Everything to know about

The North Carolina Arboretum

100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way | Asheville, NC

Located in South Asheville

About The North Carolina Arboretum

If you’re looking for a great spot to visit and unwind for a couple of hours, you won’t want to miss the NC Arboretum. There is a perfect mix of manicured gardens and natural landscapes. The world-class gardens have a wide range of plant and tree species, all very well-identified, so we always leave with more botanical knowledge than we came with.

The NC Arboretum is an excellent spot for kids! We visit often with ours and have a whole post on why we love going to the NC Arboretum with our kids here.

Within the garden, you will find several attractions, including the quilt garden (the centerpiece of the gardens), Forest Meadow, Plants of Promise Garden, Bonsai Exhibition Garden, Rocky Cove Railroad model train (runs Sat/Sun 12-4pm Apr-Oct) and several paths and trails meandering throughout the property.

If you’re looking for a bite to eat while there, the Bent Creek Bistro is an excellent choice. You can eat at the outdoor tables at the bistro or take a picnic to eat anywhere on the grounds.

There is a $16 parking fee for personal vehicles, but if you’re up for a hike you can hike into the gardens for free. Their annual membership is definitely worth it if you are local or plan to visit more than a few times per year.

The North Carolina Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way
Asheville, North Carolina 28806

Articles featuring The North Carolina Arboretum

Flowers blooming at the North Carolina Arboretum

Family Fun on the NC Arboretum’s Carolina Mountain Trail

If you are looking for a short trail in Asheville that immerses you in the woods and takes you to a secluded babbling creek, the Carolina Mountain Trail is the perfect hike for you.

Flowers blooming at the North Carolina Arboretum

36 Things To Do In Asheville With Kids By Local Parents (2023)

A list of our favorite things to do in Asheville with kids! This article shares all of our favorite attractions, playgrounds and hikes for kids in the area.

Flowers blooming at the North Carolina Arboretum

Visiting the NC Arboretum with Kids

A list of our favorite things to do at the NC Arboretum with our two kids. We love taking them to the Arboretum to explore, picnic and enjoy nature and the model train!

Flowers blooming at the North Carolina Arboretum

Asheville Itinerary for a spring weekend

We are so excited to share an itinerary for a visit to Asheville in the spring. It's one of our favorite times of year here and is such a great time to visit.

Flowers blooming at the North Carolina Arboretum

Lunch at the NC Arboretum

We were so excited to venture out to the NC Arboretum on this perfect fall day. Spending time outdoors has been our goal over the last few weeks in preparation for our inevitable hibernation. Ok, ok... winter in Asheville is not that bad. But there is absolutely nothing better to me than a perfectly sunny fall day!