibrant arts district, and charming local shops.
Planning your fall getaway can be overwhelming, so let our expertly curated itinerary guide you through the best Asheville has to offer. Follow this itinerary for the perfect wall weekend in Asheville.
First-Time Visitors: If you’re exploring Asheville for the first time, check out our comprehensive guide for a perfect introduction to the city.
If you haven’t booked a hotel yet, check out our guide to the best hotels in Asheville! It shares our top picks for where to stay and why.
Itinerary Overview
This itinerary shares a full (and jam-packed!) fall weekend in Asheville. It’s part of our Asheville itinerary series, designed to take the guesswork out of your adventures.
Day 1: Spend time downtown, enjoy lunch at Chai Pani, shop around the River Arts District and end the day at the newly opened DayTrip.
Day 2: Adventure day! Breakfast in West Asheville, followed by a drive to Jeter Mountain Farm. You’ll enjoy apple picking and lunch here before heading to Brevard, NC. After that, take the long way back to Asheville through Pisgah National Forest and on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Finish your day at Terra Nova Brew Co in South Slope.
Day 3: Start with Vortex Doughnuts, follow with a brunch and then experience fall at The Biltmore Estate. Don’t miss Good Hot Fish for dinner! They close at 7 pm so plan accordingly.
Day 1: Downtown Asheville, River Arts District
The first day of your trip is the perfect time to enjoy downtown Asheville. The itinerary starts with breakfast and includes a few hours to stroll and shop.
Below you’ll find a few ideas for how to spend a fall day in the downtown area. Check out our guide to downtown Asheville for additional details.
Start With Breakfast
If your fall weekend in Asheville is starting early in the morning, check out newcomer Flour. They are located in Asheville’s only food hall (S&W Market) and have great biscuits and coffee drinks.
The bacon egg and cheese with Hickory Nut Gap bacon is our pick! Grab a seat outside and enjoy the mountain air.
Explore Downtown Asheville
One of the best ways to enjoy downtown is to stroll along the streets, admiring the architecture, listening to the buskers and shopping local. Below are a few of the many local shops worth a visit.
> East Fork: Pottery shop with a cult-like following. Their dinnerware is made in Asheville and is dishwasher + microwave-safe. Loved by chefs and celebrities!
> Nest Organics: A charming shop with Nancy Meyer’s style home goods, gifts, art, and baby clothes + toys.
> Malaprop’s Bookstore: An independent bookstore with a coffee shop.
> Woolworth Walk: Two-story art gallery and emporium, complete with a nostalgic vintage soda fountain and diner inside.
> Mast General Store: a perfect stop for the whole family! You’ll find outdoor gear, packaged foods like jams & jellies, home goods, old-fashioned candy and more. There are rocking chairs and creaky wood floors.
If you’d rather just hang out for a bit, check out one of downtown Asheville’s rooftop bars or settle in at French Broad Chocolate Lounge with a sipping chocolate. Old Europe Pastries is another great spot for a dessert-filled break.
Lunch At Chai Pani
Make sure to try one of Asheville’s crown jewels for lunch! If you aren’t familiar with Chai Pani, they won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant in 2022. Their menu is full of flavorful Indian fare. We recommend starting with the okra matchstick fries.
FYI: Chai Pani moved! They relocated from their original downtown eatery to a larger space in South Slope. Don’t worry, though! It’s not far from downtown– you can walk or drive.
Chai Pani doesn’t take reservations and they typically have a waitlist going. They’ll text you when your table is almost ready. Feel free to brewery hop while you wait if the line is long! It’s located in the brewery district, after all.
Gallery Hop In The River Arts District
If you are up for more local shopping and culture, head to the River Arts District after lunch.
The River Arts District is a creative haven, with working artist studios and galleries filling former warehouses and mills. It’s a fun area to explore with shops, restaurants and breweries.
If you just feel like kicking back, head to Wedge Brewery (2 different locations in RAD!) or High-Wire’s beer garden there.
Dinner In Asheville
Try out one of Asheville’s newest restaurants for your fall weekend. Our top recommendation is to enjoy a Boy Howdy burger at DayTrip in West Asheville.
DayTrip & Boy Howdy
DayTrip is a bar and (future! soon!) coffee shop in West Asheville. They offer cocktails, mocktails, coffee, and light bites in a retro 70s-inspired setting.
The owners have partnered with Boy Howdy to serve signature burgers starting at 4 p.m. The establishments share outdoor seating and are located in the same building, formerly home to local favorites Cascade Lounge and Home Ground Coffee Bar.
