What’s open and safe to do in Asheville after Helene hit Western North Carolina?
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Parts of Western North Carolina welcome fall leaf visitors
Many Western NC towns that would normally see a surge of tourists for fall leaf season are not only recovering from the storm’s aftermath but also struggling due to the drop in visitors.
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Asheville, one of the hardest-hit areas amid Hurricane Helene, is reopening in bits and pieces to cautiously welcome back travelers as recovery efforts there remain underway.
The Sept. 27 storm caused widespread road closures, along with power failures and gas and water outages. Cell phone and internet service was also disrupted, isolating much of the region. Over the past few weeks, however, progress has been made to return many areas of the city — including downtown Asheville — to some level of normalcy.
Now Biltmore — one of Asheville’s biggest attractions — plans to reopen Nov. 2, and Christmas at Biltmore will proceed through Jan. 5.
Biltmore House and its garden, vineyards and lodging spaces were largely undamaged in the storm, although the entrance to the grounds and other areas of the property had flooded. Post-storm repairs and work clear out trees and other debris is ongoing.
Some parts of Asheville have a much longer road to recovery, however. High impact areas that include parts of the River Arts District, Biltmore Village and Swannanoa are facing heavy repairs, and officials advise staying clear of those areas.
As we continue our series on post-hurricane traveling in Western North Carolina, you can browse our other guides here:
Here is what you need to know about traveling to Asheville in the near future.
How to get to Asheville
Travelers who plan to visit are encouraged to drive to Asheville with caution and safety in mind. Many roadways in and around Asheville are closed for repairs due to damage from Helene, although main roads have reopened.
Drivers should check www.Drivenc.gov for the most recent information before heading out.
- From Charlotte, you can travel to Asheville via I-85 South, U.S. 321 North and I-40 to U.S. 70 East and I-240 West.
- From Raleigh or Durham, take I-40 to U.S. 70 East and I-240 West.
- The Asheville Regional Airport is open.
- I-40 past Asheville into Tennessee remains closed, with estimates at a year or more for reopening.
Can I stay in Asheville?
If you had previous plans in motion for an Asheville trip, check with your lodging provider ahead of time to confirm availability. Some rentals are being used to house displaced residents, repair crews and aid workers.
Travelers looking for accommodations can also check this list of major hotel brands operating in the area and contact the Visit NC Call Center at 1-800-VISITNC for assistance in finding availability.
Other places to check include:
Location: Multiple
Carolina Mornings isn’t taking tourism related reservations until Nov. 1. After that, you can browse its stock of 156 rental properties to find a home or cabin that will work for you. Carolina Mornings also offers a guest loyalty program for travelers who visit frequently.
Location: Multiple
Greybeard manages about 250 cabins and vacation rentals in the Asheville area, with a variety of options to suit your needs. Pet-friendly accommodations are available, and some specials are even listed for travel through the end of the year and into January.
What restaurants are open in Asheville?
Many restaurants are open for services, although some have limited hours. Check Explore Asheville’s guide to restaurants and other businesses that are currently serving customers before you go. Here are a few to check out, as well:
Location: 733 Haywood Rd Asheville, NC 28806
Biscuit Head has multiple locations, although some were hard hit by the storm. (Its Haywood Road and Biltmore Avenue locations remain closed.) At the Haywood Road location, you can load up on a hearty breakfast of biscuits and gravy, biscuit doughnuts or even biscuit French toast topped with strawberry syrup and powdered sugar. Gluten-free and vegan biscuits are available.
Location: 18 Broadway St Asheville, NC 28801
You may have seen that Old Europe Pastries was featured on NBC for feeding unused wedding cakes to folks in the storm’s aftermath. It’s now open again, serving croissants, pies and other sweet treats.
Location: 771 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806
West Village Market & Deli, which was operating the store even without lights to serve customers, has fully reopened and restocked. Its grab-and-go deli selection includes vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free selections.
Location: 1950 Hendersonville Road Suite #12, Asheville, NC
Wild Ginger Noodle Bar has fully reopened and added Tuesday service to feed guests seven days a week. The highly popular Vietnamese restaurant serves up pho, along with noodles, rice dishes and banh mi.
Bonus: Your favorite Asheville restaurants with Charlotte locations that have reopened include:
- 131 Main
- Blaze Pizza - Hendersonville Road location
- Botiwalla
- PIE.ZAA
- Summit Coffee - downtown location
- Taco Boy
- Tupelo Honey Cafe
- White Duck Taco Shop
Information for visiting the Asheville area
Check advisories while planning your trip, and note that many areas in Western North Carolina — including parts of Asheville — are facing extended recovery times.
- City of Asheville river parks remain closed.
- Although some sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway have reopened, thousands of trees are covering the roadway.
- Grandfather Mountain has reopened.
The Pisgah National Forest is open and has reopened certain campgrounds, roads and recreation areas, including Davidson River Campground & Recreation Area; Cove Creek Upper & Lower Campgrounds; Kuykendall Group Campground; Wash Creek Horse Camp and Wolf Ford Horse Camp.
Several state parks are closed through at least the end of the month and likely beyond.
Resources to check before you go
Storm cleanup is underway in many parts of Western North Carolina. Make sure to get the most up-to-date information you can before you head out.
This story was originally published October 25, 2024 at 6:00 AM with the headline "What’s open and safe to do in Asheville after Helene hit Western North Carolina?."
