The Mountains are Calling – The Asheville Area is Open!
Updates Post Hurricane Helene
HERE’S WHAT OUR FRIENDS OVER AT VISIT ASHEVILLE ARE SHARING!
Asheville is calling you back again. Plan your return trip with heart.
The Asheville area welcomes you back after Hurricane Helene. As of November 18, Visit NC’s travel update page, using data from state departments of safety and transportation, has cleared Buncombe County, Asheville, Black Mountain, and Weaverville as safe for travel. Swannanoa remains closed to visitors.
Almost all of downtown Asheville is open and ready for business, its infrastructure having remained largely untouched by the storm. Downtown shops, restaurants, galleries, artist studios and restaurants are open—alongside our neighbors in the towns of Weaverville and Black Mountain. South Asheville and the Asheville Regional Airport are open. Biltmore Estate has reopened and is welcoming guests for a holiday season of hope and reconnection. With power fully restored and potable water widely restored, attractions, restaurants, breweries, music venues, hotels, inns and businesses are open, widely available and welcoming guests across the Asheville area.
Our community is making progress every day, surely and safely. There are areas that need more time and support. We are mindful that high impact areas—including parts of the River Arts District, Biltmore Village and Swannanoa—have a longer road ahead, so checking status online, calling ahead and making sure roads are open is advised before traveling to these areas. We are here for our neighbors throughout western North Carolina.
Planning is key. As you support local businesses, please visit respectfully, with heart and patience.
Q: Are restaurants open?
A: Yes, Some are open but operating with limited hours. Please contact the restaurant to confirm their hours of operation.
Q: How does Asheville look?
A: Asheville’s going through some changes and will be a work-in-progress for a while as we rebuild. You might notice some buildings are no longer there and there’s quite a bit of debris. Many businesses are in the process of re-opening, many are operating with limited hours and days. Biltmore Village, River Arts District, and the Blue Ridge Parkway (sections have reopened) were all heavily impacted during the storm, please keep this in mind while traveling around the city.
Q: How is travel around Asheville?
A: Main roads around the city are open but expect traffic to be heavier than usual.
Q: What can we do to help if we want to visit Asheville?
A: We’d love your support! If you’re coming, please bring your own drinking water, be mindful of cleanup efforts, and avoid stopping to view damage. The quicker we can clean up, the sooner we can fully reopen. In the meantime, we’d love for you to visit and support our local restaurants, breweries, artists, and shops!