Vivian
Want something a bit less casual? Vivian in the River Arts District is another great pick for dinner.
As far as food goes, their steak dinner is an absolute show-stealer. It’s a 14oz ribeye loin with mashed potatoes and their famous steak sauce. That plus a few of their starters makes for an excellent dinner for two!
They take reservations and it’s a spot loved by locals!
Day 2: Apple PIcking, Brevard, Parkway
Day two of your fall weekend is an adventure day!
Plan to spend most of the day outside of Asheville enjoying an apple orchard, visiting a small mountain town, spending time in Pisgah National Forest and driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The day ends with dinner at a newer brewery in Asheville.
We have included drive times and recommend stay times below for each stop to help your planning.
Breakfast In West Asheville
Plan to start early for this jam-packed day! Our pick for breakfast is a panini or bagel sandwich from Tiger Bay Cafe. They open at 7 am daily and take online orders.
Tiger Bay is located inside BattleCat Coffee Bar, so make sure to order a drink from BattleCat before you pick up your food. You’ll find seating inside and out front.
Next, we’re off on an adventure! A fall itinerary in Asheville isn’t complete without a visit to one of the many nearby apple orchards. And boy do we have a great recommendation for you!
Drive time from BattleCat to Jeter Mountain Farm: 50 minutes (32 miles)
As far as timing goes, the apple orchard opens at 10 am and ideally, you’ll arrive just as they are opening to beat the crowds. Plan to leave West Asheville by 9 am.
If you are an early bird and want a mini to-do in between breakfast and the orcard, then check out HenDough in Hendersonville for great donuts.
Apple Picking at Jeter Mountain Farm
Without a doubt, our top apple orchard recommendation near Asheville is Jeter Mountain Farm. It’s clear that they have invested a ton of time, money and resources into making it such a wonderful experience.
They open at 10 am and we recommend arriving then! Plan to spend 2-3 hours at Jeter Mountain Farm.
You will be delighted by the gorgeous property as soon as you arrive. If there are a ton of cars in front of you, don’t worry about it! It’s part of the experience.
Jeter Mountain has a tractor + wagon shuttle that runs non-stop from the parking lots to the main barn area. You can also opt to walk if you need to stretch your legs.
You’ll find a BBQ food truck (get the mac & cheese!), a coffee shop, U-pick apples, hard apple cider flights, an indoor playground, a market shop and more. There’s live bluegrass music and just an elevated feel all around. We call it the Biltmore of apple orchards.
Enjoy lunch at Jeter Mountain Farm and then hop back in the car for the next adventure: a visit to the charming mountain town of Brevard.
Drive time from Jeter Mountain Farm to Brevard: 25 minutes (14 miles)
Visit Brevard, NC
Brevard, NC has a small-town feel and big outdoor adventures. It’s known for local shops, nearby hiking trails and waterfalls, mountain biking, and road cycling.
We think it’s a great stop to stretch your legs, shop local, grab a coffee and enjoy the mountain air.
Most of the shops are located in the main downtown area. Just map to O.P. Taylor’s to get to the heart of the town.
Plan to spend 1-2 hours in Brevard.
It’s time to hop in your car and head back to Asheville, but we’ll take the scenic route through Pisgah National Forest and along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The entrance to Pisgah National Forest is only a few miles away from downtown Brevard. You can enter the forest here and eventually hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This part of the day is broken into a few steps below.
Drive time from Brevard to Pisgah National Forest: 10 minutes (3.5 miles)
Pisgah National Forest
There are so many wonderful stops located on this side of Pisgah National Forest. Check out our Asheville + Brevard loop itinerary for an extensive list.
We recommend stopping at Looking Glass Falls at Moore Cove Falls for this specific itinerary. Keep in mind that you can make this day your own, though! You can also choose not to stop at all.
Looking Glass Falls
Looking Glass Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls in Western North Carolina. It’s an easy to get to, picture-perfect waterfall with a 60-foot drop.
It’s right off the road and very easy to access. You can view it from the observation deck or take the stairwell to get closer to the waterfall.
Plan to spend .5 hours at Looking Glass Falls.
Moore Cove Falls
Moore Cove Falls is a 1.2 mile out and back trail near Looking Glass Falls in Pisgah National Forest. We like to recommend it because it’s easy, quickly immerses you in nature and ends at a small waterfall.
