11 days in Charlotte & Asheville Itinerary

A rapidly growing city in central North Carolina, Charlotte is the state's largest urban center and a major regional hub for finance, industry, technology, and entertainment.

You'll visit kid-friendly attractions like Billy Graham Library and Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden. Explore Charlotte's surroundings by going to Sea Lion Landing (in Columbia), North Carolina Zoo (in Asheboro) and Ben Owen Pottery (in Seagrove). And it doesn't end there: have some family-friendly fun at Escape Kings, get curious at Discovery Place Science, examine the collection at Carolinas Aviation Museum, and identify plant and animal life at The Lazy 5 Ranch.

To find other places to visit, where to stay, ratings, and tourist information, go to the Charlotte trip planner.

The Route module shows you travel options from your home to Charlotte. In March in Charlotte, expect temperatures between 63°F during the day and 39°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Sat) to allow enough time to drive to Asheville.

Asheville nestles between two major mountain ranges in the scenic western section of North Carolina.

On the 15th (Sun), contemplate the long history of Biltmore, then indulge in some culinary diversions at a local gastronomic tour, and then indulge in some personalized pampering at some of the best spas. On the 16th (Mon), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: take a tour by water with Boat Tours & Water Sports, whizz through the canopy at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks, and then take in the exciting artwork at Lexington Glassworks.

To find maps, reviews, where to stay, and tourist information, read our Asheville journey planner.

You can drive from Charlotte to Asheville in 2.5 hours. Other options are to fly; or take a bus. Traveling from Charlotte in March, expect nights in Asheville to be about the same, around 36°F, while days are a bit cooler, around 58°F. On the 17th (Tue), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can drive back home.