Your Guide To Brevard, NC

Exterior of Bracken Mountain Bakery in Brevard, NC

Brevard, NC is a small and easy-to-love mountain town just 45 minutes from Asheville.

Whether you are after a charming downtown with local shops and restaurants, or a hub for outdoor adventures, Brevard is an excellent destination.

A Quick Glimpse

What It's Like

Charming · Adventure-filled · Local Feel

Known For

Downtown · Waterfalls · Pisgah National Forest

Location

35 southwest of Asheville

About Brevard, NC

Brevard is a charming mountain destination with a small-town feel and big outdoor adventures. It's just under an hour from downtown Asheville and is known for local shops, nearby hiking trails and waterfalls, mountain biking and road cycling. There are 250 waterfalls and over 100,000 acres of public land to explore.

Rock at the Moore Cove Falls trail in Pisgah National Forest

Brevard sits in Transylvania County and is close to Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest. It's also home to Brevard College, a four-year liberal arts institution, as well as Brevard Music Center, which offers classical music summer training programs and festivals.

You'll often find Brevard on 'best places to retire' lists, and we get it. It's beautiful with a mild climate compared to other places, beauty is in every direction that you look, and there are ample opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors.

Speaking of the climate, Brevard is located in a temperate rainforest. Needless to say, it rains a lot. Though it can sometimes get in the way of adventures, it's hard not to appreciate it when admiring just how green the forest is.

Things To Do In Brevard, NC

Adventure truly awaits in Brevard. And it's really up to you what that means! You can spend a day wandering downtown, browsing local shops and sitting back at a coffee shop or charming restaurant. You can hop on the bike path and visit several of Brevard's breweries. Or you can lace up your hiking boots and adventure to Pisgah National Forest for the day.

Waterfall at Moore Cove Falls trail in Pisgah National Forest

And if you want to do both, go for it! You can plan to spend half of the day downtown and the other half on an outdoor adventure. Here are a few ideas to get you inspired, and make sure to check out our guide to things to do in Brevard for additional ideas.

For an easy and enjoyable hike to a waterfall, head to Moore Cove Falls.
Sliding Rock is a 60-foot waterslide and an excellent destination for a memorable outdoor adventure.
Sycamore Flats is an excellent spot for a picnic. The Davidson River runs alongside it and you can splash, tube or even fly fish here.

What To Eat In Brevard

Like all of the shops in Brevard, the restaurants are local too! If you are looking for brunch in Brevard, check out Morning Social. It's located near downtown in the Lumber Arts District and has a daily brunch including breakfast cocktails.

Exterior of Vescovo Neighborhood Eatery in Brevard, NC

If you are downtown in need of a breakfast bite, we love the coffee shop Cup & Saucer (it's our favorite Brevard coffee shop) or Bracken Mountain Bakery for a pastry. Try a cheese danish!

For lunch in Brevard, check out Jordan Street Cafe for counter service and a great outdoor patio. There's also a drive-in near downtown (Cardinal Drive-In) that serves cheeseburgers, milkshakes and nostalgia.

Looking for an upscale restaurant in Brevard? We love Square Root downtown and Vescovo Neighborhood Eatery in the Lumber Arts District.

For a full roundup, head over to our guide to the best restaurants in Brevard. It includes everything from bakeries to an authentic Mexican restaurant.

Where To Stay In Brevard

Honestly, if you are looking to experience the area, stay in a cabin! There are several available through Airbnb and VRBO. Look for one with a hot tub! There are a few houses you can rent near downtown. This is a fun option if you want to see what life's like for locals.

If you prefer a hotel, check out our guide to hotels in Brevard. It includes several options along with details on location within the city. There are several located just at the entrance of Pisgah National Forest, which is only a 10 minute drive to downtown Brevard.