While it’s not as intense as Looking Glass Falls, the 50-foot waterfall at the end of the trail is actually quite nice and peaceful. The rocks behind it are curved a bit and create a pretty cool gap behind the falls.
Plan to spend 1 to 1.5 hours at Moore Cove Falls.
Drive times: Looking Glass Falls is 5.6 miles (~10 minutes) from the forest entrance. The parking for Moore Cove Falls is 1 mile from Looking Glass Falls.
Both of the stops mentioned above are on Pisgah Highway. There are several other areas of interest (e.g., Sliding Rock, Pink Beds Loop Trail, Cradle of Forestry and Sycamore Flats) along this way. Feel free to add to and swap out your stops as needed!
Pisgah Highway eventually crosses with the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Drive time: The drive from Moore Cove Falls to the Blue Ridge Parkway is 8.4 miles (15 minutes.)
Drive Along The Blue Ridge Parkway
Next up: the highlight of your trip! No, really. You will absolutely love driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s gorgeous when the leaves are changing and there are endless opportunities for adventure.
Enjoy the fall colors and the scenic views along the Parkway. There are several lookouts where you can stop to really soak it in, and a ton of trails when you are ready to stretch your legs
Fall is busy on the Parkway so expect a ton of cars and a slower drive. Watch out for cyclists and motorcycles!
Now, as far as what to do and how much time to spend here, it’s up to you! You can either take a right and head back toward Asheville on the Parkway or extend your day a bit and take a left (away from Asheville.)
Detour A Bit On The Parkway
If you have a bit of time to kill and the leaves haven’t completely turned, consider a detour by taking a left on the Parkway. Here you’ll pass Devil’s Courthouse, Sam Knob, Graveyard Fields and Black Balsam Knob. This is the opposite direction of Asheville but there are plenty of opportunities to turn around.
This section of the Parkway is absolutely stunning in early fall. You can even just drive a few miles to take in the sights and turn around at an overlook.
Cherry Cove Overlook is 4 miles from where you access the Parkway from Pisgah Highway. This will give you a taste of the Parkway without too much time spent driving.
One thing to keep in mind is that this direction takes you to a higher elevation. Accordingly, the leaves turn earlier in the season here. We visited this area at the end of October in 2023 and it was past leaf season. The leaves were still very colorful at lower elevations, though.
Head North On The Parkway
When you are ready to head back to Asheville, head north on the Parkway toward Pisgah Inn. This is detailed below.
Taking a right from Pisgah Highway onto the Parkway will lead you back to Asheville. If you took the detour down the Parkway, you’ll need to turn around at some point.
You’ll pass a few points of interest on this drive, including several overlooks, Mt. Pisgah, Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower and Pisgah Inn.
Pisgah Inn
Pisgah Inn is a good stop to stretch your legs and use the restroom. They have excellent views and a small market shop with snacks and packaged ice cream.
Pisgah Inn closes for the season on October 31, 2024.
Drive time: The drive from the Blue Ridge Parkway access to Pisgah Inn is 3.5 miles (6 minutes.)
The Parkway will lead you right back to Asheville. If you are ready to get back to your base camp, consider getting dinner to-go at one of these restaurants with great takeout. Otherwise, check out one of the newer breweries in town that’s also home to a pizza restaurant!
Drive time: The drive from Pisgah Inn to Terra Nova is 24 miles (40 minutes.) The majority of the drive is on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Dinner At A Brewery
There are so many great restaurants in Asheville— truly, you can’t go wrong! If you are looking for a recommendation though, check out Terra Nova Brew Co and Mission Pizza. They are co-located in the former Bhramari Brewery in South Slope.
Terra Nova is a great spot for food, beer, outdoor seating and merch. The food is by Winston-Salem-based Mission Pizza. They opened along with Terra Nova earlier this year.
You’ll find a dedicated parking lot on the side. It fills up but it’s always worth checking there first.
If you aren’t ready to call it a day after dinner, consider checking out more breweries in South Slope.
Day 3: Donuts, Brunch, Biltmore Estate
Today’s agenda includes early-morning donuts, a great brunch and a day at the Biltmore Estate. It ends with dinner at one of the best restaurants in town.
Donuts For An Early Breakfast
If you have a sweet tooth or are looking for a great cup of coffee, head to Vortex Doughnuts in the morning. They open at 7 am daily (closed on Mondays) and have both cake and yeast donuts in a variety of flavors.
Our favorite donuts at Vortex are the cream cheese yeast donut and apple fritters. One amazing thing about Vortex is that most of their donuts are vegan. They even have some cream-filled vegan donuts!
Hole Donuts is another great donut shop in Asheville. They open at 8 am daily (closed Tuesdays.) You’ll find 3 classic flavors and a rotating seasonal special at Hole. Their donuts are hot and made-to-order!
Brunch At A Local Restaurant
Enjoy a sourdough pancake, pumpkin spice latte and wonderful outdoor seating at Liberty House in North Asheville. Their porch is always overflowing with pumpkins in the fall– it makes for a great photo op!
If you aren’t looking for a full meal, enjoy a relaxing moment over a coffee and pastry in their garden area. Liberty is order-at-the-counter. Keep in mind they don’t offer brunch cocktails.
Another great pumpkin-decorated restaurant for brunch in Asheville is Corner Kitchen in Biltmore Village. It’s open daily and has a great menu! It’s table service and takes reservations.
Visit The Biltmore Estate
The majority of today will be spent at The Biltmore Estate. It’s beautiful any time of year, but there is something extra special about it in the fall.
Our biggest advice before visiting the Biltmore Estate is to spend a bit of time before you arrive planning your day out. There is so much to see and it’s quickly overwhelming. Check out our guide to planning your day at the Biltmore for details.
We recommend a grounds & garden ticket unless you are very interested in seeing the house. There is enough to see on the grounds as it is, and it’s a more affordable ticket.
The property is huge and consists of two main sides– the House is in one area with the gardens, and Antler Hill Village is on the other side of the property.
Leashed dogs are allowed on the Biltmore Estate property. They are not allowed in the Biltmore House.
Tour The Property Around The House + Gardens
Our go-to recommendation is to start at the Biltmore House side of the property. We have included a few details below to help you navigate the area.
- You can either park in a lot near the house and walk (~10 minutes) or park in Lot C and take the shuttle in.
- Parking Lot A is just next to the Diana Lawn, which is a great spot to sit for a while and people-watch. Take in the views of the house and imagine being a Vanderbilt. The Diana Lawn is a popular spot for couples to get engaged, so you may get to see that, too!
- From there, head down the steps toward the house. If you opted for the Lot C trolley you’ll be dropped off right in front of the house.
- You can go through the security gates to access the shopping and dining area here. There are also restrooms in this area.
- Stroll around the sides of the house for a bit and then head toward the various gardens. Make sure to take in the view from the left side of the house!
Once you have wrapped up your time around the house and the gardens, head back to your car for a drive to Antler Hill Village.
Visit Antler Hill Village
Antler Hill Village is one of the shopping and dining areas at the estate. It’s on the northwest side of the property (about 10 minutes from the Biltmore House.)
Apart from shops and restaurants, you’ll also find a museum, playground, winery and the Antler Hill Barn. The Barn often features various craftspeople showing off their trade.
You may want to consider an annual pass if you don’t live too far away and visit Asheville often. Annual passes offer entry to the grounds and the house. Plus, visitors can join on the grounds you after 5pm daily.
Dinner At Good Hot Fish
One of our most recommended eateries in Asheville right now is Good Hot Fish. It’s a casual, counter-service fish fry eatery in South Slope. Their signature Good Hot Fish sandwich with NC catfish topped with a buttermilk tartar sauce is perhaps our favorite bite in town.
Good Hot Fish closes at 7pm, so plan accordingly. It’s located in the brewery district and there is plenty to eat and drink the area.
Other Ways To Spend A Day In Asheville
If you’d like to replace one of the day ideas above, consider one of these day trip itineraries:
Day Trip To Old Fort, NC
If you’d like to check out a nearby town and spend a bit of time in nature, check out our itinerary for a day trip to Old Fort, NC.
It includes a stop at a local coffee shop, pillowy soft cinnamon rolls, a newly reopened waterfall hike and recommendations for a great lunch.
Day Trip To Catawba Falls
Another fun way to spend a day is taking a loop from Asheville to Catawba Falls, checking out a nearby mountain town and then driving on the Parkway back to town.
Check out our waterfall + picnic day trip from Asheville itinerary for details!
Bonsai Trees At The Arboretum
Though it’s not included in this itinerary, if you have the time you should check out the NC Arboretum’s bonsai garden during fall. Though they are tiny, the leaves on these trees take on the full spectrum of fall colors.
Admission: The NC Arboretum charges a parking fee of $20 per car.
Leashed dogs are allowed at the Arboretum but not in the bonsai area